Analysis

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Dean Smith, Manager of Aston Villa looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Swansea City at Villa Park on October 20, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Aston Villa: Dean Smith already proving to be a critical thinker

Aston Villa vs. Norwich City: Predicted lineup at Carrow Road

Aston Villa 1-0 Swansea City: 3 thoughts from Smith’s first match

Aston Villa 1-0 Swansea City: Player Ratings – October 20th

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Ørjan Nyland of Aston Villa celebrates after his team mate Jonathan Kodjia of Aston Villa (not pictured) scored their first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Brentford at Villa Park on August 22, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Aston Villa: Dean Smith philosophy may not be visible right away

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Dean Smith manager of Brentford applauds the fans after the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City and Brentford at Bet365 Stadium on August 11, 2018 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Aston Villa: Dean Smith’s track record indicates he’s here for the long haul

ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - OCTOBER 17: Paulo Fonseca, Manager of Shakhtar Donetsk gives his team instructions during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Feyenoord and Shakhtar Donetsk at Feijenoord Stadion on October 17, 2017 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

The Aston Villa Manager Search: Separating Contenders From Pretenders

BRISTOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Aston Villa coach Steve Bruce before the Sky Bet Championship match between Bristol City and Aston Villa at Ashton Gate on September 28, 2018 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Aston Villa 3-3 Preston North End: Chester sent-off, Bruce doomed

BRISTOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Birkir Bjarnason (20) of Aston Villa scores during the Sky Bet Championship match between Bristol City and Aston Villa at Ashton Gate on September 28, 2018 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Aston Villa Points Predictor: October 2018

BRISTOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Tammy Abraham of Aston Villa appeals to the referee after tussling with Nathan Baker of Bristol City during the Sky Bet Championship match between Bristol City and Aston Villa at Ashton Gate on September 28, 2018 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Aston Villa vs. Preston North End: Predicted lineup – October 2nd

MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - MAY 12: Mile Jedinak of Aston Villa celebrats with Steve Bruce, Manager of Aston Villa after scoring his sides first goal during the Sky Bet Championship Play Off Semi Final First Leg match between Middlesbrough and Aston Villa at Riverside Stadium on May 12, 2018 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Aston Villa: Bruce’s stubbornness halting any momentum from being built

TELFORD, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Jonathan Kodjia of Aston Villa celebrates with James Chester following the first goal of the game during the Pre-season friendly between AFC Telford United and Aston Villa at New Bucks Head Stadium on July 14, 2018 in Telford, England. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)

Aston Villa vs. Sheffield Wednesday: Player Ratings – Sept. 22nd

BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Conor Hourihane of Aston Villa looks on during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Burton Albion and Aston Villa at Pirelli Stadium on August 28, 2018 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Aston Villa 2-0 Rotherham: Player ratings in turnaround victory

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Axel Tuanzebe of Aston Villa battles for possession with Neal Maupay of Brentford during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Brentford at Villa Park on August 22, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Aston Villa vs. Rotherham United: Predicted lineup and streaming options

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Jack Grealish of Aston Villa in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Brentford at Villa Park on August 22, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Aston Villa 1-1 Blackburn Rovers: Player ratings as we’re let down again

MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - MAY 12: Mile Jedinak of Aston Villa celebrats with Steve Bruce, Manager of Aston Villa after scoring his sides first goal during the Sky Bet Championship Play Off Semi Final First Leg match between Middlesbrough and Aston Villa at Riverside Stadium on May 12, 2018 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Aston Villa Fans are Right to Criticize Steve Bruce

WALSALL, ENGLAND - JULY 25: Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce (l) with West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini during a friendly match between Aston Villa and West Ham United at Banks' Stadium on July 25, 2018 in Walsall, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Steve Bruce denting his proud defensive record as Aston Villa boss

BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Albert Adomah of Aston Villa claps the fans after the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Burton Albion and Aston Villa at Pirelli Stadium on August 28, 2018 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Aston Villa vs. Sheffield United: Player ratings in 4-1 disaster

TELFORD, ENGLAND - JULY 12: James Bree of Aston Villa during the Pre-Season Friendly between AFC Telford United and Aston Villa at New Bucks Head Stadium on July 12, 2017 in Telford, England. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)

Aston Villa: Tommy Elphick’s departure solidifies James Bree at centre-back

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Steve Bruce, Manager of Aston Villa looks on prior to the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Brentford at Villa Park on August 22, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Aston Villa: Did Steve Bruce just get himself sacked in one match?

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Jack Grealish of Aston Villa and Lewis Macleod of Brentford reacts over a foul during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Brentford at Villa Park on August 22, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Aston Villa Points Predictor: September 2018

BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Neil Taylor of Aston Villa controls the ball during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Burton Albion and Aston Villa at Pirelli Stadium on August 28, 2018 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Aston Villa vs. Sheffield United: Lineup predictions as injuries loom large

READING, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Jed Steer of Huddersfield in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Reading and Huddersfield Town on November 3, 2015 in Reading, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images)

Aston Villa August 2018 Loan Report

TELFORD, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Andre Green of Aston Villa during the Pre-season friendly between AFC Telford United and Aston Villa at New Bucks Head Stadium on July 14, 2018 in Telford, England. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)

Aston Villa: Be Happy if Andre Green has success at Portsmouth

BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Burton Albion and Aston Villa at Pirelli Stadium on August 28, 2018 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Aston Villa 0-1 Burton Albion: Reaction from embarrassing Carabao Cup defeat

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Ørjan Nyland of Aston Villa celebrates after his team mate Jonathan Kodjia of Aston Villa (not pictured) scored their first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Brentford at Villa Park on August 22, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Aston Villa 2-2 Brentford: Kodjia’s brace earns point in wide open affair

GOSFORD, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 14: Ross McCormack of City during the round 16 A-League match between the Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne City at Central Coast Stadium on January 14, 2018 in Gosford, Australia. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)

Aston Villa: Are shorter contracts a better option?

TELFORD, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Jonathan Kodjia of Aston Villa controls the ball during the Pre-season friendly between AFC Telford United and Aston Villa at New Bucks Head Stadium on July 14, 2018 in Telford, England. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)

Aston Villa vs. Brentford: An early inflection point on the season