Villa: Is Houllier to blame?

Friday, 25/03/2011

by Steven Green, Shoot's Aston Villa blogger

There is no denying that Aston Villa are firmly lodged in a relegation battle but why is a squad who have finished sixth for the past three seasons struggling so much?

Martin O’Neill’s departure just five days before the start of the season disrupted what should have been a busy summer.

The sale of James Milner to Man City us them hard and the arrival of Stephen Ireland, the club's only summer import, didn’t have the impact everybody hoped for.

Inconsistent results followed and didn’t stop when Gerard Houllier stepped in to take the helm. An appointment that divided the fans straight down the middle but is Villa’s poor season just down to him?

The Frenchman will admit to faults and errors of judgment during his turbulent reign but to lay blame squarely at his feet would be unfair.

He came in with his own ideas and has tried to instil a new philosophy into the players. A recent January spending spree has given fans an insight into his long-term vision for the club.

Houllier can also be largely credited with the rise to prominence of speedy winger Marc Albrighton.

A popular opinion amongst fans is that he tried to change too much too soon and perhaps they’re right to a certain extent.

The club's under-performing stars also deserve their fair share of criticism for performances on the pitch and poor attitude off it.

Just last week when the squad were sent to a day spa for a team building exercise, tempers flared and centre back duo Richard Dunne and James Collins were involved in a row with some members of Villa’s coaching staff.

For Dunne this surely paves his way out of the club after clashing with Gary McAllister earlier in the season.

The incident has since led to Houllier rewriting the club's disciplinary rules, a further change that the players are sure to disagree with.

A hostile crowd saw the side go down 1-0 to Wolves at Villa Park last weekend, where a banner was unfurled rallying against Houllier. Certainly both parties are to blame for the results and low morale.

Players such as Ashley Young, Petrov, Dunne, Reo-Coker, Collins, Warnock and Friedel will most likely move on during the summer and we will have to find the motivation from somewhere ito rescue something from this lacklustre season.

For all the doom and gloom around the club it would serve them well to remember that a few decent results could see them in the top half of the table.

Houllier could be just what Villa need… next season.

If he is still there in the summer he’ll have the time to change things the way he wants but for now it seems it’s a case of right man, wrong time.

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