Houllier, I salute you.

For those who don't know, I'm a big fan of football, and an even bigger fan of Aston Villa.


We currently lie just one point off the relegation places, with the prospect of going down becoming bigger with each poor performance.


And that's what this season comes down to. The players have not been performing. There are fans calling for Houllier's head, and for what reason? Because he's made the players work for their wages? Because he wants the players to play his style of football, which I might add is a damn sight better than O'Neill's. The quality of the football has got much better, but what has always been lacking with Villa, even before Houllier came, is the killer finish at the end.


These fans who call for Houllier's head... Who do you propose comes in? Because Gary McAllister will play similar style football and tactics to Houllier. Maybe Rafael Benitez? Yeah, because he knows how to handle a relegation fight. Or perhaps Sam Allardyce? I'd love nothing more than to see this wonderful football team to become a group of mere thugs that break other players legs.


Houllier is putting in the style of football that gets a team that next step, into the champions league. I'll admit, it was mistimed to do it mid-season (But if our previous manager has the common decency to give us some notice then he would've had a pre-season to work with the players), but this is where the players have to vindicate their astronomical wages, by putting in the effort to make this new system work. But no, these players want to squabble and throw the toys out of the pram because they aren't getting what they want. I'm sorry, but considering most are on over 30 grand a year, it's (excuse my language) fucking ridiculous.


Next season, we'll be brilliant, if Houllier stays and we stay up. If Houllier goes now, we go down and have no plan for next season. If we stay up then Houllier goes, we have no plan for next season.


Besides all of this arguing whether he should stay or go, we only have a handful of games left this season. This is where only the real fans should be fans. The sort that stick with Villa through thick and thin, the sort that swallow their pride and get behind the manager when he needs our support most. You might not like him, you might not think he's the right man for the job, hell I think in the very distant future (4/5 seasons) he's not the right man, because unfortunately he's not in the best of health and I can't see him being at the club for that long.


So, I'd ask any Villa fans reading this to ask themselves a question. Do you support our current manager? If yes, great. If no, then are you enough of a fan to swallow your pride, stop bickering and calling for his head, and supporting this great club when it needs us most? If yes, then get yourself a ticket to the home game against Newcastle, and sing your hearts out like your lives depend on it, because our premier league lives DO depend on it.


And if you can't swallow your pride, and want to carry on calling for his head, then I put it to you that you're more a Birmingham City fan than you are a Villa fan, because you obviously don't support Aston Villa if you fall into this category, and you're effectively relegating us already.


We seem to have resided ourselves to defeat. Last I checked we're above the relegation places. If the season finished now, we'd be safe. There is still hope, and I think that on a good day we can beat every single one of the teams we have still yet to play. However, our best days come when our voices are loud, the players can hear that they have 40,000 people willing them on to have one of those days.


Look at White Hart Lane this season, it's been something of a cauldron every home game, because the fans are behind the team, behind the players, and behind the manager. Look what that's produced for them. Villa park can be like this. I've been there when we beat Chelsea, the title holders at the time, 2-0. When we got through to the carling cup final in the 7-4 aggregate win over Blackburn. When we stuffed the blues 5-1. We need that sort of atmosphere week in, week out, home and away, regardless of your stance on the manager.


So, coming back to the title. If by some miracle you are reading this, Mr. Houllier, then I salute you. To put up with the 'fans' chanting for you to be sacked, and to put up with it, well it's brilliant. You've made it obvious that you're shocked, but most men I know would've snapped by this point. You're doing the right thing here. You're changing the football for the better, you're giving the younger players a chance (lets be honest, under O'Neill Albrighton wouldn't have had a chance), and you're putting discipline into the changing room. Carry on doing what you're doing.


And a final message to all of the fans. I understand how angry you feel. I've also been at Villa park on some of our darkest days. Don't blame the manager, don't blame the players. Just support the team. Don't be critical, cynical or bitter, be proud of our great football club. We could be 3-0 down at home, but just sing your hearts our for the lads. I can imagine that there's nothing more punishing than to be losing, and to have 40,000 people shouting abuse at you.


I've waffled an awful lot here, but most of it is relevant in some form or another. Just one last tiny final word. Leave the finger pointing till after the season. It'll be much more useful then than it is now.