Villarocker

The thing about Pukki and Norwich is continuity. They had a youngish side last season that clicked and won the league. They've not changed it and gone on this season with the same way of playing and it's working for them. On the other hand, we had an ageing squad that required lots of changes and we lost two key players in Axel (looks to be replaced by a star in the making and Abraham, whose replacement needs time. We will be OK once our players settle down and gel together. We just have to hope all that happens in time for us to gain enough points to stay in this league.

Does that mean you agree with me about Mings turning his back?

That is so true. He needs to love towards the ball more because then he will have more of it and do more damage to the opposition.

I thought this too! He was probably tricked by an opponent. However, I don't blame him for that goal. From 25 yards out I expect my centre back to block that and not turn his back on it and deflect it goalwards.

I remember you from last season. Mate, seriously, wind your neck in and remember that we were the 5th best team in the Championship, won the final by 1 goal and, have built a squad that has changed by approx 50%. We need time. Smith will make mistakes and so will the players, especially the new ones. If you're panicking this early I suggest you take a sabbatical and come back around mid May 2020.

Wesley does not look like the player to thrive under Smith. I hope to be proved wrong, I really do. But, the warning signs came from his previous fans in that he likes to play deep. We don't need that kind of player, we need a central forward.

Trezeguet needs to play left with Jota right.

No its not ridiculous. How do we know that Guilbert and Targett wouldn't have had a great game and contributed in the final third better than the two that started? Actually, you say Douglas was responsible for the second goal but, if Mings stood square on instead of turning he may have blocked the shot and the goal been avoided.

I debate that because I'm sure that we could have afforded someone like Maupay etc. I'm not saying he won't be what we need, I just worry that he may not be what we need.

To me, Wesley does not look like an out and out centre forward and that really concerns me. It was sort of compounded at the end when he went out wide right and Davis went down the middle. If we do go down this season, I really feel because we will have been let down by the strikers not scoring enough goals. I'm not writing him off! Just expressing my concerns about him and his playing style.

I love him for what he's done so far and relegation or stay up, for me, he stays. However, that does and should not make him beyond reproach. Today, I think he waited too long to make that first sub. Then, I think he should have left Trezeguet on and swapped Davis for Wesley. I think that, further into the season, Deano is going to have a major headache. I don't think that Douglas is a defensive midfielder but, and here's the problem, I think he could well be better suited to where Grealish or McGinn play. Deano may well find himself playing Nakamba at DM then having the headache of having to fit Douglas into the midfield further up the pitch. For me, I don't care about the name or the past. If Douglas looks better than either of Grealish or McGinn he replaces them in the starting lineup. This will show what kind of manager Deano is.

Engels looks absolutely perfect for the Premier League and, in my opinion, is out-performing Mings.

That goal is special!

He had time to turn so maybe, don't turn?

Mings is good and I really want him to succeed here but man does he need to stop turning his back on shots and start fronting up to them.

I am, because the referee and VAR are both fuching blind or just corrupt. No way he avoids a yellow for that challenge on Grealish immediately after being booked. The ref actually checked with VAR. Then, he makes another foul. He won't start the second half because Howe will know he's walking a tightrope.

Heaton had a brain fart for the first and then Mings, for the second time in a week, turned his back on a shot and deflects it in. That's the problem. In other news, Douglas has had a disastrous first half hour of his Villa career and then started to look like he can play. But, should he play in front of the back four? Nakamba for that position next game, for me. Going forward, our best player has been McGinn. Trezeguet next. Ref is an absolute cock head for not sending Billing off.

I'd like to see four changes from last week's starting eleven. Full backs changed for Targett and Guilbert, Luiz in for Hourihane and, Jota for El Ghazi. Switch Trezeguet over to the left and play Jota on the right = sorted.

Aha but are you as fit as these guys?

You could see Deano was a bit miffed at some of the refereeing decisions too!

Damn, seems like I missed out on all the fun in this thread. Never mind, I am sure there'll be other times when it gets lively

Wow, there's some unhappy people here and after just one game. I hope we beat Bournemouth!

I bet that was the worst display of his career. Every time he got the ball he either passed it straight to an opponent or got dispossessed easily. He won't be that bad again.

There was one real warning sign for me and that was when Jack broke with the ball and went on that crazy run. Trezeguet bust a gut to get up there with him and I think McGinn was making up ground through the centre of the pitch. However, Wesley just jogged through the middle like he was going for a stroll in the park. You would think he would also be busting a gut to get up there too. I'm sure there's a lot better to come from him once settled but, with Kodjia's recent history of looking lazy, I think it was a big mistake not to have brought in another striker.

The one telling thing for me was how hard he worked. I recall one counter attack from Spurs where Trezeguet was in the left back position making a challenge. Next thing, he's on the right wing. Great attitude and effort and will only get better once he's settled in.