New head coach Dean Smith got off to the perfect start last Saturday as he helped steer us to victory over relegated Swansea City at Villa Park.
A sell out crowd, fans in good voice, a Tammy Abraham goal and at the other end a much needed clean sheet.
It’s only a beginning and nobody is getting carried away yet, certainly Smith won’t as he’ll know he still has lots of work to do with the group and in the transfer window, but we’d have taken three points ahead of kick-off wouldn’t we.
Despite keeping the clean sheet though, Orjan Nyland is still suffering from our start to the season and he needs to take every positive he can from matches to build his confidence, and fair’s fair, the one stop, in particular, should do that.
Back 4 is on halfway line as often as possible too. Nyland has one awful spot, but had a good save or two too.
— Mark (@Mark_Elkington) October 20, 2018
Yet he saved it. Good shot stopper but bad decision making and woeful feet. I don't think he will be here after Christmas.
— Son Lyme (@Son_Lyme) October 20, 2018
Definitely. Nyland just looks average now. Given him the benefit and it’s not showing signs of changing
— Ady. (@adydotbeasley) October 20, 2018
Typical Villa so far. Buoyed by the occasion race into early lead. Then the nerves kick in. Nyland (one save excepted) is an accident in waiting & his nervousness spreading throughout the team. Long way to go here! #utv
— Rob Aston ???????????? (@RobA19) October 20, 2018
Considering Smiths only had them for three days…. only one long ball to note…. Only negative… Nyland looks out of his depth. Poor distribution with his feet is an understatement and he seems to make his defence nurveous. Moreira for me all day long. #AVFC #UTV
— UP-THE-HOLTE-WE-GO (@jonsims1984avfc) October 20, 2018
Nyland looking a little dodgy ????
— ChicoHamiltonsPants (@ChicoPants) October 20, 2018
As the above comments on social media imply though, plenty of fans remain nervous on his behalf but after what we saw from Andre Moreira against in the EFL Cup, I can’t understand calls for him to suddenly come in and be our saviour.
He hasn’t become a bad keeper overnight and I think the problems with his confidence are obvious when you look at the season so far, with more of an attacking intent and not just inviting sides onto us hopefully we’ll soon the best of him as he has given flashes.
