I’m sorry, but you’ll have to forgive me for not wanting to do cartwheels over our winter window business.
Reading around, it seems the word I’ve come across most to describe our dealings is “underwhelmed” and that’s about how I feel.
While the Guilbert signing intrigues me, it’s obvious he’s one for our future plans and that’s fair enough, although I do wonder why we’re signing players for the future, when we need them now, if we’re really going to push on for promotion?
Looking at the rest of the signings, it’s a similar story.
Mings seems our best bet and I like the sound of him, but he’s hardly played in years.
Will he be ready to start tomorrow? I’d be surprised, but we do need to give Chester a rest. The problem I have is that U-23 match fit is not Championship match fit.
Which leads me to Hause, who was supposed to have looked the business in training, but hasn’t been able to oust an injured Chester. What does that say about either the player or what Dean Smith told us?
The minimum for me, is that he’s nowhere near ready.
Kalinic is finding his feet and definitely seems a better goalie than Nyland, although it’s early days.
And then there’s the enigma which is Tom Carroll, who strikes me as a desperation signing when the Fer transfer fell through.
Hopefully he’ll add some more intensity in the middle, compared to Whelan and Jedinak, but I’m not sure exactly what his role will be. Competition for Hourihane, perhaps?
I’m just a bit concerned that Swansea’s fans seem glad that he’s gone, but at least he’s had a few games this season.
Ok, on paper, we’ve rebalanced the side somewhat.
But we all know the game isn’t played on paper and if it was, we wouldn’t be where we are now.
I’m minded to ask how we’ve actually improved a single position and would welcome thoughts on this.
So, all in all, I think we’re pretty much going with what we’ve got, which ultimately won’t be good enough, this season, at least.
So while I don’t think much of our incomings, I think our outgoings are mostly good moves.
Hogan to the Blades is a risky one, but as it was, we were only depleting his value by not playing him.
Yes, he might ultimately cost us promotion, but I’m not convinced. If Sheffield can get him firing, fair enough. At least he’ll retain more value when we do let him go.
Bree, well, while I know some were disappointed over this one, I can’t say I am. He hasn’t yet struck me as anything special and needs games.
And then there’s the kids. Smith hasn’t messed about here. He said we were top heavy and has cleared most of our attack out on loan.
Rightly so, as most of them were never going to get a game and need real minutes in a man’s game. This is the encouraging part for me.
If they do well, they come back and seriously challenge; if not, they get binned.
Bedou, I’m really not bothered about.
And McCormack, well, good riddance.
Anyway, given my views of the academy being a waste of time if the lads are never going to move up, I’m very happy about our outgoings.
So onto tomorrow’s game and I don’t have a clue what to think.
Will Mings go straight in?
Will Carroll play?
Will Reading have an advantage now that they’ve got rid of Bacuna?
I simply don’t know.
But I’m going for a 1-0 win.
Simply because we ought to win this game.
Comments
206 responses to “Reading – Villa: and transfer window thoughts”
Reading fans claiming that Mings stamped on Oliviera’s face and claiming he will receive a long retrospective ban? Anyone see the incident?
Not condoning foul play but I can recall two clear stamps on Grealish which went unpunished although Maupay did get a three match retrospective ban.
Knowing Villa’s luck …….
was totally accidental hitch from my first impression, the referee was right there also he never saw anything in that incident .
but his judgement was totally crap during the game. referee should learn to allow the game flow, he punished us many times stopping the game to book their players, instead of allowing us to finish the move before booking them.
It was unintentional Hitch.
The Reading fans can say what they like, but one of the Reading players went up to Mings and tapped him on the arm or chest, as if to say “we know you didn’t mean it”.
He couldn’t have really put his foot anywhere else, imo.
Correct Badger, I seen the game, Mings signals the ref and tap his arm to indicate it was accidental.
It seems the media prefer to report it as Mings ‘stamped’ on his face. The problem is if the media kick up enough fuss the EFL will start investigating and if enough pressure is brought to bear (and remembering that Mings has history with Ibramovitch) they’ll decide to ban him for about 8 games – whether accidental or not!
He got 5 games ban for the Ibramovitch incident.
I have a bad feeling about this – hope I’m wrong.
Just to add – the media are reporting that it ‘looked accidental’ or (accidental) – added in brackets – but implying, quite clearly, that it wasn’t and then referring to the Ibrimavitch incident.
I don’t believe there will be a problem Hitch.
I think a lot depends on if it was mentioned in the ref’s report and even if so, it seemed he was happy that it was unintentional.
The media are blowing it up because it’s a story and they’re using Mings’ previous history to justify it.
it wouldn’t be half the issue if it was any other player.
All that’s said where you know my history, when I’ve previously called debatable penalties against us as “definitely so” if I’ve thought it.
I detest foul play, same as you, just as much if it comes from our side.
That said, I genuinely didn’t see El Ghazi’s “dive” clearly enough.
Otherwise, I’d have slagged him myself.
Whatever, you need to see the “stamping” incident in real time, as slo-mo makes it look a lot worse.
That’s the point though isn’t it Badger – ‘slo-mo makes it look a lot worse’ and that’s what the EFL will consider.
The ref’s report is, as you say, vital but I’m unclear on the grounds upon which the EFL can act.
Hitch, I’ve got a twenty quid charity bet that says no action is taken, if you fancy it?
Put it that way 🙂
Only joking (?). I don’t want to put you on the spot.
Not a betting man Badger ‘cos I normally lose and I’m a bad loser but I’ll take you up on it as it’s a £20 charity donation and I never regret giving money to worthy causes.
Just feeling really depressed today, something I struggle with at times – think I might have to find a nice bottle of wine 🙂
I’m not a betting man either Hitch, but similar to you, I’m always happy to lose a few quid for a charity, on this site.
Where I always choose Acorns and usually lose too.
I struggle with depression too, at times.
It’s called watching the Villa. Hmm.
I think this nest of comments will have run out now, so reply at the bottom of the page, please.
Watched the incident and I really don’t know – it’s difficult to move your foot from it’s trajectory if you’re off balance like that and if you try and limit the downward pressure it makes it worse.
The fear I have is that he will be damned and banned because he has history and the EFL will not be prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt – I hope I’m wrong.
I also hope that it was accidental because to deliberately stamp on someone’s face is unforgivable and I wouldn’t want him playing for Villa if that was the case. Of course only Mings knows the truth.
Latest reports have now accused him of a deliberate stamp and the Reading manager has weighed in saying the referee ‘missed the incident’. Long ban coming up.
Thanks guys. I did note that the Reading manager didn’t refer to it after the game.
Reading between the lines it seems to me that Grealish is some way off playing – I doubt that we will see him before March now which is very disappointing after losing him for half the season last year as well.
According to the Sun (I know, not the most reliable source but still) –
‘ASTON VILLA are targeting Nottingham Forest star Joe Lolley to replace Jack Grealish long-term.’
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/8340437/aston-villa-jack-grealish-nottingham-forest-joe-lolley/
What about his other half Cash?
Yes, I saw this one Pat.
Almost like they’re expecting Grealish to leave if we don’t go up, which in fairness, I think is something many Villa fans agree with.
Lolley has good stats and seems a good player.
Maybe this is all part of our forward planning?
Which other half?
Do you mean Pat, Pat? 😉
Badger I was watching a Forst game earlier in the season and the substitutes that came on were Joe Lolley and Matt Cash. Don’t think that the commentator noticed when he talked about ‘Lolley and Cash’.
Ah, I’m with you now 🙂
Surely it’s time for the rose tinted glasses to be removed?
Bruce had more impact than Smith.
I’m not a Bruce fan his style of football was awful. But he got us to one game away from the Prem.
Say what you want but it’s a fact Villa have needed urgent upgrades at CB LB DM and probably winger/mid.
Smith has had months to address this. January was an opportunity either by bringing in new players or (if good enough) youth. Smith has done neither instead he has brought in injured or recovering from injury players or players who are not good enough. I accept Mings may be a good signing.
But even with theses players he has failed to address the weak areas of the team.
How can Smith be supported when he is still playing Taylor, Whelan, Hourihan, Adomah?
Does anyone really think we will achieve anything with theses players?
So why is Smith playing them?
It seems because Smith may have been a Villa fan he is beyond criticism.
Imagine where we would be without Tammy goals?
Time to wake up Villa are at best a mid table Champ team with a selection of players who are not good enough for that level.
Smith has done nothing to address this problem.
Ha, you certainly know how to cause a debate, Ted.
The worrying thing for me, is that you’re making many of the same points I have over the past few months.
The difference is that you’ve bunched them all together and don’t offer any positives at all.
Whereas I do at least try and look for them (I hope?).
It’s why you get accused of being a nose, imo.
Ok, let’s address your points, one by one;
Yes, Bruce got us within a game of promotion. And indeed asked himself what he’d done wrong.
The question here is do you think we’d be challenging for promotion now, with the way we were looking?
I don’t think we had a hope in hell. The footy was awful and the players looked disinterested. Then consider these were Bruce’s players.
Yes, I think everyone agrees that we haven’t upgraded LB and I’m perplexed about that. That said, I thought Taylor did ok yesterday and I’ve slagged him more than most on here previously.
By your own admission, Mings looked very decent yesterday.
Maybe that’s CB sorted? Plus we have Axel due back.
We’ve signed Carroll, who wouldn’t have been my choice, but that’s one Smith will live or die by.
Yes, Smith has had months to look at this, but as has been said, he can’t do it all in one go.
While I wanted the same replacements you do, I think he’s had to be pragmatic and strengthen the squad overall, which by the looks of Mings, he has done.
As fot the youth, this has been done to death.
He obviously feels, along with previous managers, that they aren’t ready and need to prove themselves. Hence he’s sent them out on loan.
Which is something Bruce never did. Why? It’s obviously not been a problem.
“How can Smith be supported when he is still playing Taylor, Whelan, Hourihan, Adomah?”
I’d be interested to know who you’d play instead.
Whatever, it doesn’t matter. Smith can ony go with what he’s got and shuffle the pack in a few ways.
These are Bruce’s players remember, who are not suited to the way Smith wants to play. They don’t have the energy, imo.
Where would we be without Tammy?
Up a proverbial creek, as I suggested just last week.
I can’t debate that one at all.
The point is, no, Smith can’t be defended at any cost purely because he’s a Villa fan, I agree.
But you have to at least give the bloke a chance.
Look. I want it all and I want it now; the same as you and any other Villa fan.
But you’re right.
We’re a middling Championship team, simple as.
And Smith will need time to change it.
Actually, I’m glad you posted your comment, as it reaffirms my belief that Smith is a better bet than Bruce, just as I was having serious doubts.
Things are definitely not brilliant, but at least we aren’t going down the road we were with Bruce.
Which was nowhere, imo.
you get a tick badger just for the common sense you added.
am i missing the point here. are some fans now simply missing the manager they hated and hounded out the door. iam sure that will bring a smile to his face
badger is right, smith has a problem until summer market,because most of the players left behind from bruces reign, are not up to playing his style and tactics. this cant be addressed in one january window. were signing players is very hard, even if you wanted to splash loads of money on players inflated prices. selling clubs just don’t want to lose their players in mid season.
on the incident with mings. if he receives a ban for accidentally standing on the guys face. it goes to show you the game is ruined by clueless officials. its easy to draw up the wrong impressions, when you slow shit down. in normal speed the reading guy fell awkwardly and under mings feet. its nothing more than a bad accident, which needed a warm felt apology nothing else, which mings did straight after it happened. reading fans were making something out of it. not the players or referee. lastly mings will be feeling shit about it, nobody plays football to intentionally hurt his opponent.
I’m glad I get your approval Nath. 😉
Seriously though, you’re right.
The players didn’t make a big deal of it and they generally know if someone’s targeting someone.
I’m sure Mings is genuinely sorry for it happening, but can’t agree that players never go out with the intention.
A certain Roy Keane comes to mind here.
Not that I’m suggesting Mings meant it at all. He didn’t, simple as, for me.
just watched the slow replay and even that shows it was accident. hopefully the officials make the correct decision and not one they feel they need to make, because of the serious damaged caused by the accident,
yeah their are some exceptions, think of the french guy who got totally smashed into hospital by west german goalie schumacher. he never even recieved a yellow that was not even a debatable decision. but most players don’t play to hurt a fellow professional.
I was at Reading yesterday and it was one of the dullest games I have seen in years – However our away support was amazing…. I had to sit in the home end and listening to how our fans got behind the team makes me proud to be a Villa fan….. Shame the players don’t show the same amount of conviction..
Without Tammy we would be really in the brown stuff, and he will go back to Chelsea at the end of the season – so much for building for the future !!!!
Whereas the Brum Mail said it was a great game for a 0-0. Go figure.
I agree with you, fwiw.
Yes, I’ve no doubt the fans were great. Imagine if they’d been given the usual allocation?
It seems crazy that Reading have cost themselves a lot of money, by slashing it.
As for Tammy, agreed. A Bruce signing.
Or was it?
https://metro.co.uk/2019/02/03/tyrone-mings-sends-message-nelson-oliveira-horrific-stamp-reading-star-8430745/
Let’s take a look.
Badger you ask who I would play instead of Whelan Hourihane Taylor or Adomah, that’s my point, Smith has had an opportunity to address one or two of theses positions, instead he has brought in injured, unfit palyers who arguably are not upgrades.
What happened to this new dawn of an international scouting network? It’s gone awfully quiet.
As for being a BN I’ve been going to the Villa since the early 1970’s and had a birthday in the hospital at Villa Park this year, Does that answer your question
Performances against Wigan, Swansea, Hull, Preston, Ipswich and Reading have not been great. Why aren’t theses consideed when judging Smith?
I’m so confused, why it is that Smith gets defended after such a poor run of results and an equally poor transfer window?
You say theses players are Bruce’s, yes I agree the majority are BUT remember Smith has had an opportunity to make changes and Bruce got us to the play offs WITHOUT Tammy.
By the way I’m not suggesting Bruce is the answer his football was boreing and drab. What I’m saying is Perspective. Smith has shown no evidence of being able to develop, progress Villa.
so what fans are saying on here, smith is not good enough to manage aston villa. ??
also 4 months is more than enough time, to make enough sweeping changes to the squad ???
i think badger you need to get a poll running on here. cause if this is the over whelming views.= i need to get me a straight jacket and join in
Nath – I don’t fully agree with Ted as I believe it raises the point that Badger has raised – namely over expectation.
I agree with Ted that we are not (yet) a promotion side and the table doesn’t lie but I don’t accept his criticism of Smith because I think his expectations are unrealistic; nor do I accept that you can just fill all the sides weak(er) positions in the January window as if every other manager / owner is going to fall over themselves to help Villa and we have endless lumps of cash to throw at it. I think Smith did OK in the window.
Smith has to work with the tools he has and, to that extent, he has improved our playing style. Agreed results have been disappointing but I reiterate – how many clubs in the Championship could lose two key players with long term injuries and not be affected – answers please on the back of a postage stamp!
Neither do I accept that without Abraham we would be ‘in the shi*te’. He can only score if chances are created – and we have created boat loads of quality chances since Smith arrived. I believe Kodjia / Hogan would similarly have converted a lot of those – perhaps they might not have missed as many?
Don’t misunderstand me Abraham is an outstanding footballer but sometimes it seems to me that Villa fans actually enjoy wallowing in the Slough of Despond – and I’m probably as guilty as any at times.
Keep challenging our views Ted, it makes for good debate,
totally agree with that hitch
Apart from the players going out the club (mostly on loan) I thought it was a disappointing window apart from Mings who if he stays injury free will plug the hole Tuanzebe left. As for Smith we can’t judge him until next season and a ‘proper’ transfer window. January window is a waste of time IMO. You either get other teams cast offs or you pay way above the market value which we would be stupid to do. The Guilbert signing we can’t have an opinion on till next season! The annoying thing for me are fans with rose tinted glasses who think we have great players and will win 3 or 4 every week. We have 4 good players in Abraham, McGinn, Tuanzebe and Grealish. These players are capable of playing in the premier league. All the others are mid table championship standard and I’m being generous with a few of them. We can blame the previous owners, Di Matteo or Bruce although I think it’s been a combination of all of them. Bruce’s football for the most part was poor and his decision to let Elphick leave with a threadbare defence probably cost him his job. Smith has inherited this and when Tuanzebe got injured things were exaggerated. Smith also began putting players in their favoured positions, such as Tuanzebe and Grealish and until these two got injured we were playing great football. Fact is we have struggled to replace them and results and performances prove that. I trust in Smith and he was my choice but he shouldn’t be blame free when he gets it wrong purely because he’s a Villa fan. For instance his substitutions in the last two games I thought were negative and I can never support playing Whelan unless there are no other fit players. Taylor as well although we don’t have as many options. It’s a results based industry and Smith will need to start improving on this otherwise he will be following Bruce out the door. Sorry for the long post BTW.
Enjoyed it Holte 66, as ive said before time will tell , yes I’ve been a taken back on his selections and substituting, but fed up with people not able to see where all this is going, players have 6 months now to say they are in Villa Park next season.the players you’ve mentiond are in my mind able to hold heads up high, the rest are not Villa players. We’ve not seen yet to make comments on the new signings at this time of the season but give it time.
Cheers Bill. I’m hoping this summer we will start to see our future and not a breeding club for loans and mercenaries. If we can find a couple more McGinns I will be delighted.
HOLTE 66 I agree a fair and articulate view.
Nath it appears you have not seen the word Perspective within my comments?
What are the excuses for not addressing the squad and the poor performances?
As I said where is this international scouting network?
If Smith continues to play Whelan Taylor Hourihane Adomah Villa will struggle and performance will be poor, fans will turn.
You may have forgotten the away fans have already started singing “your not for to wear the shirt”
convenient how fans with rose tinted glasses forget?
Let’s be honest what would happen if Tammy wasn’t available?
I guess we would end up in the bottom quarter of the champ, what would the fans do then?
Smith is currently being saved by Tammy.
Ted, the summer regardless of which league we are in offers a great opportunity to transform the team / squad. With so many older players coming to the end of their contracts, Smith will have plenty of time to plan and build a team to suit his style. I do worry that we won’t have Abraham, Grealish or Tuanzebe next season because I don’t think we will get players of their calibre, unless we do somehow get promoted, then we stand a good chance of keeping them. I hope the new owners are true to their word and see us as a long term project and not do a Lerner and lose interest. On a positive note Smith said that Grealish is running without issues and just awaiting results of scan. Fingers crossed there are no problems.
Tbf Ted, I think we have answered your questions regarding (Smith’s alleged failure to address) your perceived weaknesses within the squad – you are at liberty to disagree but please don’t ignore them.
What you haven’t done is offered your views on what should have happened – should be happening, who Smith should be selecting in the team; be interested to hear that. I also get the sense that Smith wouldn’t have been your choice in the first place?
Smith needed to bring in two players capable of covering and improving defence and DM.
Mings might be one answer but the rest are questionable.
I certainly would not be playing Whelan or Taylor.
Smith’s the manager he needed to resolve this. I don’t have the influence he has.
You ignore the fact fans are already chanting, airing their negative views.
You ignore my comment asking where is this supposed scouting network?
For me Smith and the owners are at fault for not addressing the weak areas.
Don’t forget Villa freed up money when they sent certain loan players back to their parent clubs.
Smith may disagree and actually rate Whelan Taylor and Hourihan if that’s the case Smith will be gone by next season.
You surely can’t argue that Villa’s overall squad is poor?
Ted you don’t really want a manager you want a magic wand. Unfortunately we’re stuck in the real world where successful teams aren’t conjured up overnight. In truth we were a middling Championship team when we were in the Prem and nothing’s changed (yet).
Such negativity has IMHO been a large part of why we haven’t done better in the past. You’re part of the problem and not the solution. At least give the manager the time he needs before before throwing in the towel.
wished i could award this post most. more common sense i like
Ted – I’m not for changing the manager after just four months and I can’t really believe you mean to criticise our new owners who have already invested heavily in the club.
Of course I’m disappointed in our recent run of results and it would be great if we could have acquired top class players in the specific areas you have highlighted in the January window but, to expect that is, to use your own expression, looking at things with rose tinted glasses.
I wan’t at Reading so I can’t comment on what the supporters were singing but Saddened was and he posted how good the support was from the terraces and how brilliantly they got behind the team. I was at the Ipswich match and I didn’t hear any negativity. As for the scouting network, I know as much as you do – as for international we have signed the French right back Guilbert.
Of course I wouldn’t argue the squad is poor but neither do I think it’s as good as some supporters suggest, nor do I think it the best in the Championship.
As Holte points out, the real work has to be in the summer whatever division we are in and I, personally, would be disappointed if the owners decided to change managers again before then,
Ted, I’m pretty sure it takes more than a couple of months to set up a scouting network capable of bringing in desirable playes capable of making a difference.
Also, defence was a bigger priority than defensive midfield, there are still FFP rules to comply to and let’s not forget that perhaps there were no better DM’s available than we currently have.
You sound a little deluded as to what we should be expecting at this stage of the season.
i am not intending to have a go at anybody or single out ppl with different views. i simply just want to understand what fans are wanting and thinking.
ted i have no excuses for the going on at villa under smith. i aired my views and they are ridiculed more than i cared. but i seriously can not damn a manager for his work when we are talking 4 months in the role.
you mentions players they are good players, whelen is a full international player with massive experience. hourihane when he was a barnsley he was aone of the top attacking midfielder in the championship, this season he scored and created goals. he is also a international player. the trouble is the players which are in the squad are mostly bruce type players.
smith tactics is most high energy, which is high pressing a#nd with the ball its high tempo quick passing. basically its not a tactic you wished to play when your career is closing down and your over 30
The bet is on then Badger – may the best man lose 🙂
Would you mind if I donated to the Basement Project – local to where I live and which helps local, vulnerable young people.
Of course, Hitch.
I’m sure it’s a good charity 🙂
Ooh, good debate going on here.
Unfortunately, i have to be up in 5 hours time, so I can’t chip in, just now.
Catch you later lads.
If you’re returning to the UK – have a safe flight mate.
We all like to whinge every now again, but it’s alarming that some fans are turning on Smith already. We will NEVER be successful as a club again, as long as this extreme and disproportionate negativity continues to poison the club, because what that negativity does is pile on pressure that no mount of money will help a human being handle. In other words, it doesn’t matter how much money you pay a man (manager or player), he will crumble under extreme and disproportionate pressure. If that pressure is coming from those whose role it is to SUPPORT, then there is a very serious problem. Unfortunately, the only way to solve that problem is to EJECT those whose ‘anti-support’ continues to poison the atmosphere at VP, and ultimately out chances of future success. The argument that “I pay my money so I can boo if I want” simply isn’t true. Yes, we pay, but why would you pay to damage the club you claim to support?
I am not impressed by recent results either, but let me remind those who are losing their heads that this poor run of form is obviously, based on the facts and stats, a direct result of the absence of Jack Grealish primarily, and to a slightly lesser extent, Axel Tuanzebe. For this obvious reason, Grealish MUST NOT be sold in the summer, UNLESS enough money can be raised from his sale to rebuild the WHOLE SQUAD. £50 million should do it, minimum. I have been critical of him in the past, but the run of results since he got injures is all I need to know.
Also, before he got injured, we navigated 8 of the most difficult fixtures in the league to a point where fans were waxing lyrical about Smith, even when we conceded 5 at home to Forest. (I was critical at that time, so don’t think I’m biased for Smith.) At that time, the only problem was the defense that Smith inherited from Bruce. A superior, or even average defense, would have resulted in at least an extra 5 points from those 8 fixtures, which would have resulted in a magnificent haul of points rather than the decent one we got.
Smith and Terry MUST be given FULL SUPPORT for a FULL SEASON until anyone has a right to make the type of hyperbolic, knee-jerk and frankly, idiotic comments which are currently being made.
Maybe Smith isn’t good enough. Maybe the scouting network is a sham. Maybe we’d be bottom without Tammy. Or maybe, if we stop piling pressure on and start supporting, things will slowly but surely start to change.
Please, if you do not want to support Smith and the players on the pitch, do everyone a favour, including yourselves: do NOT attend Villa Park, unless it’s to watch Rod Stewart in the summer.
UTV
three great posts posted setting me up for a great week,
supporters by definition support the club through hard times. smith has not been here long enough to sort out years of mismanaging. please give him time to return us back to the premiership
FA awaiting referees report before deciding whether to investigate Ming’s alleged ‘stamp’.
Unless they are prevented from doing so by the rules around retrospective charges the FA will act and give him a long ban given that the pressure from the media and social media are such that Ming has already been pronounced guilty whether he is or not.
Just to add one other point – if he’s charged by the FA how does he prove it was an accident?
Is astonishing how an actual perspective can be ridiculed and dismissed.
This is precisely why I posted. Blinkered views do not help to focus on facts.
It’s always said, lose the way fans you lose the support, so when the chants of your not fit to wear the shirt (Wigan)
start surely it’s an indicator.
Theses views manifested themselves following poor substandard displays,
It wanst just Wigan.
Conveniently some seem or choose to forget.
It seems questioning a manager (not calling for the sack) is frowned on, is that because he is possibly a Villa fan?
Debate and points of view are healthy and necessary.
It appears a majority are now accepting this session is a mid to bottom half campaign.
I’m sorry I find that unacceptable because with a couple of key addissions the squad would improve immensely.
How often have fans questioned Whelan Taylor, Hourihan?
Are you seriously saying Smith has not had time to find a Whelan or Taylor replacement?
Remember Smith was already in the championship managing Brentford, Brentford are a forward progressive team always planning for new players to address sales SO that suggests Smith should already have players who can fit into his style identified.
Ted – we are debating the points you raise or trying to 🙂
Just reposting the same points over and over again doesn’t make your views more valid than any other on here.
One example of the problems of the January window – we did everything possible to sign Leroy Fer – I think the majority of fans would see him as an improvement in midfield – Swansea pulled the plug. How many other lined up targets do you think we may have missed out on because their club were unwilling to sell in January?
That’s the point I think you are missing.
Ted I find it interesting that you think that any players that Smith might have in mind for Brentford would immediately slot into a totally different team. Not very realistic.
I think most of us are just saying at least give Smith a summer window before going ballistic with your criticism.
Just an update on the Tyrone Mings situation – now Olivieras wife has called for a lengthy ban – I’m just waiting for the PM to add her call to the FA.
Mings is now found guilty by social media whether it was deliberate or not and the FA will not stand up to that whatever they might privately think.
Get your £20 out Badger 🙂
Think he’s had it Hitch, I read that very same news, he’s being found Gilty on past incidents at the minute, his wife said he knew where his head was and deliberate.
Ah, might have to eat my words – according to Birmingham Live, FA to take no further action.
Maybe their lawyers have advised them that without clear proof they cannot accuse him of foul play etc., etc.
Better go and find my wallet 🙂
Hitchens60 it’s interesting that you choose not to focus on the points I raise in particular away fans already turning.
I agree 4 months is not a long time yet the away support are seeing something, doesn’t this concern you?
The point about players fitting into teams is sort of valid if it refers to a manager who already has his team and a vision, it is however contradictory if you say Smith needs to build his team but he can’t change a team, makes no sense.
Smith as a proven champ manager should already have an awareness of players HE is interested in, he has also had 4 months to address weak areas of the team, he has not achieved this.
Are you suggesting the club admit we are a poor team who will do well to finish mid table?
Maybe that’s the answer, be honest with the fan base and tell us there’s no chance of promotion because the club do not have players capable.
Why can there be perspective?
I can only draw a conclusion from what Smith says and he clearly feels promotion is still achievable. Personally, I don’t, but as I’ve said before that doesn’t mean I’ve given up hope; a point I’ve made before.
On the issue of away support (or fans support generally) I did comment based on my experience and Saddened’s post. Supporters are entitled to air their views and the performance at Wigan was so dire, I’m not surprised they had a go at the players – however I wouldn’t draw the same conclusions as you – but that’s about individual opinion.
Finally, I’m not such a critic of Whelan and Hourihane as others. Whelan is a no frills player that plays to his strengths. I watched him closely against Ipswich and, frankly, he did nothing wrong. Broke up play well and distributed the ball accurately including a couple of good attacking long passes. Similarly I think Hourihane offers more than he’s sometimes given credit for – just my opinion.
Can we improve on them – of course we can – but it doesn’t make them bad players.