I think Smith getting a bye this season is a mythnot saying he will get us up not the way things are at the momentbut he came here to build, develop, put in place a attractive positive way of playing, if he does that or looks like he’s doing that he will be given time and fundsif he finishes 13 playing like we did yesterday or anything like it for the rest of the season just like Bruce’s first season He won’t get a second go, not with these owners
Quote from: mr underhill on January 12, 2019, 08:06:32 PMWe will get a fresh start whatever happens with so many out of contract or going back to their parent clubs - which in Bolaise's case can't come a moment too soon. The Villa 11 that inevitably kicks off in August in the Chumps is going to look very unfamiliar You would like to think that highly paid "professionals" would give their best for the club paying them so well but I wonder if the reality is that a large portion of the squad are "sulking" as they will not be in Smith's' plans for next season
We will get a fresh start whatever happens with so many out of contract or going back to their parent clubs - which in Bolaise's case can't come a moment too soon. The Villa 11 that inevitably kicks off in August in the Chumps is going to look very unfamiliar
Showing the squad a vid of the Citeh v Liverpool game certainly didn't motivate them did it ? I agree with an earlier posters' comment about Smith - with hindsight maybe appointing a " Villa fan" as manager is placing additional pressure rather than him being given sufficient time to turn things - the initial " new manager bounce" seems to have created false optimism Personally I think we are too reliant on one player ....to get out of the Championship you need a closely knit Team with a strong work ethic not a squad of individuals
Completely agree Ads.McGinn is 100% exempt from any criticism. That bloke has carried the midfield on his own for weeks.Whereas Hourihane ponces around the pitch living off this reputation of a dead ball specialist. In reality, for a midfielder, he is weak especially when it comes to tackling. My overriding image of him is of him lying flat on his belly, arm wide apart, looking at the ref for a free kick because someone has robbed him of the ball.....again.BB offers movement and mobility, but has a distinct lack of quality.Whelan...well, we all know he is finished.Lansbury.....who the fuck knows if this bloke will ever play again or what he brings.When jack comes back he will improve things no doubt. But, it will be too late to save this season by then.And then we have to come to terms with the fact we will have him for the last 10 games or however many are left and then he will be off at the end of season.Midfield is the root cause of all our problems. Until we get players in who can consistently deliver performances of quality and energy (as McGinn does) then we are stuck here for a long, long time.
Nothing wrong with his team selection today - I'd have gone with the same 11.It is clear that the players at his disposal cannot fit into & play in the way Smith likes to play.