Philosopher

Top managers get the best out of their players and are able to merge the abilities of their players with the tactical needs of the system. The Guardiola's and his ilk have had money their whole career so can simply buy the right player for the tactics. Dean Smith hasn't had the blend of players in the squad to play the way he wants to. But he has a world class player that he has developed a tactical approach designed to function around him and his exceptional ability. Take that out and we are rudderless. I don’t criticise him for this. However a top coach would find a way to get results even without the main man. Or a top coach would develop a tactical approach that can still function without the main man. The win we have had without Jack apart from Leeds has been lucky and Leeds were terrible. Some of the draws were lucky also. Credit where it's due the defense has provided the foundation for everything, however I believe Terry has a lot to do with that also. But it is to Smiths credit that he listens and allows to Terry to influence things. Being a top manager isn't about doing everything yourself, it's about having a good team and being able delegate and acknowledging your mistakes and learn from them. I never said he couldn't be a top coach in the future, but he isn't now. Until he achieves something more notable than one promotion he can't be classed as a top coach (Steve Bruce has 3 or 4 promotions to his name, Pulis 2 or 3, Warnock 2 or 3) . His entire time at Villa he has been overly reliant on Jack, I don't blame him as Jack exceptional. However he needs to show more. Next season he will have more quality and hopefully still have Jack. I want to see how he does.

If we play a counter long ball we need to play Davis or Wesley with Watkins and two combative types in midfield, Nakamba sitting and McGinn just in front of him, with hardworking wingers will work. We lack a quality specialist destroyer type defensive midfielder (who can pass). Apart from Nakamba who isn't really good enough to be more than back up the rest of our midfielders are 8's. we have 4 8's which is a good number for 4-3-3, not so good for 4-2-3-1. The way we use 4-2-3-1 is unorthodox. This is because a 4-2-3-1 is meant to give attacking freedom to the fullbacks. However our preferred 2 are 8's so we keep the fullbacks more like traditional fullbacks (rather than modern attacking fullbacks) so the two 6's (who are 8's really) can take it in turns to break forward as needed. The problem with this Is the fullbacks in this formation are supposed to play as wing backs and offer an outlet wide so the wingers can play very narrow and be close to the striker. Instead our wingers have to stay wide and our striker gets isolated. Our 10 is constantly tracking back because we defend deep and invite teams on to us meaning he isn't getting close enough to the striker either. These problems are all manifested because we can't play our way past the high press so we are forced to play long more than we want, end up defending deeper than we want, and so isolating the wingers as well as the striker. Our defensive play very pragmatic. Safety first for the most part. Many times we clear it instead trying to play it. This invites more pressure if our opponents are first to the loose ball. The mentality in our country is playing around at the back is too risky, but just clearing it is just as risky. Many of Liverpool's best chances came from them winning cleared balls in our own half. Just like the winner. It's simply are the players good enough, and coached well enough to play out. Ours aren't, and the midfielders aren't really ball winners either so clear it or play it we aren't really suitable. Watch Man City, how easy they make playing out look. Press them high and they kill you as they cut right through the high press and then force opponents to go one for one as their widemen are left in no man's land and can't support their fullback. But they have the quality. This is why Konsa wasn't picked for England the other day. He plays safety first. Last season he got caught trying to play the ball, this season he has simplified his game and focuses on not getting beat and not making mistakes. I agree with this as he is still developing. However he was touted as a modern ball playing cb when he joined and I believe he needs to add that element of risk back into his game next season, and we will be better off for it. The fullback tactics is simply because Targett is slow and Cash is new to Premier league football. With a quality pacy left back and letting Cash and Konsa off the leash a bit then we can elevate our passing and movement out of defense and this will help our midfield immensely and they get more space to play in and don't have spend most of their efforts on trying to win seconds balls. A tall DM that is a destroyer and a passer will help us to play both ways. As cleared balls are after aerial balls so the winning those ball become more likely with an aerial presence and long balls against us will also be less effective. Passing from deep require and slighty different mindset and passing style. Short passes have to be safe passes, in one twos you are the pivot rather than the mover, then you are required to switch the play from one side to the other rather than looking to pass forward at every opportunity. A no 8 looks for the forward pass first (winger or striker) than to the fullback on his side or inside to the other 8 or 6. When they are one two's they are doing the give and go particularly in central areas (rather than being the pivot). Jack makes the 4-2-3-1 work purely because of A the space he creates for the 10. B the threat he pose means teams keep the RB back and tight to him. C his ability to carry the ball out his own half at pace and find a pass. Then he carry the play in the opposition third as he pops up all over the place pulling defenders here and there, play little no look passes and sudden burst of pace and give and goes. All of the creative onus he carries, put he is our only other defensive outlet other than the long ball to Watkins. The whole tactical setup going forward is reliant on Jack. Without him we are literally one dimensional (hit it long to Watkins). El-Ghazi and Traore are missing a major trick in being poor headers of the ball. Both 6 footers, if we could hit long to them also we could make the long ball game work, they would also nearly double their goal output. Ronaldo added heading to his list of strengths and scored loads with his head. The perfect example of a 6 foot winger developing his heading and becoming a beast. So I have waffled on too much!!

It's not really the midfielder fault. The tactics completely bypass them. The defense and goalkeeper constantly hit long but our midfielders are a bunch of shorties! We are a long ball counter attacking team. Problem with that is our midfielders aren't the most combative out of possession and there isn't a consistent long passer amongst them. We need to get the passing out defense right. We do that there will be plenty of space for them to carry the ball out once we pass out of the press. If we don't get high pressed and the midfield don't feel rushed to get the ball to the forwards and the forwards are closer to the play we.can look to pass and move. However Mcginn would have to make way, as JJ, Luiz and Sanson are better short passers.

No Mcginn was meant to be no 10. Nakamba was taking up a right of centre position on front of the back 4 and Luiz was mirroring left of centre. Nakamba ended up two far forward with ball in positions he isn't good with a number of times, his hurt our attacking play. McGinn often had to drop back to help out. bringing on Barkley he probably thought that a proper no 10 with Mcginn as no 6 being better in advanced positions we could be more of a threat, problem is Barkley is a waste of space on current form.

I agree. Smith got his selection and one sub wrong today, that doesn't warrant writing him off. The sub was stupid, everytime we bring on Barkley we play worse not better, the one time he doesn't we come back from a goal down to win, it's not a coincidence, that was terrible. However out of his depth that doesn't make him. That was a McGinn's doing a poor job of the no 10 role so if I bring on a proper number 10 we should be more dangerous. So I understand where he was coming from. Still the wrong move and he should have known it. I understand he thought the match was set up for Barkley to make a match winning contribution, and he was putting faith in a player shot of confidence, but Barkley isn't that guy! For me though our promotion was more about Jack and what he brings to the team, than any great management from Smith. I like Smith, I believe he has done a good job. But he isn't a top manger and neither is he a poor manager. He is a decent manager, a good man, with the right vision, and a good assistant (Terry), who is willing to learn and able to adapt. He trust his players so they want to play for him.

Said before the game that Davis needs to start (he would have bullied that centre half pairing), and Traore has been poor, despite the assist last week he hasn't been good enough for a while. The Barkley sub on paper makes sense, however with how he has been playing he should've been shipped back to Chelsea already. Dean Smith this was a poor showing mate. The tactics weren't really wrong but the team selection was. We seem to think football is ping pong without Jack. If the ball isn't sticking up top and you're going away to anfield, you really should be playing a target man. Surround that Target man with tireless runners that will offer plenty of options and you might just win. A narrow front three of Ollie, Davis, and Trez was the order of the day and Mcginn as a number 8 with Luiz. Tireless workers in every position and no sight of 'I need and sedan chair (Barkley)' Let's be clear Barkley does lots of running, but he does even attempt to tackle? Gets the ball and tries to be Messi. His first touch after coming was to attempt and jumping rabona flick only to send it straight to the opposition. Straight away I had my head in my hands thinking 'oh no not again.'

We were lucky to be on level terms with 70 odd minutes played. Then we brought the player that wants to be carried (Barkley). Please don't let him anywhere near the match day squad in future. Davis definitely should have been involved (from the start if it was up to me). Liverpool were inviting us to hit it long. I we had Davis up top they certainly wouldn't do that. Traore poor again, has had a couple of good moments in the last few games. Mcginn isn't a number 10 for f's sake. He doesn't have the quality. Poor management, Liverpool were there for the taking.

Let's be clear Barkley for Nakamba was the wrong sub. If you're taking of Nakamba the JJ or Sanson should've been the player brought on.

Sorry Barkley but you are a bit shit!

Barkley is doing everything wrong. Does he have any intelligence on the pitch?

Not from what I've seen on YouTube. But I don’t have any in depth knowledge. So I'll take your word for it.

His mobility seems sufficient. However he wears the no 8 and is touted as a box to box mid. So not sure about this one.

Personally I think McGinns best role is box to box. As an attacking mid he lacks the quality to unlock the defense, and his hard work and desire to get stuck in are wasted further up. I wouldn’t loan JJ or sign any more than a defensive mid, As CC looks the dogs bollock and will be banging on the door. Luiz, McGinn, JJ, and Sanson will all be kept so 6 into 2 spots doesn't work. We need to give youth a chance, as forget saving money, when you have a talent as precocious as Carney Chukwuemeka you have to give him a chance. If he becomes a Billy big bollocks and throws it all away it's a risk we have to take, as he could become a talent we'd never be able to buy without being one of the top 10 clubs in the world like Jack. He must be given a chance as long as his attitude is right.

I have hopes for Louie Barry next season also. Carney Chukwuemeka could get blooded next season also. I'd only spend big on a right winger and a defensive midfielder. Get in a competitive left back, then if anyone leaves other than those with expired contracts replace them. That would be solid stable business.

They aren't but look at MON's villa. Young a right footer on the left cutting inside a crossing. Milner a hard working willing runner on the right. 442 is usually used in a lopsided manner with the one sided being solid and offer more in the middle and the other side of the pitch where the majority of the attacking is done. Very rarely did you ever see a flying winger on each wing. Fergie's Man U had Beckham and Neville crossing from deep on the right and Giggs and Evra on the left running the ball.

Trez is always up for it. Davis may not score but if you guys close to him making runs in behind and into the channels that can feed off him he can be effective for us. Trez and Watkins are the only guys that can make those runs and help defensively. It's not formations, it's tactics. Formations are just a part of it. It's players, their positions, formation, attacking intent, passing style, and pressing style. Our current formation and personnel over the last few games haven't complimented the passing style. We play direct, lots of long balls so to play with a 5'10 in behind striker, no target man and widemen that are poor at holding the ball up, we simply aren't able to get hold of the ball enough in our opponents third to build any pressure. Obviously the performances are going to be poor if the tactics don't play the the strengths of the 11 on the pitch. We can't build any sustained pressure, we aren't creating chances and the midfield spend the majority of the game chasing the ball. McGinn is not a number 10. Watkins is not a target man, our other wingers aren't capable of doing what Jack does. We can't play the same without Jack as we do with him in the team.

Depends how you look at it. El-Ghazi basically hugs the touchline a looks for the first opportunity to cross or shoot so he certainly can. Trezguet is a defensive winger. We have 3 box to box mids that can play 6. So I reckon we can play 4-4-2. I do prefer to play 4-3-3 with Davis centre forward and Trez and Watkins close to him, as their workrate and non stop running will make up for only having 3 up top. I just think we (the fans) are under the illusion we are some attractive attacking team, when really without Jack we simply don't have the quality to be that. We are a long ball team, that has a special player that is the fulcrum of the team in the attacking third. We can't replace his creativity so we have to pack midfield with hardworkers, and the attack with tireless runners and a big man. Smith I feel has been as pragmatic as he can as our tactics are far more defensive than he'd like, but he's done it out of necessity rather than choice. Without Jack he needs to compromise a little more as grinding out results is the only avenue open to us. Hopefully he gives the Davis, Watkins, Trez front 3 a try for 2 or 3 matches. With City and Liverpool coming up it's certainly the only sniff of a chance we have to get any points.

I slightly disagree. I think our tactics work better with a 442 and a target man then a 433. The target man gives time to get bodies forward. And more options before that as there are 4 instead of 3 high up the pitch. We basically play an aggressive direct counter attacking style (aggressive in our desire to hit teams on the break). The more players already up the field the better and if one or more are good at holding it up and winning aerial balls then even better. As a team our short passing is basic! We can't do anything without Jack directing. Old school 442 (MON) is how we should go without Jack, or go Davis CF and get Trez and Ollie very narrow buzzing around Davis (Mourinho).

I think there are a few issues with midfield. The first is a lack of continuity. There has been so much chopping and changing with the midfield 3 in terms of both formation and personnel. This definitely hasn't helped. The problem since Barkley's injury Smith no longer knows what his best 3 is or even the best shape of his 3. The second problem is Barkley has shown himself to be an overrated average player. Sorry but even when things were going well I never thought he was that good. His touch is somewhat wayward, his passing is somewhat wayward, and his tackling and pressing is terrible. The third problem is he has 3 new players in that midfield area this season in Sanson, Ramsey, and Barkley and they're all quite similar, but slightly different. One is the future, one is a big reputation, and the other is a new signing. It's a bit of a dilemma. Next problem is Dougie. He isn't the strongest or most aggressive defensive midfielder, and teams have realised he can be bullied. 5th problem Mcginn! Good reliable, versatile player being played in 3 different ways with a bunch of different midfield teammates. He's not really a Defensive midfielder, and neither is he a number 10. Mcginn created nothing as a no 10 yesterday. We didn't even register a shot on target until Trez scored and Mcginn had been moved to defensive midfield. Mcginn is a good number 8, that can be errant with his short passing in particular. The short passing of the team is poor, I'm not sure if this is down to the technical ability of our players or the coaching they're receiving. My solution in the short term is to drop Luiz, and Mcginn. Luiz because as a defensive midfielder he is getting bullied and his confidence is low. Mcginn because his short passing has been poor, and he too often looks for higher risk longer passes when a quick short pass to move the ball quickly is the better option. I'd put Nakamba in the holding role and Sanson and Ramsey as number 8's. (We only have 2 natural 10's, Jack and Barkley, so no 4-2-3-1). Now the problem with my solution is that it won't work with the way we play. We have been playing a direct counter attacking system for the most part. Our defenders aren't good enough in possession to play out short. So they resort to hitting it long. The point of Luiz (as he is a better passer than Nakamba) is to act as the bridge (between midfield and defense) to help pass out, but teams are marking him. Problem is without Jack as a number 10 there isn't an effective solution. We don't have the technical ability in the centre of defense, or a quality passer at the base of our midfield to play short and pass out. In order for our aggressive direct counter attack to work we need 4 guys in advanced positions to be able to win and hold the ball with enough regularity. Because we look to move it forward so quickly we can't get our two 8s forward quickly enough to support a front 3 that has average players in. So having a number can compensate for that. But if your no 10 isn't good at holding the ball up, comfortable being man marked, and a good enough short passer to keep the ball and move it into dangerous positions then the ball is coming straight back at your defense. Literally our defense being good at defending is the only reason we are in the top half of the table. It's not Jack and Oliie. Obviously they help us immensely, but our defense is what our entire tactical plan relies upon. A change in tactics at this stage isn't going to help. So the only other thing I can come up with is go all in and play Mcginn and Nakamba or Luiz as two dynamic 6's and play two up top with Davis and Watkins, put Trez on either wing and one of the other 2 (I'd go with Traore) and go 4-4-2. We definitely need a top class defensive midfielder in this summer and a top class right winger. The midfielders on our books are all good players. But we only have one specialist DM. We basically play Mourinho tactics, so I'm sure JT has had a very big influence on our tactics. We need a passing coach and an adaptation to our tactics in the medium term so we can play a bit shorter, enjoy more possession and give two 8's a better chance to get forward in support. I believe Konsa can be a lot better on the ball, that's the next thing to add to his game. Mings needs to move the ball quicker and we need a DM that will drop in a ping the ball about with accuracy. The throw money at it solution is to sign two top class wingers and Olisie, plus a top class DM, and sell 2 or our 4 no 8's (Mcginn, Luiz, Ramsey and Sanson). The problem at its core is the tactics not quite fitting the players we currently have available. Plus the other things like lack of regular picks, and playing in position that aren't players best position confounding things further.

Also pretty sure he's mates with Zaha. Villa weren't a much better option than Palace last summer. This summer however we should be a very attractive option to any player not on the radar of a champions league outfit.

Nah not 65m. A 28 year old with 2 year on his contract. 40 to 50 million most likely. Persuading him to come is another matter.

As I see it we won't be signing 2 wingers this summer, but we also will sign one for sure. So if you're letting a winger go then Trez for me should be one of two the we keep. His attitude, work rate, and ability the perform when the team needs it most set him above El-Ghazi for sure and on a par with Traore.

Poor mistake, which we know he has in him. Has been excellent for a while so I'll give him a pass on this one. Needs to iron these mistakes out of his game though.

Good cameo tonight him and Trez changed the game. Need to do this some more and show he can be a player at this level.

A nice assist today. Flitted in and out of the game. The team as a whole (including him) were absolutely toothless until Trez' double. 0 shots on target until Trez scored. His assist cam when Fulham opened up and were shell-shocked to find themselves losing a game they had been comfortable in for 70 minutes. Talented player who needs to find a way to be a consistent threat. Not sure he has smarts though.