Dean Smith - Confirmed

[villadelph]

The point is, Aston Villa are better than they were last season because we have added better players. Watkins, Cash

But the point still stands, which players have actually improved. Konsa, Targett and Grealish. - only.

Ollie Watkins got called up to England, and Mings has been with the squad for months? Emi is one of the best keepers in the league? El Ghazi, while ineffective at times, has provided some extremely important goals this season? Matty Cash is playing every game he is available, in his first year at this level.

Do you think this all happens by chance? Our trajectory, internal morale and ambitions shouldn't go amiss. There's more to the managerial job than the 90 minutes on a Sunday.

[cdbearsfan]

Targett, Grealish, Konsa are playing better this season.

El Ghazi too, and you could make a case for Mings. Plus, while we don't have a huge sample of games to judge them, Davis and Hause have been better in their cameos then they often were last season.

[Clampy]

The point is, Aston Villa are better than they were last season because we have added better players. Watkins, Cash

But the point still stands, which players have actually improved. Konsa, Targett and Grealish. - only.

But that's fine. I think McGinn has worked his arse off too. We're going to finish in a reasonable position and it's progress from the year before. A lot of people would have taken that.

[Exeter 77]

It wouldn’t surprise me to see Dean fined after some points he made in this interview.
https://twitter.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1391438816922144773?s=19

[CT]

The point is, Aston Villa are better than they were last season because we have added better players. Watkins, Cash

But the point still stands, which players have actually improved. Konsa, Targett and Grealish. - only.

You said “possibly” on Konsa.

Now you’re saying he HAS improved, which I think everyone would agree, is absolutely the case. 

[villadelph]

It wouldn’t surprise me to see Dean fined after some points he made in this interview.
https://twitter.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1391438816922144773?s=19

I love it.

"I'm fed up talking about penalty decisions, or dubious penalty decisions, against Manchester United."

[N'ZMAV]

Targett, Grealish, Konsa are playing better this season.

El Ghazi too, and you could make a case for Mings. Plus, while we don't have a huge sample of games to judge them, Davis and Hause have been better in their cameos then they often were last season.

Mings hasn't been any worse - our expectation of players is probably too high at times, I think we always expect players to get better every season. Which, is probably a little difficult for them.

[villa for life]

 I’m not debating if players are good or not. Is Mings better than he was? Martinez is amazing, but I’d argue not performing as well as he was in early season. Ditto for Watkins. ( massive fan, though) I think these players are good and they could be greater...

I’m thinking of what we can do to be top six/ four.

[Clampy]

It wouldn’t surprise me to see Dean fined after some points he made in this interview.
https://twitter.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1391438816922144773?s=19

I don't see why, he was pretty much spot on.

[villa for life]

CT- you are missing the point -  Konsa has always been amazing, so it’s hard for him to improve.

[paul_e]

I’m not debating if players are good or not. Is Mings better than he was? Martinez is amazing, but I’d argue not performing as well as he was in early season. Ditto for Watkins. ( massive fan, though) I think these players are good and they could be greater...

I’m thinking of what we can do to be top six/ four.

Mings is better than he was last season.
Martinez is playing just as well, we've just been conceding more shots so more goals against.
Watkins has suffered a little because we've had a slump in form but he's still been superb.


More importantly during a season changes in performance are mostly down to form and confidence, given the timing of games most training during a season is either recovery from games and working on specifics ahead of the next fixture. Improving fitness levels and technical skills happens in the summer and, as we saw this season, that's something Smith has shown he can do.

[paul_e]

CT- you are missing the point -  Konsa has always been amazing, so it’s hard for him to improve.

If it's hard for him to improve what is your point given you were trying to suggest Smith has failed for not improving him?

[CT]

CT- you are missing the point -  Konsa has always been amazing, so it’s hard for him to improve.

I’m not missing the point at all.

You honestly think Konsa was “amazing” last season? You don’t think he’s improved?

Was he being talked about for England recognition last season?

I think it’s blatantly clear he’s improved hugely this season and is our best defender at the club.

But yeah, if he was amazing last season, then it’s difficult to improve on amazing, I grant you that.

[villa for life]

I’ve always rated Konsa. He’s always been the best defender at the club.

[CT]

I’ve always rated Konsa. He’s always been the best defender at the club.

So we could agree then that it’s pretty tough for Dean to make an already amazing player, better than amazing.