KMitch

Which is why I don't see anyone buying him in 2019, if we don't go up. As much as I like the kid, he hasn't done enough this season to justify that kind of price tag. James Maddison cost Leicester 20-25 million last summer and many on here laughed at him being massively over priced. I've seen him play several times this season and he is a brilliant player who looks like a bargain for that price. The biggest difference between Maddison and Grealish is that Jack doesn't dominate games enough. He plays slick passes and wins fouls consistently, but he doesn't make enough runs off the ball, finish off his chances, or work hard enough when we don't have possession of the ball. Some of that has improved under Smith, but he still needs another 1-2 seasons of consistency with us before someone will spend that kind of money on him.

Of course not! Gary Neville looks like an evil Mr. Bean...

Every one of my exes will tell you I'm the biggest asshole in the world and most will tell you some BS about me cheating on her, too. None of it is true... Well, at least the cheating part. haha

Yep... If Smith just went "**** it" and wrote off this entire season to blood the youngsters, he'd lose half the supporters. The last manager we had that did just that was Houllier and most of the fanbase hated him for it, even though most of the players he started playing are all now Premier League/Championship caliber players (Albrighton, Clark, Bannan, Baker, Hogg, Lichaj, Herd, etc.).

Honestly, I think both El Ghazi and Bolasie have been poor without Grealish in the side. They need someone else to draw defenders away from them so they can run at a fullback 1:1. Without Grealish there for the opposition to mark, they just double/triple up on our wingers when they get possession and pressure our fragile back line far up the pitch. Leeds dominated us by doing this and Swansea did the same today.

Well, he is "one of our own"...

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/tim-sherwood-still-absolutely-furious-15593714 What a load of BS... He 100% was behind the Richards/Lescott/Gestede signings. Those three were the first names on the teamsheet, regardless of their performances. Sherwood was trying to make a statement and only wanted to play "his" players at the time and alienated the "French football... no experience" players. When he had to rely on them to get results, they didn't want to play for him... Look at how Gueye, Veretout, and Amavi all ended up. Ayew was the exception of the bunch, but the other three all moved on to better things after that season.

He would do a better job than Elmo has done these past few games. I'm still not sure about him long term, but he's worth a shot, provided we get a new CB in quickly.

Also losing these players off the wage bill this summer: Richards!!! Jedi Hutton Whelan Elphick De Laet These players will be in the last year of their contract and can possibly be sold for some value, if Deano doesn't want them around: Albert Thor Chester Elmo Hourihane Kodja Gardner Tshibola McCormick Green Honestly, 2019 is the year to rebuild the squad into a sustainable team. Most of the 30+ brigade will be out of contract at the end of the year. I would almost rather stick around in the Championship another season and get a core group of players used to Deano's system, so we can avoid the same situation Fulham are in right now. They basically bought a new first team last summer and haven't played with the same sort of style that got them promoted last season.

Some of the worst football we've seen this season in the first half, but the team improved drastically in the second half. Both teams had good chances and the scoreline could have been a lot different today. Glad for the 3 points, but we badly need some reinforcements in January. Hutton isn't a left back and it shows. Takes too long on the ball and teams pressure him when he has possession. Apart from the occasional good cross, Elmo is awful as a fullback. Bree has done alright these past two games as a CB, but we need a natural central defender to replace Axel. Nyland had probably his best game in a Villa shirt today. It's amazing what competition for places does to players, isn't it? Without Grealish, our midfield struggles. We don't have anyone in the squad to fill in if he is out. Need 3 more players this window if we want to continue to be in playoff contention. CB, LB, & CM.

NYLAND!!!!

FFS... Here we go...

Squeaky bum time... Need to see this out.

He was dogshit in the first half. Playing much better since the break, though. It's almost as if he got called out on his performance at halftime... Hmmmmm

GET IN THERE!!! I make a comment about how Hutton can't cross with either foot and he pulls that left-footed ball out of the locker... hahaha

He never could cross with his right foot, so what makes you think he could with his left??? lol

Jesus... How did that stay out???

McGinn playing as a No 10 and badly missing his pressing/energy in the center of the pitch. Hourihane is going missing again, Whelan is useless, Elmo is garbage, Hutton isn't a left back, and the Chester/Bree/Nyland combo seems like they're one cross from falling apart. This squad is ****...

Trying to pass, but McGinn is attempting to do the job of 3 midfielders. Our wingers have no outlet when they get the ball, are easily double/triple marked, and lose the ball. Hourihane and Whelan both seem to be fighting over who is the defensive midfielder and don't want to push the ball forward.

We're so easy to defend against right now. Just double/triple up on Bolasie/El Ghazi and press the hell out of our makeshift defense. They can't do the first bit if we had Grealish on the pitch.

I'm still shocked that nobody else was in for McGinn besides Celtic and us. Is the SPFL's reputation that bad where clubs won't take a gamble on someone like McGinn for 4 Mil?

Brentford fans here think it's a bit of a wind up by the press/agents. Apparently Smith didn't favor him at Brentford... http://www.griffinpark.org/forums/showthread.php?t=117195&page=77/

Missing Grealish, Axel, and Taylor. Forced to play Whelan in Midfield, Hutton at Left Back, and Bree at CB. We all know how shit our Keeper is and have no depth in any position but Striker/Winger. What was Deano supposed to do differently to "see that lead out"???? If we had Klopp, Guardiola, or even Mourinho at the helm today, we would have lost that game too. Not Smith's fault.

lol... No way we'll sign Targett. He's started the last 4 games for Southampton and has been playing very well. They aren't selling him this window.

We really are a miserable lot... 2 months after Bruce got the sack and we're still moaning about him in every other thread. hahaha