Dean Smith - Confirmed

[KRS]

I don’t think the owners will pull the plug on the Smith project as he’s achieved what his task was at the start of the season and that was to keep us in the PL...but I do think we need a better and more experienced manager to help secure us mid table or higher next season. I also have very little faith in the recruitment team so they need to prove me wrong too.

[Toronto Villa]

Unless someone like Poch was somehow interested DS absolutely should be manager next season. I do think he'll be given a lot less patience from the owners than he had this season though.

Agreed. We should be ruthless if someone significantly better is actually available. But Dean should now keep his job but the owners I imagine will expect mid table at minimum next season with no fucking around the arse end of the table or he will be gone before Christmas

[UK Redsox]

Unless someone like Poch was somehow interested DS absolutely should be manager next season. I do think he'll be given a lot less patience from the owners than he had this season though.

Poch will have to compete with Klopp for the job. The latter has nothing left to prove at Liverpool, so should be us for a new challenge.

[passport1]

Might as well let him start the new season but if it starts to go pear shaped - out he goes.

He will probably be in post given the  quick turnaround  but  I fear we will get more of the same.

[Jon Crofts]

They need to sort the recruitment policy out. Staying up by the skin of our teeth can’t hide the fact that the majority of players haven’t worked out.

This and the worrying stat of 21 points dropped from winning positions, that needs addressing sharpish.

[Damo70]

I was all for replacing Smith in January. But when that didn't happen I said that having got us up if he went on to keep us up he should stay. He will be wiser for the last twelve months and we won't have to buy a whole team of new players this summer.

[Toronto Villa]

They need to sort the recruitment policy out. Staying up by the skin of our teeth can’t hide the fact that the majority of players haven’t worked out.

This and the worrying stat of 21 points dropped from winning positions, that needs addressing sharpish.

and again it's that stat that nearly bit us in the arse vs Everton and today.

[supertom]

Fair play to Dean. From looking hopeless a few weeks ago, we looked more like we'd need to worry about Norwich overtaking us than having any thoughts of escape. He's done it, he's found a game plan that's been effective. He's tightened the defence and been more positive in attack (as simple sometimes as throwing extra bodies in the box).
We need to keep that positive approach going into next season.

What he really needs now, is to have a look at his coaching staff. I get a sense Terry isn't long for the club, because inevitably he'll get offered a managerial position somewhere, or could go back to Chelsea to be on their staff. We need a little more coaching nous to help with our defensive organisation.

I'd say it's also worth looking at the scouting and DOF areas too, and consider a shake up. It's a difficult one because a lot of these players have shown glimpses of being good, so the scouting wasn't without merit, and perhaps Dean has found a way to get more from certainly Luiz and Trezeguet of late. But I do think we need to be looking at some proven quality who can adapt quickly and improve that spine. An experience CH to help our backline wouldn't go amiss. Full back cover. A CF and some pace out wide. If Grealish goes he'll need replacing for certain.

The goalkeeping position I think is fine with Heaton as no 1, Steer as no 2. Nyland I know has had his moments but as a third option he's fine.

I'd like to see Dean get his shot at next season. However, the first 10-15 games will tell us whether we can move forward or not. If we're struggling at Christmas then we would need to change things quickly.

[Smithy]

I have a lot of sympathy for the people who think Smith needs replacing.  I think staying up on the last day, relying on results elsewhere, given how we were all feeling on the eve of our return to the Premier League with the investments we'd made on the playing side, is probably a disappointment.  I think pretty much everyone hoped for more.

Personally, I thought we'd be embroiled mid-table mediocrity and hoped for a cup run.  I got one of those.

Whatever way you look at it, Dean has got us up, he's now kept us up, and he's given us a cup final.  He deserves another crack at it next year, hopefully with three or four quality additions to the squad.  Our recruitment HAS to be better this summer.  Last summer was about numbers for the squad, this summer HAS to be about turning current first-teamers into squad players. However, I've seen enough from the way the team has adapted and set-up in the last five or six games to know that's Dean is learning, and I'm hopeful for what we can achieve with a handful of reinforcements.

I'm already excited to see who we are going to buy to strengthen the team before Sept 12th!

[hilts_coolerking]

I'd like to see Dean get his shot at next season. However, the first 10-15 games will tell us whether we can move forward or not. If we're struggling at Christmas then we would need to change things quickly.

I'm not a fan but I don't see how they can give him the poke now.  The problem is that if it doesn't work out, then 10-15 games into the season we're starting again, presumably having spent a lot of money on players the new manager might not fancy.  The ideal time for a new manager to come in would be tomorrow but as I say I can't see them dumping Dean and to be honest he doesn't deserve it.

[Smithy]

They need to sort the recruitment policy out. Staying up by the skin of our teeth can’t hide the fact that the majority of players haven’t worked out.

This and the worrying stat of 21 points dropped from winning positions, that needs addressing sharpish.

and again it's that stat that nearly bit us in the arse vs Everton and today.

It is, but I think it's much easier to learn how to hold a lead, than it is to learn how to get them in the first place.  That stat is quite damning when you see our league position, but simply learning how to hold out a bit better could see us 10 points better off next season.

I'd be much more worried if we'd stayed up by a point and rarely had good chances to win games.

[Footy-Vill]

As Deano the thinking man's coach says THIS IS BETTER THAN THE PLAY OFFS !!!
UTV !!!!
come on !!
Love this guy !!

[MoetVillan]

Really chuffed for him. Compare how we did to Watford.... A massive rebuilding needed last summer after stepping up to a hugely competitive league. Push on now Dean

[dave.woodhall]

As Deano the thinking man's coach says THIS IS BETTER THAN THE PLAY OFFS !!!
UTV !!!!
come on !!
Love this guy !!

Welcome back big man.

[manic-road]

Huge congratulations to Dean, last year taking job with us in 15th. Getting promoted, makes a cup final and gets the club up to 17th at the end of the season with a largely mediocre squad. I hope he is given time and funds to carry on building the team, he has now had a season in the Prem League and will know what type of players are needed to climb up the league next season.