Gerard Houllier

**Stuttgart88** · 18/01/2008, 12:45 PM

I got this from a Liverpudlian Liverpool fan, not an Irish armchair Liverpool fan who thinks it's their right to be successful:

I think Houllier would be an asset to any team hoping to reach a 7 or 8/10, although I suspect at the v. top end his potential for continued uplift is limited, possibly because of his own lack of playing pedigree and definitely because of his mistrust of flair in favour of a reliance on athletic grenadiers (Smicer, bewilderingly, excepted.) His teams are well prepared, fit, tactically organised and mentally strong.

At any other club his trophy haul at Liverpool, albeit in the lesser cups, would place him in their top three managers. I think Newcastle missed a trick in the summer by not getting him and, health problems in mind, he's probably got one more job in him.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 18/01/2008, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

got this from a pool fan:

"are they mad? Any Liverpool player that did well under him did so in spite of his inability to coach not because he was a good coach, owen was a mess when he left, fowler was ridiculously bad (and fat). "

Surely Fowler was a Leeds (wage draining non-) player when GH left Anfield?

**citizenerased** · 18/01/2008, 12:48 PM

stan and frank stapleton.thats the funniest thing ive ever heard, as if we wernt a laughing stock already...Your mate is having a laugh..Id take hou, he one the mickey mouse treble at liverpool and 2 french titles with lyon...As for Veneables, Houlliers CV, is far more impressive

**SuperDave** · 18/01/2008, 1:34 PM

yeah, what about his health? has he not still got a dodgy heart?

can you imagine watching the cyprus game with a bad heart... fuuck me.

**DotTV** · 18/01/2008, 1:57 PM

As we all know football fans are fickle. Houllier's name was chanted from the Kop on many many occasions when he was at the helm. Personally I wouldn't take some begrudged Liverpool supporters opinion as a yardstick for our new manager.

If Houllier gets the job he'll be the most qualified manager we have had for years.

**DotTV** · 18/01/2008, 1:59 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

got this from a pool fan:

"are they mad? Any Liverpool player that did well under him did so in spite of his inability to coach not because he was a good coach, owen was a mess when he left, fowler was ridiculously bad (and fat). The first three seasons he had a really good first team coach, Brugges, when he left, pool went progressively down hill for 2 years. Football and tactics were always rubbish and boring but the players, were playing well individually and were in good shape for those three full seasons, 99/00, 00/01 and 01/02. and he is a very poor judge players, and refuses to accept any portion of blame – it would be a nightmare! I’d hope Houghton would stamp his feet and kick and scream if the other two went for him. Anyway they’re sayin tel again on the radio this morning. Who I would def prefer.

I honestly cant see what houllier has ever done, maybe I’m wrong tho. When france failed to qualify for the world cup in 94, cos Bulgaria (or hungary or someone) equalised in the last minute, he said it was all ginola’s fault for giving the ball away…. Not the fact that they were a goal away from being knocked out after 16 games of league competition…..what a ********…”rigobert song – eat the grass.” Can you imagine what we’d have to listen to? – all over again! Actually I’d prefer Staunton and frank stapleton as joint-managers teaming up than houllier taking over. Rant over! "

You're going to listen to this guys opinion!!?

**Stuttgart88** · 18/01/2008, 2:01 PM

Originally Posted by DotTV

Personally I wouldn't take some begrudged Liverpool supporters opinion as a yardstick for our new manager.

Like Dion Fanning at the Indo!

My personal experience is that local Liverpool fans are a fair bunch whereas the irish Liverpool fans are less realistic. I'd also be curious who the Irish armchair Liverpool fans prefer to see do well, Liverpool or Ireland?

**Block G Raptor** · 18/01/2008, 2:06 PM

Agreed, I'm a life long LFC fan, and would love to see GH get the Ireland job. Ok so he didn't win the premiership. some of his buy's were disastrous but I believe that LFC was in a much better state when he left that when he took charge. He knows the game inside out
he's done very well domestically and in the Cl with lyon, and his dedication is unquestionable ffs he nearly died for liverpool and when most would have given up he came back. there is one pre-requisite to him getting the Job: I don't want Phil Thompson anywhere near the Irish squad. so long as GH doesn't want him as assistant I'd be very happy to have him

**Dr. Ogba** · 18/01/2008, 2:10 PM

Originally Posted by Block G Raptor

Agreed, I'm a life long LFC fan, and would love to see GH get the Ireland job. Ok so he didn't win the premiership. some of his buy's were disastrous but I believe that LFC was in a much better state when he left that when he took charge. He knows the game inside out
he's done very well domestically and in the Cl with lyon, and his dedication is unquestionable ffs he nearly died for liverpool and when most would have given up he came back. there is one pre-requisite to him getting the Job: I don't want Phil Thompson anywhere near the Irish squad. so long as GH doesn't want him as assistant I'd be very happy to have him

I think the Phil Thompson appointment was so that he would have someone with history at the club in his coaching team. If (big IF) Houllier was appointed I wouldn't be surprised to see someone Irish (say Chris Hughton for example) being drafted in in a similar fashion...

**Block G Raptor** · 18/01/2008, 2:12 PM

Originally Posted by Dr. Ogba

I think the Phil Thompson appointment was so that he would have someone with history at the club in his coaching team. If (big IF) Houllier was appointed I wouldn't be surprised to see someone Irish (say Chris Hughton for example) being drafted in in a similar fashion...

That's not a bad team when I think of it Houllier and Hughton, with Hughton to step up after WC2010 anyone

**harps1954** · 18/01/2008, 2:17 PM

Originally Posted by Block G Raptor

That's not a bad team when I think of it Houllier and Hughton, with Hughton to step up after WC2010 anyone

The other side of the coin is that Houllier and Brian Kerr are big buddies, so you could see Kerr as Houllier's assistant if he got the job.

**tetsujin1979** · 18/01/2008, 2:18 PM

Originally Posted by harps1954

The other side of the coin is that Houllier and Brian Kerr are big buddies, so you could see Kerr as Houllier's assistant if he got the job.

I think I remember reading that Houllier wanted Kerr to take over Liverpool's Academy, just before he took over the Ireland senior job

**colster** · 18/01/2008, 2:19 PM

Originally Posted by harps1954

The other side of the coin is that Houllier and Brian Kerr are big buddies, so you could see Kerr as Houllier's assistant if he got the job.

Don't think so. He might ask his opinion on Assistants and maybe use him as a scout or something.

**Block G Raptor** · 18/01/2008, 2:19 PM

Originally Posted by harps1954

The other side of the coin is that Houllier and Brian Kerr are big buddies, so you could see Kerr as Houllier's assistant if he got the job.

This Get's better and Better, although can you see Kerr coming back as assistant? s'pose venebles did it for England

**citizenerased** · 18/01/2008, 2:38 PM

doubt kerr would do it...considering all the crap and the way he was treated by the fai

reder · 18/01/2008, 3:01 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I got this from a Liverpudlian Liverpool fan, not an Irish armchair Liverpool fan who thinks it's their right to be successful:

I think Houllier would be an asset to any team hoping to reach a 7 or 8/10, although I suspect at the v. top end his potential for continued uplift is limited, possibly because of his own lack of playing pedigree and definitely because of his mistrust of flair in favour of a reliance on athletic grenadiers (Smicer, bewilderingly, excepted.) His teams are well prepared, fit, tactically organised and mentally strong.

At any other club his trophy haul at Liverpool, albeit in the lesser cups, would place him in their top three managers. I think Newcastle missed a trick in the summer by not getting him and, health problems in mind, he's probably got one more job in him.

As a red Liverpudlian, I hold no grudges towards the man and think he would be an excellent acquistion. I think some of the criticisms above are a bit strong but the overall sentiment is correct. I certainly wouldnt consider the FA or UEFA cups to be "lesser" cups. None of the other candidates come close to him in truth.

Pay little or no notice to the kneejerk nonsense that comes out of most Liverpool fans this side of the water. As I always say, when G.H. was managing us and we won the cup treble etc, how many of those knockers we crying and whinging or were they too celebrating the success.

Also the fact that he was Head of Technical development of the French F.A. before he joined Liverpool is an excellent bonus. The knowledge he could bring into irish football from his time in that position would be invaluable.

**Fergie's Son** · 18/01/2008, 3:24 PM

If, and this is a massive IF, he were given a wider mandate to initiate change throughout the system then yes, Houllier is the best choice by a country mile.