Dean Smith - Confirmed

[Brazilian Villain]

Sometimes Twitter alerts you to the good stuff. https://twitter.com/MatKendrick/status/1357041166638854145

[ChicagoLion]

When Aston Villa defeated Arsenal at Villa Park last July it was a resilient performance typical of a team in a relegation battle: stout defending deep in their own half and taking one of their few chances. When they took Arsenal to the cleaners at the Emirates in November they were a different animal, stronger in every respect.

That they face Arsenal as equals on Saturday is testament to their transformation under Dean Smith and they are one of the Premier League season's success stories. Summer signings Emiliano Martinez, Ross Barkley and Ollie Watkins solved problems and they became a more front-footed and dominant team with strong underlying numbers in attack.

Evidence of this more ambitious style is the fact that Villa are one of four teams to raise the intensity of their pressing from last season according to Opta's passes per defensive action statistic (PPDA). Villa's PPDA has decreased from 13.8 per game to 12.4, the biggest difference of any team in the Premier League.

However, Villa fans are concerned that their team have looked flat since they resumed playing after a mid-season Covid hiatus, losing against Burnley and West Ham and scrapping past a depleted Southampton.

Aside from their pressing numbers, Smith's reluctance to rotate adds to fears that Villa could be running out of gas. Earlier this season, this column noted that Villa were benefiting from settled selection but as a campaign progresses relying on a small core of players can be problematic.

Villa
Villa have made just 18 changes to their starting XI this season, the fewest of any team in the Premier League with Leeds United some way behind them in second with 24. Fatigue is one of the key themes of a condensed season that followed a truncated pre-season, and Villa have two postponed fixtures to squeeze in. Combine this with the fact that Villa are one of few the teams trying to press more than last season and there is a risk of burnout.

Their opponents Arsenal by contrast, have made 52 starting XI changes. Unsurprisingly, the clubs involved in European competition dominate the top of the standings. Manchester United have made 65 starting XI changes, very close to an average of three per game. While there are doubts over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's coaching and attention to detail, he has shuffled his pack well and United have all of their key players fit at this crucial stage of the season.

Football Nerd Daniel Zeqeri

[Ad@m]

I know it seems perverse after a win but Dean needs to learn how to use the squad.

I get that we don't have a lot of quality outside the first 11 but the lads looked knackered from about 60 minutes onwards today and if we're not careful the results will start to falter and injuries are going to creep in.

[eamonn]

Calls himself a Villa fan? Doesn't know his history. Smith out!

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith to BBC Sport: “That’s the first time we’ve done the double over Arsenal since the inception of the Premier League in 1992-93. These players like to make history as we’ve seen in the last couple of years.

[Risso]

Calls himself a Villa fan? Doesn't know his history. Smith out!

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith to BBC Sport: “That’s the first time we’ve done the double over Arsenal since the inception of the Premier League in 1992-93. These players like to make history as we’ve seen in the last couple of years.

Eh? He's right.

[aldridgeboy]

We can be frustrating at times. Dean can frustrate with lack of rotations in a tired squad, or more so, lack of Subs during games.

BUT

This time two years ago we were half way down The Championship. We’re now, points wise, knocking on Champions League places, at just over half way. I know we won’t get CL, but to be in this position is the stuff of dreams with what the last 10 years has seen.

All we can hope is to improve every year. And by God have we done so over the last two years. That other team who, think they’re the best in the Midlands ,have gone backwards for two years.

Yes we will be frustrated between now and the end of the season. We will lose some more games. Some deserved , some probably due to a nausy VAR decision.

But this so the best I’ve felt in a decade, possibly longer watching our beloved  club. When we lose ,we bounce back. No more of this “ haven’t won for 9 games “ etc.

It’s down to Dean.

[eamonn]

Calls himself a Villa fan? Doesn't know his history. Smith out!

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith to BBC Sport: “That’s the first time we’ve done the double over Arsenal since the inception of the Premier League in 1992-93. These players like to make history as we’ve seen in the last couple of years.

Eh? He's right.

Nein!

Aston Villa have completed a league double over Arsenal for the first time since the inaugural Premier League season in 1992-93 under Ron Atkinson.

[OCD]

I thought he got the subs right today. Trez came on when Arsenal had a left side of Saka and Pepe and our energy levels lifted. Same with Ramsey, we were under the cosh and his energy helped make us a threat on the counter.

Many would have started with Trez but we don't know whether he's yet at the point of being able to play 90 minutes at the intensity he would like after his Covid.

[Risso]

Calls himself a Villa fan? Doesn't know his history. Smith out!

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith to BBC Sport: “That’s the first time we’ve done the double over Arsenal since the inception of the Premier League in 1992-93. These players like to make history as we’ve seen in the last couple of years.

Eh? He's right.

Nein!

Aston Villa have completed a league double over Arsenal for the first time since the inaugural Premier League season in 1992-93 under Ron Atkinson.

You've lost me completely, sorry eamonn.

[eamonn]

Dean said since the inception of the Premier League we haven't doubled Arsenal. We did so in the very first season of the Premier League. So he's wrong.

Had he said that it's the first time since the first year of the PL he would have been correct.

[darren woolley]

I love Dean Smith we are having a brilliant season thanks Deano for giving us a brilliant team.

[West Derby Villan]

Great post aldridgeboy, agree wholeheartedly

[Risso]

Dean said since the inception of the Premier League we haven't doubled Arsenal. We did so in the very first season of the Premier League. So he's wrong.

Had he said that it's the first time since the first year of the PL he would have been correct.

Blimey that's stretching pedantry to a whole new level.  I still don't think he's wrong though.  The Premier League started in 92/93, which is when we last did the double over Arsenal. I might be missing a deeper meaning but I've drunk a whole bottle of wine.

[danno]

Think Eamonn is right. 

By using the verb inception its akin to saying: "we've not done the double over Arsenal since the premier league started".

We clearly have done the double over them since it started, as we played and beat them twice mid way through a premier league season.

Spoiler for Hiden:

Bad English to the thread please!

[Risso]

Think Eamonn is right. 

By using the verb inception its akin to saying: "we've not done the double over Arsenal since the premier league started".

We clearly have done the double over them since it started, as we played and beat them twice mid way through a premier league season.

Spoiler for Hiden:

Bad English to the thread please!

I think BE would start by saying that inception is a noun and not a verb!

The Premier League commenced on the 15 August 1992. We beat Arsenal in the league in that season in December 1992 and April 1993. I am struggling to see how what Dean said is either historicaly or grammatically incorrect.