Gerard Houllier

**eekers** · 30/12/2007, 11:31 AM

my point is why didnt houillier give barthez, thuram and zidane their first caps? they wer in their early 20's at the time , not kids.

**tetsujin1979** · 30/12/2007, 1:12 PM

Dunno, maybe he wanted to keep faith with the players that got them to within one game of qualifying?
Maybe he didn't think they'd fit into the formation he was using - the lineup against Israel was 4-3-3?
Maybe he didn't think they were ready for international football? The following manager didn't cap Barthez for another 7 months, Zidane and Thuram for nearly a year, despite the fact that they must have been rebuilding after missing out on qualification.

**Stuttgart88** · 31/12/2007, 8:58 AM

Originally Posted by eekers

my point is why didnt houillier give barthez, thuram and zidane their first caps? they wer in their early 20's at the time , not kids.

Were they the best in their positions at the time? My recollection is that the likes of Zidane, Lizarazou etc. only made their names when Bordeaux made the UEFA Cup Final around '95 or '96? When did Houllier laeve France?

Anyway, France aren't like Ireland - we have such a thin talent base anyone is considered for a cap once their voice has broken. It's quite different there - I think they actually play their U21 players in their U21 team for example!

**tetsujin1979** · 31/12/2007, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Were they the best in their positions at the time? My recollection is that the likes of Zidane, Lizarazou etc. only made their names when Bordeaux made the UEFA Cup Final around '95 or '96? When did Houllier laeve France?

Houllier left after failing to qualify in 1993, according to his wikipedia profile he took up the position of technical director and was given a special medal after the World Cup win to reflect the work he did

**KMH2** · 03/01/2008, 1:39 PM

is he out of the running?

**pineapple stu** · 03/01/2008, 1:40 PM

Already a thread on him.

**KMH2** · 03/01/2008, 2:18 PM

cheers just read the last few pages.

was talking to a mate before xmas who remains in good contact with a member of the irish playing squad.

said player was told by the massage therapist at his current club that houllier had approached him and asked him would he be interested in being one of his staff for the ireland job. (he had peviously worked with h at liverpool)

i threw 600 euros on him when he was at 9/4 well before christmas and nothing as happened since

**paul_oshea** · 03/01/2008, 2:43 PM

its funny i would not have wanted houllier at all near it when i first thought about it....now he seems one i would actually go for and yet my opinion of him has not changed

**Wolfie** · 03/01/2008, 2:53 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

its funny i would not have wanted houllier at all near it when i first thought about it....now he seems one i would actually go for and yet my opinion of him has not changed

Yeah - its becoming a case of who's the best of a bad lot that noone really wants. Just as we all predicted.

Speculation runs riot in a vacuum and I'm sure we'll have a few more "shoe ins" mentioned for the job before its officially announced.

**Sligo Hornet** · 03/01/2008, 3:58 PM

Originally Posted by Wolfie

Yeah - its becoming a case of who's the best of a bad lot that noone really wants. Just as we all predicted.

Speculation runs riot in a vacuum and I'm sure we'll have a few more "shoe ins" mentioned for the job before its officially announced.

You're right...and based on these criteria, might be worth lumping on Joey Barton!

**Fergie's Son** · 09/01/2008, 4:27 AM

According to today's Independent:

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...d-1261237.html

Interesting. I'd prefer him over McCarthy who would be a step backwards to be honest.

**shakermaker1982** · 09/01/2008, 6:58 AM

just read that online. Very interesting development. However I'm sure I read on here yesterday that El Tel didn't get the vacant Bulgarian post?!

**OwlsFan** · 09/01/2008, 7:09 AM

According to the latest scribbles Houllier is back in the running:

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...d-1261237.html

I think I'd prefer El Tel to him

.

However, it quotes the usual "insiders" and says Mick Mc is the other rival which to me sounds a load of hogwash since Mick is under contract at Wolves and was driven out by the Keane fans who I doubt would welcome him back.

**Sligo Hornet** · 09/01/2008, 7:39 AM

I would be quite happy with Houllier, and with Bulgaria looking to have "purchased" the "Spiv", it will make for exciting times when we meet

**RiffRaff** · 09/01/2008, 8:47 AM

I'm not at all convinced by Houlliers record. Heres a bit from Wikipedia's profile on him:

"In 1988 Houllier was appointed technical director and assistant to the French national team, under manager Michel Platini. He became manager in 1992, though resigning in 1993 after the team failed to qualify for the 1994 FIFA World Cup - which Houlier blamed afterwards on winger David Ginola failing to complete a pass to Eric Cantona to score. Houllier became an extremely unpopular figure in France, being blamed not only for the failure to qualify, but also for the poor results during Platini's tenure"

Quite an achievement not to get France through the qualifiers with the squad they had back then. He never really took Liverpool anywhere despite the players he had and bought.

**Stuttgart88** · 09/01/2008, 8:57 AM

He didn't do much with Lyon either other than win successive league titles and regularly achieve the latter stages of the Champions league.

Nobody's arguing that Houllier's record isn't blemish free. He bought some real duds at Liverpool but also won trophies there, all admittedly with a large slice of luck, and nearly won the league in 01/02 I think it was.

He fell out with the likes of Ince & Fowler. Well, Ince fell foul of Ferguson too don't forget, he was a nasty character in his playing days.

I actually think Venables could do a decent job with Ireland. We have very good players in a lot of positions, certainly good enough to challenge for qualification (that's all I'm asking for) BUT I think there are better candidates out there with more current experience. Houllier is one of the best of these.

Are we really so special that we can't appoint a former Liverpool & Lyon manager, French national team manager and national director of football at France? It's unbelievable how people could look down their noses at such a candidate.

**Block G Raptor** · 09/01/2008, 9:11 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Are we really so special that we can't appoint a former Liverpool & Lyon manager, French national team manager and national director of football at France? It's unbelievable how people could look down their noses at such a candidate.

Wholeheartedly agree with this. compared to some of the absolute wasters who are being touted for the job, Houllier is in a class of his own
Grab him with both hands before its too late

**tetsujin1979** · 09/01/2008, 9:24 AM

Originally Posted by RiffRaff

Quite an achievement not to get France through the qualifiers with the squad they had back then.

Let's not go through that argument. Again.

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Are we really so special that we can't appoint a former Liverpool & Lyon manager, French national team manager and national director of football at France? It's unbelievable how people could look down their noses at such a candidate.

Remember when Jewell was all set to be appointed and I said he would be the "least hated" appointment? I'd imagine there's still a lot of Liverpool fans out there who aren't too thrilled with the idea of being under the thrall of Houllier again. Add to that the United, Arsenal, Everton etc fans who would still hold his association with Liverpool against him and you can start to see why some people would not like to have him as manager.

**Stuttgart88** · 09/01/2008, 9:38 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

I'd imagine there's still a lot of Liverpool fans out there who aren't too thrilled with the idea of being under the thrall of Houllier again. Add to that the United, Arsenal, Everton etc fans who would still hold his association with Liverpool against him and you can start to see why some people would not like to have him as manager.

Fcuk them so. If you're Irish what should feelings about English club teams have to do with the Irish national team?

**OwlsFan** · 09/01/2008, 9:39 AM

Yes, we have to accept there is no ideal candidate and whoever is chosen will have "baggage".

I didn't favour Jewell because of his poor record at Wednesday. He failed to turn them around and it seems to be the same at Derby.

Venables I don't like because he is a spiv and didn't really achieve much at England, despite having home advantage in a tournament he didn't have to pre-qualify for. As I said before, if we had a tournament in Ireland, I'd expect semi-final minimum.

Houllier: I just have a memory of him being average at Liverpool and not very inspirational.

However, we're not Brazil, England or Germany and the really top managers won't be interested in us so we'll just have to take whatever manager is proposed, warts and all, so long as it isn't a dream team of a novice and father time as his assistant, and the manager has some experience and some success previously, which could be any of the three I mentioned above and others.