Dean Smith - Confirmed

[john e]

I think after last season, 11th is not a bad place to finish. Next season, it'll need to be better. I don't think we would have been ready for Europe had we managed to grab a place anyway.

I think that’s the difference in thinking though
And I’m not even saying that you’re wrong I’m right I’m just saying there’s a difference right there

I think we should have done a better last season and finished in the top half at least this season

[garyellis]

I think after last season, 11th is not a bad place to finish. Next season, it'll need to be better. I don't think we would have been ready for Europe had we managed to grab a place anyway.

I think that’s the difference in thinking though
And I’m not even saying that you’re wrong I’m right I’m just saying there’s a difference right there

I think we should have done a better last season and finished in the top half at least this season

You are probably in line with Dean's thinking on both. The difference for me is that this season I have seen enough to know we have the ability to be top half and more but probably not the depth when we get key injuries. What I wanted to see again was Villa capable of taking on any team and when we have played well we have been outstanding. I appreciate the inconsistency is infuriating but the potential is obviously there and I am confident Dean Smith can see the need to continue the improvement.

[chrisw1]

I just don't see the correlation with getting Europe and Grealish staying. What's the agenda or assumption? Grealish will stay if we get into Europe? Win a cup? CL place? Win the league? MON got into Europe and got to a cup final. People like Barry still left. Unless the club are planning to throw City type levels of money at us, I really can't see us winning the league before Grealish is in his 30's. I presume he wants to win things so getting into Europe isn't really fulfilling that.

Nothings certain but the thinking is that he'll probably be here next season.  If we have a great season and qualify for Europe, having aquired some exciting players along the way, he can see the progress we've made and with the owners we have the potential that we can kick on again.  He can see the project is working and buy into it for at least another season.  There's no guarantee, but we've painted him the best posible picture that he can achieve his ambitions with us.

If we have a poorer season and we finish 9-10 or so, that's another year without any European football and our progress is slower than what he needs for his own ambitions and will almost certainly move on.

I would have thought this was a pretty obvious conclusion to draw. 

[sickbeggar]

I just don't see the correlation with getting Europe and Grealish staying. What's the agenda or assumption? Grealish will stay if we get into Europe? Win a cup? CL place? Win the league? MON got into Europe and got to a cup final. People like Barry still left. Unless the club are planning to throw City type levels of money at us, I really can't see us winning the league before Grealish is in his 30's. I presume he wants to win things so getting into Europe isn't really fulfilling that.

Nothings certain but the thinking is that he'll probably be here next season.  If we have a great season and qualify for Europe, having aquired some exciting players along the way, he can see the progress we've made and with the owners we have the potential that we can kick on again.  He can see the project is working and buy into it for at least another season.  There's no guarantee, but we've painted him the best posible picture that he can achieve his ambitions with us.

If we have a poorer season and we finish 9-10 or so, that's another year without any European football and our progress is slower than what he needs for his own ambitions and will almost certainly move on.

I would have thought this was a pretty obvious conclusion to draw.

yeah I get that people want Grealish to stay, but is the Europa cup his ambitions? As far as I know he hasn't made any clear statement of what he thinks is adequate. He probably doesn't know. All i'm saying is people are betting on a promise he hasn't given.

[chrisw1]

You're right, we've no idea what it will take for him to stay.  But whilst it looks like we're moving forward at pace we surely give ourselves the best possible chance.  And even then if he does move on fair enough, we've still put ourselves in a great position.

[Clampy]

I think after last season, 11th is not a bad place to finish. Next season, it'll need to be better. I don't think we would have been ready for Europe had we managed to grab a place anyway.

I think that’s the difference in thinking though
And I’m not even saying that you’re wrong I’m right I’m just saying there’s a difference right there

I think we should have done a better last season and finished in the top half at least this season

You are probably in line with Dean's thinking on both. The difference for me is that this season I have seen enough to know we have the ability to be top half and more but probably not the depth when we get key injuries. What I wanted to see again was Villa capable of taking on any team and when we have played well we have been outstanding. I appreciate the inconsistency is infuriating but the potential is obviously there and I am confident Dean Smith can see the need to continue the improvement.

I can see where both of you are coming from. One thing I've liked this season is that we've gone into nearly every game thinking we can get something out of it. OK, we haven't obviously but being confident beforehand is a nice feeling and not something we're used to.

[Lastfootstamper]

I just don't see the correlation with getting Europe and Grealish staying. What's the agenda or assumption? Grealish will stay if we get into Europe? Win a cup? CL place? Win the league? MON got into Europe and got to a cup final. People like Barry still left. Unless the club are planning to throw City type levels of money at us, I really can't see us winning the league before Grealish is in his 30's. I presume he wants to win things so getting into Europe isn't really fulfilling that.

We didn't get to a cup final under O'Neill while Barry was still here. And MON hardly went all guns blazing at the uefa cup.

[sickbeggar]

I just don't see the correlation with getting Europe and Grealish staying. What's the agenda or assumption? Grealish will stay if we get into Europe? Win a cup? CL place? Win the league? MON got into Europe and got to a cup final. People like Barry still left. Unless the club are planning to throw City type levels of money at us, I really can't see us winning the league before Grealish is in his 30's. I presume he wants to win things so getting into Europe isn't really fulfilling that.

We didn't get to a cup final under O'Neill while Barry was still here. And MON hardly went all guns blazing at the uefa cup.

Point taken, but players still left whether that's Barry, Milner or Young. Whoever. It's like Kane saying he wants to "win things". Well CL finals and 2nd place finishes obviously isn't that to him. So i'm not sure progress like a 5th place finish is going to be enough to keep Grealish.

[Risso]

Assuming he stays here for next season, I think as long we're challenging for things Jack will be happy. No more of this "10th place is better than 11th so we're still improving" way of thinking.

[eamonn]

I think West Ham and Everton can be emulated even next season. Leicester might take a bit longer to catch-up but it's not impossible.

[john e]

I just don't see the correlation with getting Europe and Grealish staying. What's the agenda or assumption? Grealish will stay if we get into Europe? Win a cup? CL place? Win the league? MON got into Europe and got to a cup final. People like Barry still left. Unless the club are planning to throw City type levels of money at us, I really can't see us winning the league before Grealish is in his 30's. I presume he wants to win things so getting into Europe isn't really fulfilling that.

We didn't get to a cup final under O'Neill while Barry was still here. And MON hardly went all guns blazing at the uefa cup.

Point taken, but players still left whether that's Barry, Milner or Young. Whoever. It's like Kane saying he wants to "win things". Well CL finals and 2nd place finishes obviously isn't that to him. So i'm not sure progress like a 5th place finish is going to be enough to keep Grealish.

True, we could lose Grealish next month never mind next season

I think the main difference is money
I know we don’t like talking about it we want to do things in a steady and ethical way
but without it you can’t have the ambition these players want to see, like Spurs no money no chance

Arsenal can’t even afford to keep Gunnersaurous yet think they are in the hat for Grealish

First time in our lives our finances are better than anyone else in football apart from maybe one
And I agree with Nev in a previous post about not going about it in a Man City way but at some point or other You’re going to have to spend big to compete and we can which gives us a massive advantage

If Spurs lose Kane and we keep Grealish we should be overtaking them next season
Players leave to go to more ambitious clubs
We are that more ambitious club

[Drummond]

Assuming he stays here for next season, I think as long we're challenging for things Jack will be happy. No more of this "10th place is better than 11th so we're still improving" way of thinking.

No more of? Who's intimated they are thinking that way? Or is it just nonsense to try and prove a point about 'Dismal Dean' and his supporters? 

[paul_e]

Assuming he stays here for next season, I think as long we're challenging for things Jack will be happy. No more of this "10th place is better than 11th so we're still improving" way of thinking.

No more of? Who's intimated they are thinking that way? Or is it just nonsense to try and prove a point about 'Dismal Dean' and his supporters? 

If this season we'd finished 17th and got 2-3 more points than last year I don't think anyone would be saying we'd improved but a 50% increase (near enough) on points is a big improvement.

[Hookeysmith]

If we improve season on season (which we currently are since Dean came in) then although the margins for error get slimmer we will eventually get to the top. If we get too high too soon then the drop back is huge - incremental improvements through coaching youngsters and purchasing top quality players in key positions will do it.

I am as impatient as the next fan but this journey feels more secure than any other time with our Millionaire owners previously.

These people are the real deal 

[LeeB]

If we improve season on season (which we currently are since Dean came in) then although the margins for error get slimmer we will eventually get to the top. If we get too high too soon then the drop back is huge - incremental improvements through coaching youngsters and purchasing top quality players in key positions will do it.

I am as impatient as the next fan but this journey feels more secure than any other time with our Millionaire owners previously.

These people are the real deal 

Indeed, and I'm happy to sit back and enjoy the ride. Risso's up front though nagging the driver with "Are we there yet?", and john e is worried were not going to get there in time.