Quote from: Oscar Arce on September 02, 2019, 11:06:29 AMYes.I don't think our squad is good enough or deep enough, we don't have enough possession and we don't create enough chances.Our new signings are a mixed bag: Been impressed with Heaton, Engels and Guilbert, but Trezeguit and Wesley are simply not good enough at this level, Jota a bit player at best, El Ghazi poor.Even after the euphoria of the Everton win I was'nt convinced and I think Smith's tactics of getting the ball to stick up top with players joining from midfield is flawed, we have to be able to change tactics for different situations, and I'm surprised I haven't seen enough of that from Smith.We all, me included, want him so much to succeed, but I don't think our owners will want us to get too stranded near the foot before they start getting twitchy, hope it does'nt come to that but the West Ham game is becoming huge now before a trip to Arsenal, where we won't have much possession again.Totally agree. In a way I’m comforted by the fact that our owners will act before things get too serious. Be sad to see a Deano go but the future of the club comes first.
Yes.I don't think our squad is good enough or deep enough, we don't have enough possession and we don't create enough chances.Our new signings are a mixed bag: Been impressed with Heaton, Engels and Guilbert, but Trezeguit and Wesley are simply not good enough at this level, Jota a bit player at best, El Ghazi poor.Even after the euphoria of the Everton win I was'nt convinced and I think Smith's tactics of getting the ball to stick up top with players joining from midfield is flawed, we have to be able to change tactics for different situations, and I'm surprised I haven't seen enough of that from Smith.We all, me included, want him so much to succeed, but I don't think our owners will want us to get too stranded near the foot before they start getting twitchy, hope it does'nt come to that but the West Ham game is becoming huge now before a trip to Arsenal, where we won't have much possession again.
Mock those with concerns all you like but Smith is on thin ice, if anything he's lucky to still have a job. Winning 15 of the last 21 competitive games Villa have played is pretty unacceptable.
Worried? YesIs it too early to panic? YesIs it too early to express concerns? NoWe don't look at all like a team at the minute to my eyes. Mings and Engels look decent, as does Heaton, we do however still keep conceding goalsThe full backs don't fill me with confidence. One minute Gilbert looks amazing the next very ropey. Taylor is Taylor, pretty solid defensively but offers absolutely zero over the halfway line.The midfield three hasn't looked 'on it' for any game yet. We're not getting games by the scruff of the neck and dominating the middle of the park. Something isn't right in there. There appears to be very little cohesion between them and a big lack of forward momentum. Too much side to side stuff that doesn't hurt the opposition one bit.The wingers have been incredibly lightweight to the point you struggle to remember any decent crosses. I've always felt Anwar was, at best an impact player. But i expected a LOT more of Trez, he's not looked up to it at all apart from a few glimpses against Spurs where he should've scored. Jota isn't a wide player to my mind, always looks better coming inside which he does all the time meaning we have a huge hole where he should be. I'd play him in the hole ahead of a midfield four.Wes, looks isolated and not the first choice striker we need to get the goals to stay up at the moment. The raw talent may be there, but it's not showing enough yet. We need to work on whatever his strengths are and play to them. And he needs to up his awareness of players around him as he's not seeing the passing opportunities he should be. Davis is Davis, looks good at everything but the bit that really matters for a striker.And I don't think this formation were refusing to tinker with is working at this level at all.
I think the main lessons from the first 4 games are:- there are no easy games: B'mouth and CP have proved that point- we need to toughen up a little: I'd like to see Marvelous and Luiz as two holding MF- we need to look after the ball a whole lot better than we currently do- Wes will get better; he has talent but needs the midfield a little furtther up the field, in support- I'm not sure Jota or Trez are regular starters: both have a role to play, though.I don't believe this is the time to panic, but - clearly - we need to start accumulating more points.
HeatonGuilbert Engels Mings Targett Nakamba Luiz ? SJM Grealish WesleyThe three behind Wesley would interchange. The question mark, at the moment, is most likely Jota or Trezeguet, although Hourihane/Lansbury might come in to that thinking. I agree with others that we need a more solid and physical midfield. Full back getting forward as much as they can.
Quote from: Newby on September 02, 2019, 10:05:15 PM HeatonGuilbert Engels Mings Targett Nakamba Luiz ? SJM Grealish WesleyThe three behind Wesley would interchange. The question mark, at the moment, is most likely Jota or Trezeguet, although Hourihane/Lansbury might come in to that thinking. I agree with others that we need a more solid and physical midfield. Full back getting forward as much as they can. I think Hourihane competes with Marvellous and, at a push, SJM & Grealish. It's Jota's for me, with AEG and Lansbury pushing him.
Four games, the squad's being written off and the manager sacked.
I think Hourihane needs to be playing. I think he was very unlucky to be dropped and besides his goal threat our set pieces are pretty dire without him.