Arsenal
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Leeds United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
News
Dean Smith defends Wesley with Aston Villa searching for first Premier League point
Aston Villa are still searching for their first point of the Premier League season and new striker Wesley is still looking for his first Premier League goal.
But Dean Smith isn’t panicking and has defended the former Club Bruges hitman, who has feels has been judged prematurely.
As per : “What are we coming to if we’re judging players after two games? There have been questions about him playing in the Premier League but he played in the Champions League last season – he’s not too shabby.
“He showed me enough in pre-season to show me he’s going to be a top player. He never hides away from the ball, he goes and competes. He’s two games into a season and one goal behind Mo Salah at the moment. I’m not judging centre-forwards this early in the season.”
TBR’s View – Smith is right to call for patience
The nature of life in the Premier League – with the column inches and rolling debates to fill – means that two games and two losses gives people plenty to criticise.
But Smith is completely rational to call for calm and patience, especially when it comes to a 22-year-old striker who is playing his first season in English football.
Villa will take time to gel but they have recruited well and there’s no need to panic. That’s part of what did for Fulham last season – panicking and tinkering with the squad – but Smith looks set to avoid those pitfalls. Wesley should come good.