23 years ago - Venglos interview

[Chico Hamilton III]

I really liked Dr Jo ( and wish he'd been given as much time as Lambert to turn things round at Villa).

Strange how things have changed since this interview. And Venglos now looks like a man who was too advanced for the English game:

Sport: The doctor drives his men to drink - Soccer
By CHRISTOPHER PRICE

30 March 1991
Financial Times


THE ASTON VILLA No 6 delivers a slow left-arm off-spin around the wicket and a terrific shout goes up. The eighth wicket falls and, with the light good, an early tea looks in prospect. Meanwhile the Czech umpire has slipped off to give the rest of the team a lesson in drinking.
For those Villa supporters hoping to find some solace after the English first division side's recent slump in form, the scene at the club's training ground in a green corner of the Black Country appears to offer little comfort.
Fortunately, cricket and drinking provide only a small part of the soccer philosophy of Dr Josef Venglos, the former manager of Czechoslovakia's national team, who last summer became the English first division's first manager from outside the British Isles.
'I like to pay a lot of attention to the regeneration of players,' he says. 'After training, we've started the players on a mineral and vitamin-drinking regime. I have spoken at length to them about the importance of diet. We are also concentrating more on physiotherapy and massage. It is in these areas that I think Europe is ahead of Britain.'
While British coaches and managers have successfully crossed the English channel to serve overseas teams, British football has maintained virtually a closed shop against foreign involvement. It is an attitude Venglos believes will change.
'I think that with the development of the single European market and the slackening of national borders, we will begin to see an assimilation of styles and a greater exchange of opinions, and from that an improvement in the quality of European football.'
His managerial career has spanned 25 years, including stints as manager of Czechoslovakia, Australia, Malaysia and Sporting Lisbon. He has also been a technical adviser to FIFA, the international ruling body, since 1976.
He says coaching the Czechoslovakia side that won the European championship in 1976 provided some of the happiest moments of his life. But his more recent exploits - particularly managing the Czech national side in last summer's World Cup finals in Italy - won him widespread acclaim and the attention of Villa.
It is a career that makes the modest 55-year-old smile at suggestions that the pressure of the English game might be harder to bear. 'Pressure is always part of a manager's job, but when you have had the pressure of a national team post with the whole country demanding that you do well, pressure at club level is not so bad.'
Coping with stress is one thing, but the excesses of the English tabloid press still manage to bring a grimace to Venglos's face: 'They put words in my mouth that I don't even say.' He sounds incredulous.
Sniping increased as a poor run took Villa close to the bottom of Division I and the threat of relegation. But last week they beat Sunderland for their second successive win to ease the immediate pressure. Even so, Villa has failed to live up to expectations inspired by its form last season when the club finished second in Division I last season under Graham Taylor - now the England manager.
But after a bright start, a defeat by Inter Milan in the UEFA Cup in October proved to be a watershed in Villa's season, triggering the decline which took them perilously close to the relegation zone. Even the revered Taylor has felt moved to comment that Villa have 'stood still' since his departure.
Venglos, however, is unperturbed. 'At the moment we are in a situation where we need every point we can get and we are fighting hard to do that. When the pressure is off, we will be able to concentrate on improving our performance. Next season I am sure we will have much more consistency' - an optimistic statement given his one-year renewable contract.
Villa's lack of form has not daunted the doctor of philosophy in his drive to bring his ideology to the Villa game.
'I like the competitiveness, the professionalism, the tackling ability and the strong improvisation of the English game. But I also want to bring the ability to change the pace of the game and to get those players with individual skills to use them for the best of the team. This way we will achieve a better balance and flow.
'My philosophy is to give players freedom on the ball and freedom of expression to show their qualities and to alter the shape of the game. These are the kind of players I like. Every team needs creative players, but you also need fighters. You need that mix.'
Which has patently not been the case at the Midlands club of late. Injuries to top players David Platt and Tony Daley have revealed Villa's lack of depth and tempted Venglos to spend Pounds 1.5m in the transfer market.
One of Venglos's favourite pastimes is watching Shakespearean tragedies. Another is reading biographies of military leaders and strategists; his favourites are Churchill and Napoleon. His battle plans remain secret, but his outward optimism and confidence hint at some secret plot being hatched just off the M42. Whatever the outcome, Venglos will have done it his way.
'Tomorrow,' he announced at the training ground, 'we are taking the first team squad off to play golf.'

[supertom]

His tenure marked a bit of a dark time. Kind of sandwiched between the success of SGT and BFR. Funny though that in terms of results and as much as he'll go down as a bit of a disaster, his overall record is a shite sight better than McLeish and Lambert.

[Chico Hamilton III]

His tenure marked a bit of a dark time. Kind of sandwiched between the success of SGT and BFR. Funny though that in terms of results and as much as he'll go down as a bit of a disaster, his overall record is a shite sight better than McLeish and Lambert.

It's also interesting that 6 years after Venglos came to Villa, Wenger went to Arsenal and started changing diets, training methods and tactics. Venglos was always fighting a losing battle on the diet front though - remember Graham Taylor being lambasted in the press for suggesting that certain England players ( certain geordie wife-beating england players who shall remain nameless) needed to change their "re-fuelling" habits after games. If the England manager couldn't change players' mind sets, some jonny foreigner manager was never going to do it

20 years down the line and you've got old school managers like Allardyce and Pullis doing exactly what Venglos had in mind in terms of diet and preparation

[supertom]

His tenure marked a bit of a dark time. Kind of sandwiched between the success of SGT and BFR. Funny though that in terms of results and as much as he'll go down as a bit of a disaster, his overall record is a shite sight better than McLeish and Lambert.

It's also interesting that 6 years after Venglos came to Villa, Wenger went to Arsenal and started changing diets, training methods and tactics. Venglos was always fighting a losing battle on the diet front though - remember Graham Taylor being lambasted in the press for suggesting that certain England players ( certain geordie wife-beating england players who shall remain nameless) needed to change their "re-fuelling" habits after games. If the England manager couldn't change players' mind sets, some jonny foreigner manager was never going to do it

20 years down the line and you've got old school managers like Allardyce and Pullis doing exactly what Venglos had in mind in terms of diet and preparation

I'd like to think as a player Tonev is really ahead of his time. He's just come too soon, before FIFA introduce 20 by 40 foot goals to make the game more entertaining.

[Brend'Watkins]

His tenure marked a bit of a dark time. Kind of sandwiched between the success of SGT and BFR. Funny though that in terms of results and as much as he'll go down as a bit of a disaster, his overall record is a shite sight better than McLeish and Lambert.

It's also interesting that 6 years after Venglos came to Villa, Wenger went to Arsenal and started changing diets, training methods and tactics. Venglos was always fighting a losing battle on the diet front though - remember Graham Taylor being lambasted in the press for suggesting that certain England players ( certain geordie wife-beating england players who shall remain nameless) needed to change their "re-fuelling" habits after games. If the England manager couldn't change players' mind sets, some jonny foreigner manager was never going to do it

20 years down the line and you've got old school managers like Allardyce and Pullis doing exactly what Venglos had in mind in terms of diet and preparation

I'd like to think as a player Tonev is really ahead of his time. He's just come too soon, before FIFA introduce 20 by 40 foot goals to make the game more entertaining.

I hope they don't as I've got money on him breaking a window in one of the North Stand boxes.

[AlexAlexCropley]

His tenure marked a bit of a dark time. Kind of sandwiched between the success of SGT and BFR. Funny though that in terms of results and as much as he'll go down as a bit of a disaster, his overall record is a shite sight better than McLeish and Lambert.

It's also interesting that 6 years after Venglos came to Villa, Wenger went to Arsenal and started changing diets, training methods and tactics. Venglos was always fighting a losing battle on the diet front though - remember Graham Taylor being lambasted in the press for suggesting that certain England players ( certain geordie wife-beating england players who shall remain nameless) needed to change their "re-fuelling" habits after games. If the England manager couldn't change players' mind sets, some jonny foreigner manager was never going to do it

20 years down the line and you've got old school managers like Allardyce and Pullis doing exactly what Venglos had in mind in terms of diet and preparation

I'd love it if we signed someone called "Jonny Foreigner"
Probably already plays for Aarhus or suchlike

[PeterWithesShin]

It all went a bit tits up after the Milan away game in November. IIRC we only won 5 or 6 league games after that.

[Deano's Mullet]

The Evening Mail's Headline of something like "For god's sake, Jo, go!" was scandalous.

[Villa in Denmark]

It all went a bit tits up after the Milan away game in November. IIRC we only won 5 or 6 league games after that.

It really seemed to suck the life out of everyone, especially after the high of the home leg.

I remember the group I used to stand with commenting in one of the early games, how it was noticeable that Spink was now rolling the ball out to the fullbacks at every opportunity, instead of just hoofing it up the middle and how different it was to the playing styles we were used to seeing.

I think in hindsight he was maybe a bit like Houllier, Changed to much too quickly with regards playing style, without really having the squad to do it, although with players like McGrath, Cowans, and Platt he certainly wasn't without players with technique.

But then again wasn't Dr Jo who signed Gary Penrice?

[Deano's Mullet]

He also signed Neil Cox I do believe. Probably his best signing.

[pauliewalnuts]

That 1-5 home defeat to Man City, a night match in the Venglos season.

I was sat next to the dugouts pretty much at the front of the Trinity.

As it finished, I totally lost it, and am embarassed to say saw myself on television on the highlights shouting very angrily at him as he trooped off on the final whistle.

In my defence, that was a truly, truly horrific evening.

I reckon that, plus that horrible 0-5 home loss against Forest in 84/5 (I think. It was another night match are easily two of the occasions on which Aston Villa have made me the most unhappy.

[Damo70]

The City game was one of my lowest Villa moments too. I think that prompted the headline in the Mail. To be honest it was exactly how I felt at the time. I remember a story in the Argus or Mail after our pre season friendly at Walsall. It  told of a offbeat idea of Dr Jo's. He caused quite a stir by getting the players to do something called a warm down after the match!

[ez]

He also signed Neil Cox I do believe. Probably his best signing.

And Ivo Stas.

[Chico Hamilton III]

The Evening Mail's Headline of something like "For god's sake, Jo, go!" was scandalous.

The same newspaper that was giving away free "I'm backing Joe 90" T-shirts a few months earlier. I've still got mine somewhere

[Damo70]

That 1-5 home defeat to Man City, a night match in the Venglos season.

I was sat next to the dugouts pretty much at the front of the Trinity.

As it finished, I totally lost it, and am embarassed to say saw myself on television on the highlights shouting very angrily at him as he trooped off on the final whistle.

In my defence, that was a truly, truly horrific evening.

I reckon that, plus that horrible 0-5 home loss against Forest in 84/5 (I think. It was another night match are easily two of the occasions on which Aston Villa have made me the most unhappy.

I think the Forest match was the game after which Turner dropped and transfer listed Mortimer and Bremner and I don't think either played for the club again. Bremner was sold to the noses soon after.