Modo has been talking bollocks throughout the thread, and you've just about managed begrudged acknowledgement while playing down most of what he did, and bigging up what Rafa did (no surprise there), the money argument being the perfect example.
But secondly I really don't think Houllier deserves to be in that company. Personally I never thought he was up to that much - the main caveat being how much his illness changed him, which we can never really know. He had a reasonable amount of success, but I still don't think people realise quite the scale of his spending, and he was lucky to have Gerrard emerge on his watch. And the football was often unwatchable.
Maybe only Houllier could take a team to Barca for the first time in 25 years and make you want to go to sleep.
I barely remember us going past the halfway line at the Nou Camp in 2001. Ultimately it wokred, so that's all that really matters, but it was a pussy's way to play.
Caution is good, utter fucking negative cowardice.... well let's just say it worked that time. Barca weren't even a particularly good side at that point, certainly not in the same league as the one Benitez beat 2-1 in 2007.
and let's not forget this patronising bullshit:
Well the things is certain people seriously dislike Rafa, even hate him, so it's not really a rational debate. I suppose what annoys me most is why that same treatment never seems to get meted out to other, inferior, ex-managers as well. I think the answer is probably that people really resent that some fans love him, and so they take it out on him.
