WakefieldVillan

Was shocking last night, extremely bad. Not sure if his legs have totally gone or whether it was lack of match fitness; maybe a combination of both. I know Sheffield United players took their foot off the gas and sat back in the closing stages, but the difference Whelan made when he was on the pitch was like night and day compared to Mile. I think his time is up in the summer, but he's not been the worst player to grace the claret and blue shirt and obviously has decent traits but passing a football sure aint one of them

I'm equally intrigued. I think he will fit in and if he can regain some confidence, I expect him to grab a few goals.

Would be happy with this one, decent combative midfielder, experienced, not afraid to put a tackle in, would add some aerial pressence and more mobility than Whelan or Jedi. I think he would compliment McGinn and Grealish hugely. Hope it goes through

I'm firmly on the fence with this one; 100% agree that is time at Villa has been very disappointing to say the least, one five game period aside, he's either been very poor, substitute or injured. He was definitely the wrong signing at the wrong time. A player that really struggled in a 'system' that didn't suit his game. Is that Hogan's fault? Is that Bruce's fault? I would say a bit of both to be honest. A player does need to try to adapt his game to get game time, but asking him to come on as a substitute and hold up play whilst it was being hoofed up field was just plain ridiculous. With Smith coming in I was hoping that he would get the best out of him, the 'Brentford' Hogan but thus far it just isn't happening, playing one up top and the form of Tammy contributing to this, but also, lets face it he has been pretty terrible. As a striker (more than any other position I would say) you need to be brimming with confidence to get the best out of you and you can tell that he is bereft of this and it shows. I would love for him to find some form here as I think 'some' of the criticism is a little harsh but it doesn't look like it is going to happen so hopefully we can still get a decent fee rather than sending him out on loan, my worry is that he will go elsewhere and he will score goals. I guess time will tell.

Must say, pretty underwhelmed with that selection, was hoping not to see Adomah and (to a lesser extent) Whelan. Then when you add Taylor, Hutton & Elphick (though the latter has been doing ok) its not great on paper. Hopefully Smith knows what he's doing and can guide us to a victory and a decent performance or I think the doubters will be out in force later.

Have I missed something? Please tell me I have

The only way I would play 2 up top is to sacrifice a defender and go 3-5-2 otherwise I think we would get over-run in midfield. I don't think Smith would adopt this formation but if he did, I'd like to see something like this, which would at least eliminate our terrible full backs and may get us back to the quick high-press football we were playing at the start of Smith's reign; Kalinic Elphick Chester Hause Jedinak El Ghazi Hourihane McGinn Green Hogan Abraham Could quite easily swap Hogan for Kodge or Davis, Bree into the back 3, Elmo (dare I say) for El Ghazi... Just hope we can get back to winning ways, Ipswich are 5/1 with some bookies, I don't think it's that clear cut at all.

Is this another case of one of our players becoming a 'better' player just because they haven't played for us for a while?! That aside, I wouldn't be adverse to a recall and for Smith to have a look at him close up, he looks like he has decent attributes but he will need to show a LOT more than he did prior his loan move(s).

Me too. I thought goals aside, his overall game showed flaws. His time is up for me!

Bowen - What a surprise.

Would be an upgrade on Taylor (who wouldn't)?! He had a decent game at Villa Park a few month ago. Only 22 I think, so has time on his side and one that Smith could improve as a player. A bit lightweight, but quite quick and skilful in the games I have seen him play. Was under the impression he'd signed a new contract not that long ago though might be wrong. Definitely wouldn't be against this signing though if it happens.

I would be amazed if it is anything other than a public apology for 'spygate' (unfortunately!)

Fair enough, I am on my own with the Hourihane at LB one then but my reasoning's one last time 1) The general consensus is both Taylor and Hutton are sh1t. Both have been extremely poor for a long time now and we are still conceding goals with either in the team. They don't tackle well (Hutton to a lesser extent), they both allow wingers to cross time after time and both are positionally found wanting. 2) Taylor contributes absolutely nothing to us going forward and Hutton (although slightly better) is allowed by the opposition to run to the opposing box then 99% of the time lose it and be caught out of position. 3) Hourihane is hardly dominating from central midfield, but he has (usually) good set pieces, can pass a ball an is a lot more comfortable in possession. Therefore playing him in this position allows us to keep the ball better which means in theory less defending and also allows us to put someone stronger centrally. I am not for one minute saying for this to be a regular thing, the need for a left back is ridiculously important and it is crazy we have been left in the situation we are, I just think that it would be worth a gamble as opposed to the other tried & tested failed options. Anyway, you will be pleased I am not manager

Well that's where I'm at. Not ideal, but any worse than Taylor / Hutton I'm not too sure and at least he should be comfortable on the ball. Ideally of course, we need a new LB in this window!

Fair dos mate, I get what you are saying about the tackling element, but is Taylor's tackling / defensive skills much better? I'm not too sure and he offers absolutely nothing going forward. My mate was at the game on Saturday (Leeds fan) first time he's seen Villa live and he couldn't believe just how terrible Taylor was both in possession and without the ball, I suppose my thought with Conor there would be at least he would be better on the ball - Plus the fact that he doesn't tackle when playing in central midfield is probably worse than at LB (IMO).

I'd actually try Hourihane at LB and see how he does, he's not pulling up any trees in the centre of the park but he's got a decent left foot so should be comfortable on the ball and starting attacks and we can still use him for set pieces as and when. I don't think he can do much worse than Taylor or Hutton to be honest. Leeds do it with Allioski whos naturally more attacking and he looks very decent, anyway just a thought as I'm getting more and more fed up with our full back 'options' with every game!

This is where I am and I hate Leeds. People asking for them to be hit with a points deduction is ridiculous.

I'd be tempted to try something different, not formation wise, but a couple of role changes, it is clear that we are struggling at LB and I would try Hourihane there and see how he goes. Watching Leeds on Friday night and it doesn't seem to do them any harm playing Allioski at LB and he can't be much worse than Taylor was yesterday. He should at least be comfortable on the ball. I would also start Davis up top and have more of a focal point to bring the midfielders in. So maybe something like this, depending on injuries.. Kalinic Bree Elphick Chester Hourihane Lansbury O' Hare McGinn El Ghazi Abraham Davis Subs: Steer, Hutton, Hause, Whelan, Kodjia, Hogan, Bolasie

Also it is Hulls wide men Bowen (and to a lesser extent) Grosicki that will, if allowed, cause us the most problems.

He's a good centre half at this level, but as been said before, he is more comfortable with a strong leader next to him and he his not captain material. Ultimately, going forward, I'd like him as a back-up centre half and would like us to sign a real tall, tough, no-nonsense ball playing centre half to play alongside Tuanzebe!

All would be tremendous signings but unfortunately out of our budget I would say with FFP, them 3 though with Reach and Maupay would be players I would be trying for, also I think we should be going for Paul Coutts from Sheffield United, centre midfielder with more Scottish grit, he would add some real steel into our midfield and knows this league, he was quality last season until his injury but been on the bench a fair bit this season due to an impressive looking blades midfield 3, he his a proper no nonsense player though strong in the tackle.

I know everyone's down after the last few games and especially today but I wouldn't rule us out just yet. Hopefully Smith will get a response from the players and we can get back on track with 2 home victories against an in-form Hull and then Reading, then let's re-assess where we are. I still think 5th or 6th is achievable.

Looks ok when Jack's playing and we are winning a game, completely goes missing when we need him most. Watched him a few times when he was at Barnsley and he was a completely different animal, bossing games, getting stuck in, spreading play ETC, I get that there was no pressure / expectation playing for them but was hoping for so much more from him at Villa.

Awful, awful result. Not seen the whole match, just the highlights and read the match thread, but by all accounts Wigan thoroughly deserved the victory and we were extremely poor. I am not going to over react and make ridiculous comments that Smith hasn't got a clue, job to big for him ETC ETC, it is one game in albeit a poor little run of performances but he's still only been here a few months and he deserves a little patience from us before the knives come out. For me, it's as much a mental problem as anything else, we have just come off a decent run playing top sides and lost 1 game to the league leaders in the last minute, we then play the so called "lesser" sides and we are out-fought and out-battled by teams that want it more than us. This is something Smith has to sort and sort ASAP, whether it be installing a different mentality with the players here or finding new players with that hunger or our promotion play off hopes will be gone by the end of January. I think some of our players think they have already 'made it' playing for a club like ours on big wages, but this attitude needs to change quickly or we will be in this league for a good while. And one last thing, it is quite ridiculous how much we miss Jack, one player missing should NOT affect the team this much, but it does. Other teams will and have coped with injuries much better than us. Time we started fighting like lions, the fans deserve better.

I'd take Adam Reach, but not for anything more than £6M. The times I have seen him play he generally as stood out for Wednesday, he has got good energy, keeps the ball well enough and has obviously scored some wonder goals, including the one at Villa Park, but I'm not too sure he influences games that much, in that way maybe too much of a likeness to Hourihane. If we were in the market for that type of player, I would prefer either Bowen or Lolley (as I have mentioned before) but I doubt we would get these due to premier league clubs showing interest and likely they would likely cost more. I think he has featured at left back too in his career, I definitely wouldn't be adversed to this signing if that was where Smith was looking at playing him.