Dean Smith is not out of his depth. Some of his players are though.
They've played six league games together.
Easy to be wise after the event, but I don’t think Dean’s use of substitutions has been particularly good this season so far. Has there has been one that had a particularly big impact in terms of opening up or closing down a game?I’d like to see him be a little more proactive with them certainly and probably show a touch more tactical flexibility within games - a lot of the changes are very like for like.
DS talks the talk but does he walk the walk?We hear all this attack minded,positive play etc but in reality where is it? Steve Bruce would have got slaughtered for today. I love DS but he seems a little set in his ways
Quote from: Luke8 on September 22, 2019, 10:35:34 PMEasy to be wise after the event, but I don’t think Dean’s use of substitutions has been particularly good this season so far. Has there has been one that had a particularly big impact in terms of opening up or closing down a game?I’d like to see him be a little more proactive with them certainly and probably show a touch more tactical flexibility within games - a lot of the changes are very like for like.He is wedded or maybe welded to the same formation. It was the same problem last season until Grealish came back from injury. An effective manager sets the team up to maximise the resources at their disposal. No-one can tell me Dean Smith is doing that so far this season and the real fear is that he is too stubborn to change. For a so called progressive coach , I really dislike the football we are playing but that's a result of the mess in midfield arguably.Agreed on the in game management, it's abysmal frankly. Elmo coming on right wing as first sub last two games is damning. No way should Neil Taylor be anywhere near our 18 either.
The mistakes were happening through fatigue and our midfield being over run.He did nothing to help the situation.
We would be making a huge mistake to get rid of Dean in any circumstances. Fulham sacked Jokanovic, still didn't survive, and look at them now - 12th in the championship. Anyone who thought we would not be fighting a relegation battle all season long was in the grip of delusion. I think we'll scrape survival under Smith, same as I did before we'd kicked a ball this season. But if we don't, he's still the manager I'd want in charge of the team next season.