Carra: Houllier's my top boss

[DannyMan2006]

Although when people have criticised Houllier in the past a lot of them have said that the designs were begun (and it is sometimes said almost complete) before Houllier arrived. It certainly seems possible that he might have influenced the facilities provided but not strategic decisions like the locations.

Ahh, fair enough. I can't remember far enough back to debate, just going on what I read. Strange he was always heavily credited if he had little impact.

[DannyMan2006]

Crazy as this sounds, and despite the number of trophies he won, I will always blame Houllier for killing the basic footballing philosophy of this club. At least under Roy Evans we played some great stuff and still came close to winning the league the Liverpool way.

Under Houllier, for years we were absolutely awful to watch and our football was anti-football, **** on a stick or whatever you want to call it. We still have not recovered from what he did to us IMO.

You could be right.

[Imy]

Although when people have criticised Houllier in the past a lot of them have said that the designs were begun (and it is sometimes said almost complete) before Houllier arrived. It certainly seems possible that he might have influenced the facilities provided but not strategic decisions like the locations.

Just read the article where Comolli says that in the long term Liverpool and the academy may move to a joined facility (which makes a lot of sense).

[Lecter]

Liverpool FC's Jamie Carragher insists treble win under Gerard Houllier was bigger than Istanbul
Dec 6 2010 by James Pearce, Liverpool Echo

Comments (6)Recommend 123next
JAMIE CARRAGHER insists winning the treble under Gerard Houllier in 2001 was an even bigger achievement than lifting the European Cup in Istanbul four years later.

The Liverpool defender will have to sit out tonight’s clash against Houllier’s Aston Villa at Anfield as he recovers from surgery on his dislocated shoulder.

But Carragher believes everyone connected with the club owes a debt of gratitude to Houllier for helping to restore the Reds’ reputation on the continent.

Carragher was part of the 2001 UEFA Cup-winning side which followed triumphs in the finals of the League Cup and FA Cup.


“Gerard put us back on the map in Europe with that UEFA Cup run in 2001,” he said.

“He was also the first manager to get us into the Champions League.

“The treble in 2001 is definitely under-appreciated. That season was unbelievable. To win a trophy in a season is a great thing. To win three?

“It’s not just the finals. You’ve got the quarter-finals and the semi-finals – they’re all massive games. Everything is on a knife-edge. Lose one game and it all falls apart.

“The treble is actually a better achievement than Istanbul. Istanbul as a one off will never be beaten by anyone but someone wins the Champions League every year.

“To win three cup competitions in one season – that’s not something that happens very often, not just at Liverpool but anywhere.”

Carragher believes Houllier also deserves some praise for the Reds’ remarkable Champions League success under Rafa Benitez in 2005.

Some 12 of the 14 Liverpool players involved that night were signed or nurtured by the Frenchman, who was in Istanbul to share the triumph with them.


“Don’t get me wrong – the players and Rafa, it was our team,” Carragher added.

“But a lot of the players Gerard brought through played a major part in Istanbul. He’s got to take some of the credit.

“Whenever a manager leaves it’s because things haven’t gone too well towards the end – it was the same with Rafa Benitez.

“But what Gerard left was winners in the team. He didn’t inherit a team of winners.


“Even though the team wasn’t doing too well, there were players in the squad who knew how to win trophies.

“Myself, Sami (Hyypia), Stevie (Gerrard), Michael (Owen), Didi (Hamann), John Arne Riise. All these players had played in major finals. That made Rafa Benitez’s job a bit easier coming in – he had players who knew how to win.”

Carragher says Houllier also left a legacy in terms of eradicating the booze culture at Anfield and improving training facilities.

The centre-back, who recently clocked up his 650th appearance for the Reds, believes he wouldn’t still be playing without Houllier’s guidance.

“The club and the team he came to was maybe set in its ways from the old days; going out drinking and enjoying your wins,” he said.

“He certainly put a stop to that and he was certainly proved right by the success he had in his first few seasons.

“When we won the treble in 2001 – that’s when the penny finally dropped.


“After the FA Cup final, no one was allowed a drink even though we had won – and we went on to win the UEFA Cup final. These things make a difference.

“The fact I’m still playing now, and you look at Danny Murphy, Stevie, Michael Owen, (Emile) Heskey - all those players from back then are still playing around the 30 mark or over. A lot of that is down to the manager.

“It probably wouldn’t have been possible (to play 650 games) without the advice he gave me off the pitch.

“He’s someone who came in just after Arsene Wenger and revolutionised English football in terms of how we look after ourselves. He was the biggest influence on my career because of what I won with him, how he influenced me as a player and what he gave me off the pitch.”


Houllier’s progress at Anfield was halted by heart problems in October 2001. He rushed back five months later but couldn’t turn the Reds from challengers into champions.

In the last two years of his tenure his signings failed and he was sacked in May 2004 but Carragher insists he will get the warm reception he deserves at Anfied tonight.

“He came back too soon (after heart surgery),” Carragher said. “Obviously it didn’t help him that summer when he made certain decisions but for the first three or four years he was the best manager I’ve had.

“There were signings that didn’t work but look at Sami Hyypia – what a signing he was. Markus Babbel, Didi Hamann, Stephane Henchoz, Gary Mac – these signings.

“Look at what Heskey did in the treble season, the way he made me and Danny Murphy better players and brought Steven Gerrard through.”



Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...#ixzz17KDpSGcL

[Vermilion]

Not a view shared by Liverpool Fans. imo.

[Lecter]

Although when people have criticised Houllier in the past a lot of them have said that the designs were begun (and it is sometimes said almost complete) before Houllier arrived. It certainly seems possible that he might have influenced the facilities provided but not strategic decisions like the locations.

The Academy opened in 1998 and Houllier only arrived tht year so its safe to say he had little or no input into that

As for redesigning Melwood I have definitely read somewhere that the plans were already submitted and approved prior to Houlliers appointment so anything he did in that department was probably tweaking at best

[Arn]

A few years ago Carra would probably put the club before himself but not any more. The rushed through contract before the change of ownership proves that Carra is now just any other player, foreign or English. He thinks about himself first now and the club second.

He loves the club but he now puts himself first. What would probably have happened if Rafa stayed? Carra would be in his last season and probably benched a lot more.

We now have the ultimate dream manager for Carra. One that plays to the few strengths he got left.

He loves the club and the city but he also acts like a selfish **** just as most players do. Carra is no special any more. He was that a few years ago.

[Arn]

The Academy opened in 1998 and Houllier only arrived tht year so its safe to say he had little or no input into that

As for redesigning Melwood I have definitely read somewhere that the plans were already submitted and approved prior to Houlliers appointment so anything he did in that department was probably tweaking at best

He changed what the players was allowed to do off the pitch. That is his biggest legacy. No more late nights etc...

[red g]

Carragher should know we exist or did to win Major trophies

Champions League
Premier league.


The rest are an added bonus, but no combination of others match one of the above imo.

[Exiled_red]

Although when people have criticised Houllier in the past a lot of them have said that the designs were begun (and it is sometimes said almost complete) before Houllier arrived. It certainly seems possible that he might have influenced the facilities provided but not strategic decisions like the locations.

Wasn't the academy only opened/completed in 1998 which was the year Houllier arrived. So it's questionable how much input he had into it's (initial) development.

Edit: I should have read the rest of the thread before commenting. Lecter wrote the same thing earlier

[Shaggy]

IIRC we had a season of seeing Biscan at centreback, grim times indeed.

And Diao at centre back away at Valencia when Rafa's team absolutely annihilated us.

[Shaggy]

Liverpool FC's Jamie Carragher insists treble win under Gerard Houllier was bigger than Istanbul

He's entitled to his opinion but I'm entitled to laugh at it

[Drago]

Wouldn't surprise me if he knows the ****e that's been talked about him and is now intentionally winding the **** out of those people

[Robbie-fowler999]

I think this whole issue about Carragher is uncalled for. He has earned the right to express his opinion. Its a ****ing opinion , not necessarily true and accurate but hes entitled to say his ****ing opinion. Our fans are becoming a disgrace

[Fredo]

I think this whole issue about Carragher is uncalled for. He has earned the right to express his opinion. Its a ****ing opinion , not necessarily true and accurate but hes entitled to say his ****ing opinion. Our fans are becoming a disgrace

We're entitled to dismiss his opinions as well.