Stratvillan

Smith isn't doing well. The players arent doing well. We will buy players next week. We may survive / we may not. Relax. If we divided Poch s votes between smith and Sam the poll would look more representative. Its Sunday - no work tomorrow - let the anger go.

I agree. Back smith with funds.

So anyone makes a mistake it's the managers fault? Really!

Hows it Smith's fault that Luiz is an idiot?

Savage calling it as save if the season. Some villa saying terrible miss. Possibly somewhere in between?

Think we'll get 3 loans in. Winger, centre forward and midfielder. Think the owners will be reluctant to spend big. Thought Cantwell was excellent yesterday. (Not to sign in Jan, but possibly summer). Need pace on the wing, both trez and el ghazi are too slow. Would love to sign someone like Phillip's ( a little nasty) Forwards, God knows.

Think the wingers are a bigger problem than wesley. He's having to close down the whole defence on his own. As a forward has got a lot to learn but some support would allow us to see where he is.

I think the defence is a symptom. Theres little hold up play up top, little rigidity in midfield . The defence arent great but they're exposed time and time again.

Scored the same as lukaku in qualifying.

Im a fan of smith. But can you be a premature prophet?

I like the ox. Not saying he's better than jack, I'd love him in the villa team though.

It looks more balanced with jack wide.

The last line is amazing!

I thought Smith was spot on today. We were unfortunately beaten by a better team. Our first team is fine our depth is not. That's one of the reasons we concede late.

I'd play strongest team available. It sets a bad tone if we send out a second string. Having said that I'd start Davis as wes looked poor on sat. We are likely to lose on sat anyway.

What changes would you suggest? I'd be amazed if any if them are dead on their feet.

Last 16 beckoning. A good cup run will keep positive vibes. It was this competition that kept us going in the 90s

Shows what an over rated manager southgate is. Just seems on a power trip. Not so much mings but how can mount start ahead of maddison?

Think the criticism of Smith's tactics is a strange one. Criticisms I've heard today Didn't sub those on yellow cards - surely the players you'd leave on would be the attackers and sub the defenders who are more likely to foul and get booked Didn't respond in 2nd half. I think that adding an attacker ( davis) to hold up the ball was the right call it didn't work but there you go. I think he did something similar against rotherham and we won. The one thing I would criticise Smith for is leaving wes so isolated. The shape I think is wrong, I don't think two wingers is working. We lost today . But they only had 5 shots on target scored one. We played poorly but had a goal disallowed and by all accounts the ref. Was awful. Theres a fine line between success and failure in football today we fell short. It doesn't always have to be because of deep underlying problems.

Agree totally . We look smaller and weaker than the teams we face. Playing a central 2 would strengthen the central area of the pitch. Play McGinn with grealish and trez either side (more like inside right / left) this would stop Jack coming so deep as well.

Spot on selection imo. Who's Archer?

Rest mings wes Jack Sjm trez, rotate others, it'd be nice to see nakamba Targett etc. We do need to win. It creates momentum and let's face it, we have 2 realistic chances to get to Europe.

Fair point.

If this is Ritchie Neville of five. Is there a likelihood of an Aston Villa superband?

It's where we are when the daffodils come up that matters!