Firstly - to put the matter beyond doubt - I have to make it clear that I wish Gerard Houllier all the very best and a speedy recovery. He is clearly a very sincere man who has put his whole heart into turning things around at Villa Park and it is most unfortunate that he has to suffer in this way.
The key question is, though, why is it that his health has so slumped? I somehow cannot think that it's simply through the rigours of running a Premier League football team, even though there is substantial stress involved no matter where your team is in the table.
But when the team has been in the relegation area and a section of the fans get on your back, then that sense of antipathy being directed towards you can - if you're in any way sensitive - cause negative feelings. If your body is already weakened through past health issues, then a negative health situation can manifest itself. I know about negativity on top of previous health issues - it's happened to me.
The football world is a harsh one, and, despite the ideals inherent in its early days, it would seem that since football became professional there have always been elements of undue harshness. The Villa Chronicles records how the famous Archie Hunter was seriously belittled in a club management revolt in 1893, and within 2 years he died. A connection between the two events may not seem obvious, but it was clearly the case that his health (not then in a strong state) was undermined by the 1893 issue. There's also the case of Joe Mercer back in the early '60s. Another example (a non-football one) is the case of the UK prime minister Neville Chamberlain, who died in 1940 only 2 years after his notorious "we have peace in our time" message, only for him to be undermined by Hitler's cunning.
We know about the ability of fans to demonstrate and vent their feelings at matches, but now that football fans also have the ability to transmit their ill-conceived thoughts instantenously over the world through the breathtaking development of the internet and fans' forums, it now seems that a would-be football manager should not take on the job unless he firstly gets measured up for a suit of armour to wear. And one that is sound-proof and fire-proof!
For me, football reached its summit in 1970. The picture of Pele and Bobby Moore exchanging mutual ackowledgment of admiration in the other's abilities said everything about what was (and should be) good about the sport. Alas, I fear that we shall never see such a picture again, and the more I think about it the more I miss Dwight Yorke's grins.
Despite the considerable improvements in crowd behavior over the past decade, football still has a nasty side to it, and the way the fans got on the back of Houllier was diabolical. Though Mr. Houllier probably did commit a faux pas or two, that is all they were - I am convinced that Mr. Houllier was and is not a malevolant person. He has human rights, just as much as the fans.
Reactionary fans must really reassess their attitudes.
The key question is, though, why is it that his health has so slumped? I somehow cannot think that it's simply through the rigours of running a Premier League football team, even though there is substantial stress involved no matter where your team is in the table.
But when the team has been in the relegation area and a section of the fans get on your back, then that sense of antipathy being directed towards you can - if you're in any way sensitive - cause negative feelings. If your body is already weakened through past health issues, then a negative health situation can manifest itself. I know about negativity on top of previous health issues - it's happened to me.
The football world is a harsh one, and, despite the ideals inherent in its early days, it would seem that since football became professional there have always been elements of undue harshness. The Villa Chronicles records how the famous Archie Hunter was seriously belittled in a club management revolt in 1893, and within 2 years he died. A connection between the two events may not seem obvious, but it was clearly the case that his health (not then in a strong state) was undermined by the 1893 issue. There's also the case of Joe Mercer back in the early '60s. Another example (a non-football one) is the case of the UK prime minister Neville Chamberlain, who died in 1940 only 2 years after his notorious "we have peace in our time" message, only for him to be undermined by Hitler's cunning.
We know about the ability of fans to demonstrate and vent their feelings at matches, but now that football fans also have the ability to transmit their ill-conceived thoughts instantenously over the world through the breathtaking development of the internet and fans' forums, it now seems that a would-be football manager should not take on the job unless he firstly gets measured up for a suit of armour to wear. And one that is sound-proof and fire-proof!
For me, football reached its summit in 1970. The picture of Pele and Bobby Moore exchanging mutual ackowledgment of admiration in the other's abilities said everything about what was (and should be) good about the sport. Alas, I fear that we shall never see such a picture again, and the more I think about it the more I miss Dwight Yorke's grins.
Despite the considerable improvements in crowd behavior over the past decade, football still has a nasty side to it, and the way the fans got on the back of Houllier was diabolical. Though Mr. Houllier probably did commit a faux pas or two, that is all they were - I am convinced that Mr. Houllier was and is not a malevolant person. He has human rights, just as much as the fans.
Reactionary fans must really reassess their attitudes.
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