Dean Smith - Confirmed

[ROBBO]

With not long to go he decided to make a change, he had an experienced bench to call on yet he chose to give Archer a run, that was different.

[john e]

With not long to go he decided to make a change, he had an experienced bench to call on yet he chose to give Archer a run, that was different.

I loved that

[john e]

The biggest question for me was can Dean Smith do it without Grealish
In the last two seasons have we beat a so-called top six side without Grealish  I’m not sure I haven’t checked but I doubt it
And that’s always been my concern is Smith good enough to produce and create a side capable of competing at the top end of the league

Last 4 games Man United Chelsea x2 and Everton suggests he can
The performance levels in all of those games have been top-class no matter the result

Ironically the team that played against Man United could have been put out last season apart from Ings
But beating them on Saturday is a big turning point in my mind if I’m honest I didn’t expect it, I thought we would come away as Galient loses yet again
The performance was First Class I think it’s probably the most important win Smith has had apart from the playoff final
For me it’s massive


Edit - not been on much as I’ve been pissed up celebrating literally the whole weekend

[Mister E]

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?

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

How can you assert that we're playing for more set pieces when the "King o the Collapse" has departed for medals?! - don't follow your logic at all, particularly when our game is now characterised by continuity (keeping the ball moving).

And the reference to MON is strange too: firstly, because we're not playing players out of position (i.e. at right back) and secondly because MON teams were happy to sit deep for large parts of the game. Our current team is well-balanced and on the front foot.

[Risso]

The biggest question for me was can Dean Smith do it without Grealish
In the last two seasons have we beat a so-called top six side without Grealish  I’m not sure I haven’t checked but I doubt it
And that’s always been my concern is Smith good enough to produce and create a side capable of competing at the top end of the league

Last 4 games Man United Chelsea x2 and Everton suggests he can
The performance levels in all of those games have been top-class no matter the result

Ironically the team that played against Man United could have been put out last season apart from Ings
But beating them on Saturday is a big turning point in my mind if I’m honest I didn’t expect it, I thought we would come away as Galient loses yet again
The performance was First Class I think it’s probably the most important win Smith has had apart from the playoff final
For me it’s massive


Edit - not been on much as I’ve been pissed up celebrating literally the whole weekend

The key to Smith's tenure now is consistency. We can beat anyone on our day, but I also want to see an end to the sorts of displays we had where we lost against the likes of Burnley, Southampton and Brighton last year, and Watford this year. I also don't agree that we're playing for more set pieces, we're just 100% better at them now when we do get one.

[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.

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.

Gabby part 1, Young and Milner were all very good without the ball. We also played two up top quite a bit with Gabby and Carew (which left our midfield exposed at times). Not sure that we played 352 all that much but we certainly played with 3 CBs quite a bit with Cuellar (,shudder) and Mellberg at RB. Made us a big threat at set pieces which this new coach has us again.

[cdbearsfan]

No team in the world never puts in a rubbish performance. Cutting down on them, fair enough. You aren't going to see "an end" to them, though. Liverpool got twatted by Watford the year they won the league by miles.

[john e]

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.

Gabby part 1, Young and Milner were all very good without the ball. We also played two up top quite a bit with Gabby and Carew (which left our midfield exposed at times). Not sure that we played 352 all that much but we certainly played with 3 CBs quite a bit with Cuellar (,shudder) and Mellberg at RB. Made us a big threat at set pieces which this new coach has us again.

I couldn’t care less about what formations were played
MON’s Team never played football like we did on Saturday, Never
It was far more direct and counter-attacking back then whereas on Saturday our midfield passed the ball around and controlled the game for long spells

[ChicagoLion]

I can not see any comparisons with MON style of play.

[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?

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

How can you assert that we're playing for more set pieces when the "King o the Collapse" has departed for medals?! - don't follow your logic at all, particularly when our game is now characterised by continuity (keeping the ball moving).

And the reference to MON is strange too: firstly, because we're not playing players out of position (i.e. at right back) and secondly because MON teams were happy to sit deep for large parts of the game. Our current team is well-balanced and on the front foot.

I don't recall us trying a single long throw under Smith before this season...We are also trying a lot more long diagonal punts into the box at set pieces, not just corners, like we did v Everton with Konsa nodding back a clever one that Ings put just wide. I don't see anything wrong with this...playing to our new strengths if we have 3 CBs on.

Extra man in midfield now means the likes of Luiz and McGinn have a bit more freedom and not as worried about getting caught on the ball like they were when playing in a two. Playing with 4231 was designed really to get the best out of Grealish and Watkins but others like Luiz and McGinn struggled the longer it went on. In summary, I think there are significant changes in our style of play this season.

[dave.woodhall]

I can not see any comparisons with MON style of play.

I can see one comparison - we're winning.

[ChicagoLion]

I can not see any comparisons with MON style of play.

I can see one comparison - we're winning.

There is that I suppose.

[DrGonzo]

I can't see Smith ever playing MoN hoofball.  We are palying very much in the modern style of possession back to front, which is fine with Emi in goal but more scary if Steer is in.  That said we are, I think, more aware this season of the opportunity to break quickly and seem to have more belief in our ability to pick a long pass.

[BC Villain]

Losing Jack Grealish could really be the making of Dean Smith.  You can guarantee that these results last season would have been down to Grealish as opposed to anyone else on the payroll at Villa Park

[algy]

Losing Jack Grealish could really be the making of Dean Smith.  You can guarantee that these results last season would have been down to Grealish as opposed to anyone else on the payroll at Villa Park

Agree completely.