Dean Smith - Confirmed

[Ian.]

Do we all really believe Dean Smith is publicly declaring his tactics and formations?

Not a chance, also I’m wondering if we may be a little more less structured on a formation week on week out now Jack’s gone.

[Lastfootstamper]

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗩𝗙𝗖 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗳𝘂𝗹
@AVFCFaithful_
Dean Smith intends to use Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings as a pair in attack, as part of either a 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 formation, while he has also been considering a midfield diamond with Buendia at its point. [
@TomCollomosse
] #avfc

I'm not sure about 4-4-2 in this day and age, and 3-5-2 is obviously the devil's formation. 4-1-3-2 for me.

Times change. Width is back. Bollocks to diamonds. 4-1-3-2 for me, too.

[Cliftonville Villlain]

Genuinely looking forward to this season. We were far too reliant on Grealish and we've definitely addressed that in the close season. And I suspect there's more to come. The owners have did their bit and now Dean has to do his thing. Strongly feel that at the end of the season Sky won't be patronising us any more for what we're about to do. I remember being distraught at Ashley Young leaving but I could understand it but I don't understand what just happened during the week. I don't live in Birmingham, don't know what the sentiment is towards one of your own there, but I hope to God Villa don't let him in the door again later in his career. I'd like to think we will have progressed to such an extent that it would be a backward step. Dean"s one of us, one of you, true Villa and I hope he does the biz this year.

[Toronto Villa]

Do we all really believe Dean Smith is publicly declaring his tactics and formations?

Not a chance, also I’m wondering if we may be a little more less structured on a formation week on week out now Jack’s gone.

Having Jack and everything he brought talent wise meant committing to him. And we did that very effectively. Now we can be a bit more structured but to a point. We have very skilful individual players that can create something out of nothing and we don’t want to blunt any of that. It will be fascinating how Dean and his staff try and get the best out of all of them. The good thing is the defence is rock solid so we can build everything off that.

[rob_bridge]

Do we all really believe Dean Smith is publicly declaring his tactics and formations?

Nope.

I remember signing the Crystal Palace captain after they got relegated - defensive midfielder fellow. Think has done pretty well recently coaching wise.

Anyway him and this young monster called Ugo played either side of someone who is one of the best centre halves of all time. We had a pretty good season under a Club Legend.

I never saw it coming.

[edgysatsuma89]

Do we all really believe Dean Smith is publicly declaring his tactics and formations?

Nah of course not. I don't hate 352 like some do but I don't think we have the right players to play that anyway, not without losing Bailey.

[paul_e]

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗩𝗙𝗖 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗳𝘂𝗹
@AVFCFaithful_
Dean Smith intends to use Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings as a pair in attack, as part of either a 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 formation, while he has also been considering a midfield diamond with Buendia at its point. [
@TomCollomosse
] #avfc

I'm not sure about 4-4-2 in this day and age, and 3-5-2 is obviously the devil's formation. 4-1-3-2 for me.

Times change. Width is back. Bollocks to diamonds. 4-1-3-2 for me, too.

It really depends on the specific instructions to players. a diamond where the strikers  are playing between their centre backs and full backs, your own fullbacks are playing high and the 2 in the middle of the diamond are encouraged to get around the box is basically how Liverpool won the league. On paper it looked like a 433 but Firmino played a lot deeper than Salah and Mane. It's probably my favourite formation right now, done properly, and with the right players, you have lots of ways to drag players out of position.

[olaftab]

I just want him to play a formation that means we score lots of goals and concede very few.

[Footy-Vill]

Always With Ashley Young in the team.
So 3-5-2 would be great !!

[Villan82]

Genuinely looking forward to this season. We were far too reliant on Grealish and we've definitely addressed that in the close season. And I suspect there's more to come. The owners have did their bit and now Dean has to do his thing. Strongly feel that at the end of the season Sky won't be patronising us any more for what we're about to do. I remember being distraught at Ashley Young leaving but I could understand it but I don't understand what just happened during the week. I don't live in Birmingham, don't know what the sentiment is towards one of your own there, but I hope to God Villa don't let him in the door again later in his career. I'd like to think we will have progressed to such an extent that it would be a backward step. Dean"s one of us, one of you, true Villa and I hope he does the biz this year.

He severed his ties to us so I hope he is never welcomed back.

[Drummond]

Now that he's managed to get rid of the last of the team that got relegated I expect we'll push on.

[Risso]

Now that he's managed to get rid of the last of the team that got relegated I expect we'll push on.

Ha, like it!

[cdbearsfan]

Always With Ashley Young in the team.
So 3-5-2 would be great !!

Let's not fall out.

[brontebilly]

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗩𝗙𝗖 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗳𝘂𝗹
@AVFCFaithful_
Dean Smith intends to use Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings as a pair in attack, as part of either a 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 formation, while he has also been considering a midfield diamond with Buendia at its point. [
@TomCollomosse
] #avfc

I'm not sure about 4-4-2 in this day and age, and 3-5-2 is obviously the devil's formation. 4-1-3-2 for me.

Times change. Width is back. Bollocks to diamonds. 4-1-3-2 for me, too.

Every formation that accommodates Ings and Watkins in the starting line up leaves us very light in midfield for me. Great to have attacking options but we simply can't afford to have our midfield wide open to the counter attack.

Tuanzebe does give the option of 3 centre backs. For that formation to have any chance of success, all three centre backs need to be comfortable with the ball. Last time we tried we had Hause who was brutally exposed and Mings in the centre who can't turn onto his right side. Tuanzebe/Konsa/Mings would be fine though and Tuanzebe is very comfortable stepping into midfield. But three at the back leaves no position for Bailey or any winger.

The biggest issue we need to address is when teams press us from the front how are we going to be able to transition through midfield from back to front. Too often once Grealish got injured, Mings in particular was forced to go long to Watkins down the left channel. McGinn isn't that comfortable taking the ball with his back to the play and Luiz couldn't or wouldn't do it enough. Nakamba isn't good enough to even be trying it. We still need a new player in that position for me, next to one of them.

Grealish was brilliant at helping us keep possession and aside from his attacking threat that's something that will be very hard to replace.

[N'ZMAV]

our midfielders need to be a central 3 - two of them aren't good enough as a pair.