Villa players in drunken bust up

[wozwebs]

Just what we need

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/mar/11/aston-villa-investigation-players-confrontation?

Aston Villa's troubles on and off the pitch show no sign of coming to an end, with the news that two of the club's players have become involved in a heated exchange during a team-bonding exercise. It is understood that the players had been drinking and, although there is no suggestion that punches were thrown, it is a measure of how seriously Villa view the incident that they have launched an internal investigation.

It is just about the last thing the club's manager, Gérard Houllier, needs at a time when Villa are in a relegation battle and when unrest among the club's supporters is festering, after the Frenchman's controversial decision to field a weakened team in an FA Cup fifth-round tie against Manchester City last week. Houllier has strong views on how players should conduct themselves and he will be particularly disappointed that two members of his squad have behaved so badly, especially at an event that was organised to boost morale.

With no fixture this weekend, Houllier decided to take the players away to a luxury hotel and spa in Leicestershire, in midweek, for a change of scenery and to improve team spirit. The players took part in a paintballing exercise during the day but in the evening things threatened to get out of hand when, after dinner and out of sight of the public, two of the squad became involved in a heated row.

A source said: "Two players who were pissed up had a frank exchange of views."

Houllier was present during the day but travelled to London, with Gary McAllister, his assistant, to watch Tottenham Hotspur play Milan in the Champions League in the evening. He was made aware of the confrontation, which the club will investigate before deciding whether to take disciplinary action.

"The club is aware that there has been an incident," a Villa spokesman said. "We have launched an investigation in line with our internal disciplinary procedures."

Villa have had several off-the-field issues this season. The striker John Carew, who is now on loan at Stoke, had a disagreement with Houllier in November; Richard Dunne clashed with McAllister on the training ground in December and was dropped from the starting team; and Stephen Ireland – currently on loan at Newcastle – Stephen Warnock and Habib Beye have also fallen out with Houllier.

[Chipsticks]

Probably bullshit or at the very most over-exaggerated.

The scary thing, however, is how believable it is.

[Stu]

Seems like its being kept very much in-house. If drink was involved then I bet that neither player is feeling particularly proud of themselves over what they said to each other. Don't think its much to worry about really.

[atomicjam]

Argument between two people under the influence... wow, to turn that into club in crises is really a huge leap. Unless forks were used I really think this is a non story.

[saunders_heroes]

Wow, an argument. The club goes into meltdown.

[luke25]

Must have been Carew

[eamonn]

On the plus side at least it means we're in for Ibrahimovic.

[nadz3488]

One minute its paintballing and spa massages together, and the next is drunken bust up. Its the last thing we need right now.

[JD]

One player was Emile and when they say no punches were thrown he could well have done, but as it missed by miles they thought he was just stretching his arm. The other player was Ashley Young who fell over anyway, even though no-one was standing within 10 yards of him.

[placeforparks]

i reckon it was gabby and a mirror.

[timeoutbigbar]

Hopefully not Ash playing Billy big bollocks amd talking down to people.  A hissy fit after being told he's off penalties?

[WikiVilla]

Richard Dunne + ?

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

I  think someone at the club could have found somewhere better for the players to have their mid week piss up than some hotel in boring Leicestershire.

[eastie]

Nothing story really- a few raised words after a few drinks , hardly a major deal.

[Phil from the upper holte]

The players were pissed up? Sounds like a reliable source