Johnnyp

Definetely won't define our season but it's important i think in the context of the 3 games in 6 days that we put in a performance let's just say. We are notoriously bad travellers to carrow road these last few seasons and then it will be back to Birmingham then to London then again 3 nights later for another away game. I just think we will go into Tuesday absolutely buzzing if Saturday goes well. One of Smith's great strengths though is he can utilise a squad to it's fullest. Everyone feels part of it.

It won't happen overnight though so let's not lose our nut if in the short term it's tough going.

I wouldn't exactly go as so far as to say im not fussed by the result. We should always be competitive against any team in this league, especially at Villa park. I'm not expecting much obviously in the way of different way of playing. I'd hope we will be a bit more organised. I've watched a bit of Swansea this season. Very tidy, don't play at a great tempo. Little lightweight. Blues totally bullied them a few weeks back and should of won. We should win this i feel.

Think it was preston at home if memory serves me correctly. Lansbury was brilliant. Pinged passes all over the place. Remember Hogan had a very lively debut against forest at the city ground when we got beat 2-1. It's like when they become part of the Bruce setup they just forget how to play after a while.

Sorry but that's just silly. Hogan might not have hit the heights that he did at Brentford here yet but he has shown he has serious pedigree at this level. RHM,whilst young, has shown nothing in his few first team cameos so far and looks a bit on the small side for a fella leading the line in men's football.

I think a good few will get an opportunity. The 3 games in 6 days will be a fair indication of how Smith differs to Bruce. I think even if we win Saturday, he'll make a good few changes for Tuesday night and subsequently the QPR game also. O'kelly was asked to sum Smith up in one word and i thought it was spot on. Inclusive. From staff to players. Subs not made feel they are subs. Lot of managers love to use the good old cliches " the squad plays it's part" but their actions show it's just to appease them. Smith actually means it though. Very often makes lots of changes to his team. Not the scattergun changes Bruce was renowned for though. Lansbury will play more. I think o'hare gets game time over the next week or so too.

Spurs got a bit giddy as regards onomah last summer because he was part of an England team that won a first u20 WC. He isn't that good. And i think they've realised that now. He'll have to have a he'll of a season at Wednesday for spurs to take a look at him in future.

Off topic lads slightly, is it common practice to have a good few of the u23s training with the first team squad during the international break ? Surprised to see o'hare and doyle-hayes training yesterday . Smith hardly made that call and he's barely in.

When did Smith name check any potential ins and outs so far ?

Am indeed mate. Honestly wouldn't of known about it myself but some Brentford fan was on here last week losing his nut that Smith was saying he signed tarkowski. Mind you i wouldn't be at all opposed to Smith signing tarkowski now.!

I know i read it last week. Surprised the Brum mail didn't pick up on that. Dean Smith did not sign James Tarkowski. That's an irrefutable fact.

Was really surprised to see Smith in an interview last week take credit for signing tarkowski. He didn't. He wasn't even at Brentford when he joined. Warburton signed him. Anyway, a moot point. Konsa was an excellent piece of business. Think he played 50 or 60 odd games for Charlton already. Still maintain though, means a he'll of a lot attracting young talent if you are a London club.

Yeah the Italians are really tapping into the polish market last few seasons. Sampdoria picked up linetty and kownacki for peanuts. Both very talented. Zielinski at napoli a great find. I'd hope pitarch has greater scope of the European market than just Spain.

The jury is still out on frank for me. He has had a modest career as a number one in Denmark so far. He is highly thought of it. Remains to be seen how he will do.

Welcome . Yeah it's definetely the most progressive appointment we've made in recent years, especially given the fact that Smith is use to working with a director of football. Am i expecting an obvious change in style over the 3 games in 6 days period ? I'm not, and it would be a silly to expect a change in that time frame. Something i think he can influence from the off though is shape, or lack of. The game against Bristol city a few weeks back springs to mind because it was the last time i watched us live. One thing that stood out a mile was the distance between our defence-midfield-strikers. Was so big. We aren't playing as a collective from 1-11. Like separate entities. Pure basic stuff, that comes with movement, touch, pace. This will come right under Smith i feel.

So much of the football we played under Bruce was purely reactive football. Slow start. Let them dictate. Go a goal down . Start playing. The play-off final summed us up perfectly. If nothing else on Saturday, be nice to see a plan from minute 1-90. But look he's had 13 players in training the last 2 days. Horrible time/fixture list to take over. Will take time but he's definetely the right man.

I think game management for me is what im intrigued about more than style over next week or so. 3 games in 6 days. Smith has shown at Brentford that he is not afraid to make wholesale changes, even to a winning team. The Norwich fixture will be interesting. We have been dominated there the last 3 or 4 times we've went there.

Seen a few picture's of today's training. Great to see cal o'hare involved. Question, they had these white and orange plastic things placed strategically all over the training ground. What's all that about. Never seen that before at bodymor heath. Wanna cut that nonsense out and start putting their boots on and rolling their sleeves up.

I'm feeling good about this one. Impressed with Swansea and potter so far i must say. Been steady. He's lost loads of players, brought lots in. McBurnie will need watching.

See the way he pronounced Garcia. Thought only Spanish people could talk like that. Ah....such class.

"I want my team to play at an intensity " Games up for a fair few of them so.

It is very worrying because he can't obviously do anything until January transfer wise. He won't be afraid to bring bedeau in and let him train with the first team squad though. Smith and Bruce are night and day.

Very likeable and articulate guy. The interviewer kept pushing the " let's talk about the villa connection " angle and while Smith was very polite and so forth in answering his questions he has his game face on all ready. Doesn't look at all too giddy or too excited. Happy but very professional guy.

Anyone know did he take training today or is it just press conferences / photos etc today ?