I have to say that in the first half we were without passion, fight, tactics, skill, passing ability, organisation, and we were totally clueless and outclassed. The second half was better in every respect although it was way too little, too late. If we cannot be bothered to play for 90 minutes then a relegation scrap is likely. If we are in the bottom 6 at the beginning of Feb, as I predicted several weeks ago, then you have to question whether we have the bottle and desire to fight for our place in the league based on recent performances.

UTV SOTC

Sat, especially 1st half, was probably the worst I've seen us play for a few years.

I still have faith in Houllier and I understand he needs to build his own squad, but a few more performances like that and the Holte End will begin to turn. We were clueless.

We haven't had the bottle for 14 years mate.

Man Utd are knocked out the carling cup. Here's a chance for the team to prove something in this cup at least. It's been an overall rubbish season so far, so I hope they don't let us down tommorow.

Come on Villa! *crosses fingers*

So, will you lot be supporting your fellow Midlanders in the semi-finals?

Anyone else not really hopeful tonight? I've pretty much lost faith in Houllier. He seems more exciting at going to Anfield than actually winning a game for us tonight. If this becomes his fourth lost streak, then the wages his on doesn't justify this. I don't care about the excuses regarding the injuries now, the money his earning should reflect on how good he is as a manager with the limited resources his on.

I agree there. All I've heard from him is how he's looking forward to his warm reception at Anfield. Of course he's looking forward to his return, but he's mentioned nothing about us winning. If we do win tonight (which I don't expect) all will be forgiven.

I'm not prepared to write Houllier off yet. In his defence, I think some of our performances under him have been pretty good, but we've just not managed to get the results. I'm not happy with where we are at the moment, but I'm prepared to give him until after January to bring in a few players and mould his own team before I start calling for his head.

BrumBall, to answer your question...not a chance!

I've found myself less interested in watching Villa now. Yes, the performance has become more entertaining, but what really counts and gives me the thrill is the results. I've found myself less caring about the losses now, where as before I was always pissed off.

People can say what they like about MON, but he brought new life into Villa and kicked us back into shape. He won all the derby matches against the scum and I don't recall him ever losing 3 matches in a row in his Villa lifetime. Houllier has managed it in 2 months, flipping disgrace. I've been a defender of him, but his excitement about hoping for a good welcome from the Liverpool fans is just bizzare. Not once has he mentioned our fans or how we're gonna win tonight. He always seems to mention Liverpool, so why doesn't he just get lost if his heart isn't in it at our club.

I'm reading dreading rumours that we could be signing Owen. Now I know he has a bad reputation of transfers, but that's low even for him. I'm sure he'll be a complete write off by many fans if he does purchase him or any bad choices.

Can you just imagine if he lost the next 3 games? That would be 6 in a row and surely there can be no excuses regardless of injures etc.? It's not like our current group of fit players are championship material. Flipping hell, we could be in death zone if he doesn't win at least one this month.

Torres has been ruled out as his wife is away into labour. Fantastic.

2-0 already. No excuses. Thank flip I'm not wasting my time watching the match.

After tonight, I'm starting to agree with you regarding Houllier. He doesn't look like he gives a shit.

I'm hearing that Jol has left Ajax. Hope we can somehow bring him in soon...he's the manager I wanted at the start of the season. Bet he goes to Newcastle though.

You're possibly right about Jol going to Newcastle. But that raises more questions to our board. How come Newcastle managed to get him, where as us being top 6 candiates for 3 years running couldn't manage it.

They should look at how they've managed Villa since MON's departure and hand in their notice. Jol could have been snatched up before the transfer window, we would have had the players we needed and we could be at top flight. Instead, everything has balls up with the injuries and that's what you get when we buy **** all. The players don't look happy playing with Houllier, they seem really hopeless now - wtf has happened to Dunne etc.? and us fans are losing faith in him rapidly. 4 losses in a row shouldn't be tolerated.

I said all along that those Yanks screwed the Villa in the summer. It is clear they waited until the window closed before bringing in a cheap replacement. They have well and truely ****ed the VIlla over. No doubt to earn thousands of interest on the JM money.

I think it's becoming clear why MON departured. We have a bunch of clowns running our club.

As a Gooner I love Robert Pires to bits but it's a massive flight of fancy to think he can still do a job in this league.

Been saying that for ages mate.

I always thought it was a conspiracy. I mentioned it a few pages back after we got knocked out of Europe.

I would be pleased if we got rid of Houllier tommorow and brought in Chris Hughton. I cannot see it happening though because then that'll just show they truly ****ed up and we don't wanna see their egos hurt do we?

Nice to know Houllier touched the "This is Liverpool" sign before and during half time. He then waved infront of the cameras at the Liverpool fans whilst ignoring the Villa fans.

Laughable.

Houllier's Premiership record since he has taken over at Villa.

Played - 11
Won - 2
Drawn - 4
Lost - 5

10 points from a possible 33.

16th place in the table, two points off a relegation spot.

Add to that the loss to Birmingham in the Carling Cup and one comes to the conclusion that Houllier isn't up to the job.

I cannot see us winning any games after tonight. Even if we had our fully fit squad back, I can't see us picking more than 3 points this month. Dark times ahead.

Looks like the players on the pitch were truly exposed tonight. MON's biggest quality was that he brought the best out of subpar players and it's showing. Apart from our youngsters, I don't wanna see the others in a Villa shirt again.

How can any Villa fan get behind Houllier after this alarming comment:

"It's difficult to say but I prefer to lose 3-0 to Liverpool because I like Liverpool"

Why would OUR manager prefer to lose to any team his against. I hope the Villa board know they've hired a man with no passion towards our club. Massive golf clap all round.

I really don't give a toss what he does now. He obviously doesn't give a damn about our club and it's reflecting the players attitude. Awful stuff, just awful. Worst Villa season in my lifetime.

Eurgh, sorry for the triple post, but I was browsing the Villa Talk forum abit and I think you guys need to see this:

"At the end of the game he clapped the Liverpool fans and didn't give two monkeys ****s about the 1500 or so of us that had to ensure that tripe but still out sung the kop."

"I was there mate and have said the very same thing, in the ****ing cold weather we had not only a shit team to watch but OUR manager applauding the Kop, for that reason he should go!"

"Our away support as ever was tremendous not in number tonight but certainly in voice. The fact he was more interested in acknowledging the Liverpool fans really hurt me. Say what you like about the ex manager but as far as the away support was concerned the man always went out of his way to acknowledge us, praised us to the hilt and genuinely appreciated us. This f***er doesn't give two monkeys."

"You know what hurts as well though. I'm just back from Anfield and at the end of 90 mins of gutless tripe and having still out sung the kop from start to finish the manager was more interested in acknowledging the Liverpool fans with a clap and a wave than acknowledging his own teams fans. It was disrespectful and an absolute disgrace."

His gotta be gone before the end of this year. Simple as. I can't see how any fan would get behind a manager after actions like that. Right I'm off to bed, :yawn:

That performance tonight reminded me of the David O'Leary era - no passion, no desire, no tactical awareness, nothing. Just nothing. The only positives for tonight was the performances of Hogg, Delfouneso and to a lesser extent Downing. The 4-5-1 formation has not been working for a while, so why keep using it? Dunne, Collins and Warnock have gone from a solid unit to becoming a liability, now Cuellar is fit, and Lichaj is in the squad, why not replace two of the three?

I have been pro Houllier and thought he would come good what with the problems we have had with injuries, but tonight was a dreadful performance, shocking even. GH is there to spur the team on, tell them what to do, and considering Liverpool had three of their best players out, we could have come away with something even three points. I believe Houllier was more interested in meeting up with his old mates and basking in the ambiance of Anfield that anything else.

I will give GH more time, the transfer window is open in just over three weeks and hopefully there will be some signings that can help the squad as it needs improving asap. But if results stay the same, then the games involving Sheffield United and small heath in the New Year will make or break him. If he loses those two, then it's going to be one hell of a uphill struggle after that.

One thing I have just thought of, considering some of the attitude's of tonight's team - has Houllier already lost the dressing room? Dunne, Carew and Ireland looked as if they could not be bothered at times.

Although I have thought that the appointment of GH was a mistake from day 1, I have always said that he needs to be given a chance to prove the doubters wrong. However, the combination of yet another abject performance with no passion from the players, GH's love in with Liverpool and their fans and the current availability of Martin Jol then I have changed my mind. I know we won't go for Martin Jol and more's the pity.

That is absolutely appalling. I completely understand that he has fond memories of Liverpool, and I do not begrudge him an emotional return, but it was clear that last night and yesterday in general, his only priority was Liverpool rather than Villa. After reading that and seeing the performance last night, he's lost my support. I do not believe he is the right man to turn our club around.


Carew has previous bad history with Houllier at Lyon (it was him who swapped Carew for Baros four years ago), and they've already had a bust up. I'm not convinced Ireland ever really wanted to be here...Houllier criticising him will not have helped matters. As for Dunne, he's gone from being our strongest player last season to one of our worst. Only thing that's changed is the manager. Same can be said of Warnock and Ash Young, both have been a shadow of last season. It would be fair to say that Houllier does not have total control of the dressing room.