The opening day of each season is perennially filled with wild overreactions and sweeping, often stinging statements.
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Aston Villa’s defeat away to Watford last weekend was no different, although it was their manager who echoed the same disgust, with only a hint of more restraint, as the furious radio phone-ins.
With steam almost pouring from his ears, Smith explained that his side were “miles away where we should be as a team” after losing 3-2 away to Watford last weekend.
Dean Smith (right) congratulates Aston Villa’s opening goal in both of their Premier League games this season, Danny Ings / Alex Morton / Getty Images
But unlike the countless breathless calls, Smith’s words were delivered directly to a squad that took many of their coaches’ warnings to immediate training as they bounced back with an improved, if imperfect, 2-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday.
“I just felt like we lacked intensity; on the ball, off the ball,” Smith explained after the Watford loss. “We did not want to hurt them. It was almost like we played a friendly again and we all know that Premier League matches are not friendly.”
The contrast between the working speed on Villa’s front line in the campaign’s first two matches was strong. The attraction of the £ 30 million summer event Emi Buendia stems not only from his creativity on the ball, but his work speed. No player in the championship noted more possession-adjusted pressure than the nippy Argentine (via StatsBomb).
Only one Aston Villa player tackled more than Emi Buendia against Newcastle / James Williamson – AMA / Getty Images
This industry was painfully lacking against Watford but, along with contributions from other forwards Anwar El Ghazi and Danny Ings, Buendia’s improvements were noted by his manager. “It was much better last week where we lacked intensity,” Smith told the Birmingham Mail cautiously.
“Fans will never allow us to lack intensity today and it’s nice to have a win in front of our fans.”
Ing’s fantastic scissor kick to open the score naturally defined his home debut screen, but the newly acquired 29-year-old hared around the top of the pitch as much as his teammates in a “scary” performance.
After three years under Ralph Hasenhuttl in a hard-pressed Southampton, Ings is no stranger to putting down his center-back. Although Ollie Watkins – the Premier League’s most productive presser in the attacking third last season (per StatsBomb) – was still missing, Ings has had an impressive individual start to life in the East Midlands.
Danny Ings presents himself to Villa fans in style! ? pic.twitter.com/eJLl0F8JAA
– 90min (@ 90min_Football) 21 August 2021
Although the ending was as clean as it will be this season, Ing’s opener came from a play that many purists would sniff at. Just like the first Premier League goal ever, Villa broke the deadlock from a long throw.
Combined with El Ghazi’s converted penalty for his second – who won after a set piece situation – the influence of Villa’s new set specialist, Austin MacPhee, is doubly emphasized.
In a campaign where goals can become more scarce after the departure of a remarkable forward, and as his replacement gel, free goals from set pieces will surely be hugely important.
However, it was not all sunshine and roses at a cute Villa Park. When asked what disappointed him most after the end of the Watford defeat, Smith simply snapped: “First half.” Until Ing’s magical moment, the Villa coach at Birmingham in Birmingham could very well have demanded the same short answer.
Anwar El Ghazi extended his 100% record from the penalty spot in the Premier League, taking his speech to six from six / Ryan Pierse / Getty Images
Before the early challenger for the season’s goal, a full – blooded first half had drowned in errors from both sides. Within the first five minutes, Tyrone Mings judged a duel against Callum Wilson – just as goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez would later do – which put Newcastle number nine on goal. While VAR spared Martinez’s blushes in the second half, it was Wilson’s stubborn effort that kept Villas clean early on.
As Smith rightly summed up, it was clearly an “OK” performance from Villa against Newcastle. With a cluster of newcomers needing time to hat while others return in dribbles and boxes, the campaign’s opening weeks should be met with healthy caution.
Although the squad may continue to heed their boss’s warnings just as quickly throughout the season, Smith may not return to the same dark mood that hung over him early on.
