KMitch

Gonna laugh when Taylor lines up at left back and Deano goes "Gotcha!!!" to the doom mongers.

The only first teamer I can see possibly getting an extension is Elphick... Some of the U23s might get an extension, but that's it.

Is anyone else disappointed by the responses to the questions above? They really didn't answer anything...

Looking at the Villa related news today and it's all doom and gloom from the press after Saturday's amazing performance: Apparently, our accounts "prove" we need to sell Grealish this summer, that if we don't get promoted, McGinn is off to Leicester, and our win on Saturday was too little, too late, as we've "run out of time" to get into the playoff hunt... What a joke. hahaha

His best performance in a Villa shirt. Didn't put in a foot wrong today. MoM.

Gutted for him. Hope he's alright. He has been excellent for us this season.

Pick one: "We got lucky" "It was one game, let's not forget the 3 months of shit before it" "Too little, too late. We aren't going up and are losing Jack next season, so we'll be in a relegation scrap without him"

What a half! Arguably the best half of football we've played in the entirety of our time in the Championship. Every single player who has been criticized for not putting in effort is busting a gut today off the ball, pressing, making runs, and full of confidence again. It's amazing what one player can do to an entire team. UTV!!!

JESUS! Jacky boy! What a goal!!!

Pretty sure she's still trying to prove the conspiracy that we've signed Jermaine Defoe and Dale Stephens and they're still set to join us next transfer window...

Lol... Modric? That's like saying Nyland has a similar style of play to De Gea, but is complete shit... He's a Championship-quality Ashley Westwood. He'll play in front of the defense, bring the ball forward, start our attacks and provide an outlet for our fullbacks/wingers to switch play to the other flank. From what I can remember of his play at Spuds/Swansea, I don't think he has the same level of work rate as Westwood has, and is very lightweight in the tackle. Knowing what kind of a player he is, I think he'll do alright in Smith's system, but also knowing how much flack Westwood got from out supporters when he was here, I think he'll end up becoming a new scapegoat to beat Smith with.

They also use Tammy regularly, too. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll be signing him at this rate...

Smith isn't immune from all criticism. He's made some mistakes during his time here (Tactics, subs, team choices, etc.) and it's alright for everyone to question his decisions, but to say the man is out of his depth and can't cut it here, it's WAAAAAAY to early to say that, IMO. I honestly think that our results will improve near the end of this season, as more players come back into the fold from injury/suspension. Just getting Jack, Chester, McGinn, and Axel back into the fold will improve things dramatically. This summer is going to be the real test, though. I can't remember the last time I've looked forward to a summer Transfer Window like this one, before. So many first team players are out of contract with just as many going into their final year. We can easily see a 10-15 new players arriving this summer, including loans.

Everyone needs to keep in mind that he isn't a natural left back and is a left sided CB by trade. I'm going to assume that if Mings ever picks up an injury, Hause will slot in there. I would still prefer to buy a natural LB to take the starting role next season. If Hause continues to play well, I'd like to sign him up as a rotation option on the bench who can challenge Mings (If we sign him too).

If he likes working with Dean and wants to be a part of a defense built around him, he'll sign with us over other Championship teams. If a Premier League team comes in for him, though? Who knows...

Of the Starting 11, 8 won't be here next season (Expired Contracts/Loans Ending): Steer Hutton Elphick Mings Hause Whelan El Ghazi Tammy The remainder only have one year left in their contracts and could possibly be sold: Hourihane Elmo Kodja It's all together possible that NOBODY from today's starting 11 could be in the team next season. Most of them are already on the beach and don't care about promotion at all. Honestly, there is nobody in the team today I would be upset about if they were let go. I'm ready for a fresh start this summer.

If he would have reverted back to Bruceball, he would have lost even more fans than he has from sticking to his guns.

Then why haven't they axed him yet? They're sticking with him for the summer and the start of next season, at the least.

Agreed... People thought we'd challenge for the title after those first few games... When we came crashing back down to earth after Grealish's injury, it's been hard to cope with.

When Smith came on board, everyone knew it was going to take a long time to turn this team around... Now it's been 4 months and everyone is starting to turn on the guy after he's only been allowed one permanent signing. What a joke. I'm still sticking by Deano for another 2 transfer windows. Six players in today's starting 11 won't be here next season... If we're still playing this same garbage football a year from now, I'll be having second thoughts. Until then, I'm still supporting Smith, regardless of the results on the pitch.

Last season, everyone thought Sunderland's squad was good enough to challenge for promotion at the start of the season... They were god awful all the way through...

Why hasn't this Steve Bruce thread been locked yet? He got the sack 4 months ago...

I just can't wait for this season to be over... Is it June yet?

Agreed... Nyland was good for at least one good howler a game and didn't start putting in performances until AFTER Kalinic was signed in December and he knew his job was on the line.