Not trying to stir up anything, just trying to see how we all feel... So, whether or not we make the CL, whether or not we go far in the UEFA Cup...etc, etc. Oh, and perhaps more importantly, is it worth the possibility that Cisse may not sign without GH??
Last I read, Cisse said he would sign no matter who the coach was. He also said that Liverpool was 'a good stepping stone'. Oh boy! I personally am a big fan of Houllier's and I hope he stays in the front office in some capacity. However, I think he may have to resign as coach. He isn't getting anything spectacular from the players right now. You can't lose two-nil to Southampton this late in the season.Especially with things at stake. If Newcastle wasn't crap this year, we would already be out of the running for the Champions League. I'm the first one to bring up the injuries that have crushed us this year, and continue to, but we need more heart. I'm very picky about the replacement though. I don't want to see some saucy foriegner arrive. That's the last thing we need. These guys have all the talent. We just need some steel and some confidence. I really hate to say this, but if we had that bastard SAF coaching us we probably would have pressured Arsenal for the title with this squad. Too many times we just have let ourselves down, it's getting ridiculous. No sustained will nor focus and we just cruise along because no other team has seized the oppurtunity to take fourth. My personal pick would be Strachan. I'd throw the kitty at him. But I would think he will be taking a year or two off, followed by taking over ManU after SAF leaves. Anyone got more insight than that on the matter? Allardyce or Curbishly? Does anyone know what their contract status is? Curbishly already lost Parker. Allardyce may be set to lose Okocha. To tell you the truth though, I have had more problems with Owen over the past 2 years than Houllier.
I'm waffling on this one. I know how much the club means to him, and how far he's brought Liverpool in his tenure. I also know that we have faded this year, and some of his managerial decisions leave one scratching the noggin in disbelief. We can't afford to get off to a bad start next season, so perhpas it would be best to get this sorted in the close season.
Yesterday's game says it all, there have been several games exactly like that all season. The team just shows up flat. They put you to sleep and at no point do you feel confident we will win. Its the most frustrating feeling as a fan. Over the last 2 seasons we have not established any consistency. When we looked at the squads before the season, most people honestly believed that we could compete with Arsenal and Man United. Take a look at the table. We are a joke. Quailfying for the Champions League should not save his job. All it shows it that Newcastle sucks worse than we do. Its time for a change. I think Cisse will come with or without Houllier, but that doesn't even matter. If we don't get Cisse there are other good strikers that can be bought in the transfer market.
Voted 'Yes' GH's contract ends June 2005 - I believe he had done enough for this club during his tenure to deserve his full contract being honoured. No, I'm not happy with some of his line-ups, players out of position, players out on loan, and bewildering backing of Owen. Nor am I happy with results or performances over the past year. However this is the man who nearly gave his life for LFC, rid us of the dead wood and Spice Boy culture, oversaw a new Academy and virtually new Melwood, built a whole new squad, restored pride back to the club and it's fans, won 6 trophies, 2 CL quals, a force in Europe once more and beat Man U 5 times in a row. Times may be hard over the past year, but he's been in sole charge since 99/00 season - 1 bad year against those good seasons surely deserves 1 more chance?
Over the past 18 months, we've had these GH debates, polls, etc. Each time I invent some convoluted standard that, if GH hasn't reached it by such-and-such a date, he should leave. Each time so far he's met that arbitrary standard. This time, I say again that he stays--especially if we get the fourth CL spot. Even if we don't, let's see how his new-boy Cisse does between now and Boxing Day 2004. I guess I've become less inclined to kick him upstairs, or whatever, over the past year or so, partly because I've probably gotten used to his eccentricities, but largely because I can't see a viable, realistic alternative. I think any successor has to be English or at least British (I may be wrong, but Scotsmen seem to have had unusual success in managing in the Prem of late.) I don't see anyone out there I'm thrilled about. I don't think Strachan would come; I have lost interest in Thommo moving up; Hoddle [NO]; O'Neil [see Hoddle]. Etc. BTW: Since Cisse was mentioned in the poll, and in other posts . . . did anyone else see the two sitters he missed yesterday in Auxerre's match? Hmmmm. Quite a "strike" pair we may have next year. ----
Don't read too much into that. Shevchenko has missed a host of sitters in recent weeks, and he's still the top scorer in Serie A. Cisse is going through a dry spell at the moment (just one goal in five weeks) but prior to February he was averaging nearly a goal a game. For most of this season he has seemed incapable of missing even half-chances.
Guilty as charged. Cisse will be a good acquisition, I think. I was actually sold on him three years ago when he tore up the Toulon tournament. I just accidentally left the sarcasm key in the locked position on my keyboard. FWIW, I am certain St. Michael will regain his form as well. ----
What exactly did he do in the Toulon tournament? My sarcasm detector was turned off. Or maybe I am just dull and humorless.
I think Houillier has made many of us restless in the last season and a half, but you have to look at what he has done in the past. Give him half of next season to work with his new signings and see where he is. I don't think our problem is in the quality of the players, but other things. Injuries have hurt us especially when Baros was out. Owen was working by himself (aka w/ Heskey) up front and got no service. By signing Cisse with already having Owen, Baros, FSP, and Heskey(Not sure where he will fit in, rumors about going to 'Boro??) we will have one of the top attacking units in the EPL. Back onto the subject of Managers. If Houillier does get fired or moved up stairs I think there are plenty of quality English Managers that could take over. Personally, I like Steve Bruce he has done wonders at Birmingham. Also Allardyce, Curbishley and others could work also.
Leading scorer in the 2001 tournament, IIRC. He was phenomenal. A man among boys. Can't seem to find a link with old match reports, though. Been there . . . ----
Tranmere Rovers would make one more season ticket sale this summer if that ever came to pass. On the topic at hand, I reserve judgement until the end of the season, as I have always said I would. If we make the CL, he gets one more season, if we do not, I would want him to walk away with his head held high and the sure knowledge that the real LFC fans that matter most to him and the club revere him for what he has done, but cannot whole-heartedly believe in his ability to do more than that.