BG_Villa_Fan

Exactly. American sports and especially baseball are much better described using stats, than football ever will, thus making this approach limited. Also unlike in american sports, the vast difference in leagues makes comparing data difficult, not to mention trusting the validity of the data you're getting could be an issue.

I agree, and we played similarly in the championship, but couldn't maintain it in the premier league against better opposition. Players are allowed so much more time on the ball in the championship, defending and pressing is much worse. For all of Brentford's great attacking football their first two goals from last night would have never happened in the premier league. Completely naive from Swansea. I loved how Villa tried to play at the start of the season, way more attacking and trying to keep possession, but it all came to an end after the Man U away game. Smith will have to find the balance between that way and the more defensively sound football from after the break in order for the team to progress because sitting back, absorbing pressure and counter attacking clearly isn't his preferred way and isn't exactly fitting for the players we now have.

Not an issue for Wolves - they'll buy a couple of world class Mendes clients for a fiver each.

Edit: double post.

Really like him, lots of potential, still young but with quite a lot of experience already. A good set piece taker too, something we need when Hourihane isn't playing. He'd probably cost in the region of 35-45 mil. I'm not sure we can afford to spend that much, as we have at least 4 or 5 positions to fill.

I'm sure Suso has a 100 times more knowledge than these people combined. It's not fair to judge him against suggestions of players whose impact at Aston Villa is just theoretical. Moreover, we don't know the ins and outs of deals - whether said players would ever want to play for Villa, how much they'd cost, what options and clauses would their agents demand for their contracts, etc. It sure seems the board thought he wasn't doing a good job, but let's not get carried away with such nonsense.

Can't see it.

15 wins is quite optimistic for next season. The only chance would be if Jack stays and we nail the recruiting. I think 45 points should be the realistic target, especially if Jack is sold. 10 points improvement season on season would be a very good achievement.

Surprised by this. Ruthless and harsh on Suso, he had a very difficult job, but it seems the new owners and Purslow can really be cutthroat. This move shows what their thinking has been throughout the season regarding the team struggles. It's really interesting which signings were Suso's and whether he had overruled Smith's or someone else's opinion on players in order to get his targets in. While some players' values may have decreased, I really don't think there were complete flops, disregarding Drinkwater. Jury's still out on a lot of the new players and I can see the majority of them improving in their second season. I really wouldn't want to see a clearout, a lot of these players can be good squad options for next season and continuity will help the team grow. Hopefully they are able to bring someone great to replace him and that his departure wouldn't affect this summer's recruiting. Exciting times.

No. Going rates are incredibly high because of the premier league cash. Decent but not great players like Hojberg are supposedly going for 40 mil. There's no point in selling McGinn for 30-40 mil only to buy a replacement for the same price and start building a team all over again. We're at the stage where we can hopefully build on the base we already have.

Priced out of a move? Works for me. Can't see him going on strike at HIS team.

I agree with this. This is where our owners could eventually show financial muscle, or not... Realistically two types of player profiles we'll be after are players from relegated clubs and standout championship players. There could be good value there, mind. But hopefully we could make one or two more ambitious signings to show our intent.

Miracle worker! Well done Deano. This team has character, getting results when it really matters and no doubt will grow because of this experience. Such a likable bunch and in a great position to push on. UTV.

Phew. Never in doubt!

True but better than the previous 3 years when nothing mattered on the final game of the season.

Dean deserves to keep his job, regardless of the league we're in next season. No one should be a victim of their own success - promoting us earlier than anyone had anticipated and then having to do such an enormous rebuilding job.

Decent showing, considering the circumstances. The game had the atmosphere, cohesion and feel of a june friendly, but did anyone expect more? Other games will be similar. The whole restart thing is farcical, I've no idea why TVs or anyone would care. Should have canceled it and prepared for next season.

Yes.

This. S.Korea and Japan reacted very quickly and got things under control. Meanwhile Europe was diddling and now it's way too late. France, for example, were having elections just 10 days ago ffs. Heads should roll for this kind of negligence.

Sure, if you want millions to die and every country's health system to collapse. Can't speak about herd immunity while you don't have a cure or vaccine. It's ludicrous.

How do you imagine making unfit players, without proper training and pre-season, play 9-10 games 3 days apart even if you stagger the games? How about lower leagues where they'll have to play even more games with playoffs? I know they care about money first and foremost, way more than about health, and even players would probably be up for it in order to keep their wages, but it'd be reckless.

The least bad thing. Others should follow suit.

Bullshit statement, presented as a fact, per par.

Lambert inherited a squad full of premier league players, so it's not comparable at all. Smith inherited half a squad, with only a couple of players who had ever played a premier league game. Plus Lambert never needed to make a full rebuild. That said, with hindsight, Lambert's job was OK in the first couple of seasons. His problem was he was going on an unmistakable downward spiral, whereas Smith overachieved massively to take this team up so quickly. If you don't think 17th is a great job, given the circumstances, then you're deluded.

It'd be incredibly stupid to gather unfit players and make them play some 10 games each every 3 days. Exactly how they expect this to work is beyond me. Not that I believe the coronavirus thing will be over in time to ever try pulling it off.