Dean Smith - Confirmed

[john e]

Still can't see a new guy waving his wand over that midfield and magically transforming it into anything, so lets hope if they decide to sack him they employ someone with some clout who can get some money out of them in January. A side not struck down with injuries every other week would help too.

We’ve had a massive injury list

Our midfielders are McGinn Luiz Ramsey Sanson Nakamba
With some good youngsters coming through
I think that’s a pretty good bunch of midfield players when they are fit

[curiousorange]

Think it was Matt Law in the Telegraph who mentioned yesterday that until McGinn is Villa's third or fourth best midfielder, we won't get any further.

[john e]

Think it was Matt Law in the Telegraph who mentioned yesterday that until McGinn is Villa's third or fourth best midfielder, we won't get any further.

Matt law must be a twat then

[TelfordVilla]

Smith WAS the right manager choice for NSWE/CP. So they have a 1/1 apt record so maybe we should have some faith they get 2/2 spot on

I’m not convinced about that

No one can accuse me of being a Dean Smith apologist I have criticised him plenty in the past
In fact I was probably in the Vanguard as I don’t believe the last two seasons he has achieved what he set out to
The first season back when we stayed up by the skin of our teeth was a piss poor year with piss poor Football and last season I think we should have finished top half
For me the last two seasons haven’t been good enough

But I will be worried if we just sack Smith now
Especially if we have no real idea of who will take over and it’s a rush around to see who is available

I also don’t trust Purslow I see him as more like Levy he will want someone malleable
I don’t mind him as a CEO he talks well but I’m not sure about his judgement on managers
The owners won’t have an encyclopedic knowledge of Managers operating around the world and will leave it to CS

The time might well come when Dean Smith’s position is untenable but unless there is a really good fit a top manager or Highly rated up-and-coming manager I would hold off for now

I also think injuries have been horrendous
He has made mistakes some big ones in formations and stuff but so far he has had one hand tied behind his back this season
Although I agree it shouldn’t be based just on the last 10 games it should be based on the last 30 and that does not make good reading

But I would stick rather than twist right now

I think all of this is spot on. Well said.

[AV82EC]

Think it was Matt Law in the Telegraph who mentioned yesterday that until McGinn is Villa's third or fourth best midfielder, we won't get any further.

Matt law must be a twat then

He may well be a twat but it doesn’t mean he isn’t right.

[Three Spires Villa]

Smith WAS the right manager choice for NSWE/CP. So they have a 1/1 apt record so maybe we should have some faith they get 2/2 spot on

I’m not convinced about that

No one can accuse me of being a Dean Smith apologist I have criticised him plenty in the past
In fact I was probably in the Vanguard as I don’t believe the last two seasons he has achieved what he set out to
The first season back when we stayed up by the skin of our teeth was a piss poor year with piss poor Football and last season I think we should have finished top half
For me the last two seasons haven’t been good enough

But I will be worried if we just sack Smith now
Especially if we have no real idea of who will take over and it’s a rush around to see who is available

I also don’t trust Purslow I see him as more like Levy he will want someone malleable
I don’t mind him as a CEO he talks well but I’m not sure about his judgement on managers
The owners won’t have an encyclopedic knowledge of Managers operating around the world and will leave it to CS

The time might well come when Dean Smith’s position is untenable but unless there is a really good fit a top manager or Highly rated up-and-coming manager I would hold off for now

I also think injuries have been horrendous
He has made mistakes some big ones in formations and stuff but so far he has had one hand tied behind his back this season
Although I agree it shouldn’t be based just on the last 10 games it should be based on the last 30 and that does not make good reading

But I would stick rather than twist right now

I think all of this is spot on. Well said.

T try his is all conjecture, they the owners have only appointed 1 manager and it was good after they binned Bruce. Opinions are fine, that’s what this forum is about, but I would think we need to see who they appoint as the next manager, and how it works out before we start saying they are not good at appointing managers because we don’t know, do we?

[Three Spires Villa]

Should say “This is all” fat fingers, small phone!!!

[PaulWinch again]

Think it was Matt Law in the Telegraph who mentioned yesterday that until McGinn is Villa's third or fourth best midfielder, we won't get any further.

Matt law must be a twat then

Seems a bit over the top and he might not be wrong as well.

[brontebilly]

It feels to me that something behind the scenes has gone badly wrong. I mean benching the club captain would have seemed unthinkable a few games ago, and Sansom's water bottle incident has stoked the fires of unrest. Pre-season was such a mess, and trusted coaches departing in quick succession hasn't helped matters. It's going to be tough for Dean to turn this around. Personally I don't think he will.(I hope that he does).Results without Grealish suggest that can't win enough games.

So how does sacking the manager help? does that bring greasey joe back ? It wont reverse the pre season cock up or the turn over of back room staff. It will just bring more uncertainty.

Every manager knows that's it's easier to replace them than 10+ players. Smith brought the most of our players and backroom staff in, buck stops with him I'm afraid. That's the game as he is well aware.

[London Villan]

I think thats spot on about McGinn. Our midfield is the problem. If rice and souchek were in our midfield we’d be where they are.

[TonyD]

I think thats spot on about McGinn. Our midfield is the problem. If rice and souchek were in our midfield we’d be where they are.

Too true.  McGinn is a great player but needs a DCM behind him.    This would make him and Doug more consistent.  But no no we don’t need one.  Nakamba though should never step on the pitch for us again.  Beggars belief he is picked and gets paid. 

[ROBBO]

Smiths face when Ramsey got injured was indicative of where we we are, he clearly mouthed fck me what else. Another midfielder down and Sanson not getting game time aboslutely does my brain in.

[TonyD]

Smiths face when Ramsey got injured was indicative of where we we are, he clearly mouthed fck me what else. Another midfielder down and Sanson not getting game time aboslutely does my brain in.

So he brings on Young to try and combat a very physical midfield.  Genius. 

[London Villan]

With 2 defensive minded midfielders you can play 4 in front, like west ham do and england should. Also gives you massive flexibility to change shape 4231 - 433 - 4141

Its a glaring gap in our squad and i would have rather one of those than ings.

[tomd2103]

I think thats spot on about McGinn. Our midfield is the problem. If rice and souchek were in our midfield we’d be where they are.

Too true.  McGinn is a great player but needs a DCM behind him.    This would make him and Doug more consistent.  But no no we don’t need one.  Nakamba though should never step on the pitch for us again.  Beggars belief he is picked and gets paid.

McGinn needs to be playing further forward, as he does when he plays for Scotland.  Many people on here stated the need for a quality defensive midfielder to come in over the summer and it is clear that we still need one.