Why Gerard Houllier's Liverpool love-in was a massive mistake

By Mark Lawrenson

Published 07:02 11/12/10

• 

Gerard Houllier made a huge mistake this week - and may even be regretting getting back into management.

Houllier did a good job at Liverpool, had nothing to prove and was well liked at the French Football Federation who didn’t want to lose him.

So why risk all of that to take the Aston Villa job? It’s a strange one because if Houllier thought club management was cut throat when he left Liverpool then it’s ten times worse now.

This week has also really turned up the heat on Houllier. Liverpool fans gave him a wonderful reception and, in the build-up to the game at Anfield, Houllier was also happy to take the credit for the 2005 Champions League success.

Houllier deserves the credit too. The majority of the players were signed by him and Houllier’s best team would have beaten the team Rafa Benitez created and left behind.

But then to go back, touch the This Is Anfield sign, milk the applause and, worst of all, talk so glowingly about Liverpool after losing was a mistake.

When asked about Liverpool, Houllier should have said: “It’s great to come back but I’d like to apologise to the Villa fans who made the trip for this defeat.” Simple.

Instead, Houllier succeeded in getting the fans’ backs up. It’s difficult when you have such affection for a club but fans expect you to be 100 per cent committed to their club. I’m sure Houllier is. But don’t give them ammunition.

It has been a difficult start for Houllier, particularly on the back of what’s gone before. Villa moved the goalposts in the summer.

Martin O’Neill went, James Milner was sold and Villa condemned themselves to a struggle with no serious investment on new players rather than a push for the Champions League places.

No wonder Villa find themselves in the bottom six and in a scrap. Who will be next to go? Ashley Young? Gabriel Agbonlahor?

Villa have also been hit by injuries which has made it tough. Stiliyan Petrov, Emile Heskey and so on.

That has prompted Houllier to bring in the kids and, at the same time, by making that statement in some ways you are buying yourself time, trying to lower expectations and yet it doesn’t appear to be working.

Villa’s kids aren’t of the grade of Manchester United’s golden generation of Scholes, Giggs, Nevilles and Beckham. That’s when you can bring in four or five at a time. You can’t do it and get results with Villa.

Suddenly, you have Barry Bannon, Jonathan Hogg, Ciaran Clarke and Marc Albrighton playing most weeks. In terms of being a top player, Albrighton is the outstanding prospect. He can play either side, is quick and very effective.

Bannon could be a good player. But few players can get away with being so small. Lionel Messi can. But Bannon will have to improve a lot to make up for his lack of physical strength.

Hogg and Clarke still have to a lot to prove. It’s even harder to do that in a struggling team.

It’s only going to get harder now for Houllier. Which begs the question why he came back. He did a good job at Liverpool. He didn’t need the money, he was busy in France and yet came back to a club in transition. It’s odd.

We know that Villa have changed their ambitions. It will be hard for Houllier to match O’Neill’s achievements and therefore he’s on a bit of a hiding to nothing.

I like Gerard as a person. I don’t always agree with his football philosophy which is get men behind the ball, and his view that the glass is always half empty rather than half full.

You don’t get time in management now. With Twitter and phone-ins, the fans can be quick off the mark to call for the manager’s head.

I think Villa will be fine this season. Houllier will turn it round. But what is alarming is that Villa have become a nice, easy team to play against.

At Birmingham in the Carling Cup, they played some nice football but Birmingham just kept going. Never gave up and in the end found little resistance.

Villa didn’t have a grit, determination or a tough underbelly. It was all too easy and Houllier must quickly address that.

He needs new players in January to rebuild and form his own team, squad and vision. The really tough part for Houllier is whether he will be afforded that luxury.

That may be an indicator as to how Houllier’s future will pan out at Villa Park. It would be good to see him do well but heartbreaking to see it go badly because that would tarnish some great memories and a very good managerial reputation.

Fancy winning £3,000 for FREE this month? Play Mirror Football Streak for your chance to win cash prizes! Start predicting now!