Middlesbrough vs Dean Smith's Claret and Blue Army Post-Match Thread

[dave.woodhall]

I look forward to Bruce saying how he brought together the league winners.

[Damo70]

I would like to add my admiration of Liam Rosenior as a pundit to the previous praise for him on here. Even if his Dad did do his best to relegate us with those couple of goals at Forest in 1989.

[Nelly]

So what is this happy new sport we've taken up?

Finally we have a fucking management team with a clue! An exciting, swaggering Villa team, fearless and well drilled. Coached and inspired, allowed to play, to be creative. This recent run has had some real sit-up-and-take-notice results. Kudos and respect to Dean Smith.

I loved how we varied things today, each free kick and corner had something completely different. It must be so hard to live with that defensively.

Tuanzebe did really well bringing the ball out of defence. He was calm and un-panicked throughout.

El Ghazi and Bolasie were outstanding for me. Just constant threats.

Credit to Nyland - they wanted to target him with deep crosses but he held firm.

Also credit to Taylor who I haven't put a lot of stock in. Crazy the change a proper manager can have on a player. I hope he keeps improving and ends up loving his time at Villa.

Up the Villa! Bouncing tonight!

[rougegorge]

Well, Brucie didn't leave us with any defensive options but the attacking players he signed certainly appreciate being creatively sandblasted by a manager who goes for it.

It's all gone remarkably quiet on the Brucie front since he left!
Wouldn't be this quiet if we'd lost a few I'm sure.

I'm waiting for him or his media mates to say how he left Deano with a good squad and how he would have turned it round if he had been given enough time.
But anyway,this is exciting.

Well I think the first part of that could be right at least...
We were brilliant against Derby in the second half but today we were excellent (and not in the Paul Lambert way) from start to finish, and I couldn't fault any of the players.

[kipeye]

Thought Tuanzebe was sublime today, reminded me of Southgate. Very comfortable on the ball coming forward, long, short passes and stepped up into the gap. Got my Brian Little book in the post today, perfect.

[Risso]

Look at this for a thread title from an opposition fan:

http://forum.comeonboro.com/index.php?topic=134431.0

and this:

http://forum.comeonboro.com/index.php?topic=134428.0

[Damo70]

I would say Bruce left us with a decent squad but an unbalanced squad which Deano II needs to keep getting the best out of until January at least. Although we should thank Bruce for SJM and we might even be thanking him for our keeper too if he keeps improving. SGT once said that if you lose you should have at least lost because you tried to win. Which applies to Deano's Villa far more than it did with Bruce's safety first Villa.

[Risso]

I would say Bruce left us with a decent squad but an unbalanced squad which Deano II needs to keep getting the best out of until January at least. Although we should thank Bruce for SJM and we might even be thanking him for our keeper too if he keeps improving. SGT once said that if you lose you should have at least lost because you tried to win. Which applies to Deano's Villa far more than it did with Bruce's safety first Villa.

Spot on Damo.  It's why I refused to be pissed off about only drawing against Forest, as Smith's approach will sometimes lead to such games.

[Ads]

Dead Smith had a dream!
To build a football team!
We were skint and signed Collins on a free
Chester at the back
Tammy in attack!
We're  Aston Villa!
We're on our way back!
Back!
Back!

That was very, very good.

The negatives:

We didn't score 5 or 6 like we should have done
We need to.be careful when committing men forward not to leave gaps


Positives:

Utterly dominant.
We shielded the back four well and forced the hoof merchants to play in front of us.
Our movement and penetration is excellent.
Tammy is lethal, Hogan came on and was unrecognizable, El Ghazi looks a player.
Bolasie murdered Fry.
Hourihane played a lot better.
We've twatted two sides around us.
Nyland made a wonder save.

Believe.

[Rudy65]

Same squad, same players but a different manager. Amazing transformation. I bet even the neutrals love watching us

[Damo70]

Can I get a bet on the 'Championship Player Of The Week Award'? I have a sneaky feeling I know who it might be.

[Lsvilla]

The only downside I can imagine from such a dominant thoroughly brilliant display at the end of a tough week of superb front-foot football is that we can kiss goodbye to Saturday 3pm kick offs for 2019 as sky will be all over us.

[john2710]

That was a near perfect performance, against a team who's 'style' I expected to cause us problems. It a simple game, keep the ball, pass, move & get players forward.

As i said on the match thread the contrast with what Bruce got out of that team & what Smith has to date couldn't be clearer.

Its still early days but we're putting together a team to be proud if & long may it continue.

Roll on Friday..... UTV

[bjfoster]

First time poster.

That is exactly what I’d expect us to be in the Championship. Not scared of anyone. Taken it to them in their own backyard and smashed them.

RIP dinosaur football. Welcome to the revolution.

[exigo]

There can't be many teams who have ever conceded seven goals in a week and picked up seven points.
Give Smith a couple of defenders in January, and there's no limit to this season's ambitions.