OPINION
Many Aston Villa fans will be thrilled at the style of football Dean Smith is trying to implement on his side after John Terry used defender Tyrone Mings to showcase the manager’s philosophy.
Sky Sports did a detailed interview with the Villans coach and asked him about how Smith’s philosophy put the emphasis on defenders being comfortable on the ball.
This prompted Terry to point out that the Villans did want all their defenders to be comfortable with the ball at their feet just like Mings currently is.
“We didn’t get too much coaching, individually or collectively, back in the 90s and early 00s. It was pretty much: ‘Don’t get it off the goalkeeper, squeeze up, go and compete, go and fight for it,” Terry told Sky Sports.
“Now the game has moved in a completely different direction and teams look to play with their defenders. Tyrone [Mings, on loan from Bournemouth] is certainly one of those players comfortable on the ball, and we want them all to be comfortable.
“Once the defender receives it from the goalkeeper, he has to have pictures and patterns in his head, and the entire group has to understand as well. It’s about getting as high up the pitch as possible from his pass, with the least risk. That’s what we’re trying to work on as a group.”
The 25-year-old centre-back has looked head and shoulders above the Villans’ others defensive options since arriving on loan in January from Bournemouth, and for that reason supporters will be convinced Smith is the right man for their club.
Mings has looked a powerful presence in defence but due to his passing range, as well as ability to stride forward with the ball at his feet, he has been useful when the club have gone on the attack.
If the defender exemplifies Smith’s philosophy, then Villans supporters will be ready to be patience to see their manager’s plan unfold.
The Villans boss currently seems to be under pressure as his spell hasn’t gone to plan, as after several poor results the club’s play-off hopes look ambitious with them eight points off sixth-placed Bristol City.
Yet fan fury would easily be squashed if supporters can have confidence that Smith is taking the club in a pleasing direction, and based on Terry’s remarks they will certainly think that.