Aston Villa boss Dean Smith needs to figure out his best XI, says Paul Merson
In his latest column, Merson also analyses the circumstances that led to Nuno's departure, and what Conte's in-tray currently consists of; Dele Alli has struggled for game time and form in the past 18 months; Harry Kane nearly left for Man City in the summer
Friday 5 November 2021 11:29, UK
Ahead of Aston Villa's Friday Night Football clash at Southampton, Paul Merson runs the rule over his former club, with manager Dean Smith under pressure following four straight league defeats.
'Massive match for Villa - Smith needs to figure out best XI'
It's a massive football match on Friday night.
I'm a big fan of Dean Smith, but he needs to get his team right, and quickly. He's bought attacking players, and I'm not sure they can play that way at the moment. He needs to get back to being hard to beat, and then go from there.
You have to take Jack Grealish's situation into consideration. I think everyone waited for Jack last season; give the ball to Jack, see what he can do, and when we go in front we'll all start playing and know how good we are.
Matt Targett was brilliant last season, but he was playing with Jack Grealish. Now he's getting ripped left, right and centre.
Grealish took them up the pitch and did everything. He was the school captain! This season, I'm not sure Dean Smith knows his best team, 10 games in.
I didn't like what I saw at Arsenal last Friday - they were ripped to shreds. He went from a three-man defence to a four-man defence, and dropped the captain.
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I think at the start he was trying to make people happy - he's brought players in, and he's thought: 'Oh, where am I going to play them all?'
Ollie Watkins is a player who can play up front on his own, and probably prefers it. He's like an Antonio, not the same physically, but they like the freedom to be able to run where they want, and not be shackled to a position.
He needs to get his best players on the pitch on Friday.
'Man Utd struggles triggered Nuno sacking'
Wherever you go, the fans get you the sack. It's very rare a manager gets the sack if the fans are singing your name.
When Nuno made the Lucas Moura-Steven Bergwijn sub in the 3-0 defeat by Manchester United, the fans were booing, and he looked quite lost. I like him as a manager, but it was just the wrong time.
They've made a decision, they've done it very quickly, only 10 games in.
Before the start of the season, the top four was shut - it was Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United - but I think Spurs have looked at Man Utd and it has been a trigger. There is a gap now, and they can't miss a trick. That fourth place is 100 per cent up for grabs, and I think that's why the decision was made quickly.
If Manchester United were flying along like we expected, I don't think there would have been a rush to sack the manager; they'd have said their league position is realistic. They would have been more patient with him.
Now, with Manchester United and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer struggling, I think Arsenal, West Ham and even Spurs have more of a chance of finishing fourth, and that's what pushed them into sacking Nuno. There's an opportunity for a top-four place.
The fans will love Conte, but he needs time
Conte came into Chelsea and was brilliant. When they got battered at Arsenal in September 2016, he just went: bang! He turned them to a back three and they never looked back. He's enthusiastic, he'll run up the line when they score, and I think the fans will like that.
But it's going to be hard. He needs to get Kane going, and there's a midfield three that aren't going to make too many chances.
The money these managers are on now, I think you've got to keep them hungry. Some of them are on as much as the players. And these days, if you're in management for 18 months, you're lucky!
If Conte rips it up, I'm sure Daniel Levy will give him a new contract straight away. I think 18 months is about right nowadays for management. They have to cover themselves.
It won't be a holiday for these players. The energy wasn't there for Nuno, but Conte will come in and the players will work their socks off. The training sessions will be stop, start, stop, start... "Stand here when this happens, stand there when that happens" - basics until they get it right.
Ask any player, that's not easy.
- Antonio Conte appointed Tottenham head coach
- Is Antonio Conte the perfect remedy for Spurs? | Upcoming fixtures
- Results, style, Harry Kane - what cost Nuno? | Jamie Carragher: It never felt right
- Another Spurs sacking: How did we get here?
Kane saga will start again
The Harry Kane thing starts all over again in January. Look at Man City, they've failed to score in six of their 16 games this season, which is unthinkable. I think in January, Kane to City is still alive.
Man City are in danger of falling behind Chelsea at the moment. This is the problem Nuno had, and Conte has the same issue with Kane.
He'll have to hit the ground running. Spurs fans want to play the 'Tottenham Way' - I'm not sure what that is, exactly, as they haven't won anything.
How Alli could benefit from Conte
Dele Alli might find an advantage here. Spurs will play three at the back - I'd be shocked if they didn't - then you've got to get people in the box.
That could help Dele Alli go back to what made him the name he is - which is getting forward and scoring goals, making runs and getting into the box. He's a very good finisher. He's stopped doing that.
He's started coming short, wanting to spray the ball around the pitch, but without disrespecting him, he's not that player.
Nobody was like him in the league, and that's why he was playing for England. He was breaking from midfield and scoring goals. You just want to get hold of Dele Alli, because his career could just pass him by. He'd have had one or two good seasons, and before you know it, it's finished.
I don't think players realise, I think they believe they've got plenty more years left in the game. He's at an unbelievable football club.
I'm not blaming him for anything that's happened - far from it - but I look at him and think it's such a shame. When he's doing his thing, he's better than anybody else.
I think he's got a chance with Conte - he's got to be like a Frank Lampard, breaking into the box and scoring goals. It's always different when a new manager gets in; those who were not getting much time have a chance.
Tottenham fixtures: What's coming up for Conte?
November 4: Tottenham vs Vitesse Arnhem - Europa Conference League, kick-off 8pm
November 7: Everton vs Tottenham - Premier League, kick-off 7pm
November 21: Tottenham vs Leeds - Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports
November 25: NS Mura vs Tottenham - Europa Conference League, kick-off 5.45pm
November 28: Burnley vs Tottenham - Premier League, kick-off 2pm
December 2: Tottenham vs Brentford - Premier League, kick-off 7.30pm
