Dean Smith - Confirmed

[Villafirst]

Yes, it needs to improve but let's get these next few games out of the way and see where we are in the new year. I just hope the club do not make any rash decisions. He's got my backing.

On the other hand you don't want to sleepwalk towards relegation. I think the current situation is dire - last 9 games: SEVEN defeats, one win and one draw? 4 points from 27??

[Bobby Boy]

Frankly, if he takes us down, he takes us down, provided we do so fighting. I think the only way it shouldn't be the case is if it looks like the players have lost faith in his methods in such a way that a promotion challenge next season looks jeopardised.

Splurging the 100+ million obviously doesn't look great, and the returns from some of the signings don't look great so far, to say the least, but basically everyone in the summer agreed that the squad needed a massive rebuild given the release of the Dad's army and the heavy reliance on loanees, it wasn't like it was already a well-rounded squad which was then not improved upon at all.

There’s been no fight at all in the last few games. Saturday was especially gutless. The players already look like they’ve given up and don’t believe in him.

This is what is most concerning. It has been infuriating to watch Villa players strolling around the pitch, letting opposition players pick up the ball in midfield , turn and do what they want without a hint of a challenge or of pressure.

That's not about technical ability or footballing nous, that's about a basic desire to be competitive and professional pride.

Our players seem to have a millisecond on the ball whereas our opponents have as long as they want.

Where does that come from? Players who inherently don't have drive or passion? No, I don't think so.

Surely, this is about knowing your role and being confident in what you are being sent out to do.

Dean Smith has a fixed, immovable way of playing. What if the players don't believe that they can carry what he wants out....

But just three games ago we went to Old Trafford and came back from being behind and showed plenty of desire, all is not lost , we need to get behind the team just like in the Everton game . Should we fall a goal behind we need to get behind them even more . We all want this massive Villa family to succeed and the key contribution we can provide is support. Loud and proud boys and girls please - let our boys know we’re up for this fight too.

This is fair enough. On Saturday the support was great and it was only the ineptitude on show from the team that eventually stunned the crowd into silence. At 0-3 you could hear a pin drop.

We'll get behind the team on Saturday for sure. Then it's over to the players to perform.

[Gareth]

I haven’t read any of this thread over last few days but I have read a lot of those on twitter who after 4 bad results have given up on Dean & condemned us to guaranteed relegation. 

Last Saturday & the next 3 games are pivotal to our season & if we walk off after Burnley and we haven’t broke even on points across those 4 games the knives being out is difficult to ignore but for me Dean has way too much credit in the bank still to be calling for his head. 

Personally I didn’t see a lack of effort on Saturday however disappointing the performance was, I thought it was more that we fielded a team with far too many players who lack pace - Hourihane, Lansbury, Targett are all far too pedestrian when you want to up the tempo of the game, Jack has little option but to play in that ‘quarterback’ role because no one around him was moving at pace.

I’m also a firm believer that this 433 formation is killing us at the minute, having to play Jack as one of the front three because both of our first choice wingers are abject defensively and inconsistent going forward is an issue.  I hope for Dean’s sake that he is flexible and will try other formations because ultimately El Ghazi & Trezeguet could cost him his job as we are too easy to expose from wide areas with them not providing adequate cover for the full backs.

I would say to anyone who wants him sacked it won’t happen over Christmas period however much the twitter trolls who want to be first to say ‘told you so’ want it - so suck it up, try to clear mind of doubts & come Boxing Day get in that ground ready to roar the boys on - it is difficult for some I know I have one sat behind me who ridiculously is on Wesleys back from the time the teams line up for the handshake but we can play our part by not turning at the first misplaced pace.

Normally I am one who if I don’t see fight or a rhyme/reason for what the players are doing that says you have every right to boo etc - at the moment I am seeing this as a blip not a crisis....I just hope in 8 days time everything is far more jolly & we are talking more about made up transfer rumours than whether Deans job is a risk.

[eamonn]

I know it shouldnt matter but his body language in the press conferences bugs me a little. He always seems to have that same "shrug it off " attitude to each question and never gives the impression that's he's hurting or culpable.

His defence yesterday was "Hang on, we're in the semi finals of a cup and this time last year we were mid-table in the Ch'ship". 

I found it interesting that in terms of January signings, in the space of a week or so he's gone from trotting out the old "they'll have to be better than what we have" to "we will be looking to sign players next month" which at least is encouraging.

[Ketzster]

People keep saying give him the next three games, if they do that we will almost certainly be down. He should have gone after Saturday. We are just wasting games we need to win and we aren’t going to with Smith. When it gets as bad as Saturday was it’s almost certain it isn’t going to turn around

[supertom]

We don't have the personnel or set up to play a back 4. Smith wants his first choice FB's playing high, they leave gaps. Nakamba started off well but has fallen by the wayside. He just seems unsure of what he's doing. I'm loathe to write anyone off because just look at Gueye and Veretout. The former started well for us and then ended up looking hopeless because being part of a hopeless side rubs off on you.

For me we should be looking at a back 3. When CH'S are getting pulled out of position covering for a FB or for the lack of midfield protection, there'd be a benefit have that 3rd CH. Plus we've general lack of experience at the back. Players like Mings and Konsa are good enough to be the ball playing CH of a 3 too.

Playing a front 3 isn't working for us either. I'd potentially be looking to move Grealish up top with Davis/Wesley, playing off the front man in a 3-5-1-1 (Attack minded).  The Fullys then have a little more freedom going forward too.

The alternative is 4-2-3-1 and have the bottom 2 of the mid sitting to protect the CH's a bit more and getting that 3 to get around the target man a bit more effectively (again that makes Davis a better option). We need a bit more flexibility because our current system is poor at both ends.

I like Smith, I want him to turn it around but he needs to gamble now and try something different. He also needs a big result, when the 'bigger games' come around because we're losing in matches we have to be picking results up in. If he doesn't win between now and the NYD game, he has to go though. The next appointment needs serious consideration. We cannot afford for it to be a Remi Garde appointment.

[murgsy]

I have so many questions...

Did we have unrealistic expectations (inexperienced PL manager, squad overhaul with non-PL experienced players who never played together)?

Why did they give him the contract extension?

Are the owners prepared to stick with him - being relegated?

If he was to go - who could come to the rescue?

[Risso]

People keep saying give him the next three games, if they do that we will almost certainly be down. He should have gone after Saturday. We are just wasting games we need to win and we aren’t going to with Smith. When it gets as bad as Saturday was it’s almost certain it isn’t going to turn around

The only time we’ve turned this level of shiteness around was when Jack came back last season. Hard to see where a similar boost is going to come from.

[London Villan]

We should build on the strengths of the squad and use the experience we have until the window opens.

That means a back three including Chester, Elmo as a wide midfielder and kodja up front.

Norwich will be like the game at Stoke last season - a turning point - when the players realised they are in the shit and need to pull their fingers out.

[ChicagoLion]

Lots of calls for a back 3, unless we have been working on this for some time I think it would be a disaster.
The problem he has to solve is stopping teams getting at our defense and creating chances. The problem is the midfield offering no protection what so ever.

[cdbearsfan]

Agree. Back three if you haven't practised it just means players getting in each other's way and playing the opposition onside all the time.

We need to defend higher up the pitch, with our midfield offering more resistance, not add more defenders.

[ChicagoLion]

Agree. Back three if you haven't practised it just means players getting in each other's way and playing the opposition onside all the time.

We need to defend higher up the pitch, with our midfield offering more resistance, not add more defenders.

Completely agree, it takes a lot of organizing And practice to get 3 Centre halves operating effectively.

[BC Villain]

I know it shouldnt matter but his body language in the press conferences bugs me a little. He always seems to have that same "shrug it off " attitude to each question and never gives the impression that's he's hurting or culpable.

His defence yesterday was "Hang on, we're in the semi finals of a cup and this time last year we were mid-table in the Ch'ship". 

I found it interesting that in terms of January signings, in the space of a week or so he's gone from trotting out the old "they'll have to be better than what we have" to "we will be looking to sign players next month" which at least is encouraging.

He often talks about emotional control regardless of winning or losing.  It's just his way of doing things. 

[VinnieChase84]

I fully expect to revert to a 4231 now. Jack centrally with two solid holding players. Marv and Luiz probably. Winger wise I wouldn’t be surprised with Trez (for his workrate) and even Elmo at right wing. Extra cover round on the defensive.

[PeterWithesShin]

We've got to stick with him now as the only man worth replacing him with has just joined Den Haag.