Houllier's Latest Audience

Gerard Houllier gave an outstanding presentation at the NSCAA Convention a couple of years ago, and that same presentation by the new Aston Villa manager came up in a column by J Hutcherson today -

I once watched Gerard Houllier give a presentation at an NSCAA Convention that on the surface could've easily been dismissed. Who knew that making sure a squad of players is happy with their work could make for a better team? Or that you get there by instilling respect. But as Houllier unpacked how that works in practice, there was depth and insight in what he was saying. It was also clear that it required a truly special coach to actually pull it off.

Whether or not Houllier is that manager for Aston Villa is an open question. Though the ownership and board seems convinced they've got the right person, Houllier is undertaking a difficult situation. Consider the press release quote from Villa CEO Paul Faulkner:

"Two of the key qualities which we identified as being of crucial importance in our search for the new manager were experience of managing in the Premier League and a strategy for building on the existing strengths in our current squad, and Gerard Houllier comfortably satisfies these criteria In fact, he stands out as a football man who understands the ethos of our Club and shares our core values."

We don't get those core values defined, but it's the lead in that's most important. Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner is no longer interested in spending millions of dollars in support of his manager's vision. It doesn't make fiscal sense, and that's been made abundantly clear. Former manager Martin O'Neill's response was to head for the exit. For any Premier League manager with top four ambitions that might not just be the appropriate response, it might be the only response.

Houllier is one, if not the, most genuinely intelligent coaches I've ever encountered. Back when I was working as a soccer writer, I had a chance to talk to a lot of high profile coaches. Little of what they said was really distinct. Houllier is different, but he's also dependent on his audience.

Back to that January afternoon a few years ago in Baltimore. Looking around the room, it was clear that some weren't buying into the topic or the explanation. Even parts of the crowd nodding along didn't seem to really be paying attention. It was a situation where people were watching the famous European coach rather than really listening to what he was saying.

On the surface, an American convention center hall full of mostly people with some level of a coaching license and a smaller room with the squad of a Premier League football club might not have a whole lot in common. In practice, they do if you're the one standing up there trying to get across a set of points approaching beliefs.

What was clear to those paying attention in Baltimore should be equally clear at Bodymoor Heath, Aston Villa's training ground. But that's just step one, getting a receptive audience. Step two for Houllier is whether or not this group of players choose to buy into his vision.