Vive_La_Villa

Thanks mate. Appreciate that. I hope that puts the end to anybody thinking our defensive stats since Smith took over compare with our rivals. (Albion aside). Our attacking stars are fantastic though and a breath of a fresh air. We’re definitely heading in the right direction.

Also going by how young his centre halves were for Brentford he could take a chance on the youngsters if things don’t improve.

Chester and Hourihane both went for the same ball and took each other out further up the field. They are now trying to get back. I also don’t get why Hutton also watched Grabban run through. Theres just so much wrong with that goal. We hadn’t switched on yet.

I see where you are coming from but I do believe if you play well every game the results will eventually come. We played well against QPR and Norwich and lost both games. But then won 3 on the bounce after playing the same way. Under Bruce I always felt more often than not we played poorly regardless of the result. I don’t get that feeling anymore.

Agree with a caveat. I think Smith would rather see a good performance and the team playing the way they had planned than a 1-0 result.

I like this. I know this is taking the piss abit but could you compare Smiths record as per above with the current top 6 for all of the season. I think that would give a good idea of where we are under Smith.

Nylands our player mate. So he’ll probably still be number 2.

I can’t remember Ben Pearson but his manager thinks he is one the best players in the league in his position. Agree with the others. Would be a superb window if we pulled that off but looks very loan heavy so wouldn’t we struggle to field certain players? I think Heaton is likely and any other signings will be a surprise. edit: you’re allowed 5 loan players so only expecting one more loan signing in January to allow Axel, bolasie, el Ghazi, Abraham and ? In the match day squad.

Weren’t we allowed to loan Kiraly due to a keeper crisis? What’s he up to these days?

Could be useful against the baggies . Bring him on at 7-6 to see the game out.

I think you’re being too kind mate. He is out way out his league! If he opts to remain in England he’s standard is probably league one. He wont cut it in this league with any team. Theres a good reason he has spent the majority of his career in Norway.

Thanks Bof. I read somewhere we had conceded the most with 5 other teams. I should have checked myself before posting. West Brom always seem to concede. Could be a hell of a game at the Hawthorns next week!

I see where you are coming from but he was called upon just 5 times in the game. He just needed to save one or two of them shots and we have 3 points. Smith wants us to play a very attacking game so back four and keeper will get exposed at times. He won’t get the protection of a Steve Bruce style everyone behind the ball team like Johnson was afforded last year. We need a top keeper more than ever.

I think when a team is so possession based and attacking they need their central defenders to be really switched on for when called in to action. Also they need to be quite pacey and athletic too when dealing with quick counter attacks. I like the way Axel brings the ball forward. I think it’s really helping in opening teams up. He has a lot to improve at the back though but he is still very young. He will get better every game.

He was weak for the 5th but at the least he’d closed the angle so there was literally only one place it could go if Grabban got the shot off.

I think McGinn could play that role but then we lose a large presence further forward.

Nothing wrong with discussing how we can be even better than we are surely? I think those quick to jump on criticism are confusing discussion with complaining. There’s a big difference,

This. A top defensive midfielder would help them so much. I’m pretty sure it’s in Smiths thoughts. It’s fundamental to how his team sets up to offer more protection.

But it doesn’t!! Teri you are comparing our defence under Smith with our rivals during the same period. That makes no sense to me. You need to compare it to how our rivals have been all season otherwise you are comparing our new start with a manager alongside rivals form over 7 games. That’s comparing defensive form so in that respect your’re right. Our defensive form is similar to our rivals. Is that what you mean? If you take our defensive record under Smith and compare it to our rivals over the season. It’s still worse than any team in the top 6. We score a lot so it’s probably good enough for playoffs. But If we still believe top 2 is achievable then it needs to be a lot better. By the way whenever I say we can’t defend I include our keeper in this. He is the biggest problem in all this in my opinion. Plus the lack of protection from midfield needs addressing.

Love this post. Thanks for that.

It felt like villa had to work hard for their goals whilst forest would put 3 passes together and score. I’m sure we will be a lot more compact against Boro when we do not have the ball. Anyway Albion and Derby have conceded a lot of goals recently as well so it’s fine

They’ve conceded 10 all season. We need to get the lead and force them to try and attack. If we fall behind it could get tricky. Then again I thought that against forest so anything’s possible in this crazy league! Edit: They’ve only failed to win one game that they have taken the lead in. That was a 1-1 against Hull away. It will be attacking football v anti football.

I think that’s all anyone is saying mate. Apart from one poster who thinks our defence is fine. January could be massive for us. I’ve said before as long as we can keep within 10 points off top 2 by the time we replace our keeper we can still get automatic promotion.

I do think our defence is crap. I never once said ‘we are crap’. As you suggested. I don’t expect you to recognise the difference though.

Who said that!! We were awful under Bruce in both defence and attack. I havent seen anyone say anything otherwise. I’ve just seen people say he left Smith a shit defence and keeper