Aston Villa insider explodes at Austin MacPhee situation - 'That's what's wrong with football'
Set piece coach Austin MacPhee's exit to Chelsea will not be felt by Aston Villa next season.
That is the opinion of former senior Villa scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
The 46-year-old is set to join the Blues in the coming days, with the news emerging just hours after a fee had been agreed that has seen Morgan Rogers take the same path.
MacPhee arrived at Villa in 2021 and has transformed their success from set pieces in the years since, seeing them become one of the most effective teams in Europe from such situations.
Last season, the Villans scored 29 goals from set pieces, scoring the joint-most number of goals from set pieces alongside Arsenal.
MacPhee's exit has prompted fears that those numbers will now fall dramatically, with Chelsea set to benefit.
Aston Villa expert dismisses Austin MacPhee talk
The prominence of set piece coaches is something new to football, that has progressed significantly in recent years.
Arsenal coach Nicolas Jover has drawn plenty of praise for his work transforming the Gunners into a team that undoubtedly leaned on corners at times in their Premier League-winning campaign.
He has also drawn criticism from others for his manic celebrations on the touchline.
"I've got no time for him at all. Set piece coach. Have a laugh, will you? Have a laugh. You talk about jobs for the boys. Set-piece coach. Throw-in coach. That's what's wrong with football," King told Football Insider.
"Set pieces is about grabbing hold of people on dead ball situations, isn't it? All you need at a football club is someone to deliver the ball and have three free kicks and three corners.
"That's sensible. If you've got the players who are going to head it, then you make sure the delivery goes in that direction, near, far or central. Whether you're putting the keeper under pressure, making sure it's played in at near post or laid back for the full-back.
"There are only so many free kicks and corners you can do. This bloke has done very well out of it and good luck to him. But trying to throw in a set piece coach, and you wonder why the game's gone."
Aston Villa's summer of change
MacPhee is just one of several key figures to have left Villa this summer, with a couple of those on the pitch.
Rogers' move to Chelsea was a surprise, but a move away had been coming and no one could blame decision-makers for accepting the mammoth-sized fee.
Youri Tielemans, however, was a true surprise departure. Within just a couple of days breaking of Manchester United's interest, the Belgian was already pictured holding the shirt.
The midfielder was a key man for Villa and perhaps his exit, more than any other, will be felt this season.