Summer Transfer Window - The Verdict

[ChicagoLion]

We may have strengthened the squad, but the team will be worse than the with Grealish team.

[Smithy]

We may have strengthened the squad, but the team will be worse than the with Grealish team.

That's sort of where I am, but that was always likely given the quality of the player we lost - but I'm not convinced the team will "definitely" be worse.  Who knows what sort of impact a fit and firing Bailey and Beundia will have when supplying Watkins and Ings.  However, I'm absolutely convinced the 14 we can put on the pitch on any given match day will definitely be better than any 14 we could have put out last season.

[wittonwarrior]

I hope to proved wrong but it will be one achievement for us to finish top half. Losing Grealish has created this situation

[Villan82]

Would a 3-5-2 get us over some of our issues in midfield?

                      Martinez
         Tuanzebe  Konsa   Mings
Cash                                       Targett
                       
              McGinn  Luiz   Buendia

              Ings/Bailey  Watkins

[ChicagoLion]

Would a 3-5-2 get us over some of our issues in midfield?

                      Martinez
         Tuanzebe  Konsa   Mings
Cash                                       Targett
                       
              McGinn  Luiz   Buendia

              Ings/Bailey  Watkins

Smith has stated that he does not like 3 at the back.

[Toronto Villa]

If we have strengthened but we are worse without Grealish that falls squarely on the shoulders of the manager. He will not only have to prove that he can win consistently without him but that he can create a winning side challenging for a European spot with what he has. If not he’ll be looking for work. History isn’t on his side based on what we’ve seen for a Jack-less Villa but it’s also too early to make a proper assessment this season given all of the injuries.

[KRS]

You can’t replace the quality of Grealish by signing other players (no matter what guff they try to sell us about signing 3 players with his attributes), so the aim has to be to improve the team and squad that was available when he was out injured. There’s no question that we have done that, but only time will tell if we become a better team without the over reliance on him…as it stands, I don’t think we’ve done enough in this transfer market when we had the perfect opportunity to do so.

[paul_e]

I don't doubt he wants to be more versatile, he did say that as well over the summer. Everyone, however, has a base style, and a first choice set-up to suit it. You can't drill two different basic identities of play at once. And my feeling is that the plan is to play pretty direct, pretty compact, press fiercely from the front and to worry much more about turnovers than possession. That to me says a 4-2-2-2 is the most likely basic shape.

Works fine as a 433 or 4321 with 3 box-to-box players in the middle as well though. I do think the plan is to focus on transitional play rather than possession though, that's about the only decent explanation for him thinking the current midfield options are enough.

[paul_e]

Would a 3-5-2 get us over some of our issues in midfield?

                      Martinez
         Tuanzebe  Konsa   Mings
Cash                                       Targett
                       
              McGinn  Luiz   Buendia

              Ings/Bailey  Watkins

Smith has stated that he does not like 3 at the back.

Even ignoring that I don't see how that helps address the issue, if anything it makes it worse because now not only do we not have the power to dominate in midfield we also lose width up front.

[sickbeggar]

Someone's trying to buy Boubacar Kamara from the Prem. DM and worth signing for the name alone.

[john e]

We’re just a bit dull at the moment
That slow laborious buildup play it’s dull

Bailey, Triaore, When back will hopefully add a bit of spice
They are unpredictable exciting players and we need a bit of that

As for the transfer window verdict I think we’ve done ok
I think overall we are stronger as a team

[Toronto Villa]

We’re just a bit dull at the moment
That slow laborious buildup play it’s dull

Bailey, Triaore, When back will hopefully add a bit of spice
They are unpredictable exciting players and we need a bit of that

As for the transfer window verdict I think we’ve done ok
I think overall we are stronger as a team

the almost walking pace build up drives me nuts

[chrisw1]

We’re just a bit dull at the moment
That slow laborious buildup play it’s dull

Bailey, Triaore, When back will hopefully add a bit of spice
They are unpredictable exciting players and we need a bit of that

As for the transfer window verdict I think we’ve done ok
I think overall we are stronger as a team

the almost walking pace build up drives me nuts

Hopefully Bailey wll help remedy that.

[Toronto Villa]

We’re just a bit dull at the moment
That slow laborious buildup play it’s dull

Bailey, Triaore, When back will hopefully add a bit of spice
They are unpredictable exciting players and we need a bit of that

As for the transfer window verdict I think we’ve done ok
I think overall we are stronger as a team

the almost walking pace build up drives me nuts

Hopefully Bailey wll help remedy that.

My genuine fear is that we are setting up to be a counter attacking team which if done right will be great, but if not we will keep getting sucked deeper and deeper. With Jack because he could hang on to the ball so long it brought everyone up the pitch and helped press our opponents. We have nobody who can do that today.

[Monty]

I don't doubt he wants to be more versatile, he did say that as well over the summer. Everyone, however, has a base style, and a first choice set-up to suit it. You can't drill two different basic identities of play at once. And my feeling is that the plan is to play pretty direct, pretty compact, press fiercely from the front and to worry much more about turnovers than possession. That to me says a 4-2-2-2 is the most likely basic shape.

Works fine as a 433 or 4321 with 3 box-to-box players in the middle as well though. I do think the plan is to focus on transitional play rather than possession though, that's about the only decent explanation for him thinking the current midfield options are enough.

We shall see! Seems to me Dean sees Buendía as very much an advanced option though, which with Bailey wide and (my assumption this) Ollie through the middle points one way.

Definitely gonna be all about that transition though innit. Somewhat risky that, though, as it makes us much more reliant on certain individuals being fit and doing magic, rather than a more structured approach in midfield. Ironically we could end up with as set a first 11 as before, as the squad players wouldn't be suited to the new style or shape.