Steve Round

[amfy]

He talked about using data to study how other teams play, and feeding this into how we play. He explained how this fed into Baker's free kick  against Brighton, but there's no way I could translate what he said into words on here. The entire coaching team had a set piece meeting with him and the manager - coaches at all levels to brainstorm ideas and then practice them. We are starting to see the results.

The Baker free kick a great execution as was the delivery but our corners are still awful and our full back crossing even worse

It's not going to fix itself overnight and will only be fixed by a consistent and dedicated coaching approach. That along with better coaches and better players.

The way he described that was brilliant, from identifying where Brighton's defending style would leave the space and when, though to having 3 different players who could have been on the end of it depending on who Brighton managed to pick up. I was particularly pleased with this because the commentator had kept saying it was a poor free kick (again and again) like it was some kind of lucky break that Baker got on the end of it and directed it in. Every time the commentator said it, I was arguing with the telly that it was meant - and boy was it meant!

We also had a really good chat about Ashley Westwood's role in the team and that his running stats on Friday were way beyond anyone else on the pitch for either side. They have been working with him to get him running more, as well as identifying who he should be passing to and making sure they will be in that place to receive it. (Totally the basic stuff the whole team have been missing for a while)
As well as how all of us had noticed he had a more dynamic game than we have seen from him for a while, my Dad had picked up that whilst seeing little of the ball, Westwood was running from one opposition midfielder to another, forcing THEM to pass sideways and backwards. This was key to his performance. This allowed Jedinak and Grealish to perform their more visible & driving roles whilst we are watching saying 'I haven't even heard Westwood's name yet'. It's a really good example of how managers and coaches can see stuff that most of us miss, because we are looking at who is ON the ball without necessarily understanding the task a player has been given.

[Dante Lavelli]

He talked about using data to study how other teams play, and feeding this into how we play. He explained how this fed into Baker's free kick  against Brighton, but there's no way I could translate what he said into words on here. The entire coaching team had a set piece meeting with him and the manager - coaches at all levels to brainstorm ideas and then practice them. We are starting to see the results.

The Baker free kick a great execution as was the delivery but our corners are still awful and our full back crossing even worse

It's not going to fix itself overnight and will only be fixed by a consistent and dedicated coaching approach. That along with better coaches and better players.

Plus, full back's crossing is hard to improve based on data analysis as it happens in-play when the other variables are in action.  That's more of tactic which develops based on players building relationships rather than a computer's prediction (imo).

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I look forward to the data being presented to our players regarding throw-ins. Against Brighton I came to the conclusion we actually plan to give the ball to the opposition as not one single Villa player wanted it.

[Virgil Caine]

I look forward to the data being presented to our players regarding throw-ins. Against Brighton I came to the conclusion we actually plan to give the ball to the opposition as not one single Villa player wanted it.

So agree with this, but it seems to have been a problem for Villa for several seasons. I can only remember one quick throw in the last 6 years which was the Sidwell assist to Milner. However, on the plus side the standard of corners and free kicks is improving.

[pauliewalnuts]

I look forward to the data being presented to our players regarding throw-ins. Against Brighton I came to the conclusion we actually plan to give the ball to the opposition as not one single Villa player wanted it.

So agree with this, but it seems to have been a problem for Villa for several seasons. I can only remember one quick throw in the last 6 years which was the Sidwell assist to Milner. However, on the plus side the standard of corners and free kicks is improving.

For at least 20 years we have failed to show any movement whatsoever when we have a throw in.

It drives me up the wall.

[Jimbo]

Just as I suspected, Westwood can't play football, everybody at the club knows it, and we're using him now to run around the pitch in the general vicinity of the opposition. A sprinter from Birchfield Harriers could do that. The sooner we get a replacement who can: a) kick a football forwards, b) run, and c) tackle - also known as a 'midfielder' - the better.

Good work, amfy.

[amfy]

Well you might be able to draw that conclusion from some of what I wrote if you wanted to - actually, the bit my dad said rather than the bit that Round said about actually ensuring that there is a forward pass available for him to play.

[Jimbo]

To be honest I drew the conclusion after four years of watching him play, but I do understand why he gets played. His attitude generally is good (apart from the Preston surrender), I just wish his ability as a footballer was anywhere near the same standard. We're going to have to upgrade at the soonest opportunity if we want to create the chances we're so badly missing.

[peter w]

It's not just about attitude with Westwood because he fits the shape of the team defensively. He clearly takes on board what is said and can hold the team shape defensively. He reads the game well and sometimes it is about standing in space or cutting space off as much as it is putting that tackle in. That type of player is a gem to any manager as they can organise and (sorry) pointing is as important. Just letting a player know where they should be standing never mind closing somebody down is a skill as it shows he understands the game that's going on around him. That type of player tends to be the best tactician and manager.

BUT.

The problem for us with Westwood is that he is very limited with the ball at this level. And the one above. Every now and then he'll do well but what he is good at isn't good enough the higher up the pyramid you go. I'm not critical of Westwood and never have been as he has the organisational qualities. Sadly, that isn't good enough on its own and why he does need to be replaced.

[fredm]

This is why I think Gabby was brought into the team last week.  He didn't do much on the ball but SB knew he would close down the Brighton centre backs and stop them having time on the ball to build up their attacks.  He is probably better and more disciplined at this than Ayew (who had also been away on international duty I believe) or Gestede.  Purely putting a team out with instructions to perform certain tasks and then, if done correctly and successfully, hopefully gaining a result.

Also as Peter W says the cutting off of space or being in the position thus preventing a pass is just as efficient as putting a tackle in.  I recall Damon saying on here some time ago that he had the pleasure(?) of being at Chelsea's training ground and was allowed to see Mourinho putting them through their paces for a short while.  He said that Mourinho would stop the drill every so often and bo**ock the player and tell him he should be 10 yards away from where he actually was, thus cutting off the space etc.  Let's hope that some of this coaching is actually happening at Bodymoor Heath nowadays as there has been very little sign of it over the past few seasons.

[KevinGage]

The recent positivity is welcome, but we will only truly start motoring when Westwood, Hutton and Gabby take their shit show to another club.

4 years (most likely a minimum of 5 now) for AW, 6 years of Hutton and a decade of Gabby. We've had club legends who have got nowhere near the appearances that hapless trio have somehow wrangled out of the club.

[Risso]

The recent positivity is welcome, but we will only truly start motoring when Westwood, Hutton and Gabby take their shit show to another club.

4 years (most likely a minimum of 5 now) for AW, 6 years of Hutton and a decade of Gabby. We've had club legends who have got nowhere near the appearances that hapless trio have somehow wrangled out of the club.

I agree.  Imagine where we'd be in the table if we had an improvement on Westwood who chipped in with their share of goals.

[Salsa Party Animal]

I think if we do get a offer for him (Westwood), we will cash in. I wonder what happens to Burnley's interest in him.

[dave.woodhall]

In case anyone's not seen it yet:

Director of Football Steve Round met with the FCG

Attendees: Steve Round (Director of Football) Tommy Jordan (Head of Communications) Lee Preece (Football Operations/Projects Manager) Mo Razzaq (Aston Villa Supporters Trust) Kris Carr (Aston Villa Supporters Trust) Steve Gough (Aston Villa Independent Supporters Clubs) Scott Jones (Villa Talk) David Michael (My Old Man Said) Anne-Marie Fern (Heroes & Villains)


Could you define your role and key responsibilities?

We have the owner, Dr Tony Xia, and the CEO Keith Wyness they needed someone who was going to be in charge of the football performance for the club. Performance comes under many issues as you need someone to try and align all the departments at the training ground. So, my remit is working with the manager, the first team coaching and together, oversee the coaching methodology of the club – right the way through from senior players down to six/seven year olds and to get that aligned as the ‘Villa engine’. I answer to the CEO and the owner so when he comes in this week we will be discussing the progress we have made. Innovation and change is important in our evolution.  We have re-done all the organisational/structural/recruitment strategies. I’ll liaise on this between Steve, the CEO and the owner.

What was your involvement in the managerial search?

Both Keith and I were heavily involved in the manager search. That was a really interesting one because I submitted ten candidates and we carried out due diligence on all ten. There was a statistical and data analysis research project which I consulted out to a data analytics company. It’s a company I knew and trusted the guy who was running it. They looked at all performance aspects of the managers. Everything from win ratios, win percentages, style of play, social media personality, character - everything. The number one target on my list was Steve Bruce. When the manager search came back it was a forty-page document and the number one recommendation was Steve Bruce. It was excellent fact to back up our instinct and advise the Chairman – this is our one to six from that ten. In the end, we went with a recommendation to the owner. The owner made the decision and went with Steve.

The previous recruitment policy concerned supporters – how have you rectified it?

 I made some tough decisions on my first day and changed some personnel. That's never easy but I felt it was the right thing to do. I have brought in Ian Atkins to head up European recruitment. I worked with Ian at Everton, he’d worked at Sunderland and Everton as head of European recruitment for eleven years. His knowledge is incredible and he’s got a fantastic work ethic, he’s an ex-player and manager, he’s a pro license coach and a proper football man - he's also a big Villa fan! I also promoted Tony Coton to head of domestic scouting. Tony, again, has a wealth of knowledge in football at the highest level both as a player, coach and scout.  We have kept on Dave Downes as head of U23 recruitment. There are some really good people here already who just needed help and guidance. I brought in a guy called John Harrower who worked at Nottingham Forest, Derby County, Newcastle – quite a few clubs. He’s come in as scout coordinator so his role and responsibility is to make sure all the scouts report in to the database and we collect all the relevant information. We’ve changed a lot in this department and we’re getting there. I’ve only been in three months but we are moving in the right direction.

What are your thoughts of moneyball – using data to sign players?

We’ve brought in real football people and we’ll mix that with one or two of the guys that have the analytical/moneyball data that you hear about which is a bit of a bone of contention to me. The moneyball thing came about because of baseball and that’s very statistically developed – like cricket. But football is always in a state of chaos. On any given day, football is a random, human, fluid game, so data and analytics only back up the instinct of the people looking for the talent. And I think football has gone away from that. They’ve gone too analytical and too data-minded and a lot of people are paying the price for it. You’ve got to get back to the real people who matter. scouts identify the talent and data backs that up. Villa is a massive club with high expectations. Our scouts with a massive knowledge on football need to know that a particular player is capable of thriving at our club. 

What about the future of the club – the academy and bringing young players through?

I’m also working with the academy and the head of department Sean Kimberley – who I must say has done an outstanding job on the resources and the neglect he’s worked under in the past few years. David Hughes has left the Welsh FA and will come in as U18s coach. We’re interviewing for a head of medicine in the academy and we’re interviewing for a chief scout for the 10-16 age group. We have no scout there which is incredible. We’ve done a deal with the local team – Phoenix - who bring a lot of local boys through. All the best young players in the city need to be coming to Aston Villa. Villa always used to have one of the best academies in Britain so we need to take the city back, then we need to take the Midlands back then we need to be competing nationally with the best. We’ve got such a good catchment area and such a good facility.  Historically, Villa has led the way in youth development and we need to get back to that.

Other changes you’ve implemented?
Sports psychology and culture is massive now in modern elite sports. I have brought in Tom Bates from Brentford who now heads up that department. Sports psychology in football has been a bit of a taboo. People have doubted it - does it work? But every other sport takes it and uses it massively. The advent of neuroscience has now dictated that psychology is real and is measured and it’s appropriate to many issues but sport especially and I wanted somebody in because I sense that Aston Villa had lost its way a little bit culturally in the training ground environment.

People are positive or negative depending on the results and the situation but I felt internally we needed to rediscover what Aston Villa really is. It’s a football club not a "brand" or "commercial tool". I wanted that heartbeat to come back but I also recognised that there’s a hangover after a few years of decline so we needed to flip that mentality. I did a search nationwide to find the best sports psychologist/performance coach that I could. It happened to be Tom – he had worked at West Brom, Bournemouth, Birmingham and he was currently at Brentford so I was really pleased to get him. He’s had a massive impact. Not only with the players individually but just the resonance of the training ground - that was important.  Confidence is building.

What other new faces are in the training ground that we’ve not heard much about?

I’ve just brought in Danny Donachie who has got a tremendous amount of experience and is an outstanding individual. I had worked with him previously and recognised his qualities. Then you’ve got the club doctor, physios, fitness coaches and performance analysts that deal with all the data for training and games down to the masseurs. That’s a very important part of first team performance. They’re looking after the medical welfare, the physiology and athletic ability of all the players. I’ve brought in Steve Harrison that used to be a coach here a few years ago. He’s arguably one of the best defensive coaches in English football. He comes in one day a week and works with the U18 and U23 defenders and anybody Steve Bruce wants him to touch base with in the first team. He also scouts games for me on a Saturday. He just loves it and he’s been brilliant around the place. We’ve also taken a guy called Dave Stewart from QPR. We’ve promoted some analysts from within too. That’s important that the staff that are already in situ get a chance.

Will the manager have the final say on all players signed by the club?

There won't be a player signed that Steve doesn’t know about or have the final say. He is the fundamental decision maker.  The recruitment department is set up for him to see the best players to select from. He and his staff also watch a lot of games and form the final part on player selection.  The manager has enough on his plate managing the team, the players the staff, the media and the fans. If you look at our training ground we’ve got 60 that work there, then there’s the academy it's a massive job. I’m quite keen to keep people motivated, inspired and challenged as they need to feel a part of something special so as long as we’ve got the right people in doing the right job then I am happy. I have a great relationship already forming with Steve so together I believe we are moving the club forwards

The other thing is performance analysis – the analysts film training and I make sure they can provide the level of detail that the coaches need. For example, last week we’d sat down at the start of the international break and had said we’re not scoring enough goals from set pieces – that directive came from the manager, to be fair.  So we had a meeting to look at how we could improve on scoring from set pieces.  Everyone was throwing in suggestions about set pieces and what could we improve. We’ve now come up with a criteria. The goal at Brighton came from the performance analysts looking at the opposition. Every club is doing that –  more detail is always needed and we’re going to do it in as much detail as possible.

Are you happy that the coaching staff around the manager will give us the best possible chance of achieving success on the pitch?

I’m delighted to get Colin Calderwood in as assistant manager. I’ve known Colin for a number of years on the circuit. He’s a top coach and an outstanding professional.  I think he’s going to be a massive asset to us. Coupled with the other guys we’ve got – Stephen Clemence who is a young, up-and-coming coach who is soaking up everything and forging a strong reputation. He is good in the dressing room as he's not long out of it, so it’s a nice balance now. Gary Walsh is an experienced coach too. He’s a football man born and bred. The manager has been a breath of fresh air. The training ground resonance and atmosphere is starting to feel positive and confident.  In our turnaround there will always be the odd set back - it's football - but the training ground feels right at the moment.

What about the future in terms of building a structure on solid foundations?

I’ve not had enough time yet to be able to establish a methodology and a Villa engine – the style and the way we’re going to play. It’s been about short-term re-building and making sure the foundations and building blocks are in place. We’re going to start the process of coming up with a ‘Villa way’ and the Villa strategy on the pitch. Obviously the manager plays a fundamental part in that but we also want to build something that’s sustainable. 

In the future the way we do things needs to be right. Villa has always been a hard-working, tough, aggressive, forward-thinking, forward passing, dynamic club. I used to bring youth teams in the late 80s/early 90s to Villa and they’d spank us every week! it would be the hardest game of the season. The kids were talented and hungry, I think maybe we’ve gone away from that. We’ve got to get some of those basics back and then evolve the rest of it as we go. I’m pleased we have Kevin McDonald and his assistant Mark Delaney with the U23s. They know what it takes for young players to play for the Villa. The club was like a ship sailing in one direction. With the takeover in the summer we've managed to slow it down and in the last month we’ve probably turned it around and now we’re starting to go in the right direction. There’s a long way to go and a lot of hard work and effort but I feel for the first time I’ve got heads of department that are dynamic, expert, professional and entrenched in football and we’re just starting to move forwards. You get that ship called Aston Villa moving forwards and fast enough - you try and stop it.

[fredm]

Why, oh why have we had the wasted years? Was Lerner so far away from the action that he had no idea what was happening or were those running the show completely devoid of knowledge and initiatives?