Aston Villa mull over move for Paulo Fonseca as pressure on Dean Smith heats up
Dean Smith on the ropes
Despite all of the positivity surrounding Aston Villa and their spread the load replacement plan for Jack Grealish, it has been a poor start to the season for the Villians.
Beginning the campaign with the additions of Danny Ings, Emi Buendia and Leon Bailey. Aston Villa had their eyes on European football. On current form, however, they are closer to Championship than Champions League games for 2022-23, having won just three of their opening ten games thus far.
3 – Aston Villa have conceded 3+ goals in three consecutive league games for the first time since December 2012. Diminished. pic.twitter.com/qUZwGBjFJy
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 31, 2021
This leaves the club in 15th place, with only goal difference keeping Dean Smith and co. out of 17th, demonstrating the struggles that post-Grealish life is offering the midlands outfit.
Fonseca a surprising alternative
Now, as per reports in England, Paulo Fonseca is the man that the Aston Villa heirarchy would look to bring in should they be forced to part ways with Smith amid poor results.
Aston Villa make informal contact with Paulo Fonseca with boss Dean Smith on borrowed time | @CraigHope_DM https://t.co/a8zSmqTGmS
— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) November 1, 2021
Fonseca has been linked with both Tottenham and Newcastle United since leaving Roma in May 2021, but both sides have ultimately overlooked him for other options (twice, in the case of Spurs).
Now, as per Craig Hope of the Daily Mail, it is Villa’s turn to make “informal contact” with the Portuguese boss. Fonseca is renowned for a high press and free-flowing attacking football, which could kick the midlands club into gear going forwards, with all the talent on display.
However, he is also notoriously porous in defence, meaning that Villa may find themselves involved in high scoring shoot-outs rather than confident shut-outs. Would he be the best replacement for Smith?
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