Houllier cracking the whip at Villa, but any more whippings like the one at Liverpool could land the Frenchman in hot water

By James Nursey in Mirror Football Blog

Published 22:09 06/12/10

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Gerard Houllier never wastes a chance to reminisce about Liverpool but he may wish to forget last night.

Villa’s boss had looked forward to his trip down memory lane at the Anfield club he supported and then managed.

Despite a poor run of just two wins in 11 games at Villa, Houllier was all smiles as strode back down Liverpool’s famous corridors.

He stood bolt upright in the visitors’ dug-out to soak up the strains of You’ll Never Walk Alone before kick-off.

Houllier still looks back with pride on his six-year Liverpool reign – particularly the Cup treble in 2001. But while he considers his spell successful, he has a huge job to bring silverware to Villa.

The manager still retains the support of players and fans but patience is wearing thin with Martin O’Neill’s successor, who is battling a raft of injuries.

The Carling Cup exit at Birmingham was galling and now they have been outclassed by a Liverpool side minus Steve Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Jamie Carragher.

So Villa’s players had better buy into Houllier’s revolution soon otherwise there could be a messy coup.

Houllier has shaken up Villa off the pitch by upping training and introducing strict disciplinary rules.

Use of mobile phones is now banned at the training ground – even in reception.

Ex-schoolteacher Houllier has also told his squad to cut non-football related conversation in training exercises.

And the boss hopes to get all players living near Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training HQ. Several, such as Stephen Warnock, commute from the North West or the London area, like Ashley Young.

Such attention to detail is admirable but the only way Villa are heading is backwards at this rate.

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