Dean Smith - Confirmed

[nigel]

Without Jack we pass it around for a while and the ball eventually ends up out wide  - where we generally deliver a poor cross into the box.

This seems to be the sum total of our tactics.  It would be nice if Dean could try something else.

Oh come on, there is the midfield player running towards our player with the ball, receives the pass and passes it straight back to him.
Terrific stuff.

Our first goal last night involved two back heels in the build up, was one of our best moves of the season! Watkins movement inside the box doesn't match his movement outside it for me. On the rare occasion the ball comes in quickly, he is often caught on his heels. Case in point being in the first half yesterday, Traore put a low quick cross in with his right foot that went through the box with noone touching it. Watkins was waiting around outside the box for some reason. Whoever is playing number ten and the winger on the opposite flank should be getting in there.

I guess when Jack is there, he drags defenders towards him and makes the right decision on the ball most of the time.

Ollie mentioned in a recent interview that that is part of his game he’s looking to improve on.

He was saying that the 3 players he watches most, to try and emulate, are Kane, Lewandowski (?) and C. Ronaldo.

[Meanwood Villa]

I am really concerned about our run-in though. Everton, United, Palace, Spurs and Chelsea is a pretty unkind few games, and if we fail to win any of them where will we finish, and how will that affect Dean's position in the minds of the owners?

Alternatively win them all and there is no problem

Perhaps.  But given that we've only won 4 of our 20 games since Boxing Day, which do you think is the more likely scenerio?

It's 5 out of 19. Unless you're counting the cup game which I don't really think counts in the circumstances. Not much better but let's be accurate at least.

[paul_e]

Leeds might have had a load of shit prior to Bielsa, but now they're back in the Premier League *with* Bielsa, it'd be hard to see them going for somebody like Smith when they find themselves needing a new coach.

I'm not sure that matters. We probably wouldn't have hired him if we'd been midtable in the premier league when we had a vacancy either but that doesn't change the fact that he's achieved all of his targets. The point was that the idea that they ONLY recruit proven winners. In fact I'd say every one of the clubs listed has been a mixed bag of recruitment Leicester had Claude Puel stinking the place out for 2 years before Rodgers, Arteta was a gamble on a former player, and Everton has been covered.

The best list club on that list for getting high profile managers with a decent reputation is Spurs but given they've just decided to let Ryan fucking Mason lead them in their only chance at silverware this season and to try to sneak them into the top 4 so they're just as bad.

None of that means that any of them would give Dean Smith the time of day though.

Nope, but he's a villa fan, with villa connections, just like Arteta had arsenal connections that made up for his lack of a CV and Mason has Tottenham connection to make up for his.

Whether other clubs in the league would take him if he was available is a meaningless argument right now and ignores far too many factors to be worth considering. Would we have looked at him if we'd been midtable in the premier league with a top 6 quality squad, probably not but that didn't stop him being the right man when he was appointed and doesn't stop the fact that he currently has a premier league mid-table squad playing at a premier mid-table level. He isn't under or over-achieving at this point, he's doing what's expected of him and on that basis the only reason to change him would be if we were sure we could get a manager who could a better job with this squad.

I know all of the arguments about the poor run we've bene on and I understand them all but I just don't think right now is the time to be talking about a replacement (unless a manager with proven pedigree makes it clear he wants to join). I'd hate for us to sack him thinking we can get someone better and us ending up hiring some no-mark from the merry-go-round because we'd not thought about what happens next.

[Risso]

I know all of the arguments about the poor run we've bene on and I understand them all but I just don't think right now is the time to be talking about a replacement (unless a manager with proven pedigree makes it clear he wants to join). I'd hate for us to sack him thinking we can get someone better and us ending up hiring some no-mark from the merry-go-round because we'd not thought about what happens next.

I think the chance of that happening with the current owners is precisely zero.

[john e]

It is very difficult trying to get the right man for the job
Dean Smith was the right man whether he is the man to take us forward to higher realms no one knows but we all surmise

I would have probably turned my nose up at Brendan Rodgers when he was at Celtic
However now realise he is a top category manager
Who would’ve thought David Moyes would be challenging for Champions League this Season
Yet he is,
 I personally Think it’s a one off, But who knows
I still wouldn’t swap him for Dean Smith though

I’m saying this because getting the right manager is not an exact science
Sometimes managers just fit a club at The right time
And when they move on they can’t repeat their success

My view on Dean Smith is he has been great so far but has a ceiling
Doesn’t mean I’m right though, Just what I think right now from what I’ve seen so far

[AV82EC]

I'd say the issue with Brendan Rogers isn't so much he isn't a good manager, I just don't see him being able to make that final leap of actually winning something. Added to which I think he's an unctuous smug git who thinks he's way better than he actually is and at times that shows in his tactical selections which show he's too clever for his own good. I don't think he came across at all well in that Liverpool documentary a few years back.

Tomorrow on the programme, Sir Alex Ferguson, why he wasn't all that......(this is a joke)

[LeeB]

I'd say the issue with Brendan Rogers isn't so much he isn't a good manager, I just don't see him being able to make that final leap of actually winning something. Added to which I think he's an unctuous smug git who thinks he's way better than he actually is and at times that shows in his tactical selections which show he's too clever for his own good. I don't think he came across at all well in that Liverpool documentary a few years back.

Tomorrow on the programme, Sir Alex Ferguson, why he wasn't all that......(this is a joke)

He may have tactical weaknesses, and he can come across as a prick, but he sure as shit knows how to get a side playing as a team and looking like they've been properly coached.

[ChicagoLion]

I know all of the arguments about the poor run we've bene on and I understand them all but I just don't think right now is the time to be talking about a replacement (unless a manager with proven pedigree makes it clear he wants to join). I'd hate for us to sack him thinking we can get someone better and us ending up hiring some no-mark from the merry-go-round because we'd not thought about what happens next.

I think the chance of that happening with the current owners is precisely zero.

Having invested hundreds of millions they are pretty unlikely to say Chris Hutchings come on down.

[Risso]

I'd say the issue with Brendan Rogers isn't so much he isn't a good manager, I just don't see him being able to make that final leap of actually winning something. Added to which I think he's an unctuous smug git who thinks he's way better than he actually is and at times that shows in his tactical selections which show he's too clever for his own good. I don't think he came across at all well in that Liverpool documentary a few years back.

Winning something is actually very hard though. Other than Leicester's completely unexpected win, the Premier League has only been won by 4 teams in the last 17 years, and only one of those was Liverpool, with Man City, Man U and Chelsea hoovering up all the others.  Add in Man City's complete dominanace of the League Cup, and just getting in the top four for a club like Leicester is exceptionally good going. I wouldn't turn my nose up at either Rodgers or Pochettino, neither of whom have won anything worth talking about.

[Drummond]

The timing of the sacking of Mourinho as opposed to the inevitable sacking of Mourinho is just a stunning piece of arrogance on the part of a club that has won fuck all for a very long time. They had it all lined up I imagine to fire him anyway as they proclaimed to everyone from the top of the world their admission into the greatest league ever. Only for them to end up without said greatest league ever, without a legendary manager, on the eve of a cup final with a 1/4 of the season left and not in a CL or even a Europa spot. Good luck to Ryan Mason. Whoever the fuck he is.

Nah, I don't wish him good luck there. fuck them all.

He had to retire with a head injury and is still only 29 now. I think he came through with Kane. (so personally I hope he's ok but as for him with Spurs, nah, still fuck em).

Levy's spite and greed and getting rid of Mourinho even at the potential expense of his club and their fans, aligned to the Super League thing mean he can get to fuck too.

My best wishes to Ryan Mason was very much tongue in cheek. He’s done in a few weeks too. Spurs are a disaster relative to where they should be. But no doubt some will still see Levy as the master negotiator. How’s that Bale deal going?

Oh I know, I just wanted a rant. 😁

[SoccerHQ]

I'd say the issue with Brendan Rogers isn't so much he isn't a good manager, I just don't see him being able to make that final leap of actually winning something. Added to which I think he's an unctuous smug git who thinks he's way better than he actually is and at times that shows in his tactical selections which show he's too clever for his own good. I don't think he came across at all well in that Liverpool documentary a few years back.

Tomorrow on the programme, Sir Alex Ferguson, why he wasn't all that......(this is a joke)

Look where Leicester were at the time though when they appointed him in March 2019, a very similar position to us so it's been nothing but a masterstroke from imo the best ownership in the premier league.

Not saying we have to do that anytime soon as Leicester were less than 3 years winning the league in 2019 and so had different expectations but just shows a club that knew it had some really good players and weren't content to just tread water in 10th-12th and wanted to do something seriously about it and it's paid off nicely.

Rodgers will have a pretty good chance to finally win a trophy in English football in a few weeks aswell as securing top 4.

[brontebilly]

I'd say the issue with Brendan Rogers isn't so much he isn't a good manager, I just don't see him being able to make that final leap of actually winning something. Added to which I think he's an unctuous smug git who thinks he's way better than he actually is and at times that shows in his tactical selections which show he's too clever for his own good. I don't think he came across at all well in that Liverpool documentary a few years back.

Winning something is actually very hard though. Other than Leicester's completely unexpected win, the Premier League has only been won by 4 teams in the last 17 years, and only one of those was Liverpool, with Man City, Man U and Chelsea hoovering up all the others.  Add in Man City's complete dominanace of the League Cup, and just getting in the top four for a club like Leicester is exceptionally good going. I wouldn't turn my nose up at either Rodgers or Pochettino, neither of whom have won anything worth talking about.

Are the domestic cups that relevant any longer? Champions league football surely trumps it these days unfortunately. Rodgers Leicester bottled what seemed a nailed on CL place last season with a Devon loch type collapse. Will hardly make the same mistake this season, finally has gone a tune out of Ihenacho. Would Leicester take an FA Cup trophy over CL football, I doubt it

[eamonn]

Domestic cups will always be relevant to most of us on here, and I daresay most Villa fans. Even the young'uns who've seen the competitions be devalued. It's a great memory to have, it's an honour to add to the prestige of the club and realistically it's the best shot of glory 80% of top-flight clubs get each season.

[Three Spires Villa]

Well I would rather finish 8th and win the league than finish 8th and not win the league cup. Domestic cups are very important.

[dave shelley]

My opinion is that the domestic cup competition are extremely important, not just for entry into European competition and the finances it can generate but for us fans.  They break up the season and if your team is struggling; a good cup run can inspire confidence and a lift.  Sadly, we were all in with a chance of winning one once, now it's pretty much monopolised.