More extracts from his book Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has revealed how the mild-mannered Gerard Houllier tore strips off Paul Ince while they were together at Anfield. In his autobiography, 'Carra: My Autobiography', Carragher describes how Houllier underlined his authority by tearing a strip off Ince but ended his reign a broken man after being struck down by a life-threatening heart condition. "Ince was the unwitting victim of the most brutal exhibition of management I have seen at Anfield," he says. Liverpool were leading an FA Cup fourth-round tie at Old Trafford 1-0 but, after Ince limped off, United fought back to win 2-1. "There was a team meeting a week later, and Ince decided, as club captain, it was time to take Houllier on. He questioned training methods and the response was furiously impressive. "Fixing Ince with a stare, Houllier asked: 'Since the day I arrived, how many five-a-sides have you won? I’ll tell you — four in six months.' "Ince was bewildered, as we all were, by Houllier’s memory and grasp of detail, and it didn’t end there. 'Now perhaps you can explain to the lads what happened to you against United. When my team are 1-0 up at Old Trafford in a cup tie, I don’t expect my captain to limp off with an injury. If he has to come off, I expect it to be on a stretcher.' "A few years later, the Houllier I saw was a pale imitation of the man who had taken on the most powerful player in the club. The illness had taken its toll, and he started asking Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen who he should pick. "I had a hollow feeling inside. I knew he had to go. The man needed a break and when his time was finally ended it came as a relief."
I gotta admit, I'd never have expect that comment about the stretcher from Hollier, just shows you ... I'm not suprissed at him knowing / remembering his facts though. Bit of a shame the way things went for Houllier, but such is life. Glad the man's health is good, thats the main thing for him though.
Remember that Manc game there was F*** all wrong with Ince he just did'nt have the bottle to see it through, he played the next game with no problems!
That has cheered me up this morning! To know Houllier tore strips out of Ince. The so called guvnor was a coward in that match.
That FA cup game was one of my lowest moments ever as a fan, i felt so robbed that day. Remember his huffing and puffing and bullshit at the 2-2 draw when he reckoned he had stopped united winning the league....never liked ince, the type of player we probably needed at the time, but the wrong player, look at the job Didi done, far better player and no crap from him. *edit* does anyone know a good way of finding reports on matchs from a few years ago? i do be looking on google but havnt come across the holy grail yet!
history will judge houiller a lot better than his many media detractors.I once read a quote that we should always remember he gave us back our pride,made us believe again. He did the best he could but it ended badly