Mjvilla

So, the transfer market. Too easy in this one? After finishing 9th in the first season and expecting a tough summer, couldn't believe what I achieved. In: Tonali (13m), Badiashile (10m) Sangare (9m) Wober (10m) Hlozek (11m) Olise (9m) Kaio Jorge (9m) Out: Hause (7m) Trez (21m) Now sit fourth and looking like champions League material. I don't know if I've done something wrong here because it just seemed far too easy. I was given 46m to spend and the with the sales, managed to get probably every position I could've wanted. I bid 21m for wijndal - it's the only bid I had rejected. The rest were negotiated to just slightly above those figures, which I negotiated down. It looks and feels like I've just done a footie man wonderkid search and picked some off a list. I'd never heard of Jorge or badiashile before, and only bought them on scouts recommendations. Olise is someone I wanted to sign before I bought the game. Sangare was because of what I read on here. Has anyone else found it this easy?

I think this is based on the Brighton of last year and maybe a bit at the start of this year. They definitely did used to keep the ball well. They have changed style from the few times I've seen them this season. (Which shows the excellent research of the well paid pundit) Certainly more willing to let the opponent have the ball and break quickly. Both goals scored at VP were like this. I think Deano will have learnt some lessons from that game. They are missing a couple of key components for today too. Lamptey was obviously key to the way they played with his pace down the right. Webster, too, likes to drive forward from the defence and he is a big loss for them. I think it'll mean Ben White and Dan burn will go centre back alongside dunk. Ben White looks very capable of doing the Webster driving forward, so we have to be aware of that. I do, however, think we can get at them down the channels. I think Ollie will cause them troubles in this respect as he likes to run the channels. Is Dan burn the quickest? I know he's very tall and looks abit ugly at times but can be effective in the air. Tough Game, but certainly a winnable one. Keep that odious little twirp maupay quiet and look after Mac Allister (he looks a player to me) and we should be good. Think Nakamba may start to keep Mac Allister quiet, which would be a good move.

It makes what we have done even more incredible in my opinion. We have spent a fair bit yes, but we were coming from nothing. If we had signed 35 players since the time we came up (considering we bought a whole squad and upgraded) and had only 13 left, we would be ****. Our recruitment in the past 2 years has been fantastic. West ham are a basket case, now they seem to be doing quite well, I'm pretty sure they will manage to mess it up before too long. It'll be fun to watch how they do it this time.

Swallowed my drink the wrong way when reading this and am still coughing now, thanks!!

AHH, I thought as much. Thanks. Problem with that is, if he had been sent off for that minimal contact on lacazette, then that yellow card becomes crucial and a game changing moment. VAR should've been able to reverse it, in my opinion. Even if that's what the rules state.

Arsenal are a different beast from the side we stuffed 3-0. They have become more organised and their form was good. It may have been a defensive performance (relatively) but we still created 3/4 much better chances than they did. West ham had won 6/7 and were clearly full of confidence. We had a bad day at the office. Southampton we lost earlier in the season and won this time round so think it's safe to say we learnt some lessons there, even if we did ride our luck. Before that, we were fantastic at Burnley and somehow lost and had a very comfortable victory against Newcastle which we should've won by more. Before that, Chelsea away, man utd away, man city away. We did well in all 3 despite results. I don't think there's much in this, personally. Brighton away will be another challenge for certain and may make your point more valid, we shall see.

I am, genuinely amazed. Actually, in shock that anyone could think this is a foul by konsa. He is strong, quick and puts his body in between saka and the ball and as he does this, saka kicks him in the back of the calf. The fact he gets his body in between himself and saka is they key. It's brilliant defending and he got booked for it. If VAR had had to have looked at this and gave a red, then I would've stopped watching the game for the rest of my life. Could VAR have intervened and told the ref 'this is a foul on konsa rather than the other way round' or would they check for a sending off, see it's a clear, clear error from the ref but leave the decision to stand and the booking to stand?

Agree with most of this but I think that arsenal home was tactically excellent. Arsenal play in a way where they will look to get the ball in behind the defence in the channels. Using saka, Pepe, bellerin and (usually) Tierney (we were fortunate that played Cedric LB. By playing a slightly deeper back line, we nullified all there attempts to get in behind our full back. We knew that, allowing arsenal to have the ball in front of us would stifle them. I think it's why nakamba played in there too get stuck in to the midfield when they tried to play it around I'm front of us. Theyve been called powderpuff and said they have no cutting edge on the back of the game against us. It's because of us, in my opinion. Yes, we took some away from the attacking intent, but I think Smith trusted jack, Watkins, traore and Barkley to be able to get us a goal. We could've scored more, really. When I see criticism of Smith, it'll be this kind of game I remember. Where we set up with a clear gameplan, it comes off perfectly and we win. I think arsenal could still be playing now and wouldn't have scored.

Wow, this thread. It's gone from the bizarre to the utterly insane. I could spend the rest of my night shift responding to someone's posts and how wrong they are about things, but I shan't. Talk about pundits, substitutions or whatever, Smith is doing a fantastic job and has taken this club so far. He's outperforming every single othe premier league manager in my eyes right now, and also outperforming those bloody pundits and how any of them done as a manager. I don't listen to pundits, I don't listen to commentary. I watch the game for myself, usually in silence. I don't want to listen to Martin **** Tyler or Gary Neville or try and decipher what Jamie carragher is spitting about. Great players, undoubtedly. As were the other pundits mentioned. I think it's best we not forget, that these pundits are appealing to the masses. They dont say much, or anything, worthwhile about the game. They have to speak to the whole paying public, even those that don't fully understand the game. So, usually, they talk aload of shite. To me, it's not a surprise they are failed managers. It doesn't mean they don't understand the game, of course they understand it - they played at the top level. But to say they have a fantastic understanding of the game because they captained a good side, I'm not sure on that. Leadership skills. Yes. Desire and drive, yes. Deep tactical knowledge and analysis skills - ha maybe not.

Backs up what @TRO is saying.

We had a phone review of our 2 year old just yesterday and were told that 'for every 1 word they say, they understand 200'. Just backing up what you say there in bold. When our eldest (now 7) was 2, she used to pronounce the 'tweenies' as penis. So, the better half decided it would be funny to get her to say 'daddy likes the tweenies'. To which she said 'daddy likes the tweenies all the time'. There's been plenty of different things but that's the one that sticks in my mind!

Picked this up within the last couple of weeks... Started off with Villa. Very disappointed that we have nothing to spend to begin with. Particularly when, 6 games into the season, I lose Jack for 6 months with a broken leg. Very inconsistent first season. Lost in the fa cup and league cup semi finals. 5 games to go in the league and sit 10th, won't finish any lower but potential to finish anywhere as high as 7th. Like the recruitment meetings, but my scouts generally do a poor job of finding players and the players mentioned in the meetings are usually poor. Going to be a tough job in the summer bringing in the relevant quality. Taylor, hourihane, Lansbury and Elmo all leaving meaning.. Need a left back, young centre back (Collins from stoke is on my radar), central midfielder, (dahoud from Dortmund has been flagged) attacking midfielder and perhaps a winger. Could be a long summer. Jacob Ramsey has had an excellent loan spell at Crewe and will be integrated in the summer. Not good enough to start regularly though, need cameos and more development first. Playing this with this squad has made me realise how much work is still to be done on the squad in real life.

Absolutely. It's disgusting the way some of our 'fans' treat the players. In my view, this kind of thing is far worse than some of the things I've had the word 'ban' shoved in my direction for. Should be dealt with accordingly, in my view. We have seen some of last year's 'wasters' really develop this year and go onto be a part of why we are top 10. Wes could be no different. He deserves a chance to prove himself, certainly. Sickening behaviour.

One further point, I made a post recently about being more clinical as a way to improve. That was at the forefront again for me last night. We can talk all day about the midfield, but in the first half we created the 2 best chances. If Watkins had scored instead of finding the post, or Barkley had struck it well instead of scuffing and scored then the whole game dynamic changes. West ham have to open up a bit to find themselves a goal and we exploit the space left. We have to take these chances, west ham don't give you many, we have to take them. If either of those goes in last night, I'd wager we go on to win. So for as much as the midfield got walked through too easy, we have to note the other end too.

But west ham are a good side. They have won 6 out of 7. Why should we feel entitled? We came up, little more than 18 months ago, with 2 players good enough. We've built a whole squad. A lot of which aren't good enough because they were bought on the cheap. I cannot think of another side who has had to build in this manner. We are STILL a work in progress. More so than any side in the top 12 I'd say. Games like last night will happen, they will likely happen for time yet. We can say how we think we can improve, I wouldn't deny that. I've read alot of very good posts in here on how folk feel we can get better. But, that will take time. What Smith did last season is unheard of. Building a whole squad and keeping it up. To then take it to another level by having it challenging in the top half is fantastic. But it's all about expectations, and it's why I always think back to where we were 18 months ago after games like last night. The expectation from most for this season was to just not be involved in a relegation battle. We are exceeding that. Should Smith be a victim of his own success? Not from us fans, I'm sure he will demand more from himself and the players. But, we should enjoy the ride he is taking us on instead of moaning after every game win/lose or draw.

But is it though? Like I said in another post, although I don't really have much to back it up, but it certainly feels like we make more subs when losing. I'm sure someone will know/find out but I'm confident saying that. What does that tell us? That perhaps Smith will change things when we're losing and things aren't working.. the fact that new players that come on can't change anything doesn't bode well. Why change things when we are winning and things are working? Despite what you all say, the history books last night will say 'Southampton 0-1 Aston Villa'

How about the other 9 fantastic performances and results? Or were they just lucky?

Don't even get this to be honest? All of those players are better than Davis and el ghazi. Possibly trez. Look it's a silly argument. We're talking numbers here and how short we are with a couple of injuries based on how sarcastic you are to people suggesting we bring in a striker. I feel like my job is done here as I've proven, with your assistance, how short we are with a couple of injuries.

They would have minamino, Curtis Jones, shaqiri, origi, firmino, diogo Jota fighting it out. Lets say we lose Watkins and Grealish (picking our 2 most important players as you did with Liverpool) we have left, traore, el ghazi, trez and Davis. Slight difference there, don't you think. I think 90% of premier League clubs have more options than us going forward. Name another premier league club and I'll do the same for you if you like. It's not 'self flagellation' at all, it's trying to give us the best chance of progression. Why do you seem so against the idea of giving us a bigger, better squad to help us progress?

So, what happens if Watkins AND trez get injured. Who plays wide right then? El ghazi? Who is the option from the bench then? Watkins AND traore? We are left with Davis again with NOTHING else. We've been lucky with injuries so far, compared to other teams. It IS possible for 2 players to get injured you know.

No one has said it is FIFA on the PlayStation. To think we might have a striker lined up, baring in mind the alternative in case of injury is Davis, who can't score. Traore? Yes, could do a job but it's possible we have more than 1 injury or suspension at a time. If that happens, we are extremely light. I don't get the quite patronising and sarcastic reply in all honesty, when the more sensible thing is we bring a striker in as cover. It's possible for it to happen, y'know. Do you think we are going to be starting Sanson, Luiz, mcginn and Barkley in the same game? No, thought not. I'm not saying it's going to happen, more that I think it's possible we will look.

Where do you find these stats Tomaszk?

I actually think it was claimed, in fairness to @DCJonah. I personally think that DC isn't the person to be criticising for his overreaction. The overreaction to no subs last night is what should be criticised, after we had won a game. I read a few things which made me think 'wow, really' but someone (and I can't even remember who) called Smith a 'muppet' in the post match thread. Someone else would've given him a -50 out of 10. Someone else was 'deeply concerned' for our future. This, after 3 points and taking us to 8th with a game in hand. UTV and all that.

I think we have to remember our record when scoring the first goal this season when criticising Smith's (lack of) subs... 10 games: 9 wins. 1 defeat. He's obviously doing something right when we take a lead... Without stats, I think he makes more subs when we are behind? I might be wrong, that's how it feels.

So, it seems this place should be avoided even after a win! I get the sub argument, I really do. At 60/70 minutes I was thinking of trez, nakamba or even Sanson and how it looked like we may need fresh legs. But, do you know what... I sat back and trusted in Deano. The manager who has transformed this football club. I have full faith in him and the coaching staff to make the right decision. They see the training ground, day in and day out. They know and see the players positives and negatives. If the right decision was to make no subs in their eyes, who the **** am I to question it? They were proved spot on, we get a 1-0 win. We didn't play well, we need to keep the ball better than that. That was a bigger concern for me than subs, however, the level has been so high that I can accept it. Safe in the knowledge we will almost certainly put in a much better performance on Wednesday. (With an extra days rest than our opponents)