M_Afro Posted December 31, 2021 Share Posted December 31, 2021 I love the way he is with the media. There’s no joking or arsing around, it’s strictly business. He has a real air of authority about him and the media are clearly on edge with him. You have to really believe in yourself to behave in that manner. Manager’s who lack belief use their friendships with key figures in the media to create a false narrative (not naming names but look out for flying cabbages). 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A'Villan Posted January 1, 2022 Share Posted January 1, 2022 I think it's too early to get excited for me just yet. Desirable run of outcomes for us yes, however I wonder about how much influence SG has had on those results. We have had less of the ball and less shots in some of those victories, and we have a very capable outfit making up our ranks. Five straight losses is far from ideal and I can fully understand why it's considered a deal breaker for our owners with the ambitions they have, as well as the nous to achieve it. Yet I wonder if Gerrard is so far above Smith that he would not succumb to five losses considering the teams we played. Four of which find themselves top half, two or three in European placing. Wolves was a disaster comeback that should have been a win for us really. I digress. Very much optimistic in the boards decision making ability that we have made a more suitable appointment to move upwards. However wondering if Smith was really behind a rot at all, and if SG will be better as I held Smith in a high regard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villalad21 Posted January 1, 2022 Share Posted January 1, 2022 2 hours ago, A'Villan said: I think it's too early to get excited for me just yet. Desirable run of outcomes for us yes, however I wonder about how much influence SG has had on those results. We have had less of the ball and less shots in some of those victories, and we have a very capable outfit making up our ranks. Five straight losses is far from ideal and I can fully understand why it's considered a deal breaker for our owners with the ambitions they have, as well as the nous to achieve it. Yet I wonder if Gerrard is so far above Smith that he would not succumb to five losses considering the teams we played. Four of which find themselves top half, two or three in European placing. Wolves was a disaster comeback that should have been a win for us really. I digress. Very much optimistic in the boards decision making ability that we have made a more suitable appointment to move upwards. However wondering if Smith was really behind a rot at all, and if SG will be better as I held Smith in a high regard. Smith assembled a counter attacking side. We don't have the players to play possession football yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A'Villan Posted January 1, 2022 Share Posted January 1, 2022 17 minutes ago, villalad21 said: Smith assembled a counter attacking side. We don't have the players to play possession football yet. Smith had at different times varying approaches to the way Villa played football. Playing possession football is a tactical approach or philosophy, and when Smith came in, he took an underachieving side and got them playing a short passing and ball retentive game, while it took some time to get the results and outcomes, we had been noticeably better with keeping the ball and creating chances than our opposition and soon enough the desired results came with. I think the contrast in Bruce and Smith's tactics and set-up is enough for us to see that you can have a side assembled any which way you like, consistent results come when the coaching and management is done well. While certain players are more suited to a given approach it is the overall mechanics and chemistry of a team which decide how good they are, or if they are lacking. I think Smith wanted to have a side that was capable of playing many ways. I think this is shown both in his formation and personnel recruitment . Our midfield consists of players who are technically sound and also able to play a holding role or even a volante in the case of Dougie. Smith actually says as much in an interview on coaching and development. He says as professionals there really shouldn't be many aspects of the game that players aren't exposed to. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villalad21 Posted January 1, 2022 Share Posted January 1, 2022 1 minute ago, A'Villan said: Smith had at different times varying approaches to the way Villa played football. Playing possession football is a tactical approach or philosophy, and when Smith came in, he took an underachieving side and got them playing a short passing and ball retentive game, while it took some time to get the results and outcomes, we had been noticeably better with keeping the ball and creating chances than our opposition and soon enough the desired results came with. I think the contrast in Bruce and Smith's tactics and set-up is enough for us to see that you can have a side assembled any which way you like, consistent results come when the coaching and management is done well. While certain players are more suited to a given approach it is the overall mechanics and chemistry of a team which decide how good they are, or if they are lacking. I think Smith wanted to have a side that was capable of playing many ways. I think this is shown both in his formation and personnel recruitment . Our midfield consists of players who are technically sound and also able to play a holding role or even a volante in the case of Dougie. Smith actually says as much in an interview on coaching and development. He says as professionals there really shouldn't be many aspects of the game that players aren't exposed to. Easier to play possesion based in the Championship where the teams you come up against are so poor. In PL under Smith we've always been a counter attacking team. When Shakespeare arrived we became even more direct. Bordering a long ball team. Will take a while for Gerrard to change the style. For now he seem to be focusing on defensive structure which is understandable. A pre season and recruitment will be gold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A'Villan Posted January 1, 2022 Share Posted January 1, 2022 1 minute ago, villalad21 said: Easier to play possesion based in the Championship where the teams you come up against are so poor. In PL under Smith we've always been a counter attacking team. When Shakespeare arrived we became even more direct. Bordering a long ball team. Will take a while for Gerrard to change the style. For now he seem to be focusing on defensive structure which is understandable. A pre season and recruitment will be gold. I don't think that's accurate. Just under half of our fixtures this season under Smith that were against bottom half sides, we averaged 59.5% possession. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A'Villan Posted January 1, 2022 Share Posted January 1, 2022 6 minutes ago, A'Villan said: I don't think that's accurate. Just under half of our fixtures this season under Smith that were against bottom half sides, we averaged 59.5% possession. You are right in that sides with more talent and skill in them will generally have more possession than their opponents, but it's not a given and not every powerhouse club plays to have as many passes as possible for each attempt on goal. @villalad21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A'Villan Posted January 1, 2022 Share Posted January 1, 2022 "Is he the best in the world? He might not get the attention of Messi and Ronaldo but yes, I think he just might be. He has great passing ability, can tackle and scores goals, but most importantly he gives the players around him confidence and belief. You can't learn that – players like him are just born with that presence." —Zinedine Zidane on Gerrard, 2009. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaslash Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 (edited) Nice interview with SG on Sky. I think he is very respectful of Smith. He also talks about the Watkins and Ings conundrum. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/12506692/steven-gerrard-on-the-extra-pressure-he-felt-for-a-bright-start-at-aston-villa-and-how-he-managed-it Steven Gerrard on Sky "Aston Villa are stronger for having both options available; does that mean I'm going to force them to play together? No. Are there games where they can play together? Yes. The conundrum for me is an exciting challenge, and I've got to try to find the right answers and solutions. If one of them is injured or was to go, that doesn't make Aston Villa stronger or better at all - so we should appreciate both of them. Edited January 2, 2022 by villaslash Add quote 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WallisFrizz Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 6 hours ago, villaslash said: If one of them is injured or was to go, that doesn't make Aston Villa stronger or better at all - so we should appreciate both of them. Interesting choice of words…message to the fans maybe… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 18 minutes ago, WallisFrizz said: Interesting choice of words…message to the fans maybe… Gerrard spent his isolation scratching his head reading the Danny Ings thread 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJCB Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 7 hours ago, villaslash said: Nice interview with SG on Sky. I think he is very respectful of Smith. He also talks about the Watkins and Ings conundrum. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/12506692/steven-gerrard-on-the-extra-pressure-he-felt-for-a-bright-start-at-aston-villa-and-how-he-managed-it Steven Gerrard on Sky "Aston Villa are stronger for having both options available; does that mean I'm going to force them to play together? No. Are there games where they can play together? Yes. The conundrum for me is an exciting challenge, and I've got to try to find the right answers and solutions. If one of them is injured or was to go, that doesn't make Aston Villa stronger or better at all - so we should appreciate both of them. Really well put Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don_Simon Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 This guy has a lot of work to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLax Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 Honeymoon is over. Now we find out whether there is a real improvement from the manager change or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefanAVFC Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 Decent start, we've only lost to Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool, and... uh, Brentford. Shite. Gutless shite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mantis Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 He'll be livid at that. Looked completely different to our previous games under him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudevillaisnice Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 Today was the first time I’ve been really disappointed, hopefully he will find some players just aren’t cut out for where we want to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sne Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 Obviously he was still suffering from Covid and therefore couldn't be enough of a winner on the bench to lift the performance of our players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mantis Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 Knives already coming out I see. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCJonah Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 Nothing matters this season. Let him start to build his squad in the summer. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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