Villa players in drunken bust up

[adrenachrome]

The Sun

Fit hits the fan at Villa

By DEAN SCOGGINS

FRENCH fitness coach Robert Duverne is the man at the centre of infighting that has divided the Aston Villa dressing room.

Duverne was caught up in controversy after a training-ground bust-up with Patrice Evra during France's World Cup campaign last year.

And complaints over his and boss Gerard Houllier's strict new fitness methods sparked the booze-fuelled row at a team-bonding spa day.

Duverne, 43, has been central to Houllier's regime since joining in September but the appointment has split the camp and he bore the brunt of Richard Dunne's furious tirade last week.

James Collins and Dunne have faced club disciplinary panels over the past two days and are awaiting punishment - likely to be a maximum fine of two weeks' wages.

Injured centre-backs Dunne and Collins drank while the rest of the squad were paintballing.

And during a meal with a free bar at Champney's Spa resort in Leicestershire last week they let rip at Duverne and Houllier.

Some players were said to be appalled with a few comments made by Dunne, while Collins also ranted about the coaching staff.

A Villa source said: "Many of the squad are happy with how Duverne has improved their fitness and match sharpness.

"But some of the other players have complained continuously about extra runs at the end of sessions and gruelling tasks within the season.

"Dunne and some other senior players do not understand why they are doing pre-season style fitness work in March."

Villa coach Gordon Cowans was present during the incident in which tables were damaged.

But he is unable to comment as he must submit a statement as part of the club's disciplinary procedure.

Houllier has had to constantly bat away talk of dressing-room unrest this season following Martin O'Neill's departure five days before the start of the campaign.

Many players have not taken to his way of operating with many citing the fitness programme as the reason for an injury crisis over the festive period.

Dunne had a bust-up with No 2 Gary McAllister before Christmas and looks set to be the first man out of the door this summer.

That is if Houllier can sell a player on £53,000 a week with two years left to run on his contract.

Collins will be handed a small reprieve by being named in Villa's squad for Saturday's big home game with Wolves, if he shakes off a calf injury.

Dunne is recovering from a dislocated shoulder but has been named in the Republic of Ireland squad for next week's Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia.

Gabriel Agbonlahor moved to lift some of the gloom around Villa Park by making a 'sizeable donation' from his own pocket - believed to be well into six figures - to Birmingham Children's Hospital.

[LeeB]

Getting pissed, and subsequently moaning about training kind of undermines your argument, doesn't it?

[Toronto Villa]

Timothy Abraham has just tweeted that a bit more info on the reasons behind it will be hitting the web tonight.

He also said there's something on VT which gives the gist of what it is about, and it the post i think he is referring to is about some of the senior pros not liking how hard Robert Duverne is working them at this stage of the season, Collins and Dunne among them.

Also that MON used to train them much less hard and give them more time off, and they're not happy with the arrangements now.

Also goes on to say that the younger players at the club absolutely love the new training regime.I find it hard to find much sympathy for extremely well paid athletes complaining about having to do actual work rather than mope around golf courses all afternoon (or pubs in the case of Dunne). I know that's a simplification of the matter, but it's my gut instinct, nonetheless.

That sums up quite nicely why I still retain a lot of faith in what GH is trying to do. I can only imagine the obstacles he has faced in imposing his methods on the squad, while trying to get results on the pitch. He's made some mistakes, no doubt about it. But I'm sure he cannot wait until we sell these complete tossers so he can continue to develop the kids, and bring in new players who understand what it takes to be a real pro at the highest level.

[charlie]

Seems to me that Dunne sees himself[when sober] as Paul God mark 2, sad reality is that he is a]nowhere near as good a defender, b] nowhere near as good a holding his drink, c] in a different, less tolerant, more media aware time with endless social networks reporting each fart. Dunne sadly is a very big fart, and needs to be expelled with or without a lot of noise. Fulham, Stoke, etc, someone will employ him.

[Ian.]

In the MON years it became quite clear our fitness levels was not up to it. Chelsea publicly made the media aware of it. We were on the verge of breaking into the top four, but not quite. Maybe, just maybe with a bit more hard work in training, we might have achieved this, or maybe the older heads ie. Dunne, Collins, Young, Warnock didn't really want it and MON knew it too.
I would say that Dunne and co are not hungry enough for success, but I think hungry is the wrong phrase to use with a certain player.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Whinging and moaning because they are told to improve their fitness by doing a bit more running, all on a wage of £50,000pw +.

Most professional footballers are complete and utter wankers.

[WikiVilla]

Well I'd guess they're trying to sack Dunne for Gross Misconduct, he is a +£5m wage liability over his remaining 2 years and seems now to be doing more damage than good

I suspect the PFA will be countering any attempt to do this so may end in stalemate

[eastie]

I would like to think so wiki, cheaper option is to sack him and it seems we have good grounds - stuff gordon Taylor. Maybe when we finally get all the poisonous troublemakers out we can finally move forward- looks as if Collins will be fit on Saturday and we may need him- he should be on a fine and final warning , but dunne has offended before- sack the tosser!

[peter w]

Whinging and moaning because they are told to improve their fitness by doing a bit more running, all on a wage of £50,000pw +.

Most professional footballers are complete and utter wankers.

It doesn't matter how much they are on they still have a right to say whether they like training routines or not. If an experienced player believes that the training is counter-productive and not conducive to playing better on a Saturday, and may even lead to tired and weary legs on a saturday then not only do they have a right to express it, but also a duty to do so.

But where Dunne has let himself down is the manner of his challenge to the staff. It seems that Dunne is more singled out in the report above so I presume that Dunne is more of the ringleader. Anybody who has played football within the pyramid system will know that training does through up those that dissent and may not get on with the staff, you will also find those that like the new methods. Each to their own.

It was all done behind closed doors so again, there is absolutely nothing wrong, or extraordinary about it. But if Dunne has manhandled Sid, or whichever member of staff it is, and then tables were damaged then that's a different question. He got peed and did something stupid.

Its a long way back for him and gives the club the excuse needed - if they need one - to replace him at the end of the season. Its vital we do that anyway - but not just him, the whole back 5 needs to be looked at.

[WikiVilla]

One report referred to a length of dividing trestle being knocked off but wasn't aware of any fisticuffs or tables being damaged ? Is this just heresay ?

[peter w]

I'd be highly cautious when it comes to what was reported as having happened. They may well be right but speculating usually ramps up the evilness of the player('s) action in our eyes, so we may as well wait for the outcome.

[Chris Smith]

If it was just a few raised voices then it would not have resulted in high level investigations and the PFA involvement.

[Villan For Life]

Well I'd guess they're trying to sack Dunne for Gross Misconduct, he is a +£5m wage liability over his remaining 2 years and seems now to be doing more damage than good

I suspect the PFA will be countering any attempt to do this so may end in stalemate

Stick him with the kids and never let him weat the shirt again and then move him out in the summer. Sacking him will inevitably drag the club through the mire of endless recriminations which we do not want.

[peter w]

If it was just a few raised voices then it would not have resulted in high level investigations and the PFA involvement.

Clearly something more serious went on, but speculating as to what is counter-productive. We may find that it was something as simple as knocking someone's arm away when they were trying to calm somebody down. That person then over-balanced and caught the edge of the table with an outstretched hand to steady himself and he and the table went over. It may be a s simple as that, it may not. We don't know. But I'm simply saying that the rough outline we have will lead to the players villification before we know what transpired.

[BannedUserIAT]

DO NOT bloody stick him with the kids!!!
Jesus H Christ, man. You want HIS attitude rubbing off? No way.
Stick him on toilet cleaning duties.