CharlieAitken59

The only 'clear and obvious' thing is that VAR kills the beautiful game!

Its claimed that VAR will make the game 'fairer'..... that is the 'supposed' USP banded around!  Can someone please explain to me HOW it can possibly be fairer without checking EVERY decision?  Ok, give a penalty for a forward clearly tripped in the area.....but what if he was tripped following 'a wrongly given corner/throw in/free kick?..... what's clear and obvious to me is  the resultant penalty is nonsense.....is that fair? Moreover, if the free kick, throw in was guven correctly (to the right team) who's to say that they wouldn't have gone down the other end and scored....so now they are potentially a goal down when they could have been a goal up......can someone tell me whats faiir' in this examplle?  And yes, this happens all the time!.......I've seen 3 such incidents this weekend!

Whats fair if Manure are a goal up at Rochdale in the FA cup with 5 mins to go when Rochdale should have been awarded a 'stonewall' penalty......referee doesn't give it and Rochdale do not have VAR (due to the cost)! .......how is that fair?  Literally £millions lost by Rochdale in terms of lost revenue that a replay at Old Trafford would have yielded!

Clear and obvious/fair/simplified/correct..... you're having a laugh!

VAR.....not for me.....dont kill our game!  And before you say it, I usually embrace changes, but this one is not good for football IMO

4 hours ago, sidcow said:

So is anyone going to put up some stats showing how Smith is basically no better than Bruce?

No, thought not. 

Steve or Alex?

The fans are supporting DS not only because of the results but we are being 'entertained'! This is down to the coaching staff.  This blows apart the the 'so called' breakdown of the dressing room spirit that some on here were claiming! Good players always prefer the 'pass and move' style of play rather than 'hoofball'....it lifts the crowd and subsequently gives confidence to the players!.....long may it continue!

Absolutely fantastic football yesterday in the first 30 mins.....some of the best passing I've seen for many a year at VP.  If we can somehow keep JG, McGinn, Mings and Hause next season we will blow the Championship apart (if we're still in it)....a joy to watch after the McLeish and Bruce anti-football!

Fantastic again yesterday. Not much between him, McGinn and Mings for MOTM

Only been going since 1959!

Not a fan but that was one of the finest passes I have witnessed at VP. Pinpoint accuracy and the correct pace on the ball whilst traveling at speed.  Exceptional!

2 minutes ago, rodders0223 said:

He gets way too much hate, the issue is his legs are gone but for me there is no doubting his footballing ability. He can play one touch, and he can ping the ball about, and he does try and fire the ball forwards into feet...he isn't an Ashley Westwood and from day one he has been miles ahead of BB.

Agreed! Gets far too much stick IMO.  We know his better days are behind him but he's a great professional. I made him my MOTM against Derby!

p,s.  Hope Mrs Whelan reads this!

I dont think he's started a game yet.

Would love him to get the winner tonight. I cant really make my mind up about Scott. Havent really seen him play well for us and his ball retention and first touch has been woeful at times! Is it simply a 'confidence' issue with him? I dont think DS has written him off yet. Does he get another chance at VP or are his days numbered? I feel that he may thrive on the sort of service that Tammy got for his goal on Saturday!

3 hours ago, Stevo985 said:

Hutton's is in the conversation as well I reckon.

For different reasons, I don't think it's anywhere close to as good as Grealish's or McGinn's but goals like that often do well because of the scenario.

Although Huttons goal was special given the opposition his surge forward was barely challenged.  Still McGinn for me although both were very special. Great corner too from the much  maligned (unfairly imo) Gen Whelan!

20 hours ago, villalad21 said:

I would put trust in Steer and sign a proper defensive midfielder.

Hause and Mings been good but they are loans not signings.

So you know that we could have signed Mings and Hause rather than loaning them? Can you please tell me where you got your informaion from?

Which 'proper' DMs were available and were they affordable?

DS recalled Steer and has played him in the last 2 games so I guess you can say that he trusts him! Good competition for Kalinic (or would you prefer to have Bunn as back up)?

2 minutes ago, sharkyvilla said:

I think Carroll was meant to be the cover for Jack but also got injured.  Obviously not like for like as Jack is head and shoulders above everything in the division, but Carroll's pass and move football would most likely have fit Smith's style in a similar way.

Agreed, although different to Jack, Carroll is a good player who's injury happened at a bad time for us!  He is definetely a DS type player. You could see yesterday his potential to play well under DS....hope he stays fit for the rest of the season!

10 hours ago, Kiwivillan said:

Whelan probably the most consistently good player last 5-6. Doesn't Smith have less say over player transfers than previous managers now we have DOF and not to mention restricted by FFP?

Yes, I agree, Whelan has been really good for us lately. I made him my MOTM yesterday. Had the best period of his of his Villa career in the last 5 or 6 games imo

10 minutes ago, Demitri_C said:

Yeah I think Smith tried using Kodjia but that hasn't worked. I would hav eliked to have seen El ghazi as he looks suited. Green for me isn't in same mould. 

Yes, I agree that El Ghazi was worth trying in JG role. He's a good player who just needs to add consistency into his game. Could be a big player for us next season, if we decide to buy him!

1 minute ago, Demitri_C said:

I agree to a extent but it's consistentency which Smith hasn't achieved yet. We will lose games granted but it's how we respond to those. The problem we have is we just seem to fall apart without grealish. Whoever the manager is that is not good enough if you want to be promoted. 

Grealish picks up major injuries each year so we need to have a team able to challenge without him. Looking at our accounts I don't see how we won't get a transfer embargo next year unless we sell grealish. 

 

Agree with most of that.  I'm pretty sure that DS would have tried to get someone to play the JG role in January.    We need a plan to play without JG as you rightly say.  I am sure that we will buy someone in the summer to address that issue!

11 hours ago, villalad21 said:

He had a chance to start that in January.

Unfortunately he decided to waste millions on a bang average goalkeeper when we desperately needed strengthening elsewhere.

I think our January business was outstanding! Fixed the defence, Hause, Mings, Guibert, Kalinic and recalling Elphick.  Fixed the midfield with Carroll and retained the attacking threat by keeping Tammy.  I cant see much else he could have done in such a short period time with the scarcity of available players in January! Whst would you have done?

12 hours ago, Demitri_C said:

One result doesn't change anything for the last twelve games. 

It only changes if Smith consistently wins games. If wec go and lose at the sty next week then this week's result means very little. So I wouldn't "gloat" yet 

One result may not change anything but 2 good performances against Stoke and Derby can!  Confidence is all important ! No one is 'gloating'; we are simply enjoying the moment and if you can't do that, what's the point?

12 hours ago, Demitri_C said:

I'm not going to name names mate. This person has told me a lot and has been right with every one so far. 

Well 'one win' doesn't prove anything. Let's see at the end of the season how many we go on to win? Next week won't be as easy as today that's for sure. 

If you're not certain then you will be better off saying nothing... wouldn't you agree?

And who said one win 'proves anytthing'? Not me!

Well done DS.  In the relatively short time he's been here he has done remarkably well IMO.  He recognised that the defence needed major surgery and fixed it!  At the same time, and without Axel and Jack he has been improving our attacking threat too!  He has now got the balance of the team spot on! Now that the defence is more settled coupled with the return of Jack and improved fitness levels he has been able to revert to the attacking football that he's renowned for.  So now we have the balance which was sorely needed before his arrival.

If he can achieve so much in such a short period then I have complete faith in him to take this club forward after he has had a pre-season and he has brought some of his own players in!  We all need to be a little more patient!

In Dean Smith I trust!

Would love to start next season with Hause and Mings in the back 4.  Smith has done really well with the defence in the short time that he's been here!

27 minutes ago, Demitri_C said:

The taste of humble pie tonight for me and its quite delicious! 

I love it when I am wrong for the right reasons

I asked you in the DS thread where you got the info with regards to a 'disruptive' dressing room? I didn't see any evidence of that today.  I saw a performance from each and everyone of the team that suggests otherwise! 

This may be a but controversial but Whelan is my MOTM.  I think he's been one of our better players since the Sheff Utd comeback!  2 glorious goals today and he played a significant part in both of them (especially the team goal) with great play from Whelan, Elmo and Tammy!

0-0 second half...Smith out!

The biggest headache I've got today is who's volley is the best.....Grealish or McGinn?

Your vote is?