Dean Smith - Confirmed

[PeterWithe]

I disagree and would push the full backs further forward quickly when we get possession leaving the two CBs and the holding MF to mind the shop. We might then start imposing ourselves on the game a little more.

[Rudy65]

Smith doesn't even appear to have a clue who his best midfield is.  These have been the central three for the last few games:

Southampton - Hourihane, Luiz, McGinn
Sheffield United - McGinn, Nakamba, Lansbury
Leicester - McGinn, Nakamba, Luiz
Chelsea - Hourihane, Nakamba, McGinn
Man U - McGinn, Luiz, Hourihane

Five games, five attempts at finding the right formula and failed in all of them except Man U.

The problem is that whilst the combinations are all different, apart from SJM, none of the others Are good enough

[hilts_coolerking]

There are also no credible candidates for the job

That gets said every time our manager is in a precarious position.  They all get replaced sooner or later.  To say there are no credible candidates is absurd.

[Rudy65]

There are also no credible candidates for the job

That gets said every time our manager is in a precarious position.  They all get replaced sooner or later.  To say there are no credible candidates is absurd.

Who’s your choice?

[hilts_coolerking]

There are also no credible candidates for the job

That gets said every time our manager is in a precarious position.  They all get replaced sooner or later.  To say there are no credible candidates is absurd.

Who’s your choice?

I can tell you what I'm looking for in a new guy: an experienced PL manager (preferably with overseas experience too); who has won proper trophies; is reasonably progressive; adaptable; gets the best out of his players.  Of course most won't tick all of those boxes but weakness in one area can be offset by being outstanding in another.

[Toronto Villa]

There are also no credible candidates for the job

That gets said every time our manager is in a precarious position.  They all get replaced sooner or later.  To say there are no credible candidates is absurd.

Who’s your choice?

Ideally either Ron Saunders or Sir Graham, but if Bill Shankly, Sir Alf, Fergie, Sacchi are free will take on of them

[jwarry]

There are also no credible candidates for the job

That gets said every time our manager is in a precarious position.  They all get replaced sooner or later.  To say there are no credible candidates is absurd.

Who’s your choice?

Ideally either Ron Saunders or Sir Graham, but if Bill Shankly, Sir Alf, Fergie, Sacchi are free will take on of them

Pochettino and give him a sackful of money

[Risso]

Niko Kovac for me.

[ez]

The owners will be checking out possible replacements already.

[Flamingo Lane]

Yesterday's performance was woeful, the players seem to have lost all confidence in themselves and, most worryingly, in each other.  It is baffling that Smith is persisting with a system that self-evidently is not working and with players who appear wholly unsuited to it.  As it looks at the minute, we look more likely than not to finish bottom of this league.

All that said, and some may like it or not, all the signs are that the owners have every confidence in Smith - if it were otherwise, there was enough writing on the wall at the time when he was granted his contract extension for the owners to have held off granting him one.  That being the case, he isn't likely to be dismissed now or soon, and it would seem reasonable to assume that the owners will be prepared to invest in more quality players of the type and in the positions we need them most, in the course of the coming window.  In fact, I am hoping that these players are already lined up (oven ready, as it were), as our dealings in the summer seem to have been well organised.  With such new players on board to add some further real quality, hopefully the best of the signings we did make in the summer will rediscover their individual and collective promise.

[Toronto Villa]

What is with recent Villa that does seemingly aspiring managers playing good football or successful football at their previous clubs into shit when they come to us? Lambert's Norwich played lovely football, punched way above their weight and in a couple of years he turned into a bollocks talking tramp under a bridge. Remi Garde wins two trophies in France at Lyon, manages in the CL, ooks and sounds sharp, we turn him into a fucking zombie. Dean Smith is now threatening much the same. Brentford found brilliant players for next to nothing, played some superb football, cut us to pieces numerous times and now we can barely retain possession, don't shoot on goal, can't keep the ball out of our net and he never wants to try anything new in terms of tactics and stubbornly persists with a forward who cannot score. And he's coming out with Lambert-lite style garbage after games.

[Nii Lamptey]

Benitez for me.
High profile manager who's been there, done that. He even got Newcastle promoted with Ashley as his chairman?!

[Ian.]

What is with recent Villa that does seemingly aspiring managers playing good football or successful football at their previous clubs into shit when they come to us? Lambert's Norwich played lovely football, punched way above their weight and in a couple of years he turned into a bollocks talking tramp under a bridge. Remi Garde wins two trophies in France at Lyon, manages in the CL, ooks and sounds sharp, we turn him into a fucking zombie. Dean Smith is now threatening much the same. Brentford found brilliant players for next to nothing, played some superb football, cut us to pieces numerous times and now we can barely retain possession, don't shoot on goal, can't keep the ball out of our net and he never wants to try anything new in terms of tactics and stubbornly persists with a forward who cannot score. And he's coming out with Lambert-lite style garbage after games.

Maybe just maybe Aston Villa as a club is just so much bigger than Norwich, Lyon and Brentford. These fellas come in and the size of the task just consumes them.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Niko Kovac for me.

That's a very good shout. He was linked with the Everton job, no idea if he was actually approached though.

[Toronto Villa]

What is with recent Villa that does seemingly aspiring managers playing good football or successful football at their previous clubs into shit when they come to us? Lambert's Norwich played lovely football, punched way above their weight and in a couple of years he turned into a bollocks talking tramp under a bridge. Remi Garde wins two trophies in France at Lyon, manages in the CL, ooks and sounds sharp, we turn him into a fucking zombie. Dean Smith is now threatening much the same. Brentford found brilliant players for next to nothing, played some superb football, cut us to pieces numerous times and now we can barely retain possession, don't shoot on goal, can't keep the ball out of our net and he never wants to try anything new in terms of tactics and stubbornly persists with a forward who cannot score. And he's coming out with Lambert-lite style garbage after games.

Maybe just maybe Aston Villa as a club is just so much bigger than Norwich, Lyon and Brentford. These fellas come in and the size of the task just consumes them.

There are plenty of managers that take a step up and don't miss a beat. Pochettino went from Southampton to Spurs and made them so much better is just one example that immediately comes to mind. I don't think the Villa job is different to other big clubs. I'll concede I'm sure say Everton fans think the same as us. Similar size clubs where manager after manager has never fulfiled their potential despite being given incredibke resources.