Dean Smith - Confirmed

[SoccerHQ]

I think the players are reverting to what they know. I don’t think for a second a manager who plays one defined style sends the players out to play that way. Look at the stats. We are now a hybrid now of the two mangement styles and it naturally looks terrible. Lots of attacking play but when we get desperate long ball hit and hope. And defensively we are utter wank.

Grealish knits everything together in the middle tbh. He personally hasn't hit the heights he did from January last year but boy do you see the difference in our speed and thought when in possession with him unavailable.

We certainly need a Sawyers type in this window if Jack is out long term.

[brian green]

Sorry to say it because I really do like Dean Smith but the performances of his teams become more Brucesque with every game.

[SoccerHQ]

Ironic thing is we could've done with the SB negative mindset one nil up to PNE and today.

At this part of the season I have no issue whatsoever with grinding out ugly 1-0 wins like at Swansea.

[Toronto Villa]

Ironic thing is we could've done with the SB negative mindset one nil up to PNE and today.

At this part of the season I have no issue whatsoever with grinding out ugly 1-0 wins like at Swansea.

I agree though I think even if he wanted to the terrible mental errors have killed him. In fact we saw it did Bruce in.

[Matt Collins]

Was never going to be a linear improvement

Needs to regroup now and go again after the break

Tho I was concerned today with the long balls. More seriously, I always thought Brentford lacked killer instinct. And we seriously lack killer instinct at the moment. At both ends

[four fornicholl]

Sorry to say it because I really do like Dean Smith but the performances of his teams become more Brucesque with every game.

Hopefully because he's pissing with Bruces' cock.

[PeterWithesShin]

DS post match interview https://twitter.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1080160681582870528

[Toronto Villa]

Sounds like Axel done for most of the rest of the season and Jack maybe back in Jan more likely Feb.

[PeterWithe]

Critical of him bringing on Whelan instead of either Hogan or Davis when we needed a goal.

They kept running past Hourihane I would have made the swap earlier.

Yup, he’s not fit enough for that deep lying shield role

[Risso]

He’s been very good lately at analysing where things have gone wrong. Less good at doing something about it.

[Toronto Villa]

He’s been very good lately at analysing where things have gone wrong. Less good at doing something about it.

You could argue though that the squad needed a new keeper and we got one. We needed a new left sided CB and it appears we are getting one. We need an attacking midfielder and that could be Sawyers. The key areas we all can see we need better players or where need to create depth he sees also. Not saying he’s not made errors, but it’s hard to change a lot with what he’s had available.

[PeterWithesShin]

Maybe it's a case of the players are the ones not so good at doing what he wants them to, especially as we haven't been able to rotate much so mental and physical tiredness is probably creeping in more.

[itmustbe_it is!]

Hourihane is a real problem. He should be a creative outlet, but so much of the game just passes him by.

This. He was awful today.

[wittonwarrior]

He working with Bruce’s team give the man the chance to carry out the necessary treatment before criticising.

[Matt Collins]

Agree hourihane was awful

I'm not a huge fan. But today I think we need to give the benefit of the doubt to him being knackered