Dean Smith - Confirmed

[ASHTONVILLA]

Incredible the difference one player makes to the team.

[SoccerHQ]

That's the frustration isn't it. With Jack back in we look like a proper team again playing the sort of style we want to see this club playing every week.

Guess it's another summer coming up of holding onto Jack at all costs as him leaving permanently would leave a massive void.

[Sexual Ealing]

Incredible the difference one player makes to the team.

He's not just 'one player' though. He must be at least as good as anyone who's ever played in this division. He's irreplaceable.

[paul_e]

Incredible the difference one player makes to the team.

He's not just 'one player' though. He must be at least as good as anyone who's ever played in this division. He's irreplaceable.

This.

He's so good at this level that teams plan almost entirely around containing him, which leaves an extra yard of space for the rest of the team, and without being rushed they all look far more capable, it's been the same story for about 18 months (since he came back from his kidney injury), when Jack plays we're just a lot better, if Bruce had known how to use the space it creates he'd still be here and we'd by 7-8 places higher in the league.

[brian green]

I can't  remember us having a more talismanic player.  McParland, Gidman, Platty, Gray, close but not so singularly able to make the team play better.

[Sexual Ealing]

If we had had a decent referee at Wembley who stopped the opposition chopping Jack down systematically we might be a whole division higher.

We were shite at Wembley, but I agree with you Brian.

That said, going up last year would've papered over some vast cracks.

[Mister E]

I can't  remember us having a more talismanic player.  McParland, Gidman, Platty, Gray, close but not so singularly able to make the team play better.

Ahem. I think Brian Little was pretty transformational.

[KRS]

Yep we’re in a significantly much better position now with the new owners and Smith to take the club forward than we would have been if we’d have been promoted under Xia and Bruce.

[brian green]

Yes, I forgot Sir Brian.  I also omitted Danny Blanchflower but that was because he never bonded with the club.

[Toronto Villa]

I can't  remember us having a more talismanic player.  McParland, Gidman, Platty, Gray, close but not so singularly able to make the team play better.

Ahem. I think Brian Little was pretty transformational.

Point of order - does Sir Brian even need to be mentioned. Doesn’t he transcend these kinds of mere mortal conversations?

[Clampy]

I know he hardly mentions us nowadays but Platty was such a good footballer.

[PeterWithesShin]

Platt is one of the few players we had that consistently made us a far better side on his own. He was the reason we nearly won the league, he was the reason we didn't get relegated. Despite having the likes of McGrath and Cowans in the side, take Platt out that side and I reckon we'd have been mid-table at best in 1990 and relegated in 1991.

[Sexual Ealing]

Platt is one of the few players we had that consistently made us a far better side on his own. He was the reason we nearly won the league, he was the reason we didn't get relegated. Despite having the likes of McGrath and Cowans in the side, take Platt out that side and I reckon we'd have been mid-table at best in 1990 and relegated in 1991.

Agreed. The balloon-faced gastropest.

[Toronto Villa]

Platt was superb. He was Lampard before Lampard in my opinion better than Gerrard

[Steve67]

Platt had everything.  Presence, good tackling, good in the air, could defend, was very good up front, could pass etc.  Superb player.  Him and Sid were absolutely fantastic to watch.