QldVilla

That’s because most people have no idea what it takes to be an elite coach and every coaches path is different. Smith’s journey was long because he hadn’t played for a big club previously and had to earn his opportunities and even then people still doubt him. He has continued to evolve and become a better manager each season and is the perfect manager for Villa.

Thought the exact same thing when he went down, but will give him the benefit of the doubt. Really proud of this kid, his game has improved so much over the past 12 months and getting better week to week.

Great to see him back at the top of his game, he was playing well at the Olympics and has brought the form back to the club. Been a huge fan of him since he joined the club it took some time initially but always showed glimpses of his class and he will continue to get better each season.

Not sure I’d say he’s better than Bosnich quite yet, he needs to do it over a few seasons and win some trophies, but the potential is there. Hes very similar to Bosnich in his shot stopping and getting in the ears of opposition players, gives the defenders confidence. Both are very confident but they do it differently.

Really pleased with his performances over the past two games, he never lets the team down and a good professional. Deserves the praise, unbelievable technique to get that goal.

It’s early days into the season, but really excited to see how it unfolds. Villa has now knocked off 8 of the top 10 teams in the PL over the past 18 months which shows we are being consistently competitive and the team now has self belief. There is still a lot of work to be done, but the development of the team over the past 3 years since Smith’s appointment has been outstanding.

He’s really stepped up this season as a leader, on and off the pitch.

Just OGS deflecting his poor tactics for the match and that Villa outplayed them. Funny watching those Manure pods they are melting down, nearly as bad as the Arsenal ones when we turned them over last season, hilarious.

Signed also by the looks of it.

Pity you don’t take on board some of his other advice captain…

You made the comment that Tuchel had beaten Villa twice, when corrected you changed the narrative to only this season, and him beating Villa “twice” this season has nothing to do with him being the best Coach in Europe which your initial response was made. Your continual captain obvious comments, as if we didn’t already know certain facts, but needed you to point them out to enlighten us…your correct it is pathetic.

Seems to be whatever suits your narrative captain obvious. The point being is that he has a second squad which is still good enough to be a top 4 squad, he isn’t the best coach in Europe for beating Villa, and Villa with its kids made him sweat today. UTV.

Yes thanks captain obvious, doesn’t make him the best at anything though.

Yes apparently Tuchel is the best manager in Europe a tactical genius if you believe the biased media.

Great performance from the team, made Chelsea sweat.

Thought he was having a good game, he walked off so hopefully not too serious, maybe just tweaked a hamstring.

As stated from some already, he's good in a back four, been struggling with his end product when playing at wing back. Maybe he needs to get used to the 352 system, but I would be starting Young in the future.

Still think there’s going to be some changes to the formation as some players become match fit. Not convinced by Targett and Cash as wing backs, they may become better with time, but seemed to be a disconnect with the front two and both took some ordinary options.

It’s early in his Villa career, but he seems to bring an x-factor that creates those special moments in games. Very exciting.

For me besides Cash’s goal, both wing backs weren’t convincing in creating chances throughout the game. We were defensively sound, but like last week, If Everton had better finishers, we may of been down a goal. Understand the need to want to be defensively sound, does Smith start Bailey and Traore in those wing back positions against teams like Norwich etc? We are getting better every week, but will be interesting to see how the formation may change in the coming weeks in fit in Bailey, Buendia etc.

That’s not quite correct. That is average speed, Bolt through his maximum velocity phase over the 100m was clocked at 43km. Most elite male sprinters will be over 40km.

That’s your opinion and you also have the luxury of not having to coach the players, set the tactics and have your methodology tested. He now has options and will play different formations to suit the opposition to get the best outcome for the team.

If you had of watched him at Celtic you would have a different opinion. Plays when he feels like it and doesn’t like to work.

Your conclusion is a contradiction. Of course a coach, like Pep, isn’t going to change his tactics to suit JG, it’s one player, but he wouldn’t have signed him if he didn’t believe he would fit or could develop into how he sees his role in the team. With regards to Mancini, yes he set the tactics he wanted to play, but selected players that would fit into the style he wants to play. With regards to Smith, he has still been naive with some of his tactics, but that was to be expected by someone who had no experience at PL level. He thought he could play a certain way similar to how he played in the Championship and soon realised he didn’t have the players suited to that style of football. Hence, when he had the opportunity became more pragmatic, but subsequently in every transfer period since has targeted players who would suit the style of football he wants to play and now we are starting to see what that will look like.

Believe he was always there. A good manager sets the team up to suit the players skill level. He now has better players he can trust to carry out more complex tactics.