Mjvilla

Seen Connor Gallagher mentioned a number of times on this forum. So, when watching West Brom of late, have taken more notice of him. And certainly did last night. Not for me, nowhere near what we need. He's a headless chicken who, because he sprints into things and tries to tackle 'hard', either sells himself and dives in or gives a free kick away. Hes a liability. Gives the ball away alot too. We need MUCH better than him.

But Jose throws himself around and shows passion on the touchline. Deano should do more of this, apparently.

And yet here we are, less than 3 years later sitting in mid table in the premier league. The manager that got us there? Under pressure.

Why on earth is there a 17 page thread on our finances on their forum??? That's extremely bizarre

Isn't that the same thing? Stating what you know is being ITK, is it not? I'm not criticising at all, I was with you, hoping, during the summer. No reason not to believe.

Having gone back and found this series of events, I've summised that villalad had never even listened to it. And has used something he's never heard as a stick to beat Smith with ever since. When in reality, the point being made isn't that he's not a results man, it's more that he will concentrate on performance levels because the better the performance level, the more chance of a result. Which, in reflection, is a good way of doing it. Or else, you have knee jerk reactions calling everyone shit after each defeat. Look at the performance.. what could we do better, what can we take into the next game.

Thing is for me, nearly all teams haven't played very well for large periods. Sides that are much further down their development scale, much more experienced sides. Everton have been poor for large parts. Arsenal have been. Tottenham have. Liverpool have. Wolves have. West hams defence has been bloody awul in recent weeks and if they carry on defending that way, there is absolutely no chance of finishing 4th. 6th very, very best. Leeds have had some terrible results this season. Do we think all that sides are looking to sack their managers? Only us? (Apart from the obvious) thought so.

I still think he's a player we should look at. How much do you think Leipzig would want and is he a realistic signing? My European football knowledge is limited I have to be honest.

Imagine my surprise...

Id hoped the winky face would show it was a tongue in cheek comment. I thought it was quite obvious. As for the last comment, that's verging on an insult and shows you clearly just pick the bits from my posts you want to disagree with and comment on that. I've said, multiple times, that we need to be more aggressive, at the right times. Like Matty Cash, clearly wasn't the right time for an aggressive tackle. Same with the Douglas Luiz moment on the edge of the box. Same for John Stones. Being physically aggressive and having to make a tackle in Douglas Luiz position on the edge of the box means he has done something else wrong. We deal with the first ball well. Douglas Luiz position is to mark the edge of the box. He is level with the penalty spot when the corner is taken. He is too deep. There's the error. So, why does it have to be about aggression? I'm now going to go and check the Nakamba thread and the Traore thread or even the Cash thread to see if you've made similar criticisms regarding the first goal. The header down by zinchenko (in behind cash) to an unmarked foden. Nakamba closest to him, on traores side. Let's see if there's criticism in those threads for their parts in that goal? Or is it just criticism toward Douglas Luiz because it fits the narrative you've been pushing for a long time now that you don't think he is good enough? I get it. He hasn't been good enough lately. In the interests of fairness, like you claim you used to do for Bruce, I shall take a look at those threads now...

When you're two key points are aggression and heading, it's hard not to see why!

This is what I mean, I wasn't criticising you for saying it all the time. We don't 'lack it all the time' that's what's naive. There are moments in a game where aggression is good. The moment you are criticising Dougie for last night is not a moment to be aggressive. The ball high, he's to the ball a second or two after the opponent. That's got red card if youre too aggressive written all over it. You don't rectify a mistake which has made you late for the ball (positioning?) By being aggressive. That's what Cash did. Aggression is a pretty general term, we need to press more aggressively and with more assertiveness. Our passing needs to be more aggressive (forward and with belief), sometimes we can tackle with more aggression and use our bodies with more aggression. I don't believe aggression cost us a goal last night. Even if we were too passive at times.

In fact, having thought about it... Which players has Smith signed that are 'samey', across the whole pitch?

How are trez, el ghazi or traore anything 'samey' at all? Considering the post you have quoted is regarding wingers.

It's difficult for dougie though, in my opinion. That situation. There was one in the second half where he was more aggressive in almost exactly the same place and won the ball and we had a break on. The ref blew for a foul which it wasn't. Rodri got there a second before him, any more aggressive and he gives a foul away. Perhaps his positioning was wrong and he should've been closer to rodri ready for that ball on the edge of the box? It's the nature of the beast in the premier league, any kind of contact and it's a free kick nowadays. To say we need to be more aggressive ALL THE TIME, is naive. Yes, we do need more aggression. We need more bite, but some occasions we simply cannot be because we will give a foul away in a dangerous place. That was a criticism earlier in the season (Southampton home). More lessons for alot of our inexperienced squad to learn.

Spent the last couple of weeks not bothering on here, see the same arguments so probably won't bother again for another couple of weeks. Just one note amongst the many valid points though, if I see one more post about how Smith should be doing better because we spent £200m, I may be forced to do a long post about how wrong that point is.

This is absolutely fair enough. I've looked at our possession stats between now and the beginning of the season. There's barely any change. I haven't looked in depth at anything like pass accuracy or anything but I would presume that would be far lower the last few months. It shows to me that we were far more clinical with the ball in the first half to the second half of this season. There's the difference, for me. It's up to deano to work on why we have lost that. I'm sure he is, and I've no doubt he will put it right.

That's a fair point too. It's clear Deano is learning at this level. From last season to this. And throughout this season. His latest lesson is learning to get a result when his best player is missing, more regularly. I think, against Liverpool, we looked closer to the decent side from the first half of the season. Obviously not that standard but getting there. Konsas free header, hitting the post too. We could've scored 3 in the end. I don't think it's a stretch to say heading into the final 15, we were beginning to control the game and looked the more likely. I think, if jack continues to miss, we will see gradual improvement from this set of players. I really do hope we do, will show how flexible deano can be. And how he's learnt more lessons.

Of course, you can be a Bielsa fan. I think he's done a very good job at Leeds. That's fair. Using Bielsa as a stick to beat Dean with is not fair. When they, over the course of their tenures, have both done equally impressive jobs.

How silly does the ref sound blowing his whistle constantly achieving absolutely nothing?

Agreed. But that's my opinion and I'm entitled to it.

I don't think it has any now. But, I still think the food places are amazing. We went to a relatively cheap place for our Christmas meal at work, the name of the place escapes me but the food was unbelievable. Considering they were cooking for a group of 15ish rowdy, pissed blokes. Even gave us all a free shot of tequila to finish it all off!

Yep, I'm on the northern side though. About 15 miles north of Hereford. The Shropshire border isn't far to our north. I love the area, and through lockdown we've discovered more of it through the different walks we've been going on and the like. Don't know Worcestershire at all really, but Shropshire has some amazing scenery and lovely walks. I think Ludlow is an amazing place. If you've never been, go and visit the castle and have a look round the town. Try the food too, some of the places to eat are incredible.

Absolutely. He sticks to his guns no matter what. You can't help but admire a man willing to do that.

Have to admit that I never appreciated it as a kid, but I live relatively rural and little things like this now mean so much. A few years ago, we had a few family members come down from the city to celebrate a kids birthday. Early evening, after the kids had all gone home, the adults were sat on our decking in our very small back garden at the time. Overlooking some lovely views and countryside. Drinking wine. One of the comments: 'this is lovely, it's like being on holiday'. To us, it was the norm. I've grown more and more appreciative of living in this area the more I have grown up.