CVByrne

Fergie signed Djemba Djemba, Kleberson, Forlan and Veron, all failures but he'd earned the time to make ammends of course. All managers make mistakes in the transfer market and many times it's not their fault. Veron was a fantastic footballer and still is, player of the year he won again in South America, he just didn;t work in the Prem.

OT but Alpay was a fantastic signing Alpay Barry and Mellberg. Good defence that was.

I am brilliant, thanks for the cookie Houllier just made 3 bad signings in 2002 summer, Diouf, Diao and Cheyrou. The fact all 3 were bought the same summer and he also persisted with a man pretending to be a footballer in Traore along with the modern view of Heskey gives him a bad rep in the transfer market. He'd done well for the first 3/4 years before the 2002 world cup. EDIT: Stupid cookie picture made me hungry. I'm now eating an M&S chock chip cookie.

Raver the point is many supporters turn on managers and pick at little things like transfers, tactics etc.. despite the fact they know **** all about football management. The smart people accept the flaws with the merits. All managers have them, even Houllier. But even if he does well people will turn on him and he'll be gone in the usual mangerial window of less than 4/5 years. Once you accept that, then it's a little easier to get by in the latter years of a manager reign. Personally I support all our managers unless they go downhill badly. I only turned on DOL during his final season in charge. I was more praying for us to avoid relegation during GT mk2 than turning on him. I never turned on Gregory, Little or Ron. Was too young to have much hate before that.

Also Benzema became a regular first team player under Houllier. Though it's not hard to play a player as talented as him.

and Arsenals new signing Squillaci.

Anyone that is breathing knows not to play Osbourne. Some dead people also.

Houllier will have read up on Villa for sure. I bet he still watches the Premiership. He's football mad they say. He'll know not to play Osbourne

He signed a 4 year deal in 2006, so I'd say there was a contract extension beyond 2011. Also he is 6 foot EDIT: He signed a contract extension in 2008 until 2013. We'll have to fork over a club record fee to get him me thinks.

I'd love if he brought in Toulalan, really rate him and GH signed him for Lyon

That was a fun season, especially the run at the end. Unfortunately it was never the same once Barry got tapped up by Benitez. Didn't we draw 4-4 with Spurs and Chelsea and beat Blues 5-1. Crackin fun to be had.

He sold Heskey because he became shit, I wouldn't worry too much

Can't wait to see what team he picks.

Thanks Dirk, that sounds simple. How would I use Kies then to get the Froyo update when it comes out later this month? I may just be best waiting for Froyo then rooting. You want to see the trouble it was to root an X10. I think they might have a better method for it now. Incidently, how can you unlock an X10? I want to unlock it and sell it to my mate who's on a different network.

Did we score 71 goals 3 years ago in the League, only 3 less than Arsenal? Was that not entertaining? I love the rewriting of history that goes on.

**** that. I'm sending in our poll results to football 365 tomorrow morning asking where sky sports people are getting their damn poll results from.

To be honest it's the level of trouble it takes to root the x10 that has put me off doing it. I'm sure it's a lot easier to do on the galaxy s. But it still voids your warranty doesn't it?

I mentioned in my f365 mail today "despite media reports he has got a 90% approval rating in a poll on one villa message board" The VT word is out people, don't worry

This is what I concluded about many peoples opinion, you're far from the only person to do First opinions are based on little info and a lot of preconceptions and a good dose of emotion. Some people blindly stick to their first opinion rather than admit they were hasty, I've been hasty quite a bit in the past month. But real opinion comes after considered reflection

I know we'll likely have some money to spend but it's good to pretend we're broke and hence get better value for players when we buy them.

My mail from Football 365 Mailbox

very true, but he could've just said nothing

someone said he has already praised him in a Norwegian news paper a couple of days ago.

To be fair the question was are you happy with his appointment. It's fair enough that some are not happy. I'm glad it's a low number because we need to support our new manager.

I'm actually excited with what he can do with this team. Basically he's got this team for the season with maybe a signing in January but nothing big enough to make a huge impact. January is very hard to make signings in.