MellbergsBeard Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 With about 9 players out from the first team I am happy with how we have started. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomaszk Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 13 minutes ago, dubbs said: I really hope DS has time to replace ROK and JT whilst there's an international break. Fresh faces bring new ideas (hopefully). I think Percy said last week the new coach has been appointed but is serving notice at his current club. Hopefully they'll be in soon but Terry only left 26th July; notice could easily be a couple of months if the coach has been in place for a few years? I think a freshen up will help everyone. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomav84 Posted August 29, 2021 VT Supporter Share Posted August 29, 2021 all we needed was a mcginn or ramsey and we'd have won yesterday IMO. even with a number of players missing we are still doing OK. smith's doing just fine with the tools he has 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest av1 Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 22 minutes ago, MellbergsBeard said: With about 9 players out from the first team I am happy with how we have started. Absolutely. The last couple of seasons we have agreed that the first 11 was good but worried about squad depth. Yesterday we saw the fruits of the strengthening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazmonkey Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 Based on the team amd the players available then you can not judge Smith. However what you can judge him is that it's the same performance since start of the year. There have been moments but it's still the same. I'm watching MOTD at the moment...all the games I'm seeing players in all teams taking on players....passing...moving....testing the keeper...not one pass...two pass...hoof down the line...repeat...giving the oppo time and space like we do. I'm hoping that when everyone is fit...new players in we have an 'identity' to how we play...then we can judge him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jbvilla909 Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 Pretty sure I read that the new assistant would join in the international break, could be mistaken though 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Silvers Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 3 minutes ago, av1 said: Absolutely. The last couple of seasons we have agreed that the first 11 was good but worried about squad depth. Yesterday we saw the fruits of the strengthening. We're still not finished either, the top clubs can field 2 top international pro's in quite a few key positions. We are far from finished but yesterday showed that we are on the right track, because as @MellbergsBeard says above with that many out this is more then acceptable. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvfcRigo82 Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 46 minutes ago, dubbs said: I really hope DS has time to replace ROK and JT whilst there's an international break. Fresh faces bring new ideas (hopefully). Wasn't Craig Shakespeare the replacement? I'm not sure we need to replace Terry though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubbs Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 Just now, AvfcRigo82 said: Wasn't Craig Shakespeare the replacement? I'm not sure we need to replace Terry though. Wasn't Shakespeare here long before those 2 left our am I imagining it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xela Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 (edited) 41 minutes ago, Danishlad said: what's all this this judging Smith nonsense. He has been here for three or four years. lol Before this season, only one team has made more progress up the leagues than us* (Crewe Alex, I think). He deserves not to be judged after 3 games with an injury crisis. *since Smith was appointed Edited August 29, 2021 by Xela 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xela Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 1 minute ago, dubbs said: Wasn't Shakespeare here long before those 2 left our am I imagining it? Yes, he was assistant with Terry and ROK. Always thought having 3 was a bit overkill. 2 have gone now of course, so I imagine we'll just get the one in to replace them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delphinho123 Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 4 points against Newcastle, Brentford and Watford is pretty poor tbh. Especially with two of those games being at home. These are teams that are likely to finish between 15th-20th. I actually think Watford and Newcastle will go down (if they keep Bruce). Given the context however, it’s not the end of the world. We’ve been plagued by injuries and Covid which has really affected us. With the Emi’s off to Argentina, our reluctance to really properly replace Grealish in the market, our niggling injuries and the issues off the field, avoiding relegation has to be the first target this year. I know that sounds mad, but we need to get to 37/38 points as quickly as possible and make sure we don’t get dragged into a dog fight. We’ve got some tough fixtures coming up. If you think a top half finish or Europe is realistic, I think you’re in a for a rude awakening! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvfcRigo82 Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 1 minute ago, dubbs said: Wasn't Shakespeare here long before those 2 left our am I imagining it? Shakespeare only joined a year ago. Maybe the club knew then that RO'K was going to call it a day a year later so it gave Shakespeare time to get used to the club? Just my thoughts on the matter. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Silvers Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 1 minute ago, AvfcRigo82 said: Wasn't Craig Shakespeare the replacement? I'm not sure we need to replace Terry though. McPhee and Cutler seem to be at the forefront now too. Having watched Cutler taking sessions on avtv, I like how strong and authoritive he is. McPhee seems to have a particular high level skill in certain areas that could be adapted to other areas of coaching. And of course Shakespeare is highly experienced. As you say, a defensive coach seems all we need maybe. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
useless Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 (edited) Matt Maher from the Express and Star who's usually got the inside dope has said that the appointment of a new assistant is imminent, the decision on who it's going to be has already been decided behind the scenes, just waiting for an official announcement now. There are quotes from Smith taken on the matter, so it's definitely happening, apparently going to be someone who's worked in Europe, I've seen a few suggestions that it might be Lars Kornetka, but not sure if there's any basis in that rumour. Edited August 29, 2021 by useless 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macandally Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 12 hours ago, Delphinho123 said: If you’re ever down about Smith and Villa in general, read this. https://newcastle-online.org/topic/36685-steve-bruce/page/263/ Makes for fun reading. It could be a LOT worse. It’s amazing that despite 95% of people who follow football see Bruce as completely useless, he still has people who back him. This is why we shouldn’t have short term memories and those berating Deano should take a breath. We have gone from defending the 18 playing 10 defensive players to actually playing foot front, progressive football even when we are decimated by injuries and it would be easier to shut up shop. We are not yet where we belong, but you cannot argue we are going in the right direction. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaFaninLondon Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 I've said this before but there's no way Smith survives if we're scrambling to reach 40 points. Even if he does use injuries/COVID/internationals/no Grealish/squad not up to speed or any other lame excuse. It's already come from the horse's mouth that bettering last season's position is the aim so he'll be judged on that. Having only 4 points from a kind start when 7-9 was doable with better preparation means we're already playing catchup and now we've got a tough run of games. If Smith doesn't feel the squad is strong enough to beat Watford and Brentford regardless of the injury situation then he needs to say we require more investment. Instead he is saying he's happy with what he's got and seemingly happy with the start we've made, which is a defeatist attitude. 4 points is a poor return so far. Now he's under pressure to get results from a tough run of games otherwise the atmosphere will turn pretty bad. I hope he's prepared for that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Zatman Posted August 29, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2021 4 minutes ago, VillaFaninLondon said: I've said this before but there's no way Smith survives if we're scrambling to reach 40 points. Even if he does use injuries/COVID/internationals/no Grealish/squad not up to speed or any other lame excuse. It's already come from the horse's mouth that bettering last season's position is the aim so he'll be judged on that. Having only 4 points from a kind start when 7-9 was doable with better preparation means we're already playing catchup and now we've got a tough run of games. If Smith doesn't feel the squad is strong enough to beat Watford and Brentford regardless of the injury situation then he needs to say we require more investment. Instead he is saying he's happy with what he's got and seemingly happy with the start we've made, which is a defeatist attitude. 4 points is a poor return so far. Now he's under pressure to get results from a tough run of games otherwise the atmosphere will turn pretty bad. I hope he's prepared for that. Lost me at better preparation. Yes clubs fault Dean had to isolate. Clubs fault Covid ruined 2 friendlies. Clubs fault that we have a ridiculous injury list Blame Smith for everything 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Zatman Posted August 29, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2021 I think some people want Smith to fail just so they can say they told you so after 3 years if negativity Even if he is sacked he will still be our best manager in the last 2 decades 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DCJonah Posted August 29, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2021 5 minutes ago, Zatman said: I think some people want Smith to fail just so they can say they told you so after 3 years if negativity Even if he is sacked he will still be our best manager in the last 2 decades You know it. When it eventually comes to an end, the same ones will be straight on to tell us how they always knew he'd fail. Regardless of what happens in the future, Smith has built the foundation for any success we might have. I can't remember the last manager that actually left a positive legacy. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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