Elton

Smith has deserved time after what he achieved last season but until he can set up a team not to be a soft touch as a defensive unit questions have to be asked. Hourihane in midfield, away against a tough opponent will never end well. Add to that Jota & Lansbury and it’s too weak. All 3 have certain qualities but to start all 3 together was a mistake. Not easy as we don’t know the fitness condition of the rest of the squad. But we have been a soft touch all season defensively and our midfield set up is an issue. Hopefully Mings returns soon as early January signings are unlikely, as the market doesn’t really develop until last few days of the window and that could be too late for Smith.

Hard to call this game. I’d say Watford are the clear favourites but maybe their own fans would say the opposite. Was it Smith or Bruce who said last season that he regretted not changing the team with a short space between games? Although, I don’t think that there will be many changes, maybe the following: Fred-Elmo Hourihane-Nakamba Jota-Trezeguet Kodjia-Wesley Although as Kodjia never got any minutes in place of a clearly knackered Wesley yesterday, I wonder if Wes will start again.

I thought he played very well today. His best attribute is that he is brave on and off the ball. In a relegation fight we need as many players as possible to show bravery by showing for the ball in tight areas and being brave enough to not just take the easy option in possession. Jack is obviously a stand out but Luiz is improving all the time. He gets very tight to opponents and will give away fouls but that’s preferable to being standoffish and allowing the opposition to do what they want. Not afraid to tackle, shoot, try a through ball. He needs to stay in the team now and hopefully we’ve told Brazil’s U23’s that he’s staying with us in January!

So, was that a first for you or something? I was at the game too. I’m quite comfortable in my opinion that he had a decent game thanks. We all know he’s no world beater but he is the best we have for now, at least until Keinan gets fit, so he gets my support and most at the ground today appreciated his performance.

Well, it resulted in 3 points. He played well, zero service and did what he could to help the team get over the line.

Did he say that though? I haven’t listened to the PC but this is the quote attributed to Smith below, which isn’t that we were always in a ‘relegation’ battle. ‘We’re always in a battle. Sometimes you have to take stock. We’re third bottom in the Premier League and in the semi-final of a major cup competition. Sat here this time last year, we were a mid-table Championship team. We’ve come a long way in a short space of time, we had a big turnaround in the summer and we still need additions in January as well. We’re still working hard and battling on all fronts and that will continue. Our competitive edge has to be there whether we’re in the bottom three or the top three.’

With another game in 2 days, I think there is a high probability that Wesley and Kodjia will rotate the starting place. I expect Wesley will start today given his goals in the away fixture.

It could be out of date but these were the last figures I could find from BBC. ‘Clubs cannot make a loss in excess of £105m across the 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons (as with FFP, investment in infrastructure and youth development is exempt).’ So we’d have a couple of years to balance books if needed and if stadium ‘sale’ ratified we may be in slight profit last 2 seasons, as Xia’s 1st crazy summer has expired by the time we next need to submit accounts, so maybe there is room still? I would think the owners/Purslow anticipated the possibility of needing to use January for reinforcements and I recall they said as much in the summer window.

No, of course it won’t help but he is one player and can be replaced with Kodjia, Davis, new signing etc. He is not at fault for where we are. We aren’t good enough as a team all over the pitch at present but the knives are out for one guy.

Yeah, a centre forward who gets little service is a bigger issue than a team that can’t defend. I’m not saying Wesley is doing great at all and shouldn’t be replaced but some people (feel free to include yourself) are clearly blind to the bigger issues. I can think of several players who are playing similar or worse than Wesley but don’t get the same amount of stick. I understand it though, as some fans can be quite simplistic in their understanding of football.

As the Wesley debate continues at pace, we are the 7th highest scorers in the Premier League. Wesley is far from our biggest concern.

Was thinking the same. I don’t have a problem with any of our CB’s as individual players but other than Mings, I don’t see any leadership or drive. I’m not convinced his fitness is good for 90 minutes in PL though as yet and you wouldn’t generally start a CB you don’t expect to see out 90 minutes. Expect he plays in the FA Cup next.

Exactly, we know he has his limitations but the childish hyperbole in this thread is ridiculous. He did ok today, one of the few who had a half decent game. The crowd were generally supportive of him today and appreciative of the effort he put in, as one of the few that didn’t hide and kept working.

I know, I’d just rather save the doom and gloom until January.

I’m certainly not calling for Smith to be sacked but I don’t think the new contract is a negative. This gives some certainty to the players in a tricky period. Also, Purslow et al, aren’t stupid. There may well be a clause that compensation is limited if sacked when in bottom 3 etc. We had a tricky spell this time last year and Smith came out of it with flying colours. Obviously another level of difficulty now but sacking Smith isn’t the answer. This can still be turned around quickly with the upcoming fixtures.

I expect Smith thought we would be on the front foot against Southampton, so Connor got his fairly usual start against the other bottom sides. Invisible as expected but harsh to single him out in a poor team display but we just can’t afford to carry him. He only wants the ball when he is in loads of space and can’t impose himself on a game at this level. Great left foot or not, he shouldn’t be near the first team starting line up.

No one came out of that game with any credit. Even Jack was ineffective for most of the match, although he hardly had any support and was surrounding by Southampton players when he had the ball with little options. Connor invisible. El Ghazi worst game in a while. We need to try something different, setting up the same way every week and going ‘toe to toe’ as Smith says, isn’t working. Defensively we are too easy to get at. Although Mings and McGinn have been off form, they proved today what massive misses they are and Mings in particular we need back quickly. Wesley again wasn’t our worst player today by any stretch but Kodjia did make more happen when he came on. We need to change something, although I suspect Smith may stick the usual game plan against Norwich. Fred was poor today and I think Elmo will come in. Massive game on Boxing Day as the crowd are starting to turn and that never helps anyone.

If we can hammer the current runaway league leaders with our reserves, we can certainly beat these. Another 5-0 to the Villa.

It’s their U23’s for a pre Olympic tournament, which is why I think we can and should refuse. Although he does have a full cap now.

The owners own the football club and they also own Villa Park, through a separate company structure. So they can develop it any time they want to, just as they did in the summer with the various facelifts to parts of the ground.

Totally agree. Douglas will offer to receive the ball in tight spaces and doesn’t look to hide himself between players so he is not in a position to receive it. He more than punches his weight in challenges too. He’ll only get better and needs to play on Saturday.

Really pleased Wesley got a goal. Despite the opposition it was a very good finish.You could see from the off he was really trying hard and not hiding. Of course that’s the minimum you expect from a professional footballer but you don’t always get it. When confidence is low some won’t make as many runs or hide from the ball. I believe that’s a good sign that he is the type of character to fight through his poor form. Hopefully he’ll get a boost going into the next few games when he should get better service and can get scoring again.

Weird night. Hard to judge players against that team but Nyland and Douglas were very good. I think we now know that Klopp was trying to get thrown out of the tournament by playing that ineligible player in the early round. Onto the semis, can’t wait to play Man City over 2 legs...

Fantastic tonight. He has always been great with his feet and an excellent shot stopper, apart from the odd clanger... I guess all keepers go through sticky spells and perhaps it was unfortunate that his was at the start of his Villa career. I certainly have no worries with him coming in as a back up. Should keep his place for the semi’s.

262 minutes in the league, less than 3 full games. Seems daft to write players off so soon. Plenty of players need time to find form. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I rate him either, I just haven’t seen enough to pass judgement either way.