We have to pay three at the back in order to keep five in midfield. This is because Dean Smith yet again failed to find a defensive central midfielder. If we had somebody with more physicality in the middle of the park we could even risk playing 442 and then play Bailey and Traore in the same side. McGinn and the meathead as the two.
In fairness though the 4-3-3 works better with McGinn and Luiz able to get on the ball and get forward, so a top drawer holding mid would have been a very useful addition.
Quote from: Steve67 on October 19, 2021, 09:50:56 PMWe have to pay three at the back in order to keep five in midfield. This is because Dean Smith yet again failed to find a defensive central midfielder. If we had somebody with more physicality in the middle of the park we could even risk playing 442 and then play Bailey and Traore in the same side. McGinn and the meathead as the two. He honestly didn't.
Quote from: Sexual Ealing on October 19, 2021, 10:02:28 PMQuote from: Steve67 on October 19, 2021, 09:50:56 PMWe have to pay three at the back in order to keep five in midfield. This is because Dean Smith yet again failed to find a defensive central midfielder. If we had somebody with more physicality in the middle of the park we could even risk playing 442 and then play Bailey and Traore in the same side. McGinn and the meathead as the two. He honestly didn't.Who? Whoever he is must be injured because we are still conceding too many shots against. Our football can be excellent but we are always susceptible to physical midfielders. McGinn, Luiz, Nakamba can’t defend.
"There were no tactics," Downing added. "You know some managers say right-back and so on. He'd just list the players, Friedel, Cuellar, Youngy... Then we'd look at each other like where are you playing?"He's only rule was if either me or Youngy were having a quiet game then he'd tell us to switch, me, Agbonlahor and Young, he'd always switch us three around."We had days off and I was literally living in Middlesbrough playing for Villa because I'd have two/three days off a week. Honestly, he was unbelievable. He was like a Brian Clough."Prior to O'Neill's resignation, Downing and the Villa squad spent pre-season in Dublin, which included seven nights out with Richard Dunne and James Collins the life and soul of the group after their recent arrivals.As Downing continued: "Even in pre-season in Ireland... I like a night out and a few do. He'd signed Richard Dunne at this point."We'd train and then (O'Neill) said, I don't give a f*** what happens, make sure you're all fit on August 14. If you're injured don't play, if you're not feeling right don't play. You can have a night out."We were there for 10 nights in Dublin and I think we were out for seven. We were out till late with Dunney all around Dublin, James Collins. Honestly, I was thinking there's no way we're finishing in the top six, we've been on the p*** for seven days. Then we'd get back for pre-season, you've had your fun and a laugh it's time to work.
That one season Dunne and Collins were the best central defensive partnership we’ve had in years, hardly conceded anything at all.
I’ll take 6th three years in a row. 👍
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Topic: Dean Smith - Confirmed (Read 1536643 times)
