Gerard Houllier is fighting losing battle after own goal at Liverpool

10 December 2010 13:42
It has become very easy for football people in the Premier League to hide themselves away. [LNB]They are ring-fenced from the press by press officers. They are kept away from the rank and file supporter as they embark on their journeys to and from stadia by pens, built especially for their club's coaches. [LNB]Why, at West Brom, punters are even dissuaded from heading to the training ground and waiting outside the gates for autographs. [LNB] Mounting pressure: Gerard Houllier smiles as he takes his seat against Liverpool at Anfield[LNB]    More from Neil Moxley... The Midlander: Carling Cup win would be FAN-tastic but try telling McLeish02/12/10 The Midlander: Nigel Clough may be the son of Brian but he's his own man25/11/10 THE MIDLANDER: Forget United... England's real academy is at Villa18/11/10 The Midlander: Billy's done a good job at Forest but he's playing a risky game11/11/10 THE MIDLANDER: The new, exciting Houllier looks a lot like the old dull one03/11/10 The Midlander: Eriksson is sharpening the knife for change at Leicester27/10/10 The Midlander: Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned... a Coventry fan21/10/10 The Midlander: Murphy jibe could be a break for under-fire McCarthy13/10/10 VIEW FULL ARCHIVEPersonally, I don't think it does the game any good. It takes the players another step further away from those whose interest pays their wages, whether it is via ticket-sales or television subscription.[LNB] But there are some feelings that transcend the security pens, press officers and gate-keepers employed by football clubs. And Gerard Houllier would do well to heed the level of ill-feeling generated by his antics at Anfield on Monday night. [LNB]Because, if it were possible to score a more horrible own goal, I'd like to have seen it. Other than running the length of the pitch when David Ngog headed in the opener, it is difficult to envisage a bigger embarrassment to Randy Lerner, the man who he has trusted with the management of his beloved football club.[LNB] It was interesting talking to Jonathan Fear, editor of the VitalVilla website about the meltdown afterwards. Of course, this all has to be put into context. I am well aware that it is very easy to take a snapshot of disgruntled supporters and think that it is the feeling of the overall majority. [LNB]But on the subject of Houllier, there were just 47 (forty-seven!) pages of unhappy supporters demanding the Frenchman's head. [LNB]Over two-thirds of a sample of almost 400 supporters weren't bothered whether he remains in situ or not. I'm not a statistician, but I'd say that was a pretty healthy number from which one could gauge opinion. [LNB]Fear forwarded one or two samples from his site to me. Obviously, a more extreme one is re-produced here, but I could have chosen any one of dozens. [LNB] It reads: 'I have been a supporter of Aston Villa for 52 years and if Gerard Houllier crawled on his hands and knees all the way from his beloved Liverpool to Villa Park, I wouldn't forgive him for what he did and said. In fact, I am so insulted by Houllier's continued connection to the club that I love, that I have decided to never set foot inside Villa Park again while he is still employed there.'[LNB] Enlarge Tribute: Liverpool fans hold up a banner to their former manager on Monday night[LNB] Personally, I can understand why Houllier's emotions got the better of him. However, I'd like to have seen a full and unreserved apology. Tuesday's statement was an insult. Spin. [LNB]I'm writing this 90 minutes before Houllier is due to appear before the press at his weekly conference. But even if he says sorry, I'm not too sure that the damage hasn't already been done. [LNB]Let's face facts. David O'Leary headed towards a slippery slope the day he accused Villa's fans of being fickle. Martin O'Neill tried to shove the debris from that ill-advised trip to Moscow behind him. But it was never forgotten. And Houllier really has messed with the emotions of a very disgruntled set of supporters here.[LNB] If he doesn't mount a huge and sustained public relations offensive towards them throughout the rest of his time in the manager's office, I can guarantee him one thing. This episode will dog him until the day that he leaves. [LNB] Under-fire boss Houllier wins vote of confidence from Aston Villa chiefs Houllier: I was only joking when I said losing at Liverpool was acceptable[LNB]  Explore more:People: Martin O'Neill, David O'Leary, Gerard Houllier, David Ngog Places: Moscow, Liverpool

Source: Daily_Mail