[tommcneill]

He's managed to implement an entirely new style with a lot of the existing players and get them to unbeaten in 10 games, top goalscorers and top of the league.

And this is the infancy of the new style. When it gels completely we will be some force to sop in this division

[paulosull]

10 games in as posted over 2 points a game which should give us automatic spot, unbeaten in league just need to play more on the grass because we show our quality so  happy days.

[seteefeet]

He's managed to implement an entirely new style with a lot of the existing players and get them to unbeaten in 10 games, top goalscorers and top of the league.

And this is the infancy of the new style. When it gels completely we will be some force to sop in this division

He mixed it up tonight Tom, proving he's not a one trick pony.
For that reason, this is the best performance of the season for me.

[baggie82]

I didn't understand the fans who claimed the manager was under pressure a week ago and I'm not getting hugely carried out after a convincing win tonight as Cardiff were barely championship standard.

The stand-out teams in the league so far this season are us, Bournemouth and Fulham, with Stoke looking menacing and Sheff Utd catching-up. On the plus side for us, some of our better defenders aren't available at the moment who will strengthen the team. Also the 3-4-3 system that Val likes isn't one that opposition teams like facing at this level, as we always have three players in their last third on transition and they happen to be our better players. 

So positive signs but a long way to go and Friday is a tough match. Essentially, it's September, so it's very much keep feet on the ground stage of the season.

[boinging_along]

He mixed it up tonight Tom, proving he's not a one trick pony.
For that reason, this is the best performance of the season for me.

This, it's what we've been crying out for.  If a team decides to sit back and soak up expected long balls it leaves space in front of the defence.  In recent games we've just persisted with hitting it long, tonight we got it on the floor and played some lovely passing moved to carve then open.

[LiamTheBaggie]

Fantastic tonight. The manager has clearly adapted the tactics to suit a short, sharp passing style, and that’s what the fans were crying out for.

The reintroduction of CR7 has supported this change too.

More of this, please!

This for me. In total agreement.

We knew Cardiff wanted a scrappy game and therefore we tried moving the ball quickly and between the lines.

As soon as we got the first goal their game plan of five centre halves went straight out the window.

I’ve never seen an Albion side control a second half like we did by simply keeping possession. It didn’t need full on intensity - controlling a game will provide you with the opportunities.

Much bettter & credit to all.

[alex1]

A mark of a good manager is one who gets the best out of his players. There are a lot of other managers who would not have this group unbeaten and top of the league. He is adapting well to different opposition and he's very aware about rotating the forwards to keep them sharp and fit for the next game.
Also remember,  we lost our best and most creative player in the close season, and some very useful loanees.

[WBAinDEVON]

i love his passion thats for sure, reminds me a bit of Klopp at the end of games coming on the pitch

[Hull Baggie]

A great way to celebrate his 46th Birthday!

I think he fully understood our frustrations with not being able to break down stubborn negative sides like Millwall, Derby and to a degree Preston. His post match comments and programme notes made that clear too.

 Last night showed he has found a way to play against it.

[liverbaggie]

A really great performance last night Al deserves a lot of credit he's come here and turned it round for almost nothing
Fantastic effort all round
Another very interesting point and equally as important is his rotation of players I think is very brave and at any time but my point is that by changing the team around keeps them all hungry and happy
It seems like this group all want to play for him and no dissenters or bad apples

[tex]

Highlights I saw were much better, it looked like we played the ball on the deck and moved it quickly. A big contrast to Millwall, Derby, Preston.

[WBAinDEVON]

a bit of praise coming in


https://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/1097878131?-11200:789

[WorcsWBA]

a bit of praise coming in

https://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/1097878131?-11200:789

Nice to see praise from pundits, but for me it certainly wasn't our best performance of the season. I regard that as being either Sheff Utd or Blackburn.

[Atomic]

Nice to see praise from pundits, but for me it certainly wasn't our best performance of the season. I regard that as being either Sheff Utd or Blackburn.

Really? Interesting how opinions vary isn't it? I thought it was easily our best performance.

[phbaggies]

Nice to see praise from pundits, but for me it certainly wasn't our best performance of the season. I regard that as being either Sheff Utd or Blackburn.

Sheffield for me too, that was total domination for 90 minute against a very good team, albeit on awful form at the time. Blackburn and Cardiff were great as they were away from home and again, near complete performances. Cardiff were woeful and were there for the taking, which we were only too happy to oblige

[WorcsWBA]

Really? Interesting how opinions vary isn't it? I thought it was easily our best performance.

Winning 4-0 away is a fantastic result, almost as good as it comes, but I feel the extent of the victory was primarily down to the 2 great strikes and Cardiff's immense ineptitude. In general, I don't think we played better than we did against QPR, despite there being no shortage of people seeking to justify those who booed at half-time last Friday!

I remember posting at half-time in the Cardiff game that it hadn't been a pretty sight and then Cardiff came much more into the game until the farcical second goal reduced them to gibbering wrecks for the remainder of the game. Our set pieces were also hopeless throughout the game, when they've generally been of very high quality previously. Therefore, I believe we can play much, much better than that and have already done so earlier in the season.

In saying that, I don't wish to take anything away from Valerien, who I think is doing a top-notch job when you consider the squad he has available.

[boinging_along]

Sheffield for me too, that was total domination for 90 minute against a very good team, albeit on awful form at the time. Blackburn and Cardiff were great as they were away from home and again, near complete performances. Cardiff were woeful and were there for the taking, which we were only too happy to oblige

Sheffield are awful.  I'd also add that they stuck to their gameplan which was clearly not working - and that made our tactics way more successful.  What made the last game a better performance for me, was that it was our change in tactics that tilted the game in our way.

[tylerm]

Our performances so far have been exactly what I expected. I thought it would take a dozen games to get familiar and try to ingrain a new style into the players. As they play this style more and more they will get better. That’s why I think we had a few games where the players took the easy option and resorted to high long ball. I love this high intensity style when played well.

[KN22]

Our performances so far have been exactly what I expected. I thought it would take a dozen games to get familiar and try to ingrain a new style into the players. As they play this style more and more they will get better. That’s why I think we had a few games where the players took the easy option and resorted to high long ball. I love this high intensity style when played well.

Nail on the head! The style has been questioned when, actually, it is not the style that is the problem, it is the ability of the players to adapt to what VI wants. Based on the Cardiff game, the penny is starting to drop. 

[baggie82]

Really? Interesting how opinions vary isn't it? I thought it was easily our best performance.

You have to factor in how terrible Cardiff were.

[liverbaggie]

You can only beat who's in front of you mate
We crushed them forget how poor you think Cardiff are, we didn't allow them to be any good

[mulliganstired]

Nice to see praise from pundits, but for me it certainly wasn't our best performance of the season. I regard that as being either Sheff Utd or Blackburn.

As often happens, after the crushing second half sparked by a Keystone Cops own goal most seem to have forgotten that we lost our way a bit first half and would have gone in 1-1 but for Furlong's goal line clearance.  Not being negative just talking about the reality of football and those sliding doors moments.

[baggie82]

You can only beat who's in front of you mate
We crushed them forget how poor you think Cardiff are, we didn't allow them to be any good

My point was you have to take into account the performance of the opposition when considering what our best display has been so far this season; we didn't need to break sweat to dispatch Cardiff. Whereas at Bournemouth on the opening day we faced genuine quality. Overall I'd agree with an earlier poster, Sheff Utd at home, is probably our best display so far; albeit I think we have been fairly consistent, even in most of the games we failed to win, purely due to missed chances.

[Gilsey 56]

Nail on the head! The style has been questioned when, actually, it is not the style that is the problem, it is the ability of the players to adapt to what VI wants. Based on the Cardiff game, the penny is starting to drop. 

Yes I agree, we are still in the early stages of progression, Val has hardly been here long enough to hang his coat up.
the improvement is there to see and when we play with such high intensity and the ball is flying around compared to what we have been playing  it will take time.
Funny though how its how bad teams were when we give out a good hiding, I have a feeling there may be a few more sides that are going to be poor.
I really like Val and his appetite for the game is brilliant.

[Topman]

sorry serious concerns with this guy.  I did something I have never done before, turned off. A truly dreadful performance