Houllier leaves Villa

[Shaggy]

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2011/05/31/birmingham-mail-exclusive-aston-villa-boss-gerard-houllier-to-leave-club-by-mutual-consent-97319-28792703/

GERARD Houllier will stand down as Villa boss by mutual consent this week after medical reports revealed it was too risky for him to return to duty.

Houllier and Villa have reluctantly decided the 63-year-old should vacate his position with immediate effect following his recent heart scare.

Chairman Randy Lerner and chief executive Paul Faulkner took the decision in conjunction with Houllier after listening to doctors’ advice.

It was felt it was not fair for Houllier or the club to risk aggravating the Frenchman’s heart condition with a high-pressure return to the dugout. Houllier’s doctors and Villa’s medical experts examined his test results over the weekend following his latest hospital appointment last Thursday.

Houllier has two-thirds of his £8 million three-year contract to run. A severance package has been discussed and Villa are expected to make an official announcement tomorrow.

He took over from caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald last September following Martin O’Neill’s shock eve-of-season resignation.

Rafa?

[Shaggy]

Villa fan on Facebook after I suggested Rafa might be their new boss.

"Rafa can **** off"

[IN_RAFA_WE_TRUST]

He's too good for that shower of ****e

[Exiled_red]

I think if it's Houllier's decision on medical grounds and he's going to retire then it's the right move IMO.

Rafa is the best manager Villa could hope to get IMO. The hatchet job that the press did on Rafa seems to mean most fans (of other clubs) don't rate him

[Shaggy]

Now arguing with three or four of them. All of them laugh in the face at the notion of appointing Rafa. Calling me "blinkered and deluded", saying he is "clearly **** and only worshipped by blinkered LFC fans cos he fluked a CL".

This despite the fact I told them that Houllier would be a catastrophe on the day he got the job.

Look at this - local press report doesn't even mention him as a candidate despite knowing he's looking for work!

http://bit.ly/iIxHj6

[Exiled_red]

I'm watching BBC Breakfast at the moment, they said Houllier was planning for next season, so from that it sounds like he isn't retiring from football but just being given the push from Villa.

[Lee]

I just hope Houllier now decides to retire from the day-to-day involvement in football for good. It's far too dangerous for him to carry on being a manager.

Villa fans laughing at Rafa? Incredible FFS. I'm not even sure where to start with that... Villa fans not wanting Rafa? Wind up.

[Roboklopp]

Makes me want him to take a job anywhere else in the Prem even less. He'll be on a hiding to nowt before he starts.

[dww]

Now arguing with three or four of them. All of them laugh in the face at the notion of appointing Rafa. Calling me "blinkered and deluded", saying he is "clearly **** and only worshipped by blinkered LFC fans cos he fluked a CL".

This despite the fact I told them that Houllier would be a catastrophe on the day he got the job.

Look at this - local press report doesn't even mention him as a candidate despite knowing he's looking for work!

http://bit.ly/iIxHj6

The thing is that there is the danger that the right man with the fans against him would be a bad situation. He needs to go to a club where the board and fans are on his side.

It's Villa's loss.

[Lee]

The thing is that there is the danger that the right man with the fans against him would be a bad situation. He needs to go to a club where the board and fans are on his side.

It's Villa's loss.

Good point.

The thing is you have to wonder where Villa fans get their opinions on Benitez. Is it because they have their own formed opinion, or is it because they read a few lines in the rags about him and decide to jump on the journo-bandwagon?

I think we all know the answer to that.

If Villa fans can't even make up their own minds about the man then **** them, they don't deserve him and their loss is another clubs' gain.

[Reece]

On a similar note, a Chelsea fan I work with said he'd rip up his season ticket if Rafa got the job there, and that he'd prefer Redknapp out of the two

[Lee]

Man alive.

[sitoca]

To be fair even some Liverpool fans don't rate Rafa. Well, they can all go **** themselves. Rafa deserve better!

Which brings to the question, which team fans would be behind Rafa?

[Tee]

To be fair even some Liverpool fans don't rate Rafa. Well, they can all go **** themselves. Rafa deserve better!

Which brings to the question, which team fans would be behind Rafa?

Valencia and Liverpool.

[Shaggy]

And that's about it. Hatchet job.