Dean Smith - Confirmed

[paul_e]

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.

You've missed the pretty important aspect that, whilst they were mid-table, they had a recent premier league winners medal and had champions league experience.

[Neil Hawkes]

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.

Probably due to the offside decisions that have gone against him this year, when most have us thought he was leading the line brilliantly but for VAR to decide otherwise; you can bet yer arse most of those decisions have never gone against him during his career nor in the championship. Conclusion is he may be adjusting to the new offside lines that have been drawn and the runs he needs to make to stay onside with millimetric scrutiny.

[paul_e]

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.

Probably due to the offside decisions that have gone against him this year, when most have us thought he was leading the line brilliantly but for VAR to decide otherwise; you can bet yer arse most of those decisions have never gone against him during his career nor in the championship. Conclusion is he may be adjusting to the new offside lines that have been drawn and the runs he needs to make to stay onside with millimetric scrutiny.

Agreed, his movement in the box was exceptional in the first half of the season but he does seem to be hanging back slightly now in what looks like an effort to ensure he's onside.

[Risso]

Agreed, his movement in the box was exceptional in the first half of the season but he does seem to be hanging back slightly now in what looks like an effort to ensure he's onside.

A symptom of the general lack of confidence throughout the team. Martinez is the same, start of the season he was setting up quick attack after quick attack with some sublime throws to players. Now he hangs on to the ball before usually just punting it long.

[brontebilly]

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.

Our run to the league cup final last season didn't inspire confidence all that much, despite a decent display in the final against a much superior side.

There seems to be a lot of indifference to the Europa league these days too for most clubs. Leicester didn't play a particularly strong side when they went out, if I recall correctly.

It seemed an odd one for pundits to have a go at Pochetino, that he hasn't delivered a trophy at Spurs. I'm sure Levy was more than happy with regular CL football including a final appearance. Juande Ramos won a league cup for them but didn't last pissing time afterwards.

[jwarry]

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

I think I know what you mean

[ChicagoLion]

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.

Our run to the league cup final last season didn't inspire confidence all that much, despite a decent display in the final against a much superior side.

There seems to be a lot of indifference to the Europa league these days too for most clubs. Leicester didn't play a particularly strong side when they went out, if I recall correctly.

It seemed an odd one for pundits to have a go at Pochetino, that he hasn't delivered a trophy at Spurs. I'm sure Levy was more than happy with regular CL football including a final appearance. Juande Ramos won a league cup for them but didn't last pissing time afterwards.

Read a good article about Levy today and the problems he faces.
The 800million + debt.
The future of Kane
Replacing the Manager.

He can help the debt by selling Kane but even that will not allow  huge spending on the squad.
Attracting a top manager with a limited Budget might not be that easy.

Feel sorry for him

[Baldy]

Despite the last three months, I think Deano is still in credit for past achievements but that credit is waning.

Everything he says and does is very measured and he is the epitome of a 'cool head'.

I just wish he showed more anger in defeat and when necessary, was more ruthless. To a degree, some of our players have been in holiday mode for a number of weeks and Deano should be throwing the hair dryer at them. We want a manager who is angry at any defeat, players who will not tolerate defeat and supporters who are not so forgiving.

Many of us have excused the last 3 months, 'we have improved though'. Blah, blah, blah. Some players have clearly noted this and have taken the foot off the accelerator.

Not good enough. We are one of the richest clubs in the world and should start acting like it. We need a complete change of mentality. We want more Targetts and less Barkley's and Traore's. Personally, I would have substituted some of our players after 20 minutes, yet alone, 80 minutes!!

I think Deano has to toughen up and change the mentality throughout the whole club. Nice guys do not last long in this industry. Deano's clock is clicking. 

[AV82EC]

If you read the Accounts thread you'll find we are far from one of the richest clubs in the world, we have incredibly wealthy owners but those two things are totally different whilst UEFA and FA FFP rules remain in place.

[Ad@m]

If you read the Accounts thread you'll find we are far from one of the richest clubs in the world, we have incredibly wealthy owners but those two things are totally different whilst UEFA and FA FFP rules remain in place.

Precisely, which is why patience is the word of the day and any talk of Smith underachieving because he's not turned a team that survived relegation by the skin of its teeth less than a year ago in to challenging for Europe now is just daft.

[Drummond]

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.

Our run to the league cup final last season didn't inspire confidence all that much, despite a decent display in the final against a much superior side.

There seems to be a lot of indifference to the Europa league these days too for most clubs. Leicester didn't play a particularly strong side when they went out, if I recall correctly.

It seemed an odd one for pundits to have a go at Pochetino, that he hasn't delivered a trophy at Spurs. I'm sure Levy was more than happy with regular CL football including a final appearance. Juande Ramos won a league cup for them but didn't last pissing time afterwards.

Read a good article about Levy today and the problems he faces.
The 800million + debt.
The future of Kane
Replacing the Manager.

He can help the debt by selling Kane but even that will not allow  huge spending on the squad.
Attracting a top manager with a limited Budget might not be that easy.

Feel sorry for him

I agree! The only thing going for him is that matchday revenues will soar for them when fans are allowed back in.

[paul_e]

It's also why the proposals for the stadium are so important. Right now it works well as an arena to watch matches but fails as a commercial income generator, fixing that is the biggest requirement if we want to challenge at the top of the table, our income is a quarter of the teams we'd need to be competing with which is very limiting to what we can reasonably do with the squad.

Keeping Grealish and cashing in on his marketability will be useful as well.

[Baldy]

If you read the Accounts thread you'll find we are far from one of the richest clubs in the world, we have incredibly wealthy owners but those two things are totally different whilst UEFA and FA FFP rules remain in place.

You are correct Sir. I should have said owners.

The fact our owners have already invested 200m plus tells me they are very serious about elevating Villa to the higher echelon. Under the current climate, any new money is welcome in football and hopefully FFP will reflect that.

If not, our owners paid 200m plus for mid table mediocrity. I am positive that is not their long term plan.

[chrisw1]

Aren't match day revenues pretty much a drop in the ocean nowadays, certainly compared to TV money etc anyway.

[AV82EC]

Without taking this off topic from Dean Smith, yes Matchday revenues are the smallest of the three pillars of revenue these days for football clubs, dwarfed by Commercial and Media.