Houllier at Villa

[CJ]

hasnt he just blamed the leaky goals on the zonal defence that MON left behind.

i dont remember sky going on about villa and zonal marking much.

[Shaggy]

I see Houllier has now given away Delfouneso on loan to Burnley ...Villa fans going off their heads

And he scored on his debut tonight

[Chazza]

Loaned out Barry Bannan to Leeds and Defouneso to Burnley for the rest of the season

Not exactly endering himself to the fans in the process and also taking a risk as the squad is hardly packed full of experienced 1st team players

[Chazza]

I see Houllier has now given away Delfouneso on loan to Burnley ...Villa fans going off their heads

And he scored on his debut tonight

**** me we are like one brain!

[Shaggy]

He also sent Brad Guzan to Hull. He's ****ing potty.

[Rudo]

He'll not be at Villa beyond the summer, surely not?

When the fans are against ya, you're snookered.

[Baracus]

The Owner likes him. He'll get until December

[Kenneth]

Isn't it conceivable that they could get relegated? Possible, although I haven't seen their run in.

[Chazza]

Isn't it still conceivable that they could get relegated?

They could certainly get dragged right into it although Blackburn and Blackpool etc are in freefall at the minute so that will save them

An injury to Bent would leave them in the ****. Agbonlahor and Heskey would need to fire them to safety

[Drago]

Set a lot of the ground work for 05 and won us the treble. I don't understand the hate some liverpool fans have for him tbh.

[Chazza]

Possibly blown out of proportion but still doesnt look to clever

Aston Villa investigate club-bonding day that ended in a player fracas

• Confrontation is latest incident in a troubled season
• Manager Gérard Houllier had already departed

Aston Villa's troubles on and off the pitch show no sign of coming to an end, with the news that two of the club's players have become involved in a heated exchange during a team-bonding exercise. It is understood that the players had been drinking and, although there is no suggestion that punches were thrown, it is a measure of how seriously Villa view the incident that they have launched an internal investigation.

It is just about the last thing the club's manager, Gérard Houllier, needs at a time when Villa are in a relegation battle and when unrest among the club's supporters is festering, after the Frenchman's controversial decision to field a weakened team in an FA Cup fifth-round tie against Manchester City last week. Houllier has strong views on how players should conduct themselves and he will be particularly disappointed that two members of his squad have behaved so badly, especially at an event that was organised to boost morale.

With no fixture this weekend, Houllier decided to take the players away to a luxury hotel and spa in Leicestershire, in midweek, for a change of scenery and to improve team spirit. The players took part in a paintballing exercise during the day but in the evening things threatened to get out of hand when, after dinner and out of sight of the public, two of the squad became involved in a heated row.

A source said: "Two players who were pissed up had a frank exchange of views."

Houllier was present during the day but travelled to London, with Gary McAllister, his assistant, to watch Tottenham Hotspur play Milan in the Champions League in the evening. He was made aware of the confrontation, which the club will investigate before deciding whether to take disciplinary action.

"The club is aware that there has been an incident," a Villa spokesman said. "We have launched an investigation in line with our internal disciplinary procedures."

Villa have had several off-the-field issues this season. The striker John Carew, who is now on loan at Stoke, had a disagreement with Houllier in November; Richard Dunne clashed with McAllister on the training ground in December and was dropped from the starting team; and Stephen Ireland – currently on loan at Newcastle – Stephen Warnock and Habib Beye have also fallen out with Houllier.

Elsewhere Sunderland will offer the Egypt midfielder Ahmed Elmohamady a permanent deal at the end of the season. The 22-year-old has been on loan at the Stadium of Light since last summer.

"Ahmed has been a pleasure to have around the place since he joined us," said the Sunderland manager, Steve Bruce. "He's a great professional, has settled into the club and is keen to learn."

The West Ham midfielder Kieron Dyer has rejoined his first club, Ipswich Town, on loan for a month. Dyer has made 13 appearances for West Ham this season.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...-confrontation

[Shaggy]

Ten games from immortality?

"The hostility is completely new but I can live with that," added Houllier. "This is what happens when you don't get the results."

Houllier, who felt Villa were unfortunate not to score an equaliser, is adamant that Villa will survive the drop despite their latest setback.

"I told the players we have eight Champions League games left to play," said Houllier. "I think we will do it. I am convinced we have everything it takes.

"We have quality in the team but at the moment it just doesn't go our way. I think the boys tried hard, created enough chances to at least get an equaliser.

"We hit the bar [through Ashley Young] and I was told there was a penalty but we are going through a difficult period at the moment. We had a lot more corners than them also.

"I think today we deserved an equaliser. Like I said, I understand the fans' frustration and everyone is concerned about the fact we are going through a tough period."

[-V-]

Don't you just love deluded managers who just can't understand that they themselves are the problem and not whether the squad is good enough

[anfieldanfield]

I think he'll be given the summer to put his own stamp on the squad.

[RedProf]

I like Ged, he did us proud in his heyday with us, but everything has a shelf life. When times got tough post 2002, I remember the saying - we needed a general but we were stuck with an administrator. I think the same can be said for Villa right now. Ged should have taken retirement post Lyon, for his healths sake if nothing else.