DCJonah Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 1 minute ago, barry'sboots said: I get this and agree that another couple of windows and we should have a great squad BUT Smith's lack of tactical flexibility and inability to find a way to play when things are not going well is alarming. He is a million miles away from, say, Rodgers. Losing to Liverpool - tweaks to a 4-4(diamond)-2 and turns it around. He is able to flex his tactics/formation to the players he has. There is no way that we should have started a game with Trez on the pitch tonight - he has stunk the pitch out with every appearance he has made over the last 3 months or so! If Smith can't see this I am not sure what he is watching? Agreed but he's only been managing in the top flight for one whole season. Rodgers is a superb manager. One of the best in the league. Dean Smith isn't perfect. But he's done a great job and surely deserves to continue to build his squad. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaVilla Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 (edited) 3 minutes ago, DCJonah said: I've read this a few times. What was lucky about it? lucky in the sense that the good form has "luckily" saved us from a bit of a mess right now. I dont mean luck as in a fluke, but we should count ourselves lucky/fortunate we had such a good run which means our current poor form isnt leaving us in a relegation fight. Edited March 21, 2021 by MaVilla Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaChris Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 One thing I don't like....that one point stat all season when we're losing games. Not going to be top 6 anytime soon if you just give up in games when losing. Tonight we were fine at 0-0 but rarely looked like doing anything once we conceded and two nil finished the game totally. Arsenal came from 1 down v Spurs just 7 days ago. We need some more belief as we'll be behind in many games next season aswell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 1 minute ago, danceoftheshamen said: It is not the system for me it's p*** poor quality of play by various players. Poor decision making and execution of pass etc. Very odd as for the first 10 games or so they were much better. That for me says it's more about mental focus than anything else. Better quality of players is needed in my mind to work this system. Yep, between the back 4 and Watkins there are 5 players who week in week out are garbage and their replacements on the bench are no better, no matter what combination of 3 he puts in the middle it looks shit and gets outplayed Definitely agree on the mental side of it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCollins29 Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 I cant figure out whether its smith who has no clue what to do without jack or whether the players just dont believe they are good enough without jack. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCJonah Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 2 minutes ago, MaVilla said: lucky in the sense that the good form has "luckily" saved us from a bit of a mess right now. I dont mean luck as in a fluke, but we should count ourselves lucky/fortunate we had such a good run which means our current poor form isnt leaving us in a relegation fight. Hmm. Not sure I consider it lucky. I think there are a few reasons we've dropped off. I think full credit to the team for such an amazing first half of the season to allow us to never really worry about relegation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PieFacE Posted March 21, 2021 VT Supporter Share Posted March 21, 2021 50 minutes ago, Don_Simon said: I wonder at what point Deano starts to feel a little anxious about job security? No time this season that's for sure. The bloke has done and incredible job with this club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xela Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 2 years ago we were mid table in the Championship 1 year ago we were around the relegation zone in the Premier League Today we are mid table in the Premier League Yes, we have been poor in recent weeks but we have come a huge way in 2 years. We're not going to be world beaters in that time, we still need to improve and strengthen the squad, which i'm sure we will do this summer. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevpants Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 Still absolutely back Smith but he needs to do some work here. Any system that only works when you have one of Europe’s most creative players floating around in it isn’t a good system. We aren’t awful. Our players are readily praised during this bad run. We have no cutting edge though. If you think about it like an NFL team who have the defence the offence and special teams. Our offence team is poor and underperforming. I wouldn’t include Watkins in that. He is playing his role well but he can’t link up with anyone. The guile isn’t there. The accuracy isn’t there. NSWE need a coach who can cope with that and they won’t trust their team to Smith if he can’t. At the same time we’ve heard a lot about these recruitment geniuses we’ve hired. Time to start identifying some upgrades lads! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demitri_C Posted March 21, 2021 Author Share Posted March 21, 2021 If we end finishing 14th it really isn't that much much progress Smith spent alot we should br lookin at top 10 with this squad 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 4 minutes ago, ciggiesnbeer said: Still love Smith. I want to see him switch things up more though. if you plan isnt working then have a plan b and implement it early. He should think long and hard about the management lesson he got today from Jose Mourinho. Did he? I thought spurs were pretty poor too, not sure what tactic they employed that outdid us The difference is they had Moura and Kane 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 1 minute ago, GingerCollins29 said: I cant figure out whether its smith who has no clue what to do without jack or whether the players just dont believe they are good enough without jack. I think is a confusion on the players, Jack is the go to guy all the time and without him they are a bit confused. Sweden used to have a similar issue with Zlatan and the players looked a little clueless without him as it was natural to just pass to him. Something that can be coached but its not easy mid-season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 Just now, Demitri_C said: If we end finishing 14th it really isn't that much much progress Smith spent alot we should br lookin at top 10 with this squad Disagree The defence and the away performances show good progress If we maintain this defence next year and make the same jump forward in attack then we have made a lot of progress 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippo Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 Recruitment the issue IMO. Smith has very few options - he doesn't get a free pass though. but has credit in the tank for me. We need to stop farting about with £15m additions - we have enough of those now. We also need to be braver with the youngsters many of whom will be at an age to be considered next season - and maybe the tail end of this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 His job is safe but we mustn't finish the season on a low. Have to question some of the signings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 2 minutes ago, Demitri_C said: If we end finishing 14th it really isn't that much much progress Smith spent alot we should br lookin at top 10 with this squad Its a lot of progress from staying up on the last minute of last season. Our squad is not a top 10 squad by far. Trezeguet, Elmo, McGinn, El Ghazi, Davis dont get near a Leicester, Wolves, Everton or West Ham squad 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PieFacE Posted March 21, 2021 VT Supporter Share Posted March 21, 2021 3 minutes ago, Demitri_C said: If we end finishing 14th it really isn't that much much progress Smith spent alot we should br lookin at top 10 with this squad We've not spent that much really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerner's Driver Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 6 minutes ago, DCJonah said: I've read this a few times. What was lucky about it? Lucky that the other teams underestimated us at the start, and/or weren't up to speed with our dynamic early season play, lucky that we were able to rack up those points because if the rot had set in just a little bit earlier than it has we would have been in a relegation fight this year as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 1 minute ago, hippo said: Recruitment the issue IMO. Smith has very few options - he doesn't get a free pass though. but has credit in the tank for me. We need to stop farting about with £15m additions - we have enough of those now. We also need to be braver with the youngsters many of whom will be at an age to be considered next season - and maybe the tail end of this. what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 Just now, Lerner's Driver said: Lucky that the other teams underestimated us at the start, and/or weren't up to speed with our dynamic early season play, lucky that we were able to rack up those points because if the rot had set in just a little bit earlier than it has we would have been in a relegation fight this year as well. If thats the case surely Liverpool are lucky they picked up all them points before Christmas as well as they could be in a relegation fight as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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