The future of Houllier and McAllister?

[TheSandman]

I can imagine Percy killing a kitten upon reading that remark.

Considering the fact our players are used to zonal marking and have only started defending like tarts when we tried to change away from it it isn't really something we should worry about IF he gets the job.

[adrenachrome]

I can imagine Percy killing a kitten upon reading that remark.

Considering the fact our players are used to zonal marking and have only started defending like tarts when we tried to change away from it it isn't really something we should worry about IF he gets the job.

From an interview with Martin Laursen conducted by Mat Kendrick in February:

FORMER favourite Martin Laursen has leapt to the defence of the claret and blue backline over Villa’s worrying vulnerability at setpieces.

Gerard Houllier’s men have the Premier League’s worst record for conceding from corners having let in 11 goals from flag-kicks so far this season.

It is in stark contrast to Laursen’s days at the heart of Villa’s defence when Martin O’Neill’s setpiece specialists were dominant in both boxes.

However, the Danish defender believes the claret and blues are still adjusting to a different way of marking from deadball situations.

Under O’Neill, Villa tended to use a zonal system where players were charged with the task of clearing the ball from a designated part of the penalty box.

Houllier, meanwhile, favours more of a man-marking approach where each of the defenders is assigned a particular opponent to deal with.

Laursen believes the tactical change could account for the setpiece susceptibility which reared its ugly head for Blackpool’s equaliser in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Bloomfield Road.

But the retired ex-captain is convinced Richard Dunne, James Collins and Co have the quality and experience to adapt to Houllier’s system before too long.

Regular watchers this season have noted that, although Villa put a man on the near post, they have struggled to defend the space directly in front of it, unintentionally inviting opponents to attack that area.

Goalkeeper Brad Friedel’s tendency to stay on his line or occasionally come for and miss deliveries into the six-yard box also seems to have unnerved the defence.

“I don’t know the exact reason for it,” said Laursen who popped back to Villa’s Bodymoor Heath headquarters to say hello on Thursday.

“If you look at last season I don’t think Villa conceded that many goals from corners and free-kicks and they still scored a lot from corners and free-kicks also.

“I don’t think it was a problem defensively or offensively, but this season they just haven’t seemed to perform as well.

“I think that they have changed the way they defend setpieces. I think that Houllier has changed it.

“He is not zone marking, but he is man marking. With Martin O’Neill we always had our zone and that worked well. I enjoyed that.

“I think when I’ve watched the games they’re not just staying in their zones, but they pick a man and follow him. They might not be that comfortable with that.

“If a manager wants that and you’ve been used to zone marking for a couple of seasons then it takes a little bit of time to adjust. Also it’s important everyone is sure about their job and what they have to do.”

“It’s crucial to get it right. I remember Martin O’Neill always said how crucial setpieces are. That’s modern football.

“It’s crucial that you’re willing to put your head on the ball defensively and offensively, because you get so many situations where you have to defend or have the possibility to score goals from setpieces. It’s vital to perform well.”

[Concrete John]

Well, he bought Bent, and how much that was down to him or the board I would say is open to question.   I couldn't argue that any of his other signings have been particularly inspiring even if we do chlk Bent down as a Houllier masterstroke.

If we exclude the short term/desperation signing of Pires, that leaves Bent, Bradley, Makoun and Walker.  Bent and Walker have unquestionably improved us, Makoun looks promising and has failed, but to be fair that was only a loan move so no harm done.  I'd call that a pretty decent record overall! 

[Mister E]

Well, he bought Bent, and how much that was down to him or the board I would say is open to question.   I couldn't argue that any of his other signings have been particularly inspiring even if we do chlk Bent down as a Houllier masterstroke.

If we exclude the short term/desperation signing of Pires, that leaves Bent, Bradley, Makoun and Walker.  Bent and Walker have unquestionably improved us, Makoun looks promising and Bradley has failed, but to be fair that was only a loan move so no harm done.  I'd call that a pretty decent record overall! 

I presume you missed one word out of that comment, John?

[Concrete John]

Yep - cheers for the edit!

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I think Lambert is gonna be something special,would like to see us get him before someone else does.

Can somebody give me the lowdown on Lambert? Apart from getting Norwich promoted, I know nothing about him but his name is always appearing on here.

[VillaZogmariner]

Won the European Cup? Check
Managed Wycombe? Check
Managed Norwich? Check

So just Leicester and Celtic to go before he comes to Villa!

[Dante Lavelli]

I think Lambert is gonna be something special,would like to see us get him before someone else does.

Can somebody give me the lowdown on Lambert? Apart from getting Norwich promoted, I know nothing about him but his name is always appearing on here.

I am paraphrasing from a guardian podcast from they had been promoted but a Norwich fan/journalist on the show was very complementary.  Well drilled teams which fight for each other.  No big stars.  They have scored shedloads of goals in the last 5-minutes apparently which is seen to demonstrate the team's fitness and togetherness.

He did his coaching badges is Germany and apparently has adopted the usual german stereotypes of efficiency, hard work, eating sausages etc etc.

To be honest I could not tell you what formation etc he likes to use.

I would be very intrigued by a Lambert/Klinsmann dream team.  Lambert running the first team squad and Klinsmann as a technical director.

[DB]

I think Lambert is gonna be something special,would like to see us get him before someone else does.

Can somebody give me the lowdown on Lambert? Apart from getting Norwich promoted, I know nothing about him but his name is always appearing on here.

Promoted twice in 2 seasons.

[Merv]

Lambert's an up and coming star in the managerial world, it seems. I remember two seasons ago his Colchester side thrashed Norwich 7-0 (or 7-1) on the opening day of the season - a short time later Norwich made him their new manager and they haven't looked back since.

Still, a big, big leap for us to turn to him next season. A cautionary tale from my local side, Peterborough United - they won consecutive promotions under Darren Ferguson, scoring loads and loads of goals; Ferguson was touted as the next big young manager. First season in the Championship, Peterborough sank like a stone, Ferguson went to Preston, struggled there and now Ferguson's back at Peterborough. He's still a good manager, I think, and may well yet manage at a higher level, but it's an example of a younger manager perhaps not as ready for the step up as people think.

Lambert's going to have a steep learning curve next season. I'd rather it wasn't with us. One to keep tabs on for the future though.

[itbrvilla]

I think Lambert is gonna be something special,would like to see us get him before someone else does.

Can somebody give me the lowdown on Lambert? Apart from getting Norwich promoted, I know nothing about him but his name is always appearing on here.

Promoted twice in 2 seasons.

Won Champions League as a player at Dortmund

[Dante Lavelli]

Just read on the Mirror's site so ...shall I bother?
Lambert has allegedly been offered a 1.6m contract at Norwich which is heavily performance based i.e. keeping Norwich up etc.  He wants a higher basic salary and has been linked with the hammers as a result.

[Percy McCarthy]

I can imagine Percy killing a kitten upon reading that remark.

Considering the fact our players are used to zonal marking and have only started defending like tarts when we tried to change away from it it isn't really something we should worry about IF he gets the job.

Spot on, and my cat lives.

What has put Puss in danger even more than various posters not realising what's happened re: zonal marking, is Houllier lying about it.

[Eigentor]

Regarding Houlliers transfers: His transfer record at Liverpool is pretty poor, but I'm not sure that's because he's a poor judge of players. I think a major factor is that he was expected to win the league without actually having the money to sign PL-winning players. The result was that he gambled on promising but unproven players: Diao, Diouf, Cheyrou, Le Tallec, Sinama-Pongolle etc. It was a gamble that didn't work: none of the signings became good. At Aston Villa he has signed one of the most proven goalscorers in the PL plus a midfielder who has played in a Champions League semi final.

Regarding Barry/Alonso/Aquilani (Benitez): Benitez was allegedly told that Liverpool had the money to sign Barry in the summer of 2008. Suddenly the money wasn't there, and Benitez made a last desperate (and ill-advised) attempt to fund the transfer by offering Alonso to several clubs. The next summer Alonso was sold, and Benitez was allegedly told that Liverpool had money to sign both Aquilani and Stevan Jovetic (from Fiorentina). But once again the money disappeared, and they only signed Aquilani, whose injury was more serious than they thought.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

I think Lambert is gonna be something special,would like to see us get him before someone else does.

Can somebody give me the lowdown on Lambert? Apart from getting Norwich promoted, I know nothing about him but his name is always appearing on here.

He looks good, but in my more cynical moments I remember back to Graham Turner being thought of in only marginally less glowing terms as an up-and-coming manager (got Shrewsbury promoted and to a couple of FA Cup quarter-finals). And after that I get quite sad...