Dunne in bust up with Houllier & McAllister on Friday - NOTW

[pauliewalnuts]

2. For all the grumblings about MON last year i think every poster on here would have to acknowledge that we were defensively solid last year (solid is probably an understatement too). Since Houllier came in we have been a disgrace defensively and not only Dunne is to blame. It is hard to understand how Houllier has come in and overseen the demise of what was last year possibly the best defensive unit in the Premier League. Yes Dunne and other individuals have been poor, but I think when the whole defensive structure collapses you have to look at the manager.

Whilst I think Dunne has been shocking, as has Warnock, you also have to remember that the midfield has been decimated, and as a result it puts an awful lot of pressure on the defence.

It still wasn't right on Saturday - witness Heskey getting back and doing a lot of fine work defensively. I reckon he put in almost as many clearing headers in our box as Cuellar and Collins did.

[WikiVilla]

What we don't fully know is what's going on in Dunne's private life. There's talk of drink, there's talk of collapsed business deals and the loss of his fortune. This could all be impacting upon his mindset and performance as a player.

[jonzy85]

The key, and perhaps only worthwhile fact, is that players dont have bust ups with managers over training methods when results are going well.

[jonzy85]

2. For all the grumblings about MON last year i think every poster on here would have to acknowledge that we were defensively solid last year (solid is probably an understatement too). Since Houllier came in we have been a disgrace defensively and not only Dunne is to blame. It is hard to understand how Houllier has come in and overseen the demise of what was last year possibly the best defensive unit in the Premier League. Yes Dunne and other individuals have been poor, but I think when the whole defensive structure collapses you have to look at the manager.

Whilst I think Dunne has been shocking, as has Warnock, you also have to remember that the midfield has been decimated, and as a result it puts an awful lot of pressure on the defence.

It still wasn't right on Saturday - witness Heskey getting back and doing a lot of fine work defensively. I reckon he put in almost as many clearing headers in our box as Cuellar and Collins did.

We lost Milner, who was massive, but I hardly would call it decimating.

I think it is a case of GH trying to make us into more of a "passing team" and has shifted the emphasis from what was a defensively sound unit and he is basically falling between 2 stools.

[pauliewalnuts]

2. For all the grumblings about MON last year i think every poster on here would have to acknowledge that we were defensively solid last year (solid is probably an understatement too). Since Houllier came in we have been a disgrace defensively and not only Dunne is to blame. It is hard to understand how Houllier has come in and overseen the demise of what was last year possibly the best defensive unit in the Premier League. Yes Dunne and other individuals have been poor, but I think when the whole defensive structure collapses you have to look at the manager.

Whilst I think Dunne has been shocking, as has Warnock, you also have to remember that the midfield has been decimated, and as a result it puts an awful lot of pressure on the defence.

It still wasn't right on Saturday - witness Heskey getting back and doing a lot of fine work defensively. I reckon he put in almost as many clearing headers in our box as Cuellar and Collins did.

We lost Milner, who was massive, but I hardly would call it decimating.

I think it is a case of GH trying to make us into more of a "passing team" and has shifted the emphasis from what was a defensively sound unit and he is basically falling between 2 stools.

I mean the decimation by injuries this season.

We started against Manchester United with Bannan and Hogg in the middle. And against Arsenal. These are children.

[jonzy85]

2. For all the grumblings about MON last year i think every poster on here would have to acknowledge that we were defensively solid last year (solid is probably an understatement too). Since Houllier came in we have been a disgrace defensively and not only Dunne is to blame. It is hard to understand how Houllier has come in and overseen the demise of what was last year possibly the best defensive unit in the Premier League. Yes Dunne and other individuals have been poor, but I think when the whole defensive structure collapses you have to look at the manager.

Whilst I think Dunne has been shocking, as has Warnock, you also have to remember that the midfield has been decimated, and as a result it puts an awful lot of pressure on the defence.

It still wasn't right on Saturday - witness Heskey getting back and doing a lot of fine work defensively. I reckon he put in almost as many clearing headers in our box as Cuellar and Collins did.

We lost Milner, who was massive, but I hardly would call it decimating.

I think it is a case of GH trying to make us into more of a "passing team" and has shifted the emphasis from what was a defensively sound unit and he is basically falling between 2 stools.

I mean the decimation by injuries this season.

We started against Manchester United with Bannan and Hogg in the middle. And against Arsenal. These are children.

That is fair enough, but I still dont think having Petrov and NRC back is suddenly going to improve the back 4's performances. How poor we are defending set pieces this year show it's not a personnel issue but a systemic issue.

[Greg N'Ash]

If MON had stayed, had the same squad we do now  and we had the injury problems we've had i don't honestly think we'd be any higher. And that goes for any other manager as well. Only difference would be Ireland would be undroppable and instead of the kids we'd have Cuellar playing right-back, and various fringe players out of position in midfield

[WikiVilla]

I do like the way Houllier actually uses the subs

[pauliewalnuts]

That is fair enough, but I still dont think having Petrov and NRC back is suddenly going to improve the back 4's performances. How poor we are defending set pieces this year show it's not a personnel issue but a systemic issue.

It will stop so much pressure getting put onto the back four, though. It was a little better on Saturday as Hogg was getting stuck in far more than he has done before now, and with NRC coming back, it will get better still.

[Chris Smith]

2. For all the grumblings about MON last year i think every poster on here would have to acknowledge that we were defensively solid last year (solid is probably an understatement too). Since Houllier came in we have been a disgrace defensively and not only Dunne is to blame. It is hard to understand how Houllier has come in and overseen the demise of what was last year possibly the best defensive unit in the Premier League. Yes Dunne and other individuals have been poor, but I think when the whole defensive structure collapses you have to look at the manager.

Whilst I think Dunne has been shocking, as has Warnock, you also have to remember that the midfield has been decimated, and as a result it puts an awful lot of pressure on the defence.

It still wasn't right on Saturday - witness Heskey getting back and doing a lot of fine work defensively. I reckon he put in almost as many clearing headers in our box as Cuellar and Collins did.

We lost Milner, who was massive, but I hardly would call it decimating.

I think it is a case of GH trying to make us into more of a "passing team" and has shifted the emphasis from what was a defensively sound unit and he is basically falling between 2 stools.

I mean the decimation by injuries this season.

We started against Manchester United with Bannan and Hogg in the middle. And against Arsenal. These are children.

That is fair enough, but I still dont think having Petrov and NRC back is suddenly going to improve the back 4's performances. How poor we are defending set pieces this year show it's not a personnel issue but a systemic issue.

I think it's a bit of both.

Last season we had the 2 centre backs, Cuellar and either Heskey or Carew to deal with set pieces. This year it's just been Dunne and Collins in the majority of games. That's meant that sides have been more willing to just launch it into the 6 yard box and we've struggled to cope.

[Caiphus]

4 months? Ged has barely been around 2 and a half.  If the bust up was too bad he wouldn't have been on the bench.  I thought professional footballers had strict controls on diet and weekly skinfold tests.  In Australia players get fined if they fail skinfolds, course most of them are on minimum wage and it hurts more.

[jonzy85]

If MON had stayed, had the same squad we do now  and we had the injury problems we've had i don't honestly think we'd be any higher. And that goes for any other manager as well. Only difference would be Ireland would be undroppable and instead of the kids we'd have Cuellar playing right-back, and various fringe players out of position in midfield

It's an interesting point, where we would be if MON was in charge now....

I think we would be doing a good bit better as he had us defensively sound and also it's his team, players were signed to do jobs for him.

[N'Rexy]

If you are down to bare bones then you cant alienate big (no pun intended)players.  Is it coincidence that Dunny gets dropped and has a row once CC is ready to come back?  And then goes straight to the papers with the story.  He must be finished at VP now after this.

Fitness wise you cant lose weight through excersize without really watching your intake. You'd need to put about 6 hours a day in to shift it otherwise and thats not compatible with trying to play at full pelt on a saturday. Thats why preseason is so imporant. You get your base fitness there and just keep it topped up with short sharp sessions during the season.

[dicedlam]

Last season we had the 2 centre backs, Cuellar and either Heskey or Carew to deal with set pieces. This year it's just been Dunne and Collins in the majority of games. That's meant that sides have been more willing to just launch it into the 6 yard box and we've struggled to cope.

Thats a very good point Chris.

[jonzy85]

Rexy...when did Dunne go straight to the papers?

Chris... I see what your saying re not having likes of Cuellar, Heskey etc to helpl out on set pieces, but Dunne and Collins have been rubbish themselves from set pieces. Seems to me there is not a lot of planning/thinking going into defending the set pieces.