Dean Smith - Confirmed

[Risso]

And we’ve played against what essentially is still PL squad and the league leaders with the shittest defence in the league.  I thought the decision to start with Whelan was a bit strange but vindicated as without him we would’ve been completely overrun.

I thought Whelan was awful today.  Looked completely past it, and so easily bypassed. He's supposed to be the buffer for a defence that needs a lot of help, but he provides nothing.

[PaulWinch again]

I’m sure Dean is fully aware, and looking to address it, but we’ve scored two goals in each of our last 3 games and taken 2 points, it’s very obvious that our defensive as well as the personnel needs sorting.

[kippaxvilla2]

I’m not saying he was great but better than shit.  To be fair the midfield apart from McGinn were feckin awful.

[PaulWinch again]

Also it’s not a crime for Dean to be out managed by Bielsa, I’m sure many have been, I just hope he learns from this.

[Ads]

Whelan is dire. Just watched the Spurs goals and like Leeds, they make the pitch big to move the opposition and make transitioning quicker.

Whelan hasn't got the legs to press, hasn't got the legs to move it on with any pace and is way, way, way past it. Thanks Wor Bruce.

That said, Hourihane, good Lord. Fucking shocking excuse of a midfielder.

[Risso]

Whelan is dire. Just watched the Spurs goals and like Leeds, they make the pitch big to move the opposition and make transitioning quicker.

Whelan hasn't got the legs to press, hasn't got the legs to move it on with any pace and is way, way, way past it. Thanks Wor Bruce.

That said, Hourihane, good Lord. Fucking shocking excuse of a midfielder.

Hourihane would be OK in a three if the other player isn't Glenn fucking Whelan, ie somebody who doesn't play like he's wearing leg braces.  Otherwise he's a luxury we can't afford.

[Ads]

Hourihane is a mirage off the ball. Badly outclassed by some pretty ordinary midfielders like Joe Allen and the Leeds lot.

[Steve67]

Hourihane is a mirage off the ball. Badly outclassed by some pretty ordinary midfielders like Joe Allen and the Leeds lot.

Other than set pieces and the goals, he provides very little.  We need sooooo much more from him.  Lovely goal today but that apart, anonymous.  Inconsistency is a huge problem for us with the likes of El Ghazi, Kodjia, BB, Chester, Whelan, Jedinak, Hogan, Bolasie all up and down.

[Mister E]

Hourihane and Whelan lack pace, energy and commitment. I'd prefer to have seen Doyle-Hayes involved in midfield because we lacked the energy to compete; even if - and I hate to say this - Leeds were very good for much of the game.
When I talk about energy, I mean the sort demonstrated by Abraham and McGinn: they demonstrated what is required to get out of this league.

[PaulWinch again]

Leeds were excellent, and you could tell they had trained to be fit enough to play their style. Dean is also suffering from Bruce’s lack of attention to players fitness.

[PaulWinch again]

Dean’s post game interview was encouraging on the whole.

[Risso]

Look at the Leeds bench today.  Apart from that lad on loan, it was all players from their youth team with an average age of about 19.  I don't know whether Bielsa has a choice in that due to injuries, but that Jack Clarke came on and made a huge difference.  Instead of giving the likes of O'Hare a similar chance to show what he can do, we bring on utter nobodies like Bjarnason and Hogan.  All that shithouse Bjarnason did was have the sheer nerve to lambast Tammy for not passing to him, before giving the ball away every single time it came to him.  As for Hogan, I'd honestly rather just play with 10 men.

[brian green]

I have seen some crap passers of the ball in Villa shirts over the years but the combination of Whelan, Bjarnasson, Hourihane, Jedinak, Hogan and Hutton are the worst of all by a mile.  I know Jedinak did not play today.  When he plays he passes like Long John Silver.

[brian green]

And Hogan runs like him.

[Ad@m]

Hourihane is a mirage off the ball. Badly outclassed by some pretty ordinary midfielders like Joe Allen and the Leeds lot.

Fucking hell Ads, you're normally the happy clapper around here. Who's pissed on your chips tonight?

Leeds are the best team offensively we've seen at Villa Park this season so describing then as pretty ordinary is rather silly.

Likewise, Joe Allen, ordinary?! Someone who two years ago, reached the UEFA Cup final, the League Cup final, the semi-final of the Euros and got selected in the Euros team of the tournament?!

Go home Ads, you're drunk!