Aston Villa vs Swansea City Match Thread - The Dean Smith era begins

[Toronto Villa]

Remember Dean Smith had 11 players to pick from this week up until Thursday. Kodjia and Bolasie played for their countries with long travel. Not sure if El Ghazi was away.

[Dazvillain]

Same old same old !?

[Monty]

That looks very sensible.

[kippaxvilla2]

4-1-4-1 is his preferred formation isn't it?

[Axl Rose]

Good luck, Dean and the Villa.

[eamonn]

Was Elmo away with Egypt? Managers do seem to love his steady-eddiness.

[clash city rocker]

At least Jack might be playing in the danger area instead of in his own half.

[Toronto Villa]

Dean Smith got an overall lesser squad at Brentford to play better than pretty much everything we saw under Bruce. Just because it’s the same players doesn’t mean we will play the same. This isn’t the line up he will stick to once he has a full compliment to pick from and certainly not what we will see after January.

[ldavfc4eva]

Looks a settled starting 11, each player in their natural position.

El Ghazi wasn’t in the Netherlands squad so not sure what he has done as he seemed prett decent when he first came.

Win please Villa, onwards and upwards from now on!

[Toronto Villa]

Are Bree and El Ghazi injured?

[gpbarr]

He can’t do much about the players available for him to pick but at least he’s picked players in their natural positions - that’s an encouraging start and a break from the Bruce era.

Let’s get behind them!

[Dazvillain]

He can’t do much about the players available for him to pick but at least he’s picked players in their natural positions - that’s an encouraging start and a break from the Bruce era.

Let’s get behind them!

Are you telling me that Bruce NEVER picked that back 4 ?

[Russ aka Big Nose]

He can’t do much about the players available for him to pick but at least he’s picked players in their natural positions - that’s an encouraging start and a break from the Bruce era.

Let’s get behind them!

Are you telling me that Bruce NEVER picked that back 4?

He might have done, but not often. Plus we can be confident that Dean Smith will do more than ask them to "roll their sleeves up". UTV.

[JUAN PABLO]

Just 3 pts Villa


I am not expecting Brentfordlona footy , just a win

[VancouverLion]

Come on Villa lets get off to a flyer!

2-0 and we're on the march.

Good luck Dean, UTV.