Dean Smith - Confirmed

[PeterWithe]

I like Davis but I’m not sure I see the logic of moving our one goal threat to accommodate him

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Doesn't that prove the futility of tactical inflexibility criticism of Smith?

If you on the one hand say Trez isn't up to it and El Ghazi and Traore are so inconsistent and frequently out of form. If you think Barkley has fallen off a cliff form wise and that Davis is not up to it, then realistically, what difference does a formation make?

If you don't think you have the players, then those poor or out of form players picking different runs from different positions won't make a significant difference.

[Brazilian Villain]

Davis has scored 4 goals in half a decade of professional football, have i missed something here?

Most likely.

[JuanMartinez]

Doesn't that prove the futility of tactical inflexibility criticism of Smith?

If you on the one hand say Trez isn't up to it and El Ghazi and Traore are so inconsistent and frequently out of form. If you think Barkley has fallen off a cliff form wise and that Davis is not up to it, then realistically, what difference does a formation make?

If you don't think you have the players, then those poor or out of form players picking different runs from different positions won't make a significant difference.

The most sensible poster, make him a mod.

[Toronto Villa]

If we start playing Davis from the start we'll never win another game of football.

In the grand scheme of things yes you’re absolutely correct. But at a time we are barely getting shot off let alone scoring a goal the current formation without Grealish isn’t working. I would much rather Watkins out wide than Trez who is not even close to the player he was pretty Covid lockdown this season. Something has happened there. AEG and to a slightly lesser degree Traore blow hot and cold. Mainly cold now. So try something different.

[Risso]

Doesn't that prove the futility of tactical inflexibility criticism of Smith?

If you on the one hand say Trez isn't up to it and El Ghazi and Traore are so inconsistent and frequently out of form. If you think Barkley has fallen off a cliff form wise and that Davis is not up to it, then realistically, what difference does a formation make?

If you don't think you have the players, then those poor or out of form players picking different runs from different positions won't make a significant difference.

No. He could play a diamond, and try to get the best out of McGinn's attacking play instead of stifling him by asking him to do a defensive job that isn't in his nature. Perming two out of the three shit wingers isn't working.

[Toronto Villa]

I like Davis but I’m not sure I see the logic of moving our one goal threat to accommodate him

I know what you’re saying and i wouldn’t be suggesting it other than out of desperation. But Watkins isn’t a goal threat anymore. At least not like he was. And the one thing we have seen is he can be deadly down the left and cutting in.

[Ketzster]

Doesn't that prove the futility of tactical inflexibility criticism of Smith?

If you on the one hand say Trez isn't up to it and El Ghazi and Traore are so inconsistent and frequently out of form. If you think Barkley has fallen off a cliff form wise and that Davis is not up to it, then realistically, what difference does a formation make?

If you don't think you have the players, then those poor or out of form players picking different runs from different positions won't make a significant difference.

Isn’t the idea that if you know Trezeguet and El Ghazi aren’t good enough, you change the system so you don’t have to use them as wingers. So as you suggested, try a diamond for example with Davis and Watkins up front together. Take Brendan Rodgers. When Leicester lose their full backs through injury he changes the system. Smith never even tries anything different. No matter who the opposition is or what the situation in the game is, it’s always the same formation and the same like for like substitutes. As Rougegorge said, once opposition managers have worked it out it’s too predictable and easy to manage against

[PeterWithe]

Doesn't that prove the futility of tactical inflexibility criticism of Smith?

If you on the one hand say Trez isn't up to it and El Ghazi and Traore are so inconsistent and frequently out of form. If you think Barkley has fallen off a cliff form wise and that Davis is not up to it, then realistically, what difference does a formation make?

If you don't think you have the players, then those poor or out of form players picking different runs from different positions won't make a significant difference.

I don’t think I did criticise his tactics, he likes 4-3-3 so I think he should stick to it, abandoning it midway through a game leads to confusion and I think changing the players in that formation due to form is better than trying a new formation during a game.

He’s doing as well, if not better, than he should be given the squad.

[ChicagoLion]

You would also hope by now we could take a corner or free kick that provides some danger to the opposition defence.

[ChicagoLion]

Doesn't that prove the futility of tactical inflexibility criticism of Smith?

If you on the one hand say Trez isn't up to it and El Ghazi and Traore are so inconsistent and frequently out of form. If you think Barkley has fallen off a cliff form wise and that Davis is not up to it, then realistically, what difference does a formation make?

If you don't think you have the players, then those poor or out of form players picking different runs from different positions won't make a significant difference.

I don’t think I did criticise his tactics, he likes 4-3-3 so I think he should stick to it, abandoning it midway through a game leads to confusion and I think changing the players in that formation due to form is better than trying a new formation during a game.

He’s doing as well, if not better, than he should be given the squad.

so keep doing the same thing and expect a different result?

[Ad@m]

You would also hope by now we could take a corner or free kick that provides some danger to the opposition defence.

I will never, ever understand that.  Bodymoor Heath has got a replica pitch of Villa Park.  Identical dimensions.  If I was paid to play football and was told I'd be on corner duty, the absolute bear-minimum I'd do would be to practice taking them such that I don't hit the first defender every, fcuking time!!!!

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Doesn't that prove the futility of tactical inflexibility criticism of Smith?

If you on the one hand say Trez isn't up to it and El Ghazi and Traore are so inconsistent and frequently out of form. If you think Barkley has fallen off a cliff form wise and that Davis is not up to it, then realistically, what difference does a formation make?

If you don't think you have the players, then those poor or out of form players picking different runs from different positions won't make a significant difference.

I don’t think I did criticise his tactics, he likes 4-3-3 so I think he should stick to it, abandoning it midway through a game leads to confusion and I think changing the players in that formation due to form is better than trying a new formation during a game.

He’s doing as well, if not better, than he should be given the squad.

I think we were posting at the same time, I didn't mean you.

You persevere if you think 433 gives you a better defensive shape, as formations are when you're out of possession really. So if he likes 433, he's not going to change his mind because somebody like me ponders a diamond for 5 minutes in a week without any knowledge of what's gone on at BMH. And who knows, El Ghazi may end up being a Ronaldo clone for half a game.

[PeterWithe]

You can change a game keeping the same formation, invert the wingers, keep them higher and wider than we do, be braver pushing defenders into MF when in possession. All of which is easier than changing formation in a game

[ChicagoLion]

You can change a game keeping the same formation, invert the wingers, keep them higher and wider than we do, be braver pushing defenders into MF when in possession. All of which is easier than changing formation in a game

But we don’t do any of that.