Dean Smith - Confirmed

[mr underhill]

I hope it was  a condition of sale that he doesn't play at Villa park this season. Even better, he isn't even in the squad. Late illness or mild knock should cover it. If he does appear, rightly or wrongly, he's going to feel a hot iron of hate blow.

[ChicagoLion]

Its a bit like Morecambe and Wise, with no Eric Morcambe.

[SoccerHQ]

I hope it was  a condition of sale that he doesn't play at Villa park this season. Even better, he isn't even in the squad. Late illness or mild knock should cover it. If he does appear, rightly or wrongly, he's going to feel a hot iron of hate blow.

Isn't something like that against the premier league rules now?

[Demitri_C]

Newcastle look terrible. If we cant bsat these lot in front of a  full house at home i wont be happy

[Deano's Mullet]

They were doing OK up until the penalty.  I reckon stop St Maximim and that's half the battle.

[charlatan]

If we had stopped Sarr yesterday we'd have been OK....

[SoccerHQ]

They'll have Willock involved aswell.

Good thing is we know with their manager pressing in midfield isn't really a thing they want to do so they'll just step off us and allow us to dictate the tempo so hopefully we can get an early goal like we usually do at home v them and confidence will grow from there.

Think this would be a good game to bring Luiz back for, apparently training tomorrow so will be in contention.

[rooboy316]

This is it. At no point has Deano shown he can set us up to create chances via patterns of play, rather than a magic man orchestrating things from the left.

What is our tactic for opening teams up, for getting through the lines? It can't simply be Mings-Konsa-Cash-Konsa-Mings-Targett-Mings-HOOF.

This really sums it up for me. Without Joe, goals just don’t look likely unless it is some individual brilliance or a piece of luck. There’s no attacking system apparent. And the passing it around the back followed by the hoof really gets my goat after the 100th time.

[ChicagoLion]

Why we calling him Joe?
Can we think of something better, it does not have to be ratboy but Joe ffs

[Three Spires Villa]

Why we calling him Joe?
Can we think of something better, it does not have to be ratboy but Joe ffs

It come from a tweet. Picture of JG with the words around it, “We will never forget you Joe”

Very funny,

[danno]

He also looks a bit like 90s Eastenders character Joe Wicks.

[PaulTheVillan]

If we had stopped Sarr yesterday we'd have been OK....

We should sign him Then ask to replay the game

[sid1964]

We have to beat Newcastle on Saturday.

Any truth in the rumours that Dean was called into a meeting with Purslow yesterday?

[ROBBO]

I would guess that the owners and Purslow were alarmed at the first half effort, I just wonder whether they may be holding off spending more to see how we go against Newcastle. I feel for Dean Smith if we lose the next one, you would hear the knives being sharpened.

[Clampy]

We have to beat Newcastle on Saturday.

Any truth in the rumours that Dean was called into a meeting with Purslow yesterday?

You tend to hear a lot of rumours Sid.