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Author Topic: Dean Smith - Confirmed  (Read 1522568 times)

Offline hilts_coolerking

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Re: Dean Smith - Confirmed
« Reply #6750 on: February 23, 2020, 12:05:44 PM »
That’s the issue with changing manager. Yesterday I was all for getting a fire fighter in like Allardyce but having slept on it I’m not sure. I’ve always thought the squad has major weaknesses, what if we appointed Allardyce (say) and still go down? We then will be trying a complete rebuild yet again. This is such a tough decision I reckon. My guess is they’ll stick with Smith even after relegation.
It's not just a choice between Allardyce and Smith though is it?  There are lots of more palatable alternatives.

Offline Villafirst

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Re: Dean Smith - Confirmed
« Reply #6751 on: February 23, 2020, 12:07:32 PM »
DS may as well use the same after match comments for all the away games. Just change the opposition name. Nothing changes and it's arguably getting worse. The players simply have no respect for their manager.

Offline Big Ming

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Re: Dean Smith - Confirmed
« Reply #6752 on: February 23, 2020, 12:09:26 PM »
Question:

Dean Smith is responsible for coaching/tactics/match day selection/ team motivation.

Suso is responsible for getting the best players for the money available which means all of our signings since he took the job.

Who do you blame most and how long do you stick with a failing system?
To be honest I think DS is doing ok with the players he has. There are 5 or 6 genuine PL standard players, but enough that just aren't quite there which makes things that bit more difficult for them. A change of manager might help in the short term, but until the quality of players improves I don't see much hope.
That’s the issue with changing manager. Yesterday I was all for getting a fire fighter in like Allardyce but having slept on it I’m not sure. I’ve always thought the squad has major weaknesses, what if we appointed Allardyce (say) and still go down? We then will be trying a complete rebuild yet again. This is such a tough decision I reckon. My guess is they’ll stick with Smith even after relegation.
Suso has signed some proper duds. We don't want him in charge of the next rebuild, do we?

Offline Virgil Caine

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Re: Dean Smith - Confirmed
« Reply #6753 on: February 23, 2020, 12:10:07 PM »
DS may as well use the same after match comments for all the away games. Just change the opposition name. Nothing changes and it's arguably getting worse. The players simply have no respect for their manager.

Is the last sentence your opinion or is it based on something you have heard or read?

Offline Villan82

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Re: Dean Smith - Confirmed
« Reply #6754 on: February 23, 2020, 12:20:26 PM »
I don't think that Purslow is a shrinking violet, he did sack Rafael Benitez after all.  I am a bit surprised by his loyalty to Dean Smith with our club and performances in decline.  Lose the Final and there really is no reason to keep Dean Smith.

This.

I never expected this kind of loyalty to Smith.

We all know we should have had 2-3 points more from the first ten games and possibly another 2-3 by Christmas. About 4-6 points pissed away?

Relegation pushes us behind by about 5 years I reckon. You are a year out (minimum). You lose Jack, Mings and McGinn. You become a 'scalp' for every team in the Championship. The Championship becomes another tough, tough grind. If you come up (a big if as Leeds will tell you) you are back to being cannon fodder for another year and you have fallen further behind the other teams who have leapfrogged us this decade.

Staying up was the objective this season. Hell for leather for survival -a bit of pragmatism here and there would have been nice. Playing the right way is all well and good - if it keeps you up.

Offline hilts_coolerking

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Re: Dean Smith - Confirmed
« Reply #6755 on: February 23, 2020, 12:21:22 PM »
DS may as well use the same after match comments for all the away games. Just change the opposition name. Nothing changes and it's arguably getting worse. The players simply have no respect for their manager.

Is the last sentence your opinion or is it based on something you have heard or read?
Judging by the complete lack of desire, fight, passion, determination - call it what you like - yesterday, I think it's pretty clear something's not right behind the scenes.  AEG mincing off after being caressed on the side of the face is, in my opinion, also pointing in that direction.  It won't be confirmed of course but in instances when we know the dressing room has been lost that's the kind of performance you tend to get.

Offline ez

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Re: Dean Smith - Confirmed
« Reply #6756 on: February 23, 2020, 12:24:15 PM »
Anyone really expecting Smith to get sacked before the end of the season?


No chance whatsoever. I think he stays even if we go down too.

Not a chance of him going. I dont think the owners will give him an easy out by sacking him. We're  going to see him scowling on the touchline for a while yet.

Online itbrvilla

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Re: Dean Smith - Confirmed
« Reply #6757 on: February 23, 2020, 12:24:27 PM »
I don't think that Purslow is a shrinking violet, he did sack Rafael Benitez after all.  I am a bit surprised by his loyalty to Dean Smith with our club and performances in decline.  Lose the Final and there really is no reason to keep Dean Smith.

This.

I never expected this kind of loyalty to Smith.

We all know we should have had 2-3 points more from the first ten games and possibly another 2-3 by Christmas. About 4-6 points pissed away?

Relegation pushes us behind by about 5 years I reckon. You are a year out (minimum). You lose Jack, Mings and McGinn. You become a 'scalp' for every team in the Championship. The Championship becomes another tough, tough grind. If you come up (a big if as Leeds will tell you) you are back to being cannon fodder for another year and you have fallen further behind the other teams who have leapfrogged us this decade.

Staying up was the objective this season. Hell for leather for survival -a bit of pragmatism here and there would have been nice. Playing the right way is all well and good - if it keeps you up.
What's the right way? Getting battered by the opposition every game? Giving them all the possession? Putting ourselves under continual pressure? I don't think we've had a fitness problem I think we just get knackard as we are chasing the ball constantly. We make everything easy for almost everyone who we've played.

Offline olaftab

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Re: Dean Smith - Confirmed
« Reply #6758 on: February 23, 2020, 12:39:40 PM »
Purslow’s expectations at the start of the season were a lot higher than not being in the bottom three.
Purslow's expectations were to stay in the Premier League and we have not been relegated just yet and we are not in the bottom 3. 

Offline hilts_coolerking

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Re: Dean Smith - Confirmed
« Reply #6759 on: February 23, 2020, 12:46:15 PM »
Purslow’s expectations at the start of the season were a lot higher than not being in the bottom three.
Purslow's expectations were to stay in the Premier League and we have not been relegated just yet and we are not in the bottom 3.
Did he actually say that?  Stay up and no more?

Online Olof's Beard

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Re: Dean Smith - Confirmed
« Reply #6760 on: February 23, 2020, 12:54:09 PM »
DS may as well use the same after match comments for all the away games. Just change the opposition name. Nothing changes and it's arguably getting worse. The players simply have no respect for their manager.

Is the last sentence your opinion or is it based on something you have heard or read?
Judging by the complete lack of desire, fight, passion, determination - call it what you like - yesterday, I think it's pretty clear something's not right behind the scenes.  AEG mincing off after being caressed on the side of the face is, in my opinion, also pointing in that direction.  It won't be confirmed of course but in instances when we know the dressing room has been lost that's the kind of performance you tend to get.

I love how people draw conclusions from so little. There was nothing wrong with the spirit against Spurs or across the two legs of the League Cup Final. Note the way the players rallied around Engels last week too. It's more likely that we have a bunch of young, inconsistent players who are too easily overpowered and intimidated when things aren't going their way. I don't think the players have given up on the manager. We have one of the weakest squads in the league. We're about where we should be in the table.

Offline ASHTONVILLA

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Re: Dean Smith - Confirmed
« Reply #6761 on: February 23, 2020, 01:09:09 PM »
Should have binned Smith in December, still think Alladyce could keep us up. Still not convinced Smith can.

Offline hilts_coolerking

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Re: Dean Smith - Confirmed
« Reply #6762 on: February 23, 2020, 01:11:25 PM »
I love how people draw conclusions from so little. There was nothing wrong with the spirit against Spurs or across the two legs of the League Cup Final. Note the way the players rallied around Engels last week too. It's more likely that we have a bunch of young, inconsistent players who are too easily overpowered and intimidated when things aren't going their way. I don't think the players have given up on the manager. We have one of the weakest squads in the league. We're about where we should be in the table.
I suppose all you can say is that Smith was as shocked and embarrassed by the team yesterday as most of us on here were and, more importantly, was at a total loss to explain it.

Offline kipeye

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Re: Dean Smith - Confirmed
« Reply #6763 on: February 23, 2020, 01:14:59 PM »
Should have binned Smith in December, still think Alladyce could keep us up. Still not convinced Smith can.
That would set us back 10 years, not 5. Fat Sam and his ilk-there are a few of them out there, would be the worst way to go. If we go down, we can get back up again and Smith would be my favourite to do so. If that didn't happen, yes, change it and bring someone else in, but give it a chance. I hate the merry-go -round of changing managers and would like to see stability for a few seasons at least.

Offline McGraths Dry Cleaning

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Re: Dean Smith - Confirmed
« Reply #6764 on: February 23, 2020, 01:19:56 PM »
It's not over yet - Cup Final and relegation or otherwise is in our own hands. The opportunity to sack Smith to drive some change into the team before the end of the season has gone IMO but turn in a performance or two at VP like yesterday and the fans might pull the trigger anyway.

Personally for me Villa has been underperforming for years. Doesn't seem to matter who the owner, manager or coaching staff are we're lacking in every area of the club. Plenty have managed to survive in the Premiership on a fraction of the money we spend. We've been punching blow our weight for years. Maybe the new owners will sort it out.

 


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