Dean Smith - Confirmed

[Damo70]

List of PL novices:
Guardiola
Pochettino
Klopp
Mourinho
I don’t think I need to go on...

I think that it is best that you do not...

How did that lower league footballer bloke who as a manager got Watford promoted all the way from the fourth division to the first division get on in his first season in the top flight?

[Steve67]

Thank God we didn't appoint Tierry Henry!

Dean's done a magic job of bringing the fans and the club closer together.  I hope the board back him with whatever he need this summer.

[SoccerHQ]

Was reading article today and it said we interviewed 5 managers in October. Only name checked Henry so curious who the other three were if anyone is ITK (Chelts is usually good for this sort of stuff).

Delighted for Dean. I thought when he was being tentatively linked in 2017 it was too early but the timing felt right this season and so it has proved.

[KevinGage]

Was reading article today and it said we interviewed 5 managers in October. Only name checked Henry so curious who the other three were if anyone is ITK (Chelts is usually good for this sort of stuff).

Delighted for Dean. I thought when he was being tentatively linked in 2017 it was too early but the timing felt right this season and so it has proved.

The former Chelski assistant, Brendan Rodgers and Henry were the ones I had heard of. Not sure about the others.

[cdbearsfan]

Was reading article today and it said we interviewed 5 managers in October. Only name checked Henry so curious who the other three were if anyone is ITK (Chelts is usually good for this sort of stuff).

It was The Big Three. Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Eric Black.

[olaftab]

I think it's very disrespectful to suggest that we  dared to interview someone of Black's calibre. He would feel insulted.

[Matt Collins]

There is going to be at least one spell next season when things look really tough. We may even find the league a bit of a rude awakening

I hope people have the resilience to stick with Dean when that happens

[john e]

Was reading article today and it said we interviewed 5 managers in October. Only name checked Henry so curious who the other three were if anyone is ITK (Chelts is usually good for this sort of stuff).

It was The Big Three. Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Eric Black.

Arrhh Eric Black....those were the days

[JD]

Seen an interview with Deano and Purslow the day after. We are in good hands they are so switched on.
Asked why there was no parade, the response was "We're Aston Villa, we celebrate winning trophies, not finishing third in the league".
Absolute class, I am very excited about Villa's future. 

[not3bad]

Dean Smith has done fantastic a job – but he is a PL novice, will he adapt? Will he be given time to adapt? Should Villa make a pre-emptive move for a PL veteran? I hope he does adapt – but he will not be given time if results are adverse towards Christmas and relegation is on the horizon.  Romance is for Mills and Boon.

I think there'd be riots if we sacked him for a "PL veteran" over the summer.

Is a 'PL veteran' like a 'Championship Specialist'?

Dean Smith out, Big Sam in. Get it done.

[Sexual Ealing]

Thank you Dean, you've helped put the pride back in our club.
Early days, but l can't help thinking of this as the new Ron Saynders error. It just feels right and it feels so good.

I can't see DS walking out and ending up at Blose and Albion. Wink.

[dcdavecollett]

How is it possible to take over a club :


a) in 14th place in October

b) with a talented but crazily unbalanced squad

c) then have two key players out for three months each

and STILL win promotion! All this while making the team's playing style obviously easier on the eye.

I think we're lucky to have him and we're going ti have him for a long while...

[OCD]

Loved his answer when asked if he would be happy to finish mid-table. He said he wanted to finish first. Basically suggesting that we shouldn’t talk ourselves into mediocrity before a ball has been kicked.

[AsTallAsLions]

How is it possible to take over a club :


a) in 14th place in October

b) with a talented but crazily unbalanced squad

c) then have two key players out for three months each

and STILL win promotion! All this while making the team's playing style obviously easier on the eye.

I think we're lucky to have him and we're going ti have him for a long while...

Listen I love Dean and I think he did a great job but we are Villa. He never for one second looked like a man who thought getting us into the playoffs (or higher) would be some sort of miracle, unlike Steve fucking Bruce.

Above all things, that's what I most love him for - the fact that he genuinely looked at us, sentiment aside, and thought: "What the fuck is this squad doing occupying 14th place in the championship? This is a promotion squad."

I'm not suggesting it was easy by any means, and he did well with loan recruitment in January, but that's the big thing for me. The common sense of it all.

[dcdavecollett]

Yes, he refused to use our poor start as an excuse.