Dean Smith - Confirmed

[Ads]

It's a bit of an ego boost at the moment reading what others think of us.

We had a good side last season and a good campaign that wasn't quite up there. But we were functional, tough to beat and gritty.

This time the word frightening is cropping up a lot.

[kipeye]

There’s loads of things I like about Smith he’s made loads of improvements in such a short time

but the main one for me is I’m just enjoying watching us play football again
I could have cried with joy last night when the commentator said the match was between the arch pragmatists verses the entertainers

The last time it was this entertaining was probably under Big Ron and there will be many on the site who won’t have been around then,
I’m so pleased for them

This is what has killed many of us old 'uns. The reason we go on about playing in the 3rd tier was it turned the football round in exactly this way. It actually didn't matter so much what division we were playing in it became what we paid to watch. Even then, it took a few goes to get back to the Preeemier, but the journey was great.

[kipeye]

Has anyone in the marketing department realised the anagram?
D- Is the man

"Amend Shit"

[villa `cross the mersey]

Has anyone in the marketing department realised the anagram?
D- Is the man

"Amend Shit"

Nice one BE - for one minute I thought you were pulling me up for my anagramism

[Havencheese]

If you're looking for a decent podcast, this one 'Who are ya' isn't a bad listen. The Brentford episode (link below) is informative and reveals a fair bit, it was produced just days prior to Smith joining Villa. The Bees have had a big slump since then. I'd forgotten that he replaced a very popular figure at the club in Mark Warburton and kept the club's ethos of attractive football and retaining value/improving players within the system. Smith gets a few mentions towards the end, however what's interesting is to hearing about the forward thinking setup he's come from at Brentford. I can't help but think some of it will be integrated in our very own setup of football operations.

https://audioboom.com/posts/7019503-brentford-defying-the-odds

[Risso]

The thing I like about Smith is that unlike Bruce, the good football is as a result of a plan, modern thinking and a defined way of playing.  Our default position under Bruce was average, interspersed by some good play because we could afford better players than most of the Championship. How many times did we read "hope this is our bad half" under Bruce?

[Nunkin1965]

There’s loads of things I like about Smith he’s made loads of improvements in such a short time

but the main one for me is I’m just enjoying watching us play football again
I could have cried with joy last night when the commentator said the match was between the arch pragmatists verses the entertainers

The last time it was this entertaining was probably under Big Ron and there will be many on the site who won’t have been around then,
I’m so pleased for them

I agree with this totally.
The way we're playing at the moment is a joy.
Friday's game can't come soon enough and regardless of the result I think we'll leave everything on the pitch because already the team are playing for the manager by totally buying into his philosophy.

This is what has killed many of us old 'uns. The reason we go on about playing in the 3rd tier was it turned the football round in exactly this way. It actually didn't matter so much what division we were playing in it became what we paid to watch. Even then, it took a few goes to get back to the Preeemier, but the journey was great.

[martin o`who??]

Possibly the most telling remark from last nights commentary was when they said Smith had said he was impressed with how quickly the players had adapted to his ideas and that it was testing him as a coach - there’s an ambition in that outlook that speaks volumes for him.

[Rudy65]

It reminds me of BFR at his best in 92/93 and 76/77 under King Ron. Scoring for fun and playing some super stuff. Love it, absolutely love it

[paul_e]

Possibly the most telling remark from last nights commentary was when they said Smith had said he was impressed with how quickly the players had adapted to his ideas and that it was testing him as a coach - there’s an ambition in that outlook that speaks volumes for him.

a fair few people on here were saying from this time last season that we had the best squad in the league but we weren't using it and despite the changes in the summer I still think that's true. Having that belief vindicated so completely and so quickly by Smith is fantastic. I said I'd take 5 points off the top 2 by christmas as enough of a turnaround to put us right in the mix, I suspect we'll get a bit closer than that.

[Dave P]

It’s good to see how much Grealish is showing his true class now. Under Bruce’s style, he was too heavily relied on and too easily marked. Now, as an opposition defender, who do you mark when Grealish, McGinn, Bolasie, El Ghazi and Abraham are running at you?

[Villafirst]

It reminds me of BFR at his best in 92/93 and 76/77 under King Ron. Scoring for fun and playing some super stuff. Love it, absolutely love it

76/77....now that was special!

[Risso]

It’s good to see how much Grealish is showing his true class now. Under Bruce’s style, he was too heavily relied on and too easily marked. Now, as an opposition defender, who do you mark when Grealish, McGinn, Bolasie, El Ghazi and Abraham are running at you?

Spot on Dave.  Grealish's natural game isn't really about pace.  I was watching him intently yesterday, and he makes space for himself so easily, it's a joy to watch.  He makes playing the game appear effortless, like McGrath did, although Jack's nowhere near that level yet.  Jack just makes space for himself, then plays the ball to which ever one of our attacking options is best placed.  A couple of his passes were a bit awry, but I think that's something they're working on in training as he was trying to play the perfect pass a lot.  I know it's a different time and a level below, but this team is starting to remind me of the peak Atkinson years.

[Villafirst]

Imagine Lewis Grabban in this team with DS coaching him....he'd score a hatful!

[Risso]

Imagine Lewis Grabban in this team with DS coaching him....he'd score a hatful!

Not sure we'd be able to fit both Grabban and Tammy in the same team.  Grabban was very good for us, but I do prefer Tammy.