It's not Sherwood!

[Clampy]

We are all agreed he has more tactical acumen than our last two managers though right? Just getting the measure of the debate here.

Well, yeah, but that's a bit like asking if he's got more hair than Kojak.

I'm not particularly interested in any comparisons between sherwood and previous incumbents, mind. I'm interested in whether sherwood can get the best out of the very promising signings he's made to date, and unfortunately I'm not convinced that he'll be able to.

I think that's a bit unfair considering he's just had his first ever pre season and made his first ever signings as a manager.

[Dante Lavelli]

I think the surrendering the middle of the park thing is often a consequence of playing 442 without having the right players to do it.

[ChicagoLion]

I think the surrendering the middle of the park thing is often a consequence of playing 442 without having the right players to do it.

I was a bit confused by the set up, it looked more like 4-3-3 to me. Maybe that is part of the problem.
There was no one playing wide right midfield. Granted it is not easy watching from 3000 miles away.

[Clampy]

I do like that some posters are excited about the new signings but some are questioning the manager who has just signed them.

The last Manager made some decent signings, so good manager and decent signings are not mutually exclusive.

But we're two games in and with a new manager. That's the difference.

[brian green]

As I said when he came to a deafening silence of uncertainty in general and a a scattering cockneyist jibes, we were a club in free fall complete with an intact toxic legacy of bomb squaddery, (alleged) bullying, a demoralised massively underperforming squad, an owner who wanted to sell us and not a serious buyer in the known universe. Who else would have come to that who had the track record and proven ability to produce winning football? Klinsmann? Klopp? Moyes? TFSW? Dream on. That is the stuff that keeps a swathe of critical posts coming across these pages. The refusal to cleave to any concept other than us being the next Manchester City. The truth is we got lucky and got a brash, self confident young manager in a hurry and he has worked a minor miracle. The important word in that sentence is "minor". The big ones lie ahead.  What Sherwood has brought about is a transformation of the landscape and dispelled what one poster described as " the air of death" that was hanging over the club last February. Perfect? No. Good for the club? A thousand times Yes.

[ChicagoLion]

I do like that some posters are excited about the new signings but some are questioning the manager who has just signed them.

The last Manager made some decent signings, so good manager and decent signings are not mutually exclusive.

But we're two games in and with a new manager. That's the difference.

Agreed and as said by a few we are looking at the end of last season as well. I don't think any one denies that he should be given a chance and I hope he bloody takes it.

[Clampy]

I do like that some posters are excited about the new signings but some are questioning the manager who has just signed them.

The last Manager made some decent signings, so good manager and decent signings are not mutually exclusive.

But we're two games in and with a new manager. That's the difference.

Agreed and as said by a few we are looking at the end of last season as well. I don't think any one denies that he should be given a chance and I hope he bloody takes it.

I agree, so let's give him chance to. We're only two games in.

[PeterWithesShin]

One of things with Sherwood is he's only just around the 38 league games mark as a manager. He's very much learning on the job so will make mistakes. I'd imagine every manager has cocked up tactics etc this early in their career, what will make or break him is how he learns from those mistakes and deals with adversity.

[Toronto Villa]

One of things with Sherwood is he's only just around the 38 league games mark as a manager. He's very much learning on the job so will make mistakes. I'd imagine every manager has cocked up tactics etc this early in their career, what will make or break him is how he learns from those mistakes and deals with adversity.

There are plenty of experienced managers who make tactical cock ups. He outwitted Rodgers, Martinez and Pochettino last season and lost battles to other managers. He's going to learn from them and he'll likely make other errors as he moves through his career. Hopefully he'll make more good decisions than bad ones as his career progresses.

[Ian.]

Blimey were two games in and Tim's tactics are wrong and some of his signings are no good. Sack him now and sign Austin friggin Powers before we get relegated. You know what while we're at it lets resign Albrighton and Bent, they know how to put the ball in the back of the net.

[Ger Regan]

Yes, because that's exactly what we are saying.

[OCD]

One of things with Sherwood is he's only just around the 38 league games mark as a manager. He's very much learning on the job so will make mistakes. I'd imagine every manager has cocked up tactics etc this early in their career, what will make or break him is how he learns from those mistakes and deals with adversity.

There are plenty of experienced managers who make tactical cock ups. He outwitted Rodgers, Martinez and Pochettino last season and lost battles to other managers. He's going to learn from them and he'll likely make other errors as he moves through his career. Hopefully he'll make more good decisions than bad ones as his career progresses.

He's added Ray Wilkins since then too, who the Chelsea players rated very highly and didn't want to see go.

[ozzjim]

I actually thought we have looked more compact in both games so far, but lacked creativity up front. That though is down to injuries rather than selection, I reclon had Gil and Grealish been fit they would have been in the side, with Ayew and probably Sinclair on the bench. Gestede is not fit to start either, so his hands have been somewhat tied, and he has signed another creative player this week. A decent striker and I reckon we will be fine going forward, while Wilkins' influence will continue to make us more compact.

I saw a lot of Southampton fans saying Koeman has no plan B today, Everton fans have moaned like stink about Martinez only playing 1 way. In time I think Sherwood will have a style for the team that is identifiable, but last season was about cobbling together results, and the first 2 have been about trying to knit together a new team completely.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We are all agreed he has more tactical acumen than our last two managers though right? Just getting the measure of the debate here.

Well, yeah, but that's a bit like asking if he's got more hair than Kojak.

I'm not particularly interested in any comparisons between sherwood and previous incumbents, mind. I'm interested in whether sherwood can get the best out of the very promising signings he's made to date, and unfortunately I'm not convinced that he'll be able to.

I think that's a bit unfair considering he's just had his first ever pre season and made his first ever signings as a manager.

Fair comment but let's just remember that just because he's not Lambert, who was not TSM, doesn't mean he knows his arse from his elbow. If there's one thing we Villa fans should remember is our loyalty to the manager is always going to end in disappointment.

Right now it's time for Sherwood to show us what we pay him for. Yes, it will take some time but let's not go down the MON route - just because we signed a few good players it doesn't mean he's the best person for the job. Sherwood talks a great game but we'll know after the next 4 games if he's on the right track. All are winnable but how many times have we said that in the past? I really hope he gets it right but if he doesn't, let's not go back to the 'stability' bullshit.

Gary Neville, who despite being a bit of a twat, does know a thing or two about defending, ridiculed our defensive set up yesterday and rightly so. I'm prepared to give Sherwood time, he has a clean slate but if he fails to get the basics right, just like MON, TSM and Lambert, we'd be better off bringing in somebody that understands the basics and hopefully more. There's plenty out there.

Right now he needs our support and I think he's matured but whether he's up to the job is another matter. The Villa manager's job is just one stop from the graveyard but that's partly due to appointing idiots with friends in the press and reputations based on everything we like but not necessarily the most important aspect - being a good coach and tactically smart.

We go again, hopefully for the last time in ages but don't hold your breath. Over to you, Timothy.

[Toronto Villa]

We conceded one goal against a team that cost 1/2 billion to assemble. I think Gary Neville the one eyed toerag should remember that. If he wants to be critical about us then our inability to create any real opportunities or take shots should be a much easier target. Or in fact something he won't do is criticize his former employers for being so fucking average two straight weeks despite how much they've spent not to be.