To be honest, I’m not massively bothered about trying to analyse what went wrong last night.
It’s just simple to say we were awful in the first half and were better in the second, albeit still not good enough to get anything against a decdedly average at best, Southampton side.
We could possibly have got a draw or maybe even a flukey win and it might have changed my view slightly. It’s always harder to slate a performance if you’ve got a result after all, but it would only have been covering what’s been happening for a very long time.
I hate the saying, but “papering over the cracks” is what I mean.
My problem when watching Villa games is not a recent thing. We’ve had serious issues in the midfield for ages and I’d bet if I was to look back through previous posts, I’m sure I would find myself commenting about how poor we were in that area eighteen months ago.
Yet still nothing has improved.
The attack and defence have been very much up and down, good and bad, which is fair enough, but that midfield has been a constant.
We probably all know it, but I’ve said it lots of times that it’s usually the midfield battle that decides a game. It’s just critical.
And it’s when I look at our current midfield that I see where many of our problems are. Who, McGinn apart will stick the foot in? Nakamba can do it, but gets dropped the second Luiz is fit to play.
Ramsey can get involved, but he isn’t exactly built like a brick outhouse, is he?
So that’s one issue that hasn’t been sorted because we seem way more interested in attacking with a bunch of lightweights, where if we’re getting over-run, we can’t resort to roughing it up to at least slow the opposition down.
Not having any option in the middle is inexcusable in itself.
But I can perhaps overlook that weakness if the attack is making up for it and quite frankly, we’re outscoring the opposition.
And to be fair, we have done. Not because our attack has been stunning, but because our defence last season was quite simply excellent. Martinez was an inspired signing and even Mings, who I think is awful, was statistically doing very well. So much so, that even I ended up applauding him occasionally.
And then, this season we look incredibly poor all over the pitch. Why?
Well, for me, the likes of the Watford game don’t count. You always get freak games so early on in the season, so I can easily discount that sort of performance. I’ve seen plenty of them before.
But then Smith changed it up at the back, going with a 3 or 5, depending how you see it.
Whatever, it looked totally alien to the defence and Tuanzebe looked horrendously unsuited. I said yesterday that he is way out of form, yet Smith persisted in playing him again over one of our players who is actually on the books, in Hause.
And Tuanzebe was shocking again in a two, let alone a three. Okay, Tuanzebe is a right footer, but it makes no odds to me if you’re playing poorly.
I’m not slating Smith for going to a three in the slightest. What I will slate him for is the fact that even my grandsons could see it wasn’t working, yet still he persisted with it.
I admire Smith for being his own man and sticking to his guns. It’s not so rare, that a manager persists with something that the fans don’t like and ends up being proved to be correct.
But Smith wasn’t correct and his failure to change it back when defenders looked so uncomfortable just makes him look bad.
That’s how it goes.
And then we have the bad luck thing.
It’s true. We have had some awful luck with injuries. But I suggested yesterday that it has to be more than just bad luck. We signed three attacking types in the summer, in Buendia, Bailey and Ings. The first two have hardly shown and still look way off being fit now. Bailey had cramp after 70 minutes last night! I seriously doubt he’s done any serious fitness training this season.
And ings is injured now. Coincidence? I seriously doubt it. You couldn’t make it up.
And then it seems we have major unrest behind the scenes. Sanson was noticeable by his absence yesterday after Smith seemed to have talked him up in the presser. What’s happened there?
And probably the biggest problem of all for me is the fact that so many players just seem to be way off form.
The one single player who I might say is playing somewhere near his level is Matty Cash. I can probably say Konsa, Hause, Young, Luiz and Ramsey have done okay, but some of those don’t feature regularly.
The rest are just way off it and I think it amounts to ten or eleven players who have featured regularly up to now.
That surely has to be way more than coincidence and is either due to them being seriously short of confidence or just non-believers in what we’re trying to achieve. Or worse, just have no respect for the manager.
I ccould understand the lack of confidence thing. Being made to look rubbish in a system you know you can’t play does that to a person. But if that’s what’s going on, who is that down too?
The non-believing thing makes sense too, it’s a reaction to not getting the results required.
So it’s probably a combination of both things.
I don’t think for one minute, it’s a lack of respect. Well, possibly it is on Sanson’s part. But surely he’d have been elbowed from the team setup? Oh, hang on a minute…..
Whatever, I can surmise until the cows come home, but the question has to be do I think Dean Smith can turn things around?
And the answer is a resounding no.
He has the international break to try and do some sort of reset, yet I don’t even see us beating Brighton at home, let alone Palace away, Man City at home, leicester at home, Liverpool away. Even Norwich at home looks a daunting task at the moment and we’ll only have one easier game all season on paper (Norwich at home).
I can see us being seriously mired in the relegation zone by the time it comes to Norwich.
Yes, things seem to have conspired against Smith, but I just don’t believe it’s all down to bad luck.
And then I look at the stat that says we’ve now lost more than any other team (apart from Norwich) in the Premier league in 2021.
And I just can’t get away from it.
What does it say?
That our current plight is not a short term issue. It’s prolonged and is a fact even when we’ve had Grealish playing for us during some of that time.
And quite simply, it isn’t good enough for a team aspiring to the lower middle regions of the table, let alone European places.
I like Smith, I really do. He’s one of us and because of that, I think it’s making us very sympathetic to him.
But that isn’t doing the club any favours. I really don’t want to say it, but if we’re just being logical and looking at the facts that are staring us in the face, he has to go.
I’d much prefer to see him resign or even go with a “by mutual agreement” decision, but I don’t think he’s that kind of a man. He’ll be thinking he can turn it around and that’s admirable. I think the hierarchy will give him some time too, if he makes a good enough case to them.
But it’ll only be “papering over the cracks” and his days are numbered, hence it’ll only be putting off the inevitable.
And I really wouldn’t like to see him being booed week in, week out, which we all know is what will happen.
But then, who replaces him?
It’s the age old question isn’t it?
And I don’t have a clue.
Same as I’ve always said though,it’s not down to me to choose and I don’t get paid the big bucks to do so either.
The thought of getting a Garde type replacement terrifies me.
But I just don’t think things can continue as they are.
I’m gutted for having had to come to the conclusion, but I always knew it was coming.
Comments
37 responses to “Southampton 1 – 0 Villa; Sorry Dean, your time is up (I think).”
Sigh 🙁
Hey, if anyone thinks I’m wrong, it would be great if someone fancies writing something about why he shouldn’t go. Any takers?
Well maybe the owners think he’s the best guy to bring us straight back up when we’re relegated!
Don’t suppose that really cuts it 🙂
Farke gets Norwich’s first win and gets sacked – strange world football management – so trying to predict whether Smith stays or goes is more difficult than trying to predict which haystack contains the needle!
Your suggestion, I think Badger (and that of the Holy Trinity guy) is that the squad is just not good enough particularly in the key midfield area so how would any other manager be more successful if we just don’t have the players?
That’s the dilemma.
We also have to question the recruitment process and, in particular, the role of Lange and Eden’s preoccupation with analytics – is that money ball by another name? Is Sanson a prime example – we bought him because (allegedly) he was available at a discounted price – of a flawed approach to recruitment?
If you believe reports that we pursued ES-R and JW-P then one assumes that mid field frailty had been identified – by Smith? Why didn’t we continue with that strategy rather than switching to the PR buy of Ings and possibly Bailey?
So the question remains – if Smith goes, who comes in and can they do any better with the squad we have?
In the short term I think the owners will stick with Smith but I fear by Christmas we’ll be deep in the relegation mire whoever’s manager.
Hitch, we blagged it for a good while with our poor midfield, because confidence was sky high and we were masking things with good defensive and even pretty good attacking performances.
I’d assume the right new manager would gee the players up and we’d do similar until we get proper ruffty tuffty grafting type mids in.
It would be risky, I know, but I think Smith has blown it, I really do.
Badger
You have written an excellent and balanced argument. I must admit that I oscillate over the Smith stays or goes issue. But in my heart of hearts his time should be up.
The need for strength in the midfield is critical. In the summer we were linked to Sander Berge and recently Weston McKennie. Two midfielder enforcers are required. Whoever is in charge by the time of the January transfer window needs to go out and buy two. As no doubt one will get injured!
However, I do think Lange and Purslow need to be held to account. How could both of them not realise that flair up front needs teeth in midfield to add bite? I recall watching a number of Villa YouTube broadcasts at the start of the season. They all identified the need for addition of steel in the midfield. The one thing all the podcasters had in common is that they are not professional football managers or directors of football. Yet they all spotted this deficiency in our team. Why was it not spotted by our professional experts?
Smith will pay the price. Although he he has contributed to his own downfall.
But this is the bit that really hurts. Smith is one of us. When one of us fails it hurts more. And I will portion part of our current predicament at Grealish’s. He is one of us but bailed on the project he re-signed up for 12 months before. And that is the hub of the problem. When you have a player who is Villa through and through and they ultimately bail out on the project, what hope is there?
The only angle that could make a material difference is a vast increase on investment into the club, starting now:
* pay whatever it takes to get a world class manager.
* pay whatever it takes for the team to secure premiership status with January purchases.
Why? Is the Learner curse about to hit again? He bought Villa and his wealth meant he thought he could buy a top 4 position. Then Man City we’re taken over. His dream died and so nearly did our club.
Now we have even wealthier owners and along comes Saudi Arabia in the form of Newcastle and £302bn! Will our owners loose heart or go for the quantum leap?
Smith’s replacement will be an indicator of the direction of travel our owners intend to take our club.
Sad times at villa park again, I’ve seen it all before ever since I started watching villa back I the fifty’s.
They get so far then just can’t go the last bit remember Gregory, O’Neil , Little, Atkinson, Taylor the only one who managed it was Saunders.
One thing about Saunders was he had a trusted number 2 in Barton.
A bit like Clough and Taylor together great on their own not so good.
Ferguson the same when he had good number 2s.
Was Frank Smith’s ideal number 2 and O’Kelly its always better to have someone else you trust to bounce ideas off.
I think he should be given till Xmas or maybe try get Frank to join him from Brentford.
I’m sad sorry and sick at our awful performance this season Smith has to go and I think Mings as well I am not a fan of of him he is a big man and our captain with a big mouth that breaths hot air and that chewing gum gets right up my nose I like all fellow Villans thought we were going places this season but the players we brought in has not helped only created more problems they have spent more time on the treatment table than the pitch I’ve said on many occasions give our under 23s a go they play as a team if things don’t change we will be relegated and all our players will be sold and back to the championship where we will stay our owners as well will leave after the dream has gone such woe on a Sunday morning so sorry but for me I have something to look forward to my new puppy was born yesterday and I pick him up xmas week his name is Carew after in my idle John Carew so for me I have my dreams off the pitch and not on the pitch I will always be a villain so will my dog UTV VTID
Roy, I think O’Kelly is the one that’s being missed.
Something definitely went on that led to him leaving and there’s no way it was just retirement or whatever.
Regardless, I have a sneaky feeling that we’ll be asking why Smith didn’t back him up, when it all comes out.
Sid, I also think we have to blame the players. There are far too many of them who just don’t seem up to it mentally.
Mings, our captain leads the way, but he’s not alone. He just tells the whole world about it with his big trap. And it’s an awful example to set, imo.
There’s nothing wrong with having this self doubt etc, but keep it to yourself and get therapy or whatever in private, imo.
Nothing is free in this world but the grace of God UTV VTID
Can Smith use the International break to ‘reset’ before the Brighton game; I think that’s the critical question.
On the plus side only Martinez and Bailey have been called up to national sides requiring major travel requirements and I hope Villa will be able to withdraw Bailey as he’s clearly not fully fit.
So Smith will have a large portion of the squad available at BH.
I’m not holding my breath and expect Smith to go if we lose our next game with NSWE having lined up a new manager in that event – but then I’ve never been any good with predictions.
And Bailey really didn’t look that great anyway did he??
My issue with Bailey is he doesn’t know how to defend. Time and time again poor Matty Cash found he had two players coming down his side unchecked. Dean Smith did the usual and waited till half time before swapping Buendia and Bailey. This seemed to be a positive move until cramp set in after 70 minutes which I find shocking because in my eyes they didn’t do anything for the first 45 minutes.
This leads me onto my biggest gripe which is we need to be STARTING games with intensity and drive. Is that down to the players or the coaches for not motivating them before kick off.
Regarding Sanson it’s been suggested that he has been frozen out for kicking off but MAYBE the self isolating from Covid didn’t give enough training time to be included. Hopefully there are no signs of a new bomb squad forming and after the international break we will have a full compliment of players to be selected from.
One player still not fit who is proving a miss is Trezeguet who would offer the protection Cash has been missing. I still think letting Elmo go was a mistake. He is the kind of player even when not playing offered positivity amongst the squad. Hourihane too was a voice in the dressing room although I appreciate the fact he wanted to be playing regularly.
I mentioned Conor Gallagher would have been a good signing in the summer but the opinion was he wasn’t good enough for the premier league. Looks like Palace are benefitting though. We could have signed him on a permanent but now I reckon Chelsea would have him back once his loan period is up. ESR and JWP we supposedly put offers in for but the amounts mentioned were laughable and I wasn’t surprised Arsenal and Southampton told us to do one.
Getting new players in January who can improve us will be difficult when we are flirting with relegation.
Dean Smith sacked! I hope there’s a great replacement lined up.
That’s what worries me.
I can’t think of anyone out there who will be an improvement on DS unless like BFR said and we are going to raid another club for big compensation. Remi Garde anyone?
Who next let’s hope he’s got a magic wand to wave over the treatment table utv vtid
Very prophetic Badger – maybe there’s something in your views about JT and ROK leaving when they did.
It’s not just 5 defeats in a row, it’s the generally poor results over 2021 and his seeming inability to organise or motivate the team without Grealish at its heart that’s done for him. I trust Shakespeare and McPhee will similarly be shown the door.
The IB gives the Board time to get someone in.
Sorry to lose a Villan but nobody’s bigger than the club
Hitch, I said that the day both decided enough was enough, you don’t give up the game like that spending in on case years in the job, there was someone in Smith’s ear and he was in my opinion a fool too not have took control in the first place. He’s been a Mr nice guy from day one, another thing getting at me injuries! ! We have more players going down in training than playing in a match, I think players are playing sick notes instead of fighting to play. I bet Dean Smith gave into a player who said I’m not fit . We need a manager who stands for no nonsense and tell them to get on with it. Oli will be gutted hes at the back of the pecking order now.
( One case ) just cut my finger nails .
Thanks for everything Mr Smith.
A real shame it didn’t work out. Unfortunately in the modern world there is almost zero tolerance when it comes to patience. Last season I felt proud to have a captain and manager as fans. When Shakespeare joined we were getting another Villa fan on board. Now though the dream has ended and possibly the whole project.
Good luck Dean in the future and I’m sure you will be in another job soon.
Be careful what you wish for. Here we go again on the manager merry go round and look where that got us last time.
We lose one of the best players in the world and replace with buendia (no pre season), bailey (injured and 2 starts), ings (injured). Covid quarantine for luis and martinez, injuries and suspensions. No settled team. New system to try and accommodate ings and tuenzebe.
Terry and Riley going.
Smith hasn’t had a chance but still kept his dignity.
Who next
Gerrard or some other foreign manager with no prem experience.
Gutted.
Even the pundits before the season started said it would be difficult until the team settled with improvements after xmas. He hasn’t been able to field the same team twice.
Instant success is all a lot of fans want now. The last time we won anything was 1996 (25 years ago). Get real. We have been in the championship for 3 of the last 6 years.
Football now is a Joke.
I’m disgusted.
Purslow next.
If you want to point the finger at anyone try grealish. My club rubbish. His arrogant ego stopped our forward momentum by basically saying we aren’t going anywhere. I believe we would have if he’d stayed.
Thanks Dean for all you have done for this club and i for one are very sorry and embarrassed that you have been let go.
BTW look at Saunders record for the first half of the season 1979/80 the year before we won the league. Should we have sacked him.
I don’t think fans expect instant success, except at the regular Champions league finalists. However they don’t want consistent failure either – which is what Smith has delivered together with his repertoire of novel excuses.
On Friday at one point Targett had the ball and passed inside to Mings who was under no pressure. Mings fires a pass up-field – well wide of Watkins who nevertheless wins the sprint. Watkins gains control of the ball 2 yards from the corner flag, two defenders closing down but no Villa player within 20 yards. What can he do with it? Nothing useful. Yet that sequence has been a constant in every game recently.
On MOYD yesterday Neither Chelsea nor Man City players in similar starting positions played any passes like that. They always played a shorter pass to their midfield. Villa’s midfield have not been good enough to offer an option.
I am sorry to see a Villa fan booted from the dream job. It happened to Brian Little also, local heroes are not immune from judgement by results.
Littles demise started when he did exactly what the fans and media wanted by signing a waste of space on silly money called collymore. The dressing room went with southgate ugo and boateng all wanting out questioning ambition. In other words they alo wanted big money.
Little walked because of personal issues; he wasn’t pushed. And if ‘Stanley Victor’ hadn’t had a mental health issue, we well may have challenged for the title. Ancient history, nevertheless.
Nail on head, Steve.
Spot on Steve. There is no loyalty in the modern game. I wanted Smith to be able to get a full squad to pick from but everything went against him. We might get the new manager bounce but we might also get the free fall that we experienced after Sherwood was sacked.
Lampard derby
Gerrard rangers
Whats the difference ??
Let’s raid Leicester for Rodgers or possibly Sean Dyche who somehow keeps Burnley in the premier league on a shoestring. I don’t want Gerrard or Lampard who have been managers for 5 minutes. I don’t want a foreign coach with no premier league experience either.
Can’t see Rodgers leaving Leicester but I’d vote for Dyche ahead of Gerrard, Lampard, Terry (really?) and Fonseca.
Having sacked Smith, I would hope our owners are aiming high in terms of presence, reputation, experience and CV.
Poach Rogers from Leicester. Sounds like a plan. Maybe he’ll bring Tielemans with him – 50 million in January should do it. Well, we can hope.
I was told friday b4 this happened that it was TERRY. I don’t believe it and certainly don’t want it.
I think I wanted smith to part ways, I wasn’t 100%. Now it’s done, it feels crap but I think smith himself may even feel relieved to some extent. I do worry about who comes in but it really does have to be the real, proven deal. No gambles, premier experience and success to some level is a must!
Who is available who wouldn’t be a gable. Everything is a gamble. Saunders brilliant at villa crap at wba and blues. Kendall brilliant at everton 1 out of 3 times.
Prob end up with Nunes who apparently touted to villa before he got the spurs job.
I just can not think of anybody i want who we could realistically get.
Why did Terry leave with no job offers ?
Badger – unfair request but could you put a poll up with a list of possible names. Might have to wait a couple of days to see what fantasies the media put up 🙂
My logic says Nuno has already been sounded out and is a done deal. We need clean sheets and back to basics; he showed he can do that at Spurs. And he probably still lives locally. On the plus side, I would hope he’d determined to prove Levy wrong and show what an excellent coach his record at Wolves suggests he is. My money is on Nuno, primarily because it’s quick and easy for all concerned. For him, it’s an upgrade on Wolves and not a massive step down from Spurs, while for us, it’s probably a slight upgrade on Smith, as he has some Europa League experience. If he can do top 7 with Wolves, he can do top 6 + for us,but only with serious investment in January.