villianusa

He needs a break, put Codger on. Rather have Davis at this point.

16 hours ago, zab6359 said:

Because he is not a PL level player.

ok, we can disagree. Enjoy the game.

RIP

2 hours ago, sir_gary_cahill said:

Trezeguet in for Jota and we’re on to a winner, I don’t think Konsa has done anything wrong to be dropped either 

Not picked his man up in the last two games as cost us two goals, Rashford and Tammy.

9 minutes ago, zab6359 said:

We're in the shite if we have to start Jota..............no thanks.

Why?

4 minutes ago, TRO said:

I agree.

but with McGone off form ( sorry I love him really) and Conor being connor, what is there to stop the opposition on the ground or in the air?.....what protection has the defenders got.....I'm sorry, I am not convinced Marvellous is the answer, Yet or Luiz.....both have not got the stature for what I'm looking for.....Pepe has just come out and said the same thing about his team, too many small players.....Guilbert is a decent player, but an aerial ball to the back post and he is stuffed for height.....even a thick manager, would target that as an opportunity....He is more inclined to be a winger.

I want to see a Viera type in Midfield, who can dominate......no wonder that are all knackered after 70 minutes, the running back and getting shoved around.

I agree to a point, but I don't think the center midfielders are the biggest problem we have to deal with at present. The majority of the goals we have conceded of late have been crosses from out wide and Konza in particular not picking the run of Rashford and Tammy in last two games. He is a good player but a little naive at present and we can't let it continue.

Fullbacks need to get tighter and they need help from the wide players at times. We gave United a free cross for Rashford's goal and Konza stood still and the game changed.

Wesley is working his butt off but his best work is taking place near the half-way line. We need to get our wingers in behind their defense and have him crashing the box. He wins a decent mount in the air, but he is often isolated, This has been a problem for forwards before when we play this system, I'd rather a tighter 4231 against the stronger teams, with a 433 for games we have a greater chance of winning.

2 minutes ago, mikeyp102 said:

Who do you mean Pepe? 

I believe he means Guardiola

10 minutes ago, TRO said:

I think this view of dismissing the big teams as a bridge too far and settling on taking points off the lower teams as are strategy is worrying.

I think some of these lower teams will be scrapping for their lives and its something we are not particularly good at.

The big teams are there for a reason,granted, but they do let you play too....which is what we like and feel comfortable with.

I'm sad to say, I think we have a rude awakening coming.....these lower teams are not going to be a pushover, some think they will be.

They never are, we do have a greater chance of winning, but if we continue to make the mistakes in defense, then we give every team a chance. Smith still hasn't quiet worked out the balance of the team for the level of opponents, he needs to do that soon.

I feel we will score goals, but don't have so much confidence that we will conceded less. Heaton has made some games look closer than they actually have been.

We need to keep possession tomorrow while keeping compact in defense. I'll go with this team.

It's fine for Smith to say we go in to every game to win it, but you can't go in with the same game plan. Against the lesser teams it is okay to go in with the more adventurous players, but we need players who can keep possession when we are against the better teams. The last few games I have watched, we have given the ball away so many times when making simple passes. We try to rush things and a misplaced pass puts the pressure back on us. 

Successful teams are built on a strong core, i believe we have that in the middle of the park, but the defense and attack aren't doing what is expected of them. Changes need to be made tomorrow.

He's a Championship player to many, but didn't do too bad against a Champion's League team. His set pieces could be crucial this season, and I believe will get his fair share of playing time this season.

I thought he impressed last preseason and was surprised we let him go, I wish him all the best.

He was worth around 12 million if we were still in the Championship, so 20 million sounds about right for the Premier League. I feel we paid over the odds for him knowing his injuries in the past, but he stays health and pushes us up the league next season it will be money well spent.

50 minutes ago, Jay.P.A said:

OK - Here's definitive proof why it wasn't Jack Grealish - in order for someone to 'not be shown in this view' - they can only do that if they have a private account.

Jack's official account has been public for years.

Sorry but it wasn't him.

You could be right, I will delete the posts until I can prove otherwise. Thank you.

How great would it be if Blues and Sheff Wed both make the playoffs? 

Deleted

2 hours ago, TB said:

Well, the way I read your twitter post you made several points:

1) Smith didn't adapt to the loss of Grealish

2) Hourihane was put in a position he couldn't handle (#10?)

3) A formation change from 4411 to 433

If he agreed with any of those points he might have liked the post - and then thought better of it afterwards.

Social media can be troublesome for the youngsters as well at times - especially for those in the limelight.

(Or he could have liked the idea of Hourihane being an actual square peg and not a hologram on the pitch - who knows?)

True, he could of very easily unliked the post also.

7 minutes ago, sidcow said:

I don't understand anything you have said there.  Please can you translate that for non social media users. Ta. 

I made a point about Smith changed a successful formation and started using players in positions that they aren't suited after Grealish was injured.

Grealish liked the post, which means he agreed with it.

Social media can be confusing for us old folk at times lol 

1 hour ago, flashingqwerty said:

I have heard rumours, and i dont believe them but thought i should share, that there is no injury and Grealish has fallen out with DS et al.

Not saying this supports it, but I posted this tweet the other day and Jack liked it.

If I go to the tweet now, it says one person doesn't want his identity shown.

I would go with this formation and team if all available, the 4411 formation has been our most productive this season and most entertaining. Smith switched it going into the WBA game first time around.

4 hours ago, TRO said:

i think we all see the games differently....for me formations change while the game is in play, so I am dubious of the relevance on its own.....what I see is a huge number of our players not competing adequately...and subsequently creating individual errors.

Appreciate the comments @TRO I have stayed away from the forums for a while as I wanted to give Smith a chance to settle in before I gave any comments. From a recent tweet of mine, it seems someone else agrees. 

HERE

The start of Villa's lack of performance starts in the WBA game and it's not just the loss of Grealish, even though that is a big part. 

1. The team starts to click in the Bolton game after a number of games playing 4411 with the core of the squad playing in most of the previous games. We go on to beat Derby and Boro, with the exciting 5-5 draw with Forest. In the Albion game, we switch to a 433 and lost Grealish in the process. In the next couple of games he switches to a 4141, and consistently since then, we have played 433 for most of our games. This system does not suit the players we have.

2. Grealish was injured on the 7th of December, and Smith had 6 weeks to replace him either from within the club or getting someone in to replace him. He failed to do so.

3. Playing Hourihane in the advanced role does not work. He is much more effective come from a deeper position and it has destroyed his confidence. He is now the new scapegoat.

4. The only player within the club that was somewhat similar to Grealish is O'Hare and he sent him out on loan. He should have kept him with the squad and allowed him to grow in the number 10 role.

5. Conceding as many goals as we were made Smith work on the defensive side of things. We are playing deeper and are less creative in possession of the ball as it seems people are afraid to get forward in support. To watch us now, you would think we were still playing under Bruce. We are playing more longer passes and Tammy is isolated as many players are on the field.

6. Early on in his 20 games, he would make substitutes to help us win games, I believe after the Forest game, a lot of his substitutions are making sure we don't lose. 

7. Smith has stuck too long with a system that isn't working and he seems to stubborn to change. He was a breath of fresh air when he came to the club, now he seems to blame others for us not winning games.

I still think he can build something at the club, but he has blown a massive chance to get into the playoffs and we need to hold him accountable.

I would like to see him go back to what was working and playing the team below against Stoke.

Smith, seems to like a 4231 if that's the case then I would go with:

4 minutes ago, Spoony said:

I wish this could be the case but I've gotten used to Villa managers having a very short life. I can't help but feel he will be a distant memory in 9 months like all the others (not because of him particularly but just because it always happens and I've just become numb to everything being terrible at Villa).

I understand what you're saying, I just hope he gets the time to build what we all want. We have a good squad, let's see what he can do with it.

Welcome, and let's hope you can build a legacy as Ferguson did at United.