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1 hour ago, villalad21 said:

But he isn't hired as a defensive coach.

So you don't feel he has anything to do with the defence ?

29 minutes ago, sir_gary_cahill said:

Is JT not esteemed enough for you? I agree with the rest of your post though, you have to build from the back and take it from there. In the early weeks, we looked great at the back with the back 6 of Heaton-Guilbert-Engels-Mings-Targett-Nakamba. Hopefully, when the season resumes, we can get back to that

JT was an amazing defender but he has shown me nothing as a defensive co-ordinator. The verdict is still open on him for me right now. I don't know the politics between DS & JT and don't know how much freedom JT has but he is not proven for me yet.

7 minutes ago, villalad21 said:

It's the style of play though.

You can have the best defensive coach in the world but when the fullbacks and midfield are bombing forward you'll always leave yourself exposed at the back.

Defensive set pieces has been a joke though. A defensive coach can absolutely improve there.

Then the problem lies with Smith if he can't organize a team to cover for players pushing forward. I'm all for offence but there has to be a plan in place to protect the defence.

1 minute ago, sir_gary_cahill said:

Well, I disagree, he has already had success here. If he keeps us up this season, then we can push on

He just doesn't seem to be able to build a defence. It's not possible to survive in the Premier League without being defensively responsible.If he keeps Villa up then a bona fide defensive coach is needed.

4 minutes ago, villalad21 said:

I think he would keep struggling under your previous coach.

Kolo and Brendan seem to have made the difference. Not just with him but the whole team. That's what good coaches does, they improve players.

Definitely agree. I've always thought that Brendan was a bit shaky on the defensive side of things but Kolo seems to have made a difference.

1 hour ago, villalad21 said:

Or he improved because you got in a good coach

Let me guess. You started seeing improvements in him and other players once Brendan arrived..

Rodgers brought defensive coach Koko Toure with him & Soyuncu credits him with his improvement plus playing alongside Jonny Evans helps. Playing centre back is like sex. A good partner helps.

29 minutes ago, useless said:

Between his interview with talksport and the times it seems like Purslow is in favour of the season restarting but if the games are played at neutral grounds then he wants relegation removed, and to just use the rest of the campaign to decide the title race and Europe and to give the lower leagues a boost.

For me playing out the season without a relegation battle is like a massage without a happy ending. Just a waste of time !!!

13 minutes ago, foreveryoung said:

Smith sounded like he is bottling it on Sky Sports. Apparently we will have 2 top players who are refusing to play due to the health risks. He will not force them to play, so we are double doomed. Haven't heard any other managers admit they can't get players to play??

It makes me wonder how many players will refuse to play. This whole thing gets crazier by the day !! 

2 hours ago, VillaChris said:

EDIT:

Back on topic.

Let's say we stay up.

Dean Smith goes to board and asks for 100m to sign 4 new players to push us up into mid table/8th-9th range.

The crux is said players are good quality internationals but in the 29-31 age range so more short term fixes.

Would the board sanction that or want to stick to under 25 model? Would DS job then be in danger if he felt this was only way he could improve us significantly in 12 months (that would be my strategy anyway if I was in charge).

 

The 29 to 31 year old player is a very short term investment, its fine as long as big money isn't involved. 

1 hour ago, Stevo985 said:

He was absolutely shit in a Villa shirt, didn’t want to play for us and refused to be on the bench.

 

He can **** right off. And when he’s done **** off he can **** off again

Why was he shit ?

And why is he so good at Wolves ?

9 minutes ago, sharkyvilla said:

Why would Cahill have rejoined us over moving to another London team? 

London teams do have an extra appeal to a lot of players especially if the player is already in London. Cahill was never coming to Villa.

6 minutes ago, sir_gary_cahill said:

I think it’s worth remembering that we’re a newly promoted team, we’re expected to be relegated. If we do stay up, we’ve had a great season, even if it’s by the skin of our teeth. We’re 2 points from safety with 1 game in hand on our relegation rivals, I am happy that we’ve given ourselves a chance of staying up, you?

Clubs like Wolves & Sheffield did not have that "expect to be relegated" attitude & a big club like Villa should never have that attitude. If you think you will fail then you almost certainly will.

3 hours ago, sir_gary_cahill said:

How can you say that the new signings haven’t been good enough? If we stay up, then they have been good enough 

Are you happy with sitting 19th in a 20 team league ?

Are you happy with conceding 56 goals after 28 games ?

Those are some of the reasons that I say the new signing have not been good enough but if you are happy then thats awesome.

11 hours ago, villalad21 said:

I'm in the minority but i think Championship is Mings level. He's been found out this season. He's made so many errors it's unreal.

Think i read somewhere that no other defenders in the league has caused so many mistakes as Mings which has led to goals.

IMO he is highly overrated. Was very good in the Championship but this season he's been garbage like the rest of our defence.

I agree partially but I feel that it is the team that has been found out, not just Mings. The acquisitions last Summer were just not good enough overall.  I don't think Mings is the next VVD but I do think he can play at the Premier League level.

At 27 years old Mings probably has at least six years at the top level and would benefit greatly playing for a more defensively responsible team. Defence is just not the back four, the whole team has to buy in and I feel that the midfield  at Villa is suspect defensively. If relegation can be avoided and a couple of quality players added then I think that Mings could really excel.

Players have such short careers that they have to do what is best for themselves. I couldn't blame Jack in the slightest if AV get relegated & he wants to move on. I also would have a hard time being too critical if a top six club came calling for him and he moved on. Clubs like Man U  & Man C use their money & status to get what they want, Leicester lost Mahrez to City  & Maguire to united but did manage to get top dollar. The system is set up in favour of the big boys !!

3 hours ago, villa4europe said:

It'll need to be the PL 14 team majority rule though? 

Only the bottom three would vote against it.

3 hours ago, sir_gary_cahill said:

I thought Evans was outstanding at Villa Park in the league, he doesn’t get the credit he deserves, great player 

You are right . Evans has been outstanding all season. He is the reason Soyuncu was able to have a break thru year. 

As time progresses my feeling is that the year will be cancelled. I originally thought that league would restart, but not anymore. Just how relegation & promotion will be dealt with I have no idea. As always it will come down to money !!

25 minutes ago, Junxs said:

Looking forward to seeing this in "other football". Probably the worst loan signing we have ever made. At least that Spanish goalkeeper we had didn't cost us any points and saved a penalty. 

Probably Burnley's as well.

On 28/03/2020 at 06:50, TRO said:

Its a suspicion, I have had for a while now.....thats why I don't think it will change.

I do think teams mirror the manager.

but players like Danny Drinkwater won't change it.....the one playing for Leicester, might have done, this is where due dilligence is lacking.

It's become quite apparent that the Danny Drinkwater that played for Leicester has gone & doesn't look like coming back. He was a massive gamble especially after not making the Burnley side & I can see why Villa thought they might getting a deal. How he can show up so badly out of shape is beyond me & how Villa didn't pick up on that is worrying. He has one more year on his contract at Chelsea & I guess he will milk it to the end.

23 hours ago, Hornso said:

I thought this was a low risk move and if he replaced Lansbury as an option off the bench it was an upgrade. I was undoubtedly wrong. 

I actually thought that the move had a real chance of being good for both club & player but that may be  the reason I'm not the head of scouting.

Whatever the final outcome is people will be pissed off. It's a no win situation for the league!!

4 minutes ago, HalfTimePost said:

We have a game in hand though. It can't be that black and white. Not just for us either

Points per game average.