da pixbet： Dean Smith is refusing to panic despite the tough position Aston Villa currently find themselves in, as reported by The Birmingham Mail.
What did he say?
da betano casino： Things can be translated as looking bleak for Villa at the moment, as they have dropped into the relegation zone following the 3-1 loss against Southampton last weekend.
In addition, if they lose against Norwich City on Boxing Day, there is the possibility Smith’s side could be level on points with the Canaries and Watford at the very foot of the table.
Watch Aston Villa Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below
However, the Villa manager is refusing to panic ahead of Thursday’s clash and has instead called for perspective – comparing the club’s situation to this time last year, when they were still in the Championship. He said: “We have always been in a battle. Sometimes you have to take stock. We are third-bottom in the Premier League, in the semi-final of a major cup competition.
“Sat here last year we were a mid-table Championship team. We have come a long way in a short space of time and had a big turnaround in the summer.
“We still need additions in January as well. We are still working hard and battling on a lot of fronts. That will continue.
“Our competitive edge has to be there in whatever game we play in, whether we are in the bottom three or the top three.”
Must turn things around
It is a reasonable observation for Smith to make, that things are far better at Villa Park than they were this time last year, as he mentioned their position in the Championship at the time.
While it is also true that there has been a large transformation in the playing staff that is representing the club, with 12 signings having been made during the summer.
However, even with the Carabao Cup semi-final to play, Villa simply must turn their league form around if they are going to make the most of the two aforementioned points.
Whose Line Is It Anyway: Michael Owen, Garth Crooks or Mark Lawrenson?
They have managed just one point from their last five games and having already failed to get the better of Southampton, face fixtures against Norwich, Watford and Burnley.
When Villa look back at the end of the campaign, this will likely be a period that is held with great significance, whether that is positive or negative.
In other news, Villa fans have been calling for Smith to make one specific change.