Villarocker

He didn't cover himself in glory for their first goal. He was too slow to go out to the ball and then, when he did, he turned his back on the shot. If he stands square on he probably blocks that!

A fake news Dean Smith quote poster!

Gotta remember one thing, this team will give it a go in the play-off final and not just go out to stop (or try to) the opposition from playing. I still believe that top two is possible but, if we fall short, I guarantee this team will be in the play-offs and nobody else scares me so bring it on if it happens.

Yeah, they could be already up by the time we play them. Playing them sooner, and beating them, may well have dented some confidence. They've got their hardest batch of fixtures all coming in December and January. If they are still near the top come February 1st, they'll probably go on to win the league as their run-in is quite easy, apart from playing us of course. Their upcoming fixtures include away trips to Blackburn, Brentford and Albion. They also have home games against Forest, Derby, SHA & Sheffield United. They've conceded quite a few at home recently so they may just drop some points against those visiting teams.

To partially answer my own question; from our last 5 games (arguably the hardest we've faced in Smith's time here) we have taken 11 points. This is how the teams above us have compared: Norwich = 8 points Leeds = 5 points Sheffield United = 1 point (from 4 games - yet to play WBA) Derby = 7 points (from 3 games. They can't include themselves and haven't played Forest yet) WBA = 2 points (from 4 games - can't include themselves) Middlesbrough = 7 points (from 4 games - can't include themselves) Forest = 5 points (from 3 games. They can't include themselves and haven't played Derby yet) So, if you replace us with the team we faced, and factor in those results as replacements, none of the teams above us have gotten more points that us when comparing our last five results. When our opponents get easier, the wins will flow.

Bearing in mind the teams we have played, that is! When we play the teams lower down the league we will see this Villa side winning 4,5,6 games on the trot before throwing in a draw. Our recent points return is good considering the opposition. It would be interesting to know how the current top six have fared in the same games we've played since Smith arrived.

Should have netted at least twice. He does miss his share but at least he's there to get the chances.

That's probably why Nyland gets so much abuse then!

If even welcome Cutler between the sticks if it meant Nyland not being there!

He really wasn't ok today. I think he saved one decent shot all game. Everything else he did looked awkward and nervy. The guy looks like a teenage debutant every game! There was even a point where Taylor was out-jumped by Gayle at the back post and even he, as average as he is, gave Nyland a bollocking. That was either because he didn't get a warning that Gayle was there or for not coming for the cross. Nyland is shocking and the quicker he's replaced the less nervous our defenders will be!

That's exactly the word to sum him up! I watched tonight and all the time I thought to myself "FFS, grow a pair of balls and get stuck in like keeper's are supposed to". He had a flap at an early cross. He had a basic shot rebound off him. There was a ball over-hit where Elmo is basically having to scream at him to deal with it, which he eventually did. He's just a calamity in goal. I blame him wholeheartedly for the second goal and also apportion blame to him for the first. Yes, Hutton could have done better. Yes, Chester looked at Gayle three times and still had no idea where he was. But, Nyland saw exactly where Gayle was, started to go out to meet him as the cross was made, then stopped and got beat whilst virtually on his line. If he continued to go out to Gayle he would have narrowed the angle and probably blocked the shot. But, as you said Trent, he's a coward and bottled it. Without doubt, he's the worst Villa keeper I have ever seen.

I think we will be ok as long as we keep both Barnes and Phillips quiet. Stop them two from playing and we will nullify them as a team IMO. I can't believe that Villa won't score at least two goals tonight, so keep three out and we should get at least one point from the game.

That's true, Trent - even Forrest Gump stopped running eventually! A Tesco bag supporting colleague at work reckons we'll trounce them tonight. He says that they'll be without Robson-Kanu and will somehow shoehorn Gayle into a front two because he can't play out wide. He reckons they will go there at the back and whenever they do that they get outplayed so fears our attack ripping them apart.

That's probably because he no longer has to play winger AND left back whenever we take a lead in a game!

We'll just have to settle for a 7-5 victory then

Perfectly said, OBE! Villa will be the most broadcasted team with Dean Smith in charge.

I love the fact that Deano said we wanted to keep the run going and score 6 at Boro. They certainly tried to. Well done all, keep this going and we're going up!

I am loving this Villa right now - imagine how good they'll be when Smith has had a year here? What a transformation!

That is totally down to a modern, forward-thinking manager out-witting a dinosaur!

Because they are morons who know f all about football. We've been more Guardiola than Pulis - fact!

Villa completely bossed that first half and simply because it was typical Pulis tactics of being tight at the back instead of trying to highlight our weakness of not being comfortable on the ball playing out from the back. El Ghazi has been outstanding and him and Elmo have been brilliant down that right side for us. One of Jack's quieter games but maybe he's saving the best for later in the game?

Nyland is more wank than a teenage virgin watching porn whilst holding a playboy magazine and sat next to a box of tissues! I cannot wait for him to not be in goal.

Dean Smith's Villa is a million miles from that which we saw under Steve Bruce. Every player looks accomplished on the ball and we passed it around like Barca fans wouldld expect at times. Thank you for giving us a team and style to be proud of Deano

We scored 3 against Derby, 4 against Small Heath and, 5 against Forest. I expect 6 tomorrow Deano - no pressure!

That's folicilist!