Bazmonkey

I'm saying for us with the players we have...we need to play 5...now the question is do we go with a 3 and 2 out and out wingers or 4 plus 1. I think we have too many like for.like players in forward positions....mainly wingers. We don't have many midfielders...out an out midfielders and that could be our downfall. Off top of my head Martinez Cash konsa mings target Luiz sanson Bailey mcginn watkins Ings The other problem is shoe Horning in ings and Watkins. If playing two one needs to play wide and give us that width

Does 532 work...no Will 433 work...no Simple answer is the same issues with either formation will remain...we just get over run in midfield...we don't have good enough midfielders to play in a three. You play 5 at the back to allow wing backs to bomb on...right...targett is im a left back I will stay at left back...problem 1...problem 2...ball needs to stick in the middle to allow wing backs to get in front....problem 2....if the midfield to get the ball...inevitable they will give it away...mcginn...10 yard pass on...tries a 30 yard arse pick it up..two passes...3rd goal...wing back out of position...problem 3. Same would happen with a three. Our ball retention...basics....and design making is our downfall...regardless of the shape and personal until this is addressed the same things will happen every week

As much as the formation needs resolving quick thats up to Smith However, we seem to have a number of players that struggle with basics...passing...moving....finding space. We are very reactive rather than pro active...never win a second ball on our or oppo box..never force players in to mistakes or press. Smith is without grealish this year so it will take a bit of time...he gave the oppo something to think about which at this level is crucial...arsenal were not worried one bit tonight...even when we looked better

Doesn't matter about the formation or tactics if you can't do the BASICS

Yet again 7 players in the 6 yard box and they still can't clear it

Why is it when we play we look like we play with 8 men...and the oppo look like they have 15

IMO we were or only a team that keeps clean sheets because of Emi......not our style of defending. Our defending is resolute...bodies....throwing people in front...its not good defending....its not when we attack teams get to the final third and are like....s^&T how do we get through....you only have to look at the type of goals we concede....we have a lot of the players in the box compared to attackers yet still allow shots.....our second ball retention is shocking.. What happened on saturday really highlighted a major issue I have we our team and its been there for a coupe of years and thats composure....we rarely look composed with ball under pressure.....mings slicing it in to stratosphere as one example sat when he could have done better. I think we have to many safe players....ill use targett as an example.....played wing back saturday and only overlapped 2 or 3 times.....im a left back so i will play left back....then you add the 7 defensive players in to the situation and that severely limits who is available for a forward pass when the defenders do get it.

I think the problem with mings is he is a defender not a footballer. When it's tough...have to dig in...headers...block tackles he is fine. But when it comes to playing football he struggles...decision making passing for example...he saw a lot of the ball Saturday and just stood there...didnt soak up the space...struggled for a pass. He is a good player but maybe there is more in to this confidence thing mentioned in summer

He is a defender not a wing back Only overlapped a couple of times and when did look good. Plays to safe for me and thats the issue...neither good...neither bad. But offers little going forward No point playing in a 3.

Fore me I think this is how most fans feel and agree with what you have said. I was one of the critical ones of Smith last year, no plan B, not recognising early it wasnt working. So far he has done better, changing it early, taking players off when not playing well, Targett as an example, and the main one, no square pegs in round holes. Its good, its improving so credit where credit is due, however, Im not getting carried away just yet, we are only one or two big injuries or bad results away from seeing how he really copes and the lessons he has learned from before. UTV

Based on the team amd the players available then you can not judge Smith. However what you can judge him is that it's the same performance since start of the year. There have been moments but it's still the same. I'm watching MOTD at the moment...all the games I'm seeing players in all teams taking on players....passing...moving....testing the keeper...not one pass...two pass...hoof down the line...repeat...giving the oppo time and space like we do. I'm hoping that when everyone is fit...new players in we have an 'identity' to how we play...then we can judge him.

Poor today....no pattern of play...one...two...maybe three passes....hoof down line. Couple of individual moments...beundia goal...el ghazi tracking back. To obvious when we play. Really need someone I the middle who wants the ball amd can dictate a game

I thought he did well. Nothing spectacular nothing bad. Would like to have seen more possibly...I think he played like all the team Saturday...and that was safe. But the encouraging thing was he wanted the ball all the time.

Done nothing he wouldnt have done in a villa shirt...if anything a couple of times in the box he has passed when normally he would have taken the defender on....only difference is Martin Tyler reaching for the andrex in true big team player touches the ball style everytime he gets it...bore of sky

This is the thing for me with England and why I cant get in to watching them as a die hard fan. Yes I will watch but even during the Euros, and they score, there no real reaction, just a 'yeah' I think it stems down to watching numerous players from Villa get in to the England team and within a year or two leave. Platt in the 90's Then Barry, Milner, Young, even Downing to some degree, and then watch it rip my team apart just when we are on to something, and see us back to square one or in recent years, relegated. Not a fan of England as such, more so now, no doubt Southgate said a few words, shame its us and not West Ham with Rice, or Phillips with Leeds

Cant for the life of me see why he would still be with us. Man City want their man...paid for him We need to move on. There is no reason for him to still be training with us. I used to work for the Villa...I was at Bodymoor Heath when Byfield was sold to Rotherham buy Gregory.....he ripped the place apart.....told he was going....10 mins later on the road north....bye....no hanging around...ill go tomorrow. This is very strange

Out of Cantwell and JWP......JWP would be a great buy.....fit in nicely. Cantwell is a good player but I think he would take time to develop need a year or two

i've just checked...its past Manchester...unless he has jumped out ha ha

Always will be the same for villa.... Get a player...or in this case develop one....has a great year....gets in England squad....gets head turned...leaves soon after. Repeat

Its a lot of money and it will test the board. IMO the only way the board will except a bid is if they know Jack wants to leave. Now if he does...we need to take them to the cleaners.....130...140. I get the playing for medals....but id like to think Jack knows deep down...after the days of winning he will just be another player who played for City and won something....they come...they go......here he will be given the key to the city....when he retires this will be the thing that will stick with him forever. City fans wont give a rats ass in 10 years when he is retired because they will have another superstar in the ranks. Lets ask them about the Nasri's even Barry....won a few things but are they really idolised....i know which id prefer.....a shearer...a le tiss....... Lets hope the board say foxtrot oscar...he is ours and we prep for a new season

I took one but the image is too large to upload

Regarding the ground and shop and pictures of jack. Was there Saturday in the shop....as you walk in there are three dummies in full kit....the middle was Grealish...just gone back to exchange something....it has now changed...cash Watkins beundia Make of it what you want...could be something...could be not.

Hate the way they are saying reconsidering a move to city. Could the national press be any more up the arse of the big 4

i think he would play as a no10 but would move round like Grealish does. If we played a 2/3 in midfield we would be so much better than a 3/3. We need a link from defence to attack, too many times last year we looked like a 5 / 5 formation. Luiz ??????? Buendia ESR Grealish Watkins

just said on talk sport....man city are hopeful of signing... Its already changed. I can see happening But I can also see this is a load of bull s**t at the same time.