Dean Smith - Confirmed

[villa `cross the mersey]

I wonder if Dean is wishing he'd stayed at Brentford ?

You’re not serious with that are you?

Yes I am - it's just a question not a statement - at Brentford he will have been well paid with some pressure - I should imagine he is receiving a higher salary but with much bigger expectations - he has made a positive difference  already but appears to be under early pressure from some of our fan base- like most professions, the higher the rewards the greater the pressure - it doesn't suit all of us
Just because he is "one of us" doesn't make him immune from undue criticism and unwarranted pressure
I just hope he as positive a character as he makes out and like all of us on here hope he is successful - we all need to be extremely patient and see the " bigger picture "
We  could do with some positive news - something missing since the final minutes of the Baggies game or the victory at Swansea

[chrisw1]

I have every confidence in Dean Smith because I genuinely believe he wants to be a good manager.  Bruce only wants to be a wealthy one.  Dean will make mistakes, plenty of them, all careers are rocked by them, but he will overcome them and he will take us where we want to be.

I think comments like this are just daft.  I'm not defending his record at Villa, but do you honestly think Bruce didn't want to be a good manager? 

[john e]

he needs to bring some of his own players in who can play the way he wants

I’m sure we’ll be ok then

I’m still hoping he can make a silk purse out if what we have now that’s good enough for the play offs mind

[Clampy]

I have every confidence in Dean Smith because I genuinely believe he wants to be a good manager.  Bruce only wants to be a wealthy one.  Dean will make mistakes, plenty of them, all careers are rocked by them, but he will overcome them and he will take us where we want to be.

I think comments like this are just daft.  I'm not defending his record at Villa, but do you honestly think Bruce didn't want to be a good manager? 

Yes, I agree, absolute nonsense.

[villa `cross the mersey]

I wonder if Dean is wishing he'd stayed at Brentford ?

If Sheff wed finish above villa or even get promoted then Smith would be questionned

I think there would be a queue of people lining up to be questioned before Smith if that happened. The Gambling Companies, Referees Association, EFL, Serious Crime Squad, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Pope.

I would also suggest DNA testing to identify the true identity of the newly appointed Sheffield Wednesday manager

[footyskillz]

Good grief. Give the bloke a break. He’s less than three months into the job , hasn’t yet had a transfer window, injuries to key players and we are still in with a good shout of the playoffs. How many of the critical posters above would feel happy being criticised in their jobs with similar constraints after that period of time , I wonder?

Think people who are giving a 3 month appraisal are perfectly right and healthy to on performance so far .

Injuries and unbalanced squad are taken into consideration by all , I believe , which comment here as we are all aware .

However it feels like some have head in clouds and that posters who even ' dare' give a critical performance observation and question are just told
" he hasn't been here long "
"It's not his squad"
"We have injuries"

I admire dean Smith as he doesn't use this as an excuse and I don't think ever would .
That's a massive plus about this coach.

He's working with what he's got and we are commenting on how he's working with what he's got.

Straightforward really.

I think we should be really critical of Dean Smith for allowing Grealish, Axel and Taylor to get injured.  In allowing this, the momentum, fluidity and confidence was stopped in its tracks because we hadn't got like for like players to bring in and, in some cases, players he should have brought in were injured or short of match fitness following injury.

The squad is paper thin in players that can influence games in the right way and drastically short of pace in midfield and defence.  To he'll with it, Smith is to blame for that too.

Now, I need to trawl the web ....... architect, Rome....

What about playing only one central striker when we current have a squad with striker options and there could be some felxibility in his system

What about using squad strengths or bringing in youth players to play in required positions.

What about sticking to his vision of collective responsibility in football and having different captains.

What about looking at the three positions where we have lost so much influence and how we replace those players effectively, rather than running away from the problems that are staring us in the face.

What squad strength do we have to replace Grealish. Our squad strength has meant a totally inexperienced player in that position coming in to replace Axel.  Our squad strength has meant Hutton having to go to left back because we have no other left back.  Which young players that were not injured could have been brought in.

Who else that holds down a consistent place in the side warrants being captain. To be honest, don't think even Chester has a strong enough personality to be captain.

Two up top with similar players of Abraham and Kodjia rarely works. Two up top needs to be of contrasting styles.

I have watched enough football over the years to recognise balanced teams where each player offers something in a progressive way without being a liability at the other end of the pitch. Football is a team game and each part of the team is important in making the team work.

Firstly new year's wishes !
Second I will try once more as we seem to misunderstanding my points .

I 100 take into consideration what you're saying .

On the points I'm wishing to discuss, flag up , concern are where I think misunderstood.

In last two home matches we did not win and had 3 strikers available on the bench
Dean Smith coaches team did not look to play two strikers up top to pressure opposition back line in final minutes of match.

For all our injuries villa were unable to beat a thread bare Preston team after taking the lead.

Villa have lead in matches and dropped points continuous theme.

Squad Strengths- El Ghazhi as number 10 next to Hourihane (if he had too!) Whilst Grealish is out.

Mcginn deep lying midfielder.

Regards Captain - the point here is people get given opportunity to be captain.
It's looking at it as players having a chance to be leaders and not followers.
It's not for saying "I don't see captains in that team"
It's about developing and the collective responsibility to give an ethos of leading
I'm very disappointed Dean Smith did not see this through at Villa as he talked of this at Brentford and in football about believing this way.

We support the same club
We dream the same dream

Certainly don't wish to annoy you !

I just hoped I could feel comfortable making critical analysis and debating comments without feeling dismissed or ridiculed that I must be daft or silly to even have an opinion in saying some times things must be questionned despite early tenure .

That all it was and is.
All ever will be .

Fair comments to you and what you're saying.
I have considered them of course however I was talking about what's happening in matches , what's happening with squad with the UNDERSTANDING that he's new to job and the injuries

My issue really is that I like Smith to be a success and pointing out things which I chose to point out .

Anyway as I say have a great 2019 watching villa , posting on here and everything else !

I hope it's ok if we just move on for now until next match

Thanks though for writing and replying I get what you're saying 

[berneboy]

I'm frustrated but probably not half as much as Deano.
And I've been at the Villa when fans have turned to each other in delight and amazement at the excitement of goals.
I'll remember the Forest game a long time and even enjoyed the qpr game despite the dreadful approach of the visitors.

I love watching again.

And given time I feel certain Deano will get us promoted.

P.S. we really need Jack back - he transforms the team. If he is long term injured or leaves we need a clever passer without which our dangerous wingers are playing with an arm (or leg!) tied behind their back.

[footyskillz]

I have every confidence in Dean Smith because I genuinely believe he wants to be a good manager.  Bruce only wants to be a wealthy one.  Dean will make mistakes, plenty of them, all careers are rocked by them, but he will overcome them and he will take us where we want to be.

I think comments like this are just daft.  I'm not defending his record at Villa, but do you honestly think Bruce didn't want to be a good manager?

This is what I mean by head in clouds.
And people being swooned by Smith

I'm sorry that's really unfair comment regards comparing these 2 yet you're entitled to your view on both Bruce and Smith .

Our owners have played a (peaky) blinder having Deano in as he can do no wrong to some!
And a clever part of reason he's appointed he get the opposite to cabbage being thrown at him

It's keeping the fans happy with Smith and I think he will and does just comments like that make me wonder if some villa fans would have him whatever happens

Blinded by the love !


Where's the face palm emoji!!!

[Toronto Villa]

I wonder if Dean is wishing he'd stayed at Brentford ?

You’re not serious with that are you?

Yes I am - it's just a question not a statement - at Brentford he will have been well paid with some pressure - I should imagine he is receiving a higher salary but with much bigger expectations - he has made a positive difference  already but appears to be under early pressure from some of our fan base- like most professions, the higher the rewards the greater the pressure - it doesn't suit all of us
Just because he is "one of us" doesn't make him immune from undue criticism and unwarranted pressure
I just hope he as positive a character as he makes out and like all of us on here hope he is successful - we all need to be extremely patient and see the " bigger picture "
We  could do with some positive news - something missing since the final minutes of the Baggies game or the victory at Swansea

How much pressure from our fan base is he under other than a few internet warriors questioning him after three months? We are selling out away games, close to selling out most home games. And while we are not winning every week, we're not losing. We are 5 points off the play offs despite what most would consider some disappointing recent results. So it's not like the form of everyone above us significantly better than ours. Also most fans I believe understand the transition part of this coupled with the key injuries and that is why he is getting very publicly almost overwhelming support.

He's in a great job at a big club with huge expectations. It's exactly what he signed up for and with a transfer window in front of him he'll have more resources to fix this than he has ever had before. The club just lashed out 7m on a keeper. Did he ever spend anything close to that in a window at Brentford?

I'm sure he's frustrated with a lot of things as he works through being in a new job. I would take your money (I have none) and bet it all that he doesn't regret this for one second.

[john e]

he’s not had one single window yet
and I’m sure he’ll be backed if he can be (ffp)

I still look forward to every game expecting great things not always getting them but I’m still confident we are heading in the right direction
which is the opposite to what I’ve been feeling like over the last few years

[villa `cross the mersey]

May be bringing in a centre back from our friends in the North West of the Midlands - Hause prices are lower in Wolverhapton

[Ads]

He's in a cul-de-sac selection wise at the moment. Seeing Hourihane and Whelan near the midfield fills me with dread, as both are apart of why we're so sluggish and slow in transition.

More and more I feel the midfield is just as culpable for our woes; Ezie chance where Hourihane follows him and gets nowhere near, the ease they moved through midfield for the first and Bree having to track the midfield runner and being out of position. It's pathetic.

But I'm not sure how I'd shuffle us any differently. The poor form is legacy stuff.

Hutton at left back
Chester injures
Hourihane/Whelan deep

It's too much to carry. Going forwards we're always a threat. I'm still confident for the play offs, as I think we'll improve in key positions.

Tammy would be a loss, but it happens.

[paul_e]

He's in a cul-de-sac selection wise at the moment. Seeing Hourihane and Whelan near the midfield fills me with dread, as both are apart of why we're so sluggish and slow in transition.

More and more I feel the midfield is just as culpable for our woes; Ezie chance where Hourihane follows him and gets nowhere near, the ease they moved through midfield for the first and Bree having to track the midfield runner and being out of position. It's pathetic.

But I'm not sure how I'd shuffle us any differently. The poor form is legacy stuff.

Hutton at left back
Chester injures
Hourihane/Whelan deep

It's too much to carry. Going forwards we're always a threat. I'm still confident for the play offs, as I think we'll improve in key positions.

Tammy would be a loss, but it happens.

As I've said a few times I'd rather have seen one of the kids play in midfield in the last few weeks since Grealish got injured. Might not have made a difference to the results and they might have struggled just as much but at least they'd be learning what first team football is about and finding things to work on in their game. Whelan is too old to learn anything and Hourihane will never be a defensive midfielder, he just can't read play well enough.

[brian green]

I defend my point about Bruce putting his own material success before the success of the teams he managed.  Bearing in mind  how many apologists he had in these pages it does not surprise me that I should be attacked for suggesting that he did not apply himself with sufficient energy or commitments to his responsibilities especially arch apologist Clampy who will never pass up an opportunity to attack me.

[Clampy]

I defend my point about Bruce putting his own material success before the success of the teams he managed.  Bearing in mind  how many apologists he had in these pages it does not surprise me that I should be attacked for suggesting that he did not apply himself with sufficient energy or commitments to his responsibilities especially arch apologist Clampy who will never pass up an opportunity to attack me.

Oh for heavens sake Brian, stop being such a bloody drama queen. I'm disagreeing with the point you made, not because it's you. Your not that important.