Dean Smith - Confirmed

[Fred Crump]

We dropped points in my view. Significantly though, I saw us defend well for the first time all season.

I agree,
 I only saw the first half and no player was having a complete nightmare from what I could see

Central pairing looked good, but the team laboured

I just don't go along with this 'he can't do anything else' it's his job to find something else

A midfield 3 of N.O’Deal, U. Nicorn and W.Teo would absolutely guarantee promotion with 120 points. To suggest anything like the same tired old approach of picking players who actually exist, are fit and in the squad is just ignoring the will of 17 million Villa fans

[Rudy Can't Fail]

To his credit he did look to bring on Davis but then SJM needed to come off so Jedi replaced him.

[Ads]

We took a gigantic leap forward when Dean Smith arrived

Did we?  What makes you say that?

We played the best football in 20 years probably.

[hilts_coolerking]

We took a gigantic leap forward when Dean Smith arrived

Did we?  What makes you say that?

We played the best football in 20 years probably.

And now we're not.  He's got to do a massive amount more before I'd describe him as a gigantic leap forward.

[SoccerHQ]

Would be amazed if we finished top 6. For the simple fact we've looked so unconvincing bar 4-5 games.

That said when you're just 4-5 points off with still 48 to play for it's silly to write anything off.

Does feel like the whole club seems to be mentally preparing for next season, easy to do now but we'd need to come out flying in August as we always seem undercooked at the start.

[john e]

We dropped points in my view. Significantly though, I saw us defend well for the first time all season.

I agree,
 I only saw the first half and no player was having a complete nightmare from what I could see

Central pairing looked good, but the team laboured

I just don't go along with this 'he can't do anything else' it's his job to find something else

A midfield 3 of N.O’Deal, U. Nicorn and W.Teo would absolutely guarantee promotion with 120 points. To suggest anything like the same tired old approach of picking players who actually exist, are fit and in the squad is just ignoring the will of 17 million Villa fans

Fred, your an appeaser, there's nothing we can do, lets make the best of a bad lot

I'm a gambler, I think it's time to take a few risks and try something different

you might be right in the end, but let's face it we arnt going to lose much by being a bit braver

[Bad English]

I can't understand why john e has not been given the Villa job.

[Steve67]

I know he needs time but Tom Carroll really wasn’t the answer either.

You can’t judge the kid on 15 minutes. He’s a beat and tidy player who likes to play get forward and can play a very decent through ball from some of the stuff I’ve seen of his time at Spurs. And in the end he’s a loan with an option to buy. He has to prove himself. I hope he gets his chance instead of Whelan on Friday.

I’m not suggesting anything based on 15 minutes ffs!

[olaftab]

I can't understand why john e has not been given the Villa job.

It's because a person with a single  letter surname can't be employed for  health and safety reasons.

[Steve67]

I can't understand why john e has not been given the Villa job.

It's because a person with a single  letter surname can't be employed for  health and safety reasons.

I often wondered why Mr T hadn’t applied for the Villa job.  He’d have been better than Bruce or RDM.

[Damo70]

I can't understand why john e has not been given the Villa job.

It's because a person with a single  letter surname can't be employed for  health and safety reasons.

I often wondered why Mr T hadn’t applied for the Villa job.  He’d have been beefed than Bruce or RDM.

When Mr T was sounded out about the Villa job he said "I pity the fool that takes the job".

[Toronto Villa]

We took a gigantic leap forward when Dean Smith arrived

Did we?  What makes you say that?

We played the best football in 20 years probably.

And now we're not.  He's got to do a massive amount more before I'd describe him as a gigantic leap forward.

The football was outstanding. Let’s not rewrite history. But what has happened since is massively disappointing. Not just that it wasn’t maintained because much of that is down to injuries. But that Smith hasn’t been able to adjust with what he’s got and is now stuck in a rut. The team is back to playing Bruce ball. It’s hideous.

[Sexual Ealing]

The thing is, we have (or we had) Grealish. He's a staggeringly good player for the level that we're at. Smith got lucky when he came because Grealish was so good. He's unlucky now because Grealish isn't available. We all knew that there were massive problems with our team, as we saw again today. It takes more than three months to fix those problems.

[Toronto Villa]

I know he needs time but Tom Carroll really wasn’t the answer either.

You can’t judge the kid on 15 minutes. He’s a beat and tidy player who likes to play get forward and can play a very decent through ball from some of the stuff I’ve seen of his time at Spurs. And in the end he’s a loan with an option to buy. He has to prove himself. I hope he gets his chance instead of Whelan on Friday.

I’m not suggesting anything based on 15 minutes ffs!

So how on earth do you know if he is or isn’t the answer? And what do you mean by the answer anyway? We added a footballer who plays the game the right way or at least in the manner Smith would like us to play. You and I have no idea how effective he will be so stating what you did was a little premature.

[Steve67]

Physicality was required during the window.  That midfield remains lightweight. He may or may not turn out great and be part of the jigsaw that Dean Smith is putting together.  However, right now, if we want the play offs then Tom Carroll wasn’t the answer.