Vive_La_Villa

Whilst not ideal a Back four of Elmo, Axel, Jed and Hutton is more than good enough for this game. Especially if Nyland has a new found confidence to leave his line. In my opinion of course.

McKenna it seems we could have signed in the summer if hadn’t bid so late. Dont know anything about him but would welcome any highly rated centre half. We’re desperately short.

I’m agreeing with you. I’m just wondering why clubs keeps hold of them if it’s clear they will never make it. Lyden is 23. If he’s not good enough now will he ever be? Im assuming it’s due to contract obligations.

I agree with the younger players but I do wonder how good a player is when if in his early 20s he can’t break in to a squad that is depleted in the position he plays. Suliman for example will turn 21 soon. Yet if he is loaned out when we are so short at the back will he ever be good enough? Or is it a case of having to loan these players out until their contract ends.

Exactly. Plus correct me if I’m wrong but I believe non of them were away for international duty so have been able to work on a partnership for nearly 2 weeks.

He did sign him tbf.

Could we really sign Cahill?

I’d happily see Jedinak there. Think he will be fine alongside a pacey Axel and a more confident Goalkeeper.

Bruce’s whole game was focused around defence first so if it was weak it would mean we would struggle. Smith wants us to take the game to the opposition. Defend from the front, press high, win the ball back all over the field and then keep it. If an alteration in defence for one player playing out of position means we will definitely lose to the Blues then we can forget about even making playoffs.

I appriecate what you are saying. I just don’t he can be as good as you think he can be. I see him eventually at a club like Everton. A team trying to break in to the top 6. (The level of team we were under MON). Hopefully I’m wrong and he turns out to be the player you believe he can be. As long as he gives us a few more years before he moves on.

Whilst I don’t want to see Hutton at centre back we really need to get this one player out of position means we will lose mentally out of our heads.

You could argue he got his opportunity because we were a poor team. Had he been on the books of a Man City or Chelsea for example he may have never got a chance. I see where you are coming from though. Playing alongside better team mates could take him to another level. We’ll find out next season if we don’t go up.

I know Smith has only been in charge a few games and we should give it until the end of the season before getting ahead of ourselves. But I do wonder how many of our players that have disappointed could now thrive under a new manager and new way of playing. Hogan, Tshibola, Gardner, Lansbury, Bree. Even Mcormack and RDL. The point i’m making is I’m now finding it difficult to judge how good a player is by how they have played at Villa in recent years when they have performanced well for other clubs. The pressure at Villa is immense and it’s easy for a player to lose confidence. Our previous coaching setups have not been able to help all players deal with this. Maybe it could be different now.

Of course it is. I’m the one that said it. I’ve just got this really good feeling about him. We’ve finally got a good coach at the club. It’s exciting.

He knew exactly what he was doing...

I reckon Premier League clubs would be prepared to spend 10-15 million for him. I’d be surprised if there weren’t suitors if we don’t get promoted.

Our issues earlier in the season were bigger than individual defensive performances. No matter who played at the back they struggled because we weren’t playing or defending as a team. We were all over the place. We should bein better position to cope with injuries if the whole squad are learning to play a certain way. Smith is making it about the team and this means every squad players need to learn how Villa will play. Our games should not be decided by individual performances.

I think Jed and Axel can cope.

Yeah I’m being over optimistic. Howe also started his coaching quite young and in lower leagues. It feels like we’ve finally got the right setup from owners to coaches. It’s been such a long time we’ve had this Still very early days though. January business could be telling.

It seems like he really loves coaching. See’s how it should be played. Knows which kind of players can play it the way he wants. I think we’ve got the next Eddie Howe.

He can’t play next week can he?

I only thing they ignored it due to the disrespectful nature of bidding a pound over 40M for a player that had just won player of the year award, was one of the best players in the world at the time and would have probably led Arsenal to their first title in years and more. Any chance of Negotiations broke down straight away.

In goalkeeper terms it’s young. We signed Friedel when he was around 36

Or we just recall a Jed(i)

He got us to an FA cup final though. As you say he wasn’t really a manager. Was just winging it. Keeping on topic I reckon players like Bree, Landsbury and El Ghazi will have a chance to impress in the next week. They still play a part for us this season. They have the ability so it’s up Smith and his team to get the best out of them. The attitude may be the issue. Smith has spoken about how important the attitude of a players is to him