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Can't believe I'm hearing that Bruce needs to be given more time on the Evening Mai podcast. Are these guys not watching the same games we are, or is Stevie slipping them a few quid after every game?

I'm sick of watching crap each week.

I'm struggling to see why he's still around. Surely, the we're not basing their decision on the Norwich and Bristol City games? It was dire last year, it was poor pre-season, and it's been bloody awful the first three games.

12 minutes ago, VillaChris said:

I've seen many Walsall games since 2010 so saw a lot of Dean Smith games.

He is a good manager who certainly plays football. He dosen't really have a plan B though, will just keep passing it around the back when a more direct approach is required to get a goal.

Walsall have good seasons under him but also long winless runs when fans were crying out for a change of tactic.

My first choice would probably be someone like Mark Warburton. Proven in this division (play offs with Brentford), thinks outside the box and surely he's gettable from Forest?

How was hat first trip to Wembley under Dean Smith with no budget?

He nullified Bruce after 15 minutes when Brentford played us and then they battered us.

1 minute ago, Shropshire Lad said:

I'm hoping, with a bit of a tin foil hat on, that this stuff about wanting a striker, the talk of wilshere, is just something he can point at once he's gone. Basically trying to deflect blame away.

"Yeah Bruce had a bad start, but he  did have ambition - wanting to bring in Wilshere, not enough time to bed in his players etc....", is how I could see it being viewed.

I think he knows he's going, these comments are the final death throes.

I bloody hope so.

I'm on vacation in Hawaii at the moment, where it's 9:15pm on Tuesday night. What are the chances of him being gone before midnight so I can go to bed happy?

Dr Xia, please do not give Steve Bruce any more money to spend. I read in the papers that he is looking at Jack Wilshire and now a striker. It doesn't make any difference who he buys as I'm afraid he is not the manager to get Aston Villa promoted.

I have spent many glorious years watching the Villa, and was lucky enough to play at Villa Park twice myself, and in all this time I have never been more disappointed in a manager than I have in Steve Bruce. I was never in favor of his appointment, as I never enjoyed watching any of his teams. However, he has taken the Villa to a place I never believed we would go. We are fast becoming an embarrassment and a joke of a club. We don't score goals,and have just paid a fortune to one of the best center halves in the country, and we've shipped 5 goals in 3 games.

You don't have a bad team, you have a bad manager. Do the right thing and get rid. You are a successful businessman, and in business the golden rule is never be afraid to make a decision. You know it's the right one. Get rid of the man that is dragging your club down.

Enough. Make the decision and call him in the office today. Things need to change NOW not tomorrow or next week, or three more games. NOW.

Does Dean smith have the required background and coaching skills to manage the Villa? Apart from the highest UEFA Pro coaching qualification, he also spent time coachng at the Nike academy before taking the Walsall job:

https://www.facebook.com/nikefootball/videos/1187933092361

Becoming the complete player means nailing the four Rs – Receiving the ball, Releasing the ball, Retaining the ball and Running with the ball.

Watch Nike Academy coach, Dean Smith, run his players through the essential drills as they continue their progress.

4 hours ago, Bunnski said:

Dean Smith for me. I've only seen Brentford play live against us last season when they destroyed us but have been looking at stats from the first 3 games of the season and they average 19 shots per game and are 3rd for possession in the league. I'd like to see him given a shot as he sets up to outplay teams and would know how to use Hogan. It would be a bonus if he could bring his mate Jota

100% agree. Look at last nights game as an example. They were unlucky to go in 1-0 down with 65% of the possession. Then a positive team talk at half-time (What's one of those Steve?) and they come out and core two goals (When was the last time we scored two?). Bristol got an equalizer in the 98th minute, but that happens sometimes.

Brentford are an exciting team to watch. Sack the Dinosaur and bring in Deano.

Before moving to the US and went to watch Walsall whenever the Villa weren't playing. They were a good footballing team. Dean Smith took them to Wembley for the first time in their history on no budget, and has taken Brentford to top 10 finishes in both seasons he's been there on a limited budget.

He likes on the ground, fast paced, attacking football and is not afraid to use the yougsters. He took Ricoh Henry (Enland Youth Left Back) from Walsall to Brentford for about a million and he now starts every game. 

Imagine what he could do with Villa's resources.

16 hours ago, tomav84 said:

would we be even discussing dean smith if he wasn't a villa fan? they've had a poor start and wasn't overly convinced about them last season

moyes no, just no...

trouble seems to follow pearson around

little has been out of the game too long

terry inexperienced

if we cant get the chap from fulham, i say we stick with bruce

Not sure how you can't be convinced by Brentford last season, they caned us 3-0 at their place. I was there and it was an embarrassment. I was lucky enough to be with in the Directors box just behind Brian Little and Ian Taylor (Who was bigger than I thought he was), and they were not happy bunnies. 

In addition, they finished 10th and we finished 13th after selling us their top goal scorer. I guarantee they will finish above us this season.

9 minutes ago, hippo said:

Not that popular at Brentford from what I hear. I d give him 6 months in the villa job TBH.

Guys, Brentford had a great pre-season scoring plenty of goals and drew 2-2 with Southampton. Dean's problem, even though they finished above the Villa last season, is that Brentford are a selling club. They sold us Hogan for 12 million, and now it looks like Jota is going to West Ham, and dean is off to Sheffield Wednesday. Dean (Captain last year) hasn't played yet because of all the speculation. when these guys can see their wages quadruple like Hogan's, they are going to be distracted and Brentford want the cash,. Hence not being able to play your best players.

He would do an outstanding job at the Villa, and we might actually see a goal or two.

OK, cards on the table. I was bitterly disappointed when we appointed Steve Bruce last year as I thought we had given it to the wrong guy. My choice was Dean Smith, which was confirmed when Brentford caned us 3-0, and finished above us in the table even after gaining 12 million by selling us Hogan. With that being said, he will always have my support, and I hope and pray for a Villa win every week. 

I've read on here about us rebuilding. I'm afraid I don't see anything of the sort. What I see is a manager, making short-term decisions, and who has bought in a number of seasoned and very expensive experienced players. My only hope is that (A) they are for more than just the money (In Terry, I don't believe that's the case), and (B) we have a side that is capable of scoring goals. My real worry is the latter. I do keep an eye to see what Brentford are doing, and they have managed to score 17 goals pre-season playing against teams like Southampton and Celta Vigo. We on the other hand have struggled to score.

What I want to see is a good start, so that I can look forward to the next game each week with a confidence that we will score goals and get results. And, if this happens I will say all hail our mighty leader who had a vision, and made all the right decisions. However, if we are poor to average, and languishing mid-table after a dozen or so games, I think we have to cut the cord quickly and decisively. If we have to do that, and I'm really hoping we don't, just give Brentford and Dean smith a call.

Why?

Another Old Guy

Oh great, another old guy.

BTW, Brentford beat Oxford 4-3. Now that's what I expect to see when you're playing a League one team in pre-season. Plenty of goals and chances, because you're theoretically the better team. Plus, changing and experimenting means you will concede more than you usually would. Not dysfunctional defeats and 0-0 draws.

I hope the Villa hierarchy are watching what is happening down at Brentford, even after we overpaid for their best striker. Dean Smith is doing a lot of good things down there.

Solihull Moors scored three against Walsall last week. Can't remember the last time I saw three goals.

15 minutes ago, Johnnyp said:

I keep going back to that Brentford game when they slaughtered us but the difference in coaching from Bruce and Smith was night and day . When they had the ball they're movement was excellent,  everything on the floor with the ball, so much energy and the sheer savagery they hunted us with when they didn't have the ball. Think this job will be vacant in October / November time and Smith, not just based on that game, has to be given serious consideration. 

I agree.

I know it's pre-season, but I'd just like to remind everyone that Shrewsbury finished 18th in League One last year and conceded 63 goals. We managed to scrape a last minute penalty. Not exactly inspiring confidence is it?

I will take any sort of improvement against Walsall.

I'm not asking for much, all I want to see is the potential for something better than last season. Anything will do. I'm just struggling to see it.

Anyone that takes anything positive from that performance is kidding themselves. Don't tell me it's just pre-season, and don't tell me we were focusing on fitness. It's just absolute garbage.

BTW, it was never a penalty. 

1 hour ago, TRO said:

Brentford will not finish above Villa.

was we ever in for Ollie Watkins?

why would we inhibit the progress of Andre Green

very favourable reports coming from Andre.

I'm sure you said the same at the beginning of last season. Just remember we took a whopping one point of Brentford, and got embarrassed at their place.

We continue to be interested in players who are 30+ years of age. Some youth would be nice.

This is another reason why Brentford will finish above the Villa again this season.

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/transfer-rumour-brentford-set-beat-13331695

John Terry Stats:

14/15 - 49 Games, averaging 90 mins 

15/16 - 33 Games, averaging 82 mins

16/17 - 15 Games, averaging 60 minutes

Anyone notice a trend?

5 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

Have we sold all the players under 25 - 29 as well as the youth team?

What have I missed?

I'm assuming the "proven old farts" have been brought in to mentor the young squad we already have, as well as instill calm and a winning mentality.

Stop being so dramatic.

Here's my prediction:

terry has a decent start his first 3-4 games. About game 5 or 6 he gets found out and he realizes that the pace of the game is much quicker and you have less time on the ball. The youngsters are starting to zip past him and he gets a mystery injury around game 10 that will keep him out for 8-10 games. Form is no better than last year i.e. a goal a game at best, and Bruce is gone in November.

Happy to be proven wrong.