Keener window-cleaner

And strong. I think he is a good example of a player where some attributes (like strength and speed in this case) overshadows the fact that he isn't a particular good footballer. Awearness, positional ability, tactical ability, it doesn't seem to be there. When he played full back he was helped by having the sideline to stick to. When he was played as a central defender he was a constant liability imo.

I agree with you, though the naive optimist within me has seen some link up play with Abraham and some more passes from him this season. Hopefully he will be drilled into a system where we aren't over relying on some players individual performances and which means he will need to adapt or he wont play.

With his injury record and with probably being behind Abraham and Kodjia, I think there is a risk that it wont be revealed... but if others play better and scores for us I'm as happy with that. Just a few other takes in general, Hogan has come on as a sub several times for us which makes his statistics worse. If you look at starts he has 7 goals in 28 starts in the league and 3 goals in 3 games in the cups for us. And I think most sites (and Bruce?) say he cost £9M not £12M.

Who would you say is a terrific Championship striker?

I'd say scoring 21 in 33 in the Championship would make him a terrific striker in the Championship. Scoring a couple in different circumstances during the next 30 makes it hard to rate him, currently obviously not terrific, but still with the potential of again being terrific. ?

I understand what you mean, though I think he has showed that he can score goals regularly also before that spell (albeit on a lower level). I think I'm just still having hope that he can be the good striker that he in spells has proven he can be. And I don't think he is shit. Having said that, I still rate Abraham and Kodjia over Hogan, and with his injury record I'm not too confident that he will actually have the possibility to prove that he can be a terrific striker on this level. And as I said before, the Hogan/Bent type of striker, the poacher, is not my prefered kind of striker as they demand that other create chances for them. Abraham and Kodjia has a better ability to make goals out of nothing by themselves. With Dean Smith there is anyways a possibility that Hogan can come good and score goals, as compared to the last 1,5 seasons.

Please play wingers on the wing or wide forwards wide forward, not full backs on the wing or as wide forward. We can do it!

Looks like a sell out ?

Since scoring 21 goals in 33 apps I'd say.

I think there have been some overreactions regarding Hogan, I've tried to defend him before and still will. I actually think it's quite simple. His level is being a player on the fringes of an average Ireland squad. Worth probably around £10M. He is a terrific Championship player and under the right circumstances he may as well be a decent striker in the Premier League. I've made the comparison to Darren Bent before. They are poachers. No way Hogan would fit in to Steve Bruce's system in the same way Bent didn't fit in to McLeish system. Hogan is quick, has good movement and is a great finisher. He needs the team to play a passing game at the opponents half, moving their defence to create space for him to move into. Under Bruce we passed the ball around in our own defence in our own half, then we kicked it direct through the channels or out wide and crossed in. Of course Hogan - as he said hmiself - does not fit that playing style. He tried to adjust and started coming deep to receive the ball, but isn't particularly good at that, obviously he is neither a target player. It is compeletely baffling that Bruce signed him and didn't know how to use him. I bet Hogan is in a line of players who we may now see flourish in a new system.

I got the impression that Bruce demanded 100% commitment and grit first and foremost, if someone didn't prioritate that from the off they were disregarded and didn't get a look in. I hope that Dean Smith first and foremost appreciates players who has ability, who can pass and move, players with football brains. If they need to adjust to fit the playing style and if they need to work more defensively etc. I hope and think he will coach them that together with them and try to develop these players. I think Lansbury is that kind of player and I think he can come good now.

Finally we have heard from our new ceo, and I must admit I was very impressed by him at the press conference. Said all the right things. Oozes professionalism and seems to know what he is doing. I loved the part about the FFP when he said he was part of the group coming up with the rules.

Or the old TV-series V!

I started following Villa as a preteen in the early 90's, at the time I was only focused on the football side. The owner or chairman was not anything I reflected about, but just took for granted. I probably didn't understand his role and didn't get that the results on the pitch could be the derived to the owner. Doug was my first Villa chairman and owner, to me he still feels like the only genuine Villa chairman I have had. Compared to the next two owners we have had he always felt like the good hearted father figure who was part of the heritage of the club. I have since read much about him and heard many opinions and I don't disregard them in any way. I have never met him, but his name still gives me a warm feeling as I associate him with Villa, being the chairman of my club. Seeing him in the stands until the very end watching his Villa was warming to see. I hope I can attend the next game to greet Dean Smith and to pay tribute to Doug Ellis and show respect to his family.

All went south for Pochettino and spurs when he put that suit on!

I prefer the Tracksuit manager!! (or was that head coach ? ?)

If you do a bit of both, are you then a head-coach manager? (Edit: probably more just a manager then)

Apart from the spelling, what's the difference between a manager and a head-coach?

I think the situation is comparable to the situation when Lambert was appointed, but I'd say the management style is different. Lambert in the beginning played a high tempo high pressing style, but he was more horses for courses and adapted very much to the situation. The first year we often didn't have possession but pressed high and played direct, with Benteke he adjusted and played more long ball and crosses, then we had the infamous first part of his last season when he came back from a study visit to München and we suddenly tried to play über-possession passing style like Pep Guardiola. I remember when Guzan insisted on passing it out to the fullbacks at our own corner flag instead of kicking long, it was hilarious! Dean Smith on the other hand seems to play a certain passing/attacking style and while he say he adjusts, I don't understand him as being the horses for courses manager that Lambert was. Fwiw I think Lambert did really well under the circumstances.

And even if we play badly and he makes mistakes, we know he suffers as much as us, as he is one of our own. And we won't turn against him but always support one of our own.

I can help you with that one, be excited!

I think we will need to be patient with Dean Smith and give him time. Implementing a new playing style will take time. We have many good kick and run players but not so many intelligent passers who suits a passing style. Grealish and McGinn will cut it and Abraham looks like he can play a bit. Tuanzebe, Bree and Chester may fit. The rest I'm unsure of. Would love to see younger players moulded in to a system. I'm not expecting a quick fix and don't excpect us to go up, but I have big hopes for next season and the future! And yes I'm still over the moon over this decision!!!!

And a big welcome back to Terry, seemed to have a good influence last year and knows the squad. Happy times!

As assistant, can he pick himself as CB?

All this sounds very reasonable. With all negotiations that comes along with this appointment, with Terry and Jesus, it's hard to beleive Henry and Faria were asked and rejected yesterday evening and today respectively and then we could just take Dean Smith & co out of the hat. I've said enough on Henry, but he and Faria felt very much like poster boys that the media liked to write stories about.