Tomaszk

He gets plenty of support at games. As long as he keeps working hard, that will remain the same thankfully.

If he scores this weekend, I demand he talk about him before every game. I don't care about him scoring overall tbh, I just want him stop playing so badly.

I believe the last team Smith spoke out about Wes, he bagged two at Norwich. Let's see it Wesley!

Good words from the manager backing a player.

Good shout. Not a bad idea at all.

He's a brilliant player. Plus his name is Milot which is fun to say. Milot. We're in a similar spot to Werder in the league, could probably tempt him over if there's no bigger sides in. I'm sure there will be some interested parties if he's available.

Imagine how upset everyone else would be if we did though

You'd get no complaints from me to play Bjorn v Leicester and Sheff U and bring Ezri back for Norwich and Southampton.

Plenty have broken down and explained reasons why they think he's not good enough. Perhaps some have just said "he's crap" and not explained it, that's poor form. This is Andre Green last season all over again though. He looked terrible in nearly every appearance. People got upset when others said it "not backing players" blah blah. I wanted him to do well! Support is always there at our matches. But he was clearly not good enough. Yes even after the Sheffield Utd header he wasn't good enough. I don't care if Wes doesn't score another goal this season if he lifts his performance and starts contributing to our play regularly. We'll batter teams and he'll be a welcome name of the team sheet.

Although brilliant for players' confidence, I think he almost has too much belief in them. Maybe it is possible to be going to Chelsea/City and outplaying them, but I can't see it with this current squad. Also clearly great belief in his own coaching ability. I love Dean Smith.

Wes works really hard. He's just really crap.

One of the great joys in football is sneaking a 1-0 win away from home you probably don't deserve. I'd have no problem setting up like a Sheff U or a Burnley; kicking off with a defined plan, grinding out a result. I have no interest in playing Steve Bruce percentage football where the team goes out to sit in their own box and the game happens around them. Compare Burnley and Newcastle at Villa park. Our performance didn't differ too much, the ambition of the opponents made those two matches very different. I wouldn't complain if Smith tried, on occasion, a more reserved approach. It could yield results against better teams. If he went out playing Steve Bruce football, I'd be disappointed and wonder if he'd hit his head getting out of bed. We were right in the Chelsea game up to the end, they knew they were in a match even if they should have won by more.

I assure you we'll be playing 433 and largely playing a possession based attacking game. I've said we need to show some flexibility with our formation for ages now, it's a weakness for me. The intention though I don't have an issue with. It's the reason every game is a sellout these days. We're a pleasure to watch most of the time, gives me great hope for the future. Even if we're to suffer midtable mediocrity or even a relegation over the next few years I enjoy watching us. It's been probably 10 years since I could say that.

I think Chelsea was a pretty good performance v a very good side to be honest. It was better than Brighton which we won. A good level to aim at. I think hunger to win the ball back was there as well to be honest. Only moment we didn't was when Targett and Hourihane both became boneheads and watched Willian pick out his cross, that was very very poor. Wouldn't have happened with McGinn out there, he showed a bit of form which was a welcome return.

Is it a masterclass? Did they do anything different from the game at VP where they got dominated, and will most weeks doing that. Going away from home and not participating, just sitting back and waiting. Urgh, horrible.

He doesn't have to morph into Benteke, he just has to raise his level up from terrible, and we'll improve so much as a team. Give it to us Wes!

There was a really quick pace to that game yesterday. Loose touch and you probably lost the ball. It worked in Luiz's favour nicely and forced him to speed his game up a bit. He's only looked ropey in very easy moments when he's coasting along thinking it's easy because he's so talented. If he can keep that quicker pace he'll be a huge player for us. Really good performance when be came on.

Good player but he's very much a main man for Monaco. He'll also be on a fortune and would probably want an increase. Be a great signing but shouldn't be looked at until a striker is sorted IMO.

Fair enough, I disagree. All those players to me have shown a few times, some more, that they can play football. Haller would be so good for us, he's exactly what we need in that sort of target man that drops a bit deeper role. The only comparison I have for Wes is Gestede and Bowery who the ball used to absolutely bounce off like a wall when they tried to control it. Bowery jumps to mind more because Wes does work hard running down defenders and that's all Bowery ever did "well". Agree with bold bit. Though we don't need someone to hit the ground running. It'd be great obviously, but just some good performances and some hope of development would be good. He looks truly terrible, there's just nothing to work with, and I'm gutted about it. Need to stop starting threads, think my last two have been Wes and bloody Kalinic.

26% possession for Newcastle. Was it another smash and grab? Didn't see it but relieved Steve Bruce is nowhere near this club. Don't let trolls ruin the site. That guy has been doing nothing but talk us down since Smith was here. I don't know who he is, but it's really annoying to watch him derail thread after thread. Very surprised he hasn't been banned.

Get back to the Mings thread with your insults please. You've got to contain them in one thread or you'll be unbearable.

This really is top notch. Hope we have to same huge upswing in performance when Wesley is replaced like Taylor was. It was like we'd had a weight lifted off our backs and could breathe. I reckon it'll be even more noticeable with a striker as well. Purslow really has to work some magic to get some funds released for a striker. We're almost all there. We're looking good in almost every game as a whole team and we've got a central striker giving us nothing. If anything, actively breaking down most plays when he's involved.

Iheanacho and Kean are miles and miles better than him though. They've hardly had any minutes, and when they have, even when not playing well, you can see they can control and kick the ball 90% of the time. Wes needs 4 passes into him to trap it once. The market is silly at the moment yes I agree. It's certainly not his fault he cost £22m. If he was £2m, maybe there would be less frustration? I will say though I genuinely can't believe how bad he is. If he was a punt from league 2 for £500k I'd be disappointed because he looks like he can't play football. How on earth has £22m been agreed? Has he gone off a cliff during the summer? Maybe he's the sole player at Villa who has managed to go backwards under Smith.

I'm seeing it more Andre Green right now. "Occupying space" is class. Such a funny phrase to praise him.

I'm telling you, he's a joke this guy.