Dean Smith - Confirmed

[john e]

Short of drafting in the U23s en masse, what can he do? If he did that, from what I've seen of those that have played, including today, they'd get ripped to bits every week. And then what? Cries of why does he let these kids get destroyed when we've got experienced pros on the bench?

Change the system? Why? We might as well have kept Bruce in that case. I'm assuming he was hired for a reason, and I bet it wasn't something as short term as seeing what he can get out of this rabble. If that was the case, we should've gone all out to get Pulis.

What we're seeing now isn't our future, it's the death throes of this sorry, inglorious decade. I'm certain of that.

we are getting ripped apart every week now
Wigan, Brentford, WBA

all these so called experienced players that you keep insisting we must keep playing getting thrashed and humiliated every week
it’s pathetic

start the ones we are going to keep next season and fill the rest with u23’s
we won’t do any worse than now and at least our own players would be gaining valuable experience and we could see if they were going to be worth sticking with

I couldn’t disagree with your post more
I hate the cautious we can’t do nothing about it attitude

[villa `cross the mersey]

He has donned the mantle of Dead Man Walking very early in his Villa career.

The Villa job really is a poisoned chalice

[Ads]

He'll be here next August no matter what.

[mr underhill]

He won't if results carry on like this and nor should he be.

[LukeJames]

I've made my position clear multiple times, i'm willing to be patient with Smith as I feel the long term benefits will far outweigh the current shite. He does however look like he's feeling it a bit at the moment, i'm hoping that's because he see's just how fucking useless the majority of our midfield is.

[adrenachrome]

Without JMG, Grealish, Chester and Tuanzebe for the immediate future we should do a Wimbledon and play Route 1 until  we have our team back together.

I see where you are coming from Brian, and DS has started picking 2 holding midfielders, which goes against his footballing principles.  Sad to say, one of those has been Hourihane, presumably on the basis that he has the ability to fire long range passes from defensive positions. This has never been his game, and he has been badly exposed.

Today we played the pressing game for 25 minutes or so and then went back deep yet again. It has been clear throughout this latest lean period that the current players cannot play to his design.

3 explanations spring to mind:
1. He has been told to build a team his way, and exposing players who are not up to it is acceptable collateral damage.

2. He has been told no such thing, but it is the only way he knows of playing, and finds the clarion call "can we not knock it?"  anathema to his principles.

3. He has gone wrong in his mental tank, like many previous managers. He has aged 5 years in no time at all, and will be soon looking like Danny Dyer shagged out after a long squauwk.

[PaulWinch again]

I don’t know about that. I’m not saying we will, but if we lost say 10 of our remaining games I suspect the owners may look at the situation.

I would stress I want him to succeed, I really do, but fucking hell he needs to show he can adapt and adjust when things aren’t going his way.

[mr underhill]

don't you think he should have done so by now though?

[Ads]

Things will improve when Jack is back and we have more midfield options. I don't see us making the Play Offs now, but I don't think that will impact upon him being here next year.

[LukeJames]

He won't if results carry on like this and nor should he be.

You think a manager known for his high intensity attacking football won't be here next season based on his current results with a bunch of cloggers that have no idea how to play his way? he'll be here in August without a shadow of a doubt.

[AlexAlexCropley]

He won't if results carry on like this and nor should he be.

You think a manager known for his high intensity attacking football won't be here next season based on his current results with a bunch of cloggers that have no idea how to play his way? he'll be here in August without a shadow of a doubt.

This is the worst football served up for years. Carry on he's gone. Villa fan or not.

[Ads]

It's no worse than Bruce, but comes with the happened expectation it will get better. Under Wor Bruce we knew that was the limit.

[LukeJames]

He won't if results carry on like this and nor should he be.

You think a manager known for his high intensity attacking football won't be here next season based on his current results with a bunch of cloggers that have no idea how to play his way? he'll be here in August without a shadow of a doubt.

This is the worst football served up for years. Carry on he's gone. Villa fan or not.

Well its not is it? its been this shite for years.

[PaulWinch again]

He won't if results carry on like this and nor should he be.

You think a manager known for his high intensity attacking football won't be here next season based on his current results with a bunch of cloggers that have no idea how to play his way? he'll be here in August without a shadow of a doubt.

Again, you can’t just absolve the manager’s responsibility. He needs to show that he has a clue how to adapt, and manage the squad he has now.

[AlexAlexCropley]

It's no worse than Bruce, but comes with the happened expectation it will get better. Under Wor Bruce we knew that was the limit.

Wrap it up how you like. Much worse.