Tomaszk

Really like Smith and we need to stick with a manager we believe in for at least a full season. I want it to be him. There's going to be a big rebuild with or without him. There's going to be a turnaround of around 15 players this summer. Whoever is in will be given a great opportunity to mould a squad. If Deano shows nothing beyond putting out the same 433/4141 every week and we get thumped every week, he's making it hard for me to be against replacing him at the end of the season. Yes the players aren't good enough in multiple positions, and plenty seem to have stopped trying. You can try a different shape, you can try passing out from the back again. We haven't taken a short goal kick in a month. Obviously it would have to be a strong option to replace him, I have no interest in trash like Steve Bruce being allowed back at Villa. But someone like Jokanovic is going to look more appealing if we've crashed and burned for five months.

Fortunately for him, Jack Grealish who has testicles the size of space hoppers is coming back. All it takes is controlling the ball, and turning to face forwards. Jack does it almost every time he gets the ball, Conor bottles it, he's easily good enough.

Careful, you'll have someone slapping you round the face with his pass completion stats in a second. He's done the system this guy. Genius.

Doubt we'll make it to the play-offs now, but I really do think when he's back to 100%, we'll look loads better. It only takes a couple of passing moves for the confidence to spread through the team. They'll all be showing for the ball once Jack has shown them how to do it. Desperate for him on the bench v Baggage.

This was one of the better performances under Bruce in his entire time here and we still only scrambled a draw. Hammered them is over doing it though; I know Bruce was congratulating himself after saying it was one of the best Villa performances in years - might even have been one of the first appearances of his "shutting our fans up" routine. They missed a sitter right at the end to beat us again didn't they? I can't remember their goals, wouldn't surprise me if Nyland chucked them in though.

Agreed. However, if there's an outstanding candidate in the Summer, I wouldn't cry to see Smith replaced if things continue this way. The Summer is a clean slate whether Smith stays or not, we are going to have so many ins and outs. I'd except we'll sign at least 6 permanent players and 4 or 5 loans. He shouldn't get the job of the rebuild just because he's the man in the chair at the moment, he has to show that form of Nov/Dec wasn't the anomaly. The persistence of a predictable formation that is not working game after game is tiresome. I would like to see try something to stop this. A 343/3421 seems obvious as our full backs are shite, yet it's 433 every game. I hope he turns it round and presides over a successful time next season.

Spurs won in the Champions League tonight. We lost in division 2. My whole life growing up we were better than them. They were floating around midtable when we were winning cups and finishing usually top 8. What a shame.

Such a strange decision. Was great up until then.

Wrong thread

I agree with your message but the problem is that I think we can do better than this, even with the recent history of not playing any football. As I've said before, we'll be wiping the stains of RDM and Bruce wastage off us for years and years. I'll give a bit of slack but performances like that are not acceptable. Just as aren't when we comeback to draw them 3-3, and weren't when we were winning them 1-0 last season.

We should have had a pen. We missed two clear one on ones. Adomah and Hourihane. We could have nicked it, but didn't deserve to. Surprised if he said that.

Surprised you're not used it. Happened every game we've played them in the last three years.

The most worrying thing. It changed within six weeks of Smith coming in. We've now reverted.

Disgraceful last two performances. We could have had four points from them and it wouldn't change that fact. Stinking, Bruceball nonsense. Where have the short goal kicks gone? It's like watching the last regime again. I'll say again I like everything he does, usually calls it right, but on the pitch stuff it's been sliding.

Season over yes.

It's tight. Which is not a good review at all.

Rickety, lop-sided run like he's towing a carrot picker or something.

Man he could strike a ball. I remember when he made his debut for West Ham. He'd only been on about 5 mins and hit a mad volley from about 30 yards.

We missed out not getting Johansen from Fulham. He would've improved our first XI instantly.

Yeah good debut, looked skilful, linked well with Hope. Looked poor to me, shirked tackles and headers, played a few neat passes but messed up more. Very promising but looked like he needs time to settle down a bit. Got a good kicking. Linked up well with Hope. Looking forward to seeing more of this lad

We missed such a trick not getting Johansen from Fulham.

Funnily enough, Jon Obi Mikel spoke this week about the rollicking Terry used to give them when he was captain at Chelsea. I don't know if it's something he's had a bash at here, but it wouldn't hurt every so often when they put in some sloppy stuff like up at Wigan. Different approaches can lead to the same result. (Hopefully wins!)

Heard he got MOTM so had a scour on the only forum I could find.... Great that he got the sponsors award! I think the "good kicking" he got will stand him in good stead going forward as well. This is his Grealish @ Notts County toughening up period, can he still do it when he's receiving dirty treatment? Up to him to figure out how to play through it. We've enough wimps in the first XI atm, fingers crossed he comes back ready to go next year.

Dunno, I can imagine it. I don't think he's a Sven figure who literally never raised his voice. He's spoken about trying to be calm when talking to the players and explaining what he wants them to do though. Makes sense.

He has to build on the myth. It'll be echoed around now. "He never got a chance" "They were always against him because of Blues" He was working on it while he was here! When he could see nothing was happening. Inventing stick and trouble that wasn't there. It's worked a charm, there's villa fans even now that defend him. Good to have baddies in sport though. People you can really cheer against, even when your team isn't involved in the match. Makes things more fun. It is a slightly different time now to even five or so years ago. Fans have a louder voice through social media and football coverage in general, Villa fans won't let him get away with it which is great. No matter how much his children scuttle around stamping their feet. I can't wait for the amount of fruit and vegetables that will be brought to Hillsborough. As well as the monstrous "Sit down potato head" chants that will be sung throughout. He'll hate it and win lose or draw he'll be building on the myth after that match as well.