Houllier: Defensive improvement is our number one priority

[Legion]

Manager insists defensive solidity is crucial as Villa look to reverse fortunes.

From Pravda:

Gerard Houllier says tightening up defensively is Villa's top priority in their quest to move up the Barclays Premier League table.

The manager insists his team need to become a more solid defensive unit in order to overcome their current difficult spell.

Villa have shipped six goals during the festive period and Houllier is determined to address mistakes made in the defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.

"We have to be aware that to sort this out we need to work harder as a team to defend and protect the ball," he told AVTV.

"If you don't do that you are always exposed to conceding goals and that will cost you games.

"I think we have to be aware that as a team we need to put in more effort to defend.

"We have improved in terms of passing and movement but this must not bring us to some kind of indulgence on the back of that."

The Frenchman hopes his players will begin preparations for Sunday's trip to Chelsea with clear heads after giving them yesterday to recover from their double festive setback.

He is hoping Emile Heskey is given the green light to resume training after twisting his ankle in the Boxing Day defeat to Spurs.

Meanwhile, Ashley Young is on the mend after being ruled out of the past two matches with a knee problem.

"I think some players will be fitter and what they need to do is take a day off, think of something else, come back and prepare for the game," Houllier added.

"Emile twisted his ankle so we will see how he is. Ashley had his first training session on Tuesday."

[PaulWinch again]

Well i'm glad he's realised, as giving 2/3 goal starts is always going to be a problem when getting results.

[brian green]

In the words of the one and only Basil Fawlty   A statement of the blindingly bleeding obvious.

[mrfuse]

The depressing thing is that not to long ago I thought our defence was in great shame and we had cover as well. All we needed was another another midfielder and  a couple of decent strikers and we would have been a top team....sigh how times have changed

[Legion]

All I have to add is from Dr. Watson; "No shit, Sherlock!"

[Slaphead]

How much have we sent on our defence in the lat 4 years?

[Dave]

The depressing thing is that not to long ago I thought our defence was in great shame

A very apt slip of the keyboard.

[Moorski]

In our current back 4 inc the keeper who realistically would you want to keep?

[Dave]

In our current back 4 inc the keeper who realistically would you want to keep?

Short term? Friedel, Cuellar, Collins, Young. And both Dunne and Warnock if they can get back to last season's form. Neither if they can't.

Long-term? The above, minus Friedel and Young.

[Toronto Villa]

These are MON's defenders. There job was to stand tall, block everything and whack the ball as far as possible to the fast lads up front. Now they are being asked to retain possession, play the ball out, or be a bit more intelligent in how they play the game. They can't do it.

[Salsa Party Animal]

Never mind the defence what about the offence we don't score enough goals.

[Clark W Griswold]

Well i'm glad he's realised, as giving 2/3 goal starts is always going to be a problem when getting results.

Yes. It's very hard to come back when your 2-0 down you know.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Except for Lichaj that is a very experienced back line and this is all about confidence. Really has to play two up front so we can keep the ball up the other end and give them a chance to have some respite and not constant pressure. You never know  we might even score !!!!

[RogerS]

Well i'm glad he's realised, as giving 2/3 goal starts is always going to be a problem when getting results.

Yes. It's very hard to come back when your 2-0 down you know.

Indeed...oh, for the days of Dion Dublin and Julian Joachim, and the great come back against the Arse...0-2 down to a brace from Bergkamp at HT. Then, Santa hit the roof of the Trinity Rd Stand...and we went on to win 3-2.  How I'd love to see that sort of thing again...without the Santa tragedy, of course

[Shrek]

In the words of the one and only Basil Fawlty   A statement of the blindingly bleeding obvious.

Quality