It is the most natural thing in the world to react to criticism and it’s not nice to get comments as a football manager, And it can be particularly frustrating when those critics haven’t been managers and don’t know how tough the job can be.

Having said that, when results aren’t going well you have to realise you will get criticism. And in my opinion Gerard Houllier isn’t being singled out for stick at Liverpool - pundits are commenting because the team are 10th in the league, which everyone knows isn’t good enough for them.

Maybe Gerard is taking too much notice of what is being said off-the-field. It is understandable in a way but he might be better served focussing on the job in hand. Liverpool fans are not moaners by nature; they are intelligent football people who want to see their team win and are used to seeing their team win.

Gerard said he had a five-year plan when he arrived at Anfield so people are entitled to ask five years on if the team has made big improvements.

I think the answer at the moment has to be no and the most important thing for them is to play in the Champions League. Not just for the supporters or manager, but for the players. The best players like Michael Owen and Steve Gerrard need to be playing Champions League, they are not happy when every week they are looking at Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal playing there. They will be very envious.

I have friends that go to Anfield all the time as regular supporters - and they are very disappointed at the moment. But they are loyal supporters and they will back the manager and the players on match-day.

Gerard might think everyone is having a pop at him personally but that’s not really the case. People are concerned about the club.

There are a lot of pundits, ex-players giving an opinion - they have to earn a living and tell it the way it is. Some may be over-the-top, some are being honest.

Gerard Houllier and his chairman and the players have got to be together and say ‘never mind what people are saying, we know what we’re doing, we know where we’re going’ and I am sure he does that

The supporters I know - and I count myself as a fan - would love to see Gerard turn it around. Liverpool supporters are educated supporters, intelligent football people. They don’t just go to Anfield to complain. They just want the football team to do well. And they aren’t daft; they understand that Manchester United are commercially miles ahead and that Chelsea have millions to spend. They understand all that but what they can’t understand or accept is why if they’re not in the top two, why they shouldn’t be third or fourth.

They would accept being behind Man Utd and Chelsea as long as they are in the Champions League. But not being 10th.

The Liverpool crowd and club are patient, and everyone is backing Gerard. So he shouldn’t think he’s not getting a fair crack of the whip.

Wherever you are, there are people who demand better. You can’t please everybody all the time as a football manager and you have to accept that. Look at Chelsea, they are third and having a great season and Claudio Ranieri is still being given a hard time.

Criticism comes with the territory when results are bad. It can be frustrating when non-managers have a go and that is where Gerard’s anger boils over.

But he should take a deep breath, take stock and realise he isn’t getting worse criticism than any other manager. I am sure he and his staff know 10th place isn’t good enough.

Liverpool fans just want the team to win. He has to get on with that and accept that getting stick is part of not doing well. It is a difficult time for everyone at Liverpool - a time for everyone to stick together and fight back starting at Wolves on Saturday. 

Henry is my number one 

Congratulations to Zinedine Zidane, World Footballer of the Year. I’m not an anorak who watches every single football game on TV but when Zidane is playing a big match for Real Madrid, I love to watch him play.

But even though I am a member of the Zidane fan club, I have to say if I had one player in the world I could sign for Blackpool it would be Thierry Henry, who finished second in the voting.

The things Henry does for Arsenal every week are breathtaking and in my opinion he deserves to be World Player of the Year. His biggest problem is that the likes of Real Madrid play on a world stage every season and Arsenal have to produce that as a club for him to reach the pinnacle.

If Arsenal can enjoy Champions League success, I can see Henry winning World Player of the Year in the future.

The irony is that when he first came to England, he got hammered. Everyone was asking: Can he settle? Is he playing out of position? He was playing out wide but patience has told in the end because he is an absolutely fantastic talent and a wonderful, wonderful player for Arsenal.

I don’t think anyone in world football would say no to Thierry Henry. If my fairy Godmother gave me one free player in the world, it would be him. Most definitely. I think he would have more of an effect on your team even than the great Zidane.

Arsenal can win the Champions League to give him the glory he deserves.

In my opinion, the Premier League is the best in the world - no argument. It has skill, pace, power, attendances, excitement. But I still think Real Madrid can say they are the greatest club in the world and that is why Zidane and Ronaldo win all the individual trophies. 

One to watch - Leon Osman (Everton)

Watching a lot of youngsters playing reserve team football in the north-west, this lad stands out. He is an attacking midfield player who has an eye for goal. Expect him to be challenging for a regular first-team place, he can cope with the tempo with the modern game.