The Athletic’s Aston Villa correspondent, Gregg Evans, has been speaking on the latest episode of the 1874 podcast to discuss all things related to the Villans.
Evans was speaking after Villa’s fourth consecutive Premier League defeat, which has Dean Smith’s side sitting just three points above the drop zone.
Should Smith be sacked if Villa lose on Friday?
Yes
No
And the pressure seems to be building on the shoulders of the 50-year-old Villa boss, who has been in the dugout at Villa Park for just over three years.
After a difficult opening season back in the Premier League, where Villa narrowly avoided returning to the Championship, Smith’s side impressed last season as they finished just outside the top half of the table (via Transfermarkt).
Speaking on his understanding regarding the security of Smith’s position at Villa, Evans had the following to say on what he has heard on the board’s feelings about the current situation.
“So it’s my understanding that Dean Smith is under big pressure now. Villa have lost four on the bounce. They’ve never lost five in a row under Dean Smith.
“So if they go to Southampton on Friday and lose, then the owners are likely to enter into a review period to consider the managerial position. What that will mean for Dean Smith, we’ll have to wait and see.”
TIF Thoughts on Smith’s position…
It feels like there is a lot of sentiment which may have seen Smith avoid the sack at Villa Park to this point, given he was the man who led the club back into the Premier League and then kept them up in the 2019/20 season (via Transfermarkt).
It has been far from an impressive start to the season for Villa, as they sit on just 10 points and with a -5 goal difference to their name in the league table.
Reports have suggested the board have already held talks with former Roma manager Paulo Fonseca over the potential opening, and going by previous comments, the Portuguese manager could bring a fresh attacking philosophy to the Midlands.
If Villa are to lose on Friday against Southampton, then we would have major concerns for Smith considering it would provide a potential new manager with the luxury of an international break to settle into the Villa job.
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