Vincenzo

There’s no guarantee we’ll storm the league next season as we need a total overhaul. That takes time. Nuno was brought in to develop a philosopy at Wolves and they expected it to take a least 2 years until promotion. I suspect the same approach is being planned at Villa. They probably hoped he’d be given more slack because he’s one of us. My concern is he won’t be given enough time due to mounting pressure from some of our fans. Blimey! It’s started already.... I hope the owners stay strong UTV!

A lot of their players out so we should win this one I don’t know why but I’ve a feeling El Gazhi will score

El Gashi....

I’m guessing that most of us would probably choose the following 4 players out of our squad as key: Jack Grealish Axel John McGinn Tammy Abraham They are the spine of our team imo Then we lose 2 of them to injuries The Stoke game highlighted the problem we have had since Grealish got injured. No one in midfield who can collect and carry the ball forward confidently. So it gets passed out to the full backs or wingers who are immediately closed down. Losing Axel made it worse as he could play it out of defence more effectively than our other centre halfs (don’t know about Mings yet) It’s no surprise then that we have struggled. DS still wants to play the same way but the players aren’t able to or don’t feel confident enough taking on the responsibility. I blame the players for letting him down. That’s why he persists with Whelan because he has the confidence to ask for the ball. Unfortunately he is limited with what he can do with it. Changing tactics because your players aren’t able to adapt to your style of play is a backward step. Players need to adapt or leave. I’ve no doubt Dean Smith and his coaching staff will come good, but it will take time. UTV

Agree that our lack of song repetoire doesn’t help If the players show confidence it will give the fans confidence and belief in the team. The players need to show that they are up for it, too many players aren’t doing that imo. Abraham, McGinn, Hutton even Jedinak when he came on have that confidence (if not always the ability)...too many others go missing I like Hourihane but that is why certain fans turn on him like Taylor because they go missing or don’t inspire confidence Elmo has totally gone as u could see when he cam on The PA announcer gets on my nerves as well though Why does he have to tell us the score at half and full time???? The lion thing with the heartbeat before the teams come out is annoying and the ‘be part of the pride’ is so cheesy Anyway, I’ll save the rest of my angst for the next home game.... UTV!

I’m probably getting carried away here (after a few gargles) but... We aren’t pants anymore...we really grew in the second half. We bossed Derby (very much in-form side) at home. This is the way Deano and co want them to play. Press the opposition, as our offence is our defence (very NFL I know) Don’t give the ball away. If they haven’t got it they can’t hurt you Be clinical with your chances OK, we wasted a few chances, but bar that they were awesome second half. Best performance for a long time There is no one to fear in this league and it’s there for the taking imo UTV!

Starting to look quality now Just goes to show what a run of games in your proper preferred position can do

Yeah...fair one ?

Bolton are dangerous from corners and free kicks around the box. I suspect if Bruce was still manager he’d bring in Jedinak in front of the 2 center halfs. Be interesting to see if Dean Smith takes that into consideration in his team selection or just concentrates on our attacking intent.

Came across as very confident and very ambitious. Wants to be judged on his qualities as a coach not a fan. Positive times ahead I feel UTV!

Tickety Boo and Dandy! ?

From when he came into the club until recently it appeared to me that he instilled a really good team spirit, one that had been lacking for a long time prior to his arrival. That takes good man management skills to accomplish. You could rarely fault the effort given by the team, it was nearly always the tactics or lack of them which let the team down along with some below par individual performances. To keep this together you have to have discipline and inevitably some players will fall foul of this. He held it together until recently but it looks to me like it’s coming apart now.

We’ll never know unless we give managers like him a chance. That’s why so many good English managers get overlooked. But foreign managers are worth the risk...apparently. Just imagine what it wpuld be like to manage the club you really Love!

Lets all be honest, we are not very good. We have spent lots of money on very good players but there has never been a system or a plan, that I can see anyway. Last season was an under achievement imo and he was lucky to keep his job. When he came into the club he was exactly what we needed as we were like a punch drunk boxer on the ropes. He steadied the ship and brought some pride back into the club. There is no doubt that he is a very good man manager and overall good bloke and he deserves our respect for that. However the Championship has changed and sides are playing with a lot more style now like Wolves and Fulham last year. You still need that grit and hard work on top though. Cardiff proved you could still go up playing the old way but I believe they are becoming the exception rather than the norm. It seems like he has lost part of the dressing room now, he’s under enormous pressure and his time is limited. I would be very surprised if he is still manager in October, we’ll see... I still think Dean Smith would be a good shout. Just feels like we need someone like Chris Wilder who is a fan and lives and breathes the club

Reckon it’s something to do with their clubs initials ?

I think he could do a job in the middle as a striker. He’s shown he can finish

I am but a simple man as Lynyrd Skynyrd would say, but why are we appointing an unproven former player with no managerial experience if it isn’t purely for publicity Why not gamble instead with a proven experienced manager who knows the Championship...someone like Dean Smith Now I know that many will deride this idea but Henry is a far bigger gamble imo I hope it turns out to be a master stroke but I think the odds are against it UTV!

Don’t we all but players will generally do what’s best for them

I really don’t want him to go but can’t help thinking it will stiffle his progression as a player if he stays Also players who play championship football have very little chance of making it into the England squad

He’s a big name in football, like Zola was and look how well he did...lol although I enjoyed that Steve Bruce is a good bloke but massively underachieved last season and needs to be replaced

No cheating french t@@t for me thanks Stinks of new owners need a big name to generate interest...another Dimatteo in the making imo Won’t work at Villa Get a real manager who loves the Villa...Dean Smith

The thought of us losing Jack and getting Onomah instead is too depressing to contemplate

I hoped that the occasion would get to the Fulham players and they’d bottle it but our players did instead. Absolutely criminal when you look at the experience and leaders in our squad. Well that’s not the first time they’ve bottled it...QPR, Bolton & Norwich when again they just threw away a great opportunity. I’ve got no real faith in this team to deliver consistently when it matters It will be interesting to see if the Doctor sticks or twists? For what it’s worth I think we need a long term plan...get Dean Smith in and build for the future UTV!

Spot on

We’re a very ordinary side when he’s not playing or isn’t at his best. I dread to think what we’d be like without him. When Bruce said he wanted to build the side around him at the start of the season, I scoffed...along with many others Well now he is our most crucial & creative player. That’s how far he’s come this season imo Do not Sell!