Ginko

It's a bit late isn't it? If they've left it this late you'd think they might as well wait for first thing tomorrow.

He will sign in the next hour.

Are you ITK? If so, got any proof?

I wonder what the hold up with the announcement is. I've seen a few places now that he has signed a 3 year contract with us, signing a contract makes it official right? Why has the OS not posted an official statement? Maybe they're trying but because the new site is so crap it's not updating.

Reports seem to be saying he's still in France and will be until tomorrow. Was sorting out stuff with the FFF from the sounds of things. I think I heard earlier the club will officially make a statement of it and then have a press conference tomorrow when he's in the country.

If what was said about Houllier bringing Thompson back to Liverpool because he knows the club inside out is true, perhaps the same could be done concerning KMac. Villa Insider on twitter seems to think Thompson is still in the frame for being the assistant though, although you would think Sky would know since they are Thompson's current employers.

It always seems to take Donkey's years for the Villa to announce anything doesn't it? Last day of the transfer market and now this manager malarky. Don't get me wrong, I realise it's a big decision to make and Houllier already has a job but crikey O'Reilly is it dragging on. Roll on the press conference.

I hope KMac stays with us, I agree that he shouldn't have been publicised so much or encouraged to try for the job as much as he was because it has to be disappointing for him. Hopefully he will buck up and stick with us, I think he will be invaluable when the new manager and coaches come in.

On the talksport interview, the French correspondent mentioned that Liverpool is definitely 'his club' and always will be and that he'll always have a place in his heart for Liverpool. If that is the case, then I don't really want him. I don't want a manager who is at Villa just for money or just as a job. I want him to genuinely want Villa to achieve greater things.

And I'd also get fed up of Houllier constantly talking about Liverpool akin to how much MON talked about Celtic.

i dont want him here at all.but managers are going to like other clubs.if you want a manager to love Villa etc,we should be going for the likes of Little or someone like that..

If this were the case then every club would be managed or run by an ex-player, that's just daft. Hm, Brian Little or Jose Mourhino... decisions decisions, well Jose hasn't played for us, what a no-brainer!

I'm pretty sure it was during his time at Liverpool where he developed such a love for the club. If he had a long and successful stint at Villa I'm sure we would have a large place in his heart too. Like someone said earlier, he's not going to throw games against Liverpool just 'cos he loves them.

If Randy has approached other clubs for permission to speak to their manager why hasn't it been in the media. When Liverpool wanted Hodgson it was on Sky and in the papers as was Fulham's fruitless pursuit of Jol. I believe we haven't approached any clubs about their manager and it is down to compensation having to be paid. It's all very well sorting out the finances regarding the wage bill, but this is the most important person on the payroll and we should not be taking the cheap option.

Think the media linked Moyes pretty strongly and I'm sure I've seen it in the papers that we asked about his availablitiy and got a flat no as an answer. No-one knows to what extent we pursued Moyes or any other managers in employment. Saying, oh well, we probably didn't try hard enough knowing us, is just pure speculation and nay-saying, for all we know they may have worked their arses off trying to convince Moyes to come.

Fact is this... the sort of managers all the negative people in here are banding about are generally with teams that are on par or are just simply better than us, or atleast in better situations. Saying we should pay out for the most important man, well I agree... but if you have no cash to do that then what choice do you have? We don't know the financial status of Villa, yeah we got 18 million or so for Milner but running a football club costs more money than most of us can dream of.

There hasn't been any statement from Everton regarding an approach bu Villa for Moyes. The fact that no one knows how hard we've pursued any manager currently employed is my point. Why hasn't any approach to a club been reported.

Running Villa does cost a massive amount but it costs a lot less now than it did in January, having sold three players and released two high earners and bringing in one new signing.

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There hasn't been any statement from Everton regarding an approach bu Villa for Moyes. The fact that no one knows how hard we've pursued any manager currently employed is my point. Why hasn't any approach to a club been reported.

Running Villa does cost a massive amount but it costs a lot less now than it did in January, having sold three players and released two high earners and bringing in one new signing.

Moyes came out pretty early on after MON left saying he wouldn't leave Everton so that's one official statement, as for anything else, maybe they felt they didn't have to or maybe they didn't want the press interfering constantly for fear of unsettling anyone? Same could go for any other target still employed, but regardless of this, we may just not have the money, I don't understand why people don't accept this.

As for running a football club, I hardly think having 3 less players is going to save that much in the long run. Costs extend from players all the way down to the stewards at the game and everyone in between. It's a phenominal amount of money, especially gor a big club like Villa.

Maybe Randy just wants to stabilise his investment a little, the whole sell to buy policy suggests we don't have the funds for players, let alone to release a manager from his contract with another club. Do you want us to end up like Pompey?

If Randy has approached other clubs for permission to speak to their manager why hasn't it been in the media. When Liverpool wanted Hodgson it was on Sky and in the papers as was Fulham's fruitless pursuit of Jol. I believe we haven't approached any clubs about their manager and it is down to compensation having to be paid. It's all very well sorting out the finances regarding the wage bill, but this is the most important person on the payroll and we should not be taking the cheap option.

Think the media linked Moyes pretty strongly and I'm sure I've seen it in the papers that we asked about his availablitiy and got a flat no as an answer. No-one knows to what extent we pursued Moyes or any other managers in employment. Saying, oh well, we probably didn't try hard enough knowing us, is just pure speculation and nay-saying, for all we know they may have worked their arses off trying to convince Moyes to come.

Fact is this... the sort of managers all the negative people in here are banding about are generally with teams that are on par or are just simply better than us, or atleast in better situations. Saying we should pay out for the most important man, well I agree... but if you have no cash to do that then what choice do you have? We don't know the financial status of Villa, yeah we got 18 million or so for Milner but running a football club costs more money than most of us can dream of.

Wonder what the rest of the Premier League makes of this appointment?

Hardly inspiring is it?

I couldn't give a **** what they think to be honest.

Agreed. Besides, it's not like many of them support clubs whose managers have won anywhere near as much silverware as Houllier has.

i hope Randy wasn't hopping for bums on seats style football with this one,what a shite appointment this is,some on here are happy with the appointment fair enough,but this will end bad forget top 6 or even 8 imo

Our manager walked out with 5 days to go before the season opener, we sold our best player to Man City in the summer transfer window... I don't think we were going to get top 6 again no matter who came in, there's always an adjustment period. It's been said time and time again, if people don't want to come to the job, what else can you do? Moyes clearly wasn't an option, Jol is in the CL, Hitzfeld is probably too busy concentrating on the Euros and again probably does not want to come. You can't make people come to your club unless you are a top top team and Villa are no Man Utd or Chelsea, I hate to break it to some of you.

Truth is no-one has a clue where we will finish or what sort of style Houllier will implement when/if he does take over.

I don't know about better... different and arguably more successful, but maybe not better.

The fact that he is arguably more successful means he is better. He's already won more silverware in this league than MON ever did, and we will play a lot better football now.

One things for sure, it will give a few of our passengers a good kick up the arse. Everyone will be playing for their future, which can only do us well in the short term. In the long term, we have January and no doubt Houllier will know what we need, everyone can see we need a new striker but perhaps one can be got from the continent that is better than some of the British based players MON was linked with.

However I reckon top 8 should be the target and see what we can do next season.

I see your point but he has been around longer and the Premier League was a lot different back then when he won things than it is now. But I will accept that Houllier has experience of being a winner and I like to think that since his last silverware, he has been keeping up to date with how the game has progressed, along with how the Premier League is different. I don't think his appointment is the grey cloud that a lot of people here seem to think it is.

I'm happy with the appointment of Houlier. He was one of the much better names mentioned. Could be really good for us. I don't get why this makes the board ambitionless?

Ok mate this is a fantastic apointment, gonna add about another 8,000 season ticket holders right? Dont mug yourself off, FFS i would rather take neil warnock or lambert than this clearing in the woods...

You'd rather have Neil Warnock? Get a grip mate!

Seconded. Neil Warnock is a muppet, even his wife picks up on his hypocrisy!

Besides, what has Warnock won? I think if you put his trophy cabinet side by side with Houlliers your jaw may drop.

I'm happy with the appointment of Houlier. He was one of the much better names mentioned. Could be really good for us. I don't get why this makes the board ambitionless?

Exactly. He's a better manager than MON, so its a step in the right direction as far as I'm concerned. And he has superb connections with continental academies so I can see a fair few talented foreigners finally coming this way.

I don't know about better... different and arguably more successful, but maybe not better.

As for the contacts, that's what I'm really looking forward to in the future when we have some money to spend. It's been a little too long since I've had a name I can't pronounce on the team sheet! Agbonlahor probably being the last but even he was only born just down the road!

If he gets the managers job, What a bunch of first class ambition less rocket polishers they are,

Its took 3 weeks to find this prick! Fcuking joke.

I think it took 3 weeks because they were exploring and assessing all the realistic options... and I stress the word realistic. I have no doubt they had a look at managers in work but considering the timing of O'Neill leaving, the start of the season and the well known news that we don't have the cash to splash about, it limited us a fair bit. I personally think Houllier is the best we could go for... realistically.

Breaking news on SSN - Villa will offer GH The job within 48 hours...looks a done deal.

Ooo, this should be interesting... cue the Houllier haters...

NOTW (obviously take with a pinch of salt) that Friedel and Warnock are not very happy if it is to be houllier and will seek showdown talks.

They are reporting it as a player revolt which it quite clearly won't be but thought it was worth posting

Doubt it's true. But there is one thing that is important, and that is Lerner not listening to the players regarding the new manager. And first sign that the players try to take control, he has to take quick action against those who act as troublemakers (sell them or put them in the reserves).

Heh well we would be pretty screwed if any of our players did have a problem with him if Houllier was appointed. We can't even fill a 25 man quota, can't imagine anyone winning if there is trouble. Houllier and the management would be down 3 players and the 3 players would be fresh outta luck since they probably wouldn't play and they can't transfer now since the window just closed. I like to think even if there was some bad blood that either bygones would be bygones or at least professionalism would take over from both sides.

Probably just the papers trying to stir it a little as they always do, probably think the whole manager situation is going a little stale so they had to twist things.

True, but they were only really linking him strongly, Houllier has got the job as far as the papers are concerned it would seem. Not saying it's true, although the fact he refused to comment about us, well that always smells a bit fishy. If there wasn't something going then he would just deny it straight away wouldn't he?

Maybe Randy's interviewed him but at the same time he's also trying to get someone like Klinsmann?

Maybe... who knows? Well except for the people involved. I'm just saying, if they got wind of Houllier and everyone is reporting on him as much as they are then you'd think there would be as much coverage of another option. Maybe not though, maybe the other contenders, if they exist, are just a lot better at hiding stuff from the media.

True, but they were only really linking him strongly, Houllier has got the job as far as the papers are concerned it would seem. Not saying it's true, although the fact he refused to comment about us, well that always smells a bit fishy. If there wasn't something going then he would just deny it straight away wouldn't he?

I'm hoping all this Houllier talk is just a smokescreen & Randy is gonna produce a real nugget like Klinsman or Hiddink.

I don't think the fans will be over joyed with Houllier if that's how it turns out.

Someone said a few pages back that Houllier could just be plan B. Makes sense if you ask me.

I pray to God you're right Mantis.

Does this mean you are also a PRAYING Mantis too?

Good one

Ha, I bet you're so sick of that joke by now

As for Houllier being plan B, wishful thinking I reckon. The media are pretty good at sniffing stuff out, I can't see them finding out "Plan B" and reporting it so heavily when there's nothing about a Plan A like a Klinsman or a Hitzfeld. Not that I'm not wishfully thinking the same way of course.

Everyone here seems to be going about the past... he signed these guys back when he was at Liverpool... did this and that at Lyon... fact is, you don't get to be successful in any industry without having the capacity to learn and adapt. I'd be surprised if Houllier hadn't learned from past mistakes and gotten a little wiser in his years since he last managed a team properly. I'm not saying it's unwise to consider the past and look for patterns, but it seems like people are condemning every person we've been linked to due to these things... focusing too much on the negatives.

Perhaps we should have a little faith. We should save the bitching for when (hopefully if) whoever comes in screws up royally.

My head hurts from all the rumours and speculation and all the same points being made over and over again. I think they must have reached a conclusion by now and hopefully there will be some movement on monday. We have to give whoever it is who comes in at least a week to bed in before the Stoke game surely?

I've read a few times on here that people think his wages would be over-inflated, wasn't there a story a few days after O'Neill walked out that Sven was willing to take a pay-cut to manage us he wanted it that badly? Also, he's made a lot of money over the years and has had a few multi-million pound compensation packages to boot. This, coupled with the supposed rumour of him saying he would take a pay-cut, suggest to me that maybe he really doesn't need the money any more.

If this is true then I think Sven might be just what we need, a change, someone to mix it up, get some flair to add to the solid defensive side to our game, and also it might prove that he's not in it for the money, and really does want a second chance to build a quality premiership team. I think he might get more time here and a more understanding and amicable Chairman and board than when he was at City, so maybe he would stick around for a while.

I think he's the best at what we can get realistically speaking.

^

That Blackburn game had me up off my seat more than most of the Villa games I've ever seen - and I was watching it on TV!

Wanna know what the first thing I said when MON resigned?

"I'm just glad Hughes is taken".

I was buzzing for about a week after seeing that game!

So I'm not the only one who thinks Hughes is a little over-rated? I remember when he went to City and thinking, they've got all these millions... and they get him in? I don't think he's really proved himself, and I wouldn't like to see him at Villa.

As for Maradona, naturally I wouldn't want him as the next manager, but the press conferences would be hilarious.

I'm warming to the idea of Sven too, if only for his contacts, and he would definitly start bringing some more foreign players in, I think we're missing that flair, did he pick Heskey when he was England manager? Hopefully he's a;ready learnt that he's terrible from past experience and the first act he will do in January is move him on to wherever O'neill may be at that time.

Sven - "Hello Martin? I believe I have something you want..."

Good results > good football

I've always found that the team you support doesn't even need to play "good" football most of the time to keep me interested and entertained. And by interested and entertained, I mean being dangerously close to a heart attack.

We are different there, I'm only 24 but nearly every villa match I've watched in the last ten years has me near to a cardiac arrest. I think I've aged 40 years watching the Villa recently, I normally have my eyes closed. I came back from work last Sunday when we played Everton with 5 minutes of extra time to go, I just stayed in my room until I heard it was clear to come out again!

I really would like us to get a manager who made us play good football and above all else, KEPT POSSESSION, but you're right in that results are really all that matters.

I agree with you to some extent but oddly enough of the games I went to last season the best ones were the games against Crystal Palace and Reading away. Both ridiculously nail-biting games but at the same time very entertaining. Whilst I enjoyed the 3-0 whopping we gave Hull at home that game doesn't come close. Half of football for me is the passion and the emotion - things which are much stronger in the tight games where we don't walk all over the opposition (although admittedly I loved the West Ham game a couple of weeks back).

I admit that I did entertain a thought the other day. If I was a Chelsea fan, would I be a bit bored after being favourite for winning all the games? They're never usually in that much trouble are they? I think the fans of the big teams miss out on a side of football, the shock win. The only side of a shock win they see is when their teams lose after all.

I think you're right in that nail biting games are thoroughly entertaining and it sure as hell feels so good if you come out on top, but I wouldn't mind a few more 3-0's here or there, or to win by a massive scoreline. The 5-1 against Bolton is the last time I can remember winning a game that comfortably, aside from West Ham this season I suppose.

That being said, best game I've been to for a long time is the 6-4 against Blackburn. Being 2-0 down, then Warnock scoring to get us back in it seemed like fate, and the entire game I was on the edge of my seat. I remember yelling at Ash to keep the ball in the last few minutes and not to go looking for another goal and then jumping for joy when it went in, best feeling ever.

But still, we need to work on possession and I hope whoever comes in realises that.

Good results > good football

I've always found that the team you support doesn't even need to play "good" football most of the time to keep me interested and entertained. And by interested and entertained, I mean being dangerously close to a heart attack.

We are different there, I'm only 24 but nearly every villa match I've watched in the last ten years has me near to a cardiac arrest. I think I've aged 40 years watching the Villa recently, I normally have my eyes closed. I came back from work last Sunday when we played Everton with 5 minutes of extra time to go, I just stayed in my room until I heard it was clear to come out again!

I really would like us to get a manager who made us play good football and above all else, KEPT POSSESSION, but you're right in that results are really all that matters.