Dean Smith - Confirmed

[algy]

He’s proving a lot of people wrong. Myself included. He had to do this without Jack Grealish. Nobody here gives a flying fuck about him now. And Dean Smith is becoming a better manager for it. We are starting to see a settled system, coaching emerging in terms of a plan on how to play and certainly how to attack and defend set pieces including throw ins. But we now have players who can legitimately change games and allow us when needed to play different ways. That’s critical if we want to push on.

This is it. This is absolutely it. We don't look like a side that particularly misses him. Arguably we're better for his absence. Something unthinkable 6 months ago.

[Monty]

It's premature to say it's all great, as it was premature to say it was all shit after Watford, say. But this win coming after last week's against Everton, a very different win against a very different type of team, has to be classified as really promising. We've not nicked anything - we've had three very good league performances on the spin, and got 6 points to show for it. Not bad at all.

[mr underhill]

any side would want Grealish but there was an element of hegemony that  disadvantaged us as a team when he was part of it.

[ASHTONVILLA]

Really pleased to see Smith doing so well, and proving me wrong about him yet again.

He is really improving as a manager, and we can all see now that he can make substitutions count now he has better options on the bench. That he can change formations between games and within games.

He has also shown how wrong many of us were (myself included) on him fudging the midfield to fit the new players in, and in us needing a DM. That midfield has been superb. Samson is capable of coming in for the injured Ramsey if needed. Nakamba has looked fine replacing Luiz too.

Absolutely delighted with the progress. We really are not missing Jack anywhere near as much as I feared watching the Watford game.

Well done Dean.

[dave.woodhall]

any side would want Grealish but there was an element of hegemony that  disadvantaged us as a team when he was part of it.

You were told to apologise or be banned.

[Gerrin]

He just keeps on doing everything that's asked of him.

One of the things I appreciate most is the fact that the team spirit and atmosphere around the club has been unfailingly positive since he arrived. After years of poisonous vibes and the tolerating of absolute wasters, there's a refreshing togetherness and belief in the squad. Smith's natural Brummie amiability has played a big part in that, I suspect.

Some great points on this thread. Totally agree with this about team spirit though, it seems to be amazing. I put this down to Smith off the pitch and Mings on it. I appreciate he makes the odd cock up, but the team really seem to follow him. He's been through the winning streak, promotion, the great escape and really seems to know what Villa is about.

[Clark W Griswold]

I’ve not wanted him out at any point so far and even if we’d been relegated after that first season I wouldn’t have minded seeing him get the chance to take us back up. I wouldn’t have been altogether surprised if he had been replaced  if that had happened though.
I did doubt him not bringing in another winger before last season though, but to be fair El Ghazi did a lot better than expected. This season I thought it was utterly crazy to not bring in an upgrade on Nakamba but so far things are ticking along nicely with the 3 that have played and Nakamba has not done badly when he’s come in as well.

The last 2 matches he’s really shown how he’s growing as a manager though, long may it continue.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

I’ve not wanted him out at any point so far and even if we’d been relegated after that first season I wouldn’t have minded seeing him get the chance to take us back up. I wouldn’t have been altogether surprised if he had been replaced  if that had happened though.
I did doubt him not bringing in another winger before last season though, but to be fair El Ghazi did a lot better than expected. This season I thought it was utterly crazy to not bring in an upgrade on Nakamba but so far things are ticking along nicely with the 3 that have played and Nakamba has not done badly when he’s come in as well.

The last 2 matches he’s really shown how he’s growing as a manager though, long may it continue.

And he will continue to develop within the "new" coaching group....we may have lost Terry and ROK but we have gained new blood, new ideas and a wider range of approaches with McPhee and Danks.
Long may we continue to do so.....

[ventnorVillain]

What we are currently seeing is Villa "winning" more second halves. I think this is down to his improving game management and ability to respond to the game as it is unfolding. Well done Deano, keep it up.

[Steve67]

What we are currently seeing is Villa "winning" more second halves. I think this is down to his improving game management and ability to respond to the game as it is unfolding. Well done Deano, keep it up.

I also hope it's down to the coaching team he has now.  They seem a vocal group and that cannot be a bad thing for in game management.  They also seem to be a very together group, players and coaching staff.

[LeeB]

What we are currently seeing is Villa "winning" more second halves. I think this is down to his improving game management and ability to respond to the game as it is unfolding. Well done Deano, keep it up.

I also hope it's down to the coaching team he has now.  They seem a vocal group and that cannot be a bad thing for in game management.  They also seem to be a very together group, players and coaching staff.

I love how Hause, a player generally on the fringes despite excellent displays still put the credit for the belief in the team down to the manager. I thought that said a lot about the togetherness and Dean's skill in man management.

[Steve67]

We do look full of confidence and ever player seems comfy on the ball.  They are working really hard for each other and that is all Dean can ask.  Be great to finish in the European places and get a chance of the Europa Conference as I think we'd be a strong contender for it.

[brontebilly]

We are far more direct without Joe, he always slowed the movement down, yes he was brilliant for us but we were brilliant for him. I watch the side he plays for now and wonder is he really happy playing chess?

Given they taught Chelsea a lesson by all accounts yesterday, I doubt he cares too much.

We are playing a much different style of football. Playing more for set pieces, physically stronger too. Bit like MONs teams in recent games.

[Monty]

We are far more direct without Joe, he always slowed the movement down, yes he was brilliant for us but we were brilliant for him. I watch the side he plays for now and wonder is he really happy playing chess?

Given they taught Chelsea a lesson by all accounts yesterday, I doubt he cares too much.

We are playing a much different style of football. Playing more for set pieces, physically stronger too. Bit like MONs teams in recent games.

Think that's uncharitable, MON played a version of counterattack that was genuinely from the past. We're up to date, pressing high and moving well off the ball (a dramatic change from earlier in the season) - and I don't think we're playing for set-pieces really, just prepared for them.

[SoccerHQ]

It's premature to say it's all great, as it was premature to say it was all shit after Watford, say. But this win coming after last week's against Everton, a very different win against a very different type of team, has to be classified as really promising. We've not nicked anything - we've had three very good league performances on the spin, and got 6 points to show for it. Not bad at all.

Sometimes you can learn more from a defeat than a win. As I thought at the time we actually got confidence from way we played v Chelsea and taken it into the next two games and got the points we deserved.

Whereas we played average v a poor Newcastle team and then struggled v Brentford although that was just a scratch team selection due to covid and injuries and Brentford will comfortably finish above relegation zone so I wasn't too disappointed after that match despite the mass panic.