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.
We've got to stick with him now as the only man worth replacing him with has just joined Den Haag.
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.
We had three unbelievable pieces of defending that denied them a result so very happy with the three points but I just cannot relate the early season form to what we are seeing now, just hoping the return of Mings will settle them down.
Unfortunately, as pointed out by many critics during the summer, we’ve tried to bed in too many inexperienced players all at the same time. I feel that our main problem is lack of confidence rather than lack of ability. Bringing in a couple of experienced players into the squad at this stage would be invaluable.
Dean Smith and his Aston Villa players are desperate to prove their doubters wrong as they attempt to climb out of the bottom three of the Premier League.Villa ended their four-game losing run in the League with a vital victory over Norwich City on Boxing Day and now face another important game to their survival hopes against Watford on Saturday.Smith insists he is enjoying the pressure of trying to lift Villa out of the bottom three and believes his players can also relish the challenge of attempting to defy the odds.“I said to the players before the Norwich game that we’ve put a bit of added pressure on ourselves with the losing run,” said Villa manager Smith. “But these lads thrive under pressure and I, perversely, quite enjoy it.“I’d rather be fourth in the League and have that pressure, but being third bottom, let’s go and prove people wrong because there are enough doubters around about what you can and can’t do.”In terms of the psychological impact of being in the bottom three, Smith added: “I’m not one who sits there and looks at the table constantly, I just look at the next game and how we can improve as a team and as a squad.“A lot was made about three games on the spin against teams who were below us - Southampton, Norwich and now Watford - but everything you get in this League you have to earn.“Whether it’s against Watford or Manchester City, you’ve got to go and work hard. So Watford will be tough to beat, but we want to become tough to beat ourselves.”Villa have the worst away record in the Premier League, taking just four points from nine games, but Smith pointed to the fact that his team has faced most of the traditional top six on the road.“We’ve had a tough run of games - Tottenham away first game, we’ve been to Arsenal which still grates with me that we didn’t win, been to Manchester United, Manchester City and we’ve been in a lot of those games,” said Smith.“But if you go to those places and you’re leading or level, then there is pressure on them to put pressure on you. They have got top players and they are established teams in the Premier League, and we’re a fairly new one now.”Smith is hoping central defender Tyrone Mings will return from injury in time for the New Year’s Day trip to Burnley.
QuoteVilla have the worst away record in the Premier League, taking just four points from nine games, but Smith pointed to the fact that his team has faced most of the traditional top six on the road.“We’ve had a tough run of games - Tottenham away first game, we’ve been to Arsenal which still grates with me that we didn’t win, been to Manchester United, Manchester City and we’ve been in a lot of those games,” said Smith.“But if you go to those places and you’re leading or level, then there is pressure on them to put pressure on you. They have got top players and they are established teams in the Premier League, and we’re a fairly new one now.”https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/12/27/dean-smith-relishing-chance-prove-aston-villas-doubters-wrong/
Villa have the worst away record in the Premier League, taking just four points from nine games, but Smith pointed to the fact that his team has faced most of the traditional top six on the road.“We’ve had a tough run of games - Tottenham away first game, we’ve been to Arsenal which still grates with me that we didn’t win, been to Manchester United, Manchester City and we’ve been in a lot of those games,” said Smith.“But if you go to those places and you’re leading or level, then there is pressure on them to put pressure on you. They have got top players and they are established teams in the Premier League, and we’re a fairly new one now.”
The away fixtures include Leicester and LiverpoolThe rest are Watford, Southampton,West ham, Bournemouth, Brighton, Burnley and Newcastle ,Everton How many can be won.Improvement away and winning here and there at rivals would do a lot to secure top flight status
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Topic: Dean Smith - Confirmed (Read 1823173 times)
