Houllier: Pires can be our Yoda
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Houllier: Pires can be our Yoda
Houllier hope Pires could be his Yoda and guide the Luke skywalkers at Villa Park.
Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier is relying on Robert Pires to help nurture the club's exciting crop of kids after signing his French compatriot.
Ex-Arsenal star Pires, 37, has become Villa's oldest outfield player after joining until the end of the season on a free transfer.
Houllier made Pires his first signing since becoming Villa manager to bolster his injury-ravaged squad and utilise his enormous experience after over 200 Gunners' games.
Pires is nearly twice the age of many of Villa's young starlets, such as Nathan Delfouneso, 19, Barry Bannan, 20, and Marc Albrighton, who turned 21 yesterday.
And Houllier explained: "Robert is an experienced player with a good mentality and he can help the players here, particularly our younger players.
"I believe he can bring a lot to the team and I'm delighted to welcome him here."
Pires was a free agent after leaving Spanish club Villarreal in the summer, having gone there in 2006 from Arsenal.
He boasts a superb CV after winning two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the 2002 Footballer of the Year award during his spell at Arsenal from 2000-2006.
That included being a member of Arsene Wenger's famous 'Invincibles' who never lost a game en-route to the 2003-2004 title.
Now Houllier is hoping the Pires' attitude will brush off on his young class of 2010 after the Frenchman recently got in shape at his old club Arsenal.
Pires said: "This move represents a new opportunity and a new challenge for me. I am very happy to start.
"I had a good opportunity two months ago to train with Arsenal so thanks to Arsene Wenger for that. "But now I can't wait to play and put on that new shirt, it is very exciting.
"I am very happy to join Aston Villa because it's a big club in England. "I am also thrilled to have the chance of working with Gerard Houllier - I know him."
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He is saying Pires is short and talks funny?
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pinning your hopes on a old fart...................Houllier is more jialat than ever............
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Joking, Houllier is.
Ignore him, We shall.
May the force be with you.