Dean Smith - Confirmed

[paul_e]

My only concern about Smith is how he'll react to a big defeat (no necessarily a high score, just an important game). If he sticks to what he knows and treats it as a blip then he'll be fine, if it plays on his mind then his lack of big club experience might be a problem. I suspect he'll do the former but until it happens it'll still be te small concern in the background.

[Villafirst]

My only concern about Smith is how he'll react to a big defeat (no necessarily a high score, just an important game). If he sticks to what he knows and treats it as a blip then he'll be fine, if it plays on his mind then his lack of big club experience might be a problem. I suspect he'll do the former but until it happens it'll still be te small concern in the background.

You mean like the Norwich defeat?

[Toronto Villa]

My only concern about Smith is how he'll react to a big defeat (no necessarily a high score, just an important game). If he sticks to what he knows and treats it as a blip then he'll be fine, if it plays on his mind then his lack of big club experience might be a problem. I suspect he'll do the former but until it happens it'll still be te small concern in the background.

So a quick anorak moment. Last season Brentford lost 3-0 (their heaviest loss scoreline) at Wolves and came back to win 2 straight games. A couple of months later they lost by the same scoreline at Derby and came back to draw, then 2 wins which included a 5-0 lampooning of the rags. Season before that they lost 5-0 at Norwich and came back to win the next 2.

[Holy Trinity]

I think we may have found our Alex Ferguson here. Not saying we are going to dominate world football for 20 years like United tried and for the most part did.
I more mean how he had united playing exactly how he wanted them and it didn't matter what 11 he put out they always looked pretty much the same and as a result the club rebuilt around the success.
I really think barring a disastrous injury to one of our key players that the prem next season is a real possibility and challenging for the top 6 and cups within a few season is also a real possibility and all the while building a real legacy at villa. I like to think Smith wouldn't  turn his back on us for a chance at a bigger club down the line. But let's face it if the big boys are sniffing we will have to be in a very good position anyway.

I am very positive again now

[Toronto Villa]

Thing is you don't need to be Alex Ferguson to play a defined style and commit to it. You can be Chris Wilder or Eddie Howe. You just cannot be Steve F Bruce.

[Clampy]

I'm not sure about us finding an Alex Ferguson. I'd say we've possibly found our own Eddie Howe.

[Clampy]

Thing is you don't need to be Alex Ferguson to play a defined style and commit to it. You can be Chris Wilder or Eddie Howe. You just cannot be Steve F Bruce.

Bruce has gone. Let it go. Just try looking forward.

[PeterWithesShin]

Bruce held us back massively, even to his biggest supporters it must be obvious now considering what the same players are capable of under Smith. So as it was only 6 weeks ago that we looked like a bag of shit people aren't going to stop mentioning it.

[Ad@m]

Promotion is way more than a 'possibility' - we're only 7 points off automatic with almost 30 matches still to go. 

To hit that magical 2 points per game total (which may not be necessary this year given how largely crap the division is) we need 68 points from 29 games.  That's 21 wins, 5 draws, and 3 losses. 

To put that in to context, after 17 games last season Fulham were 17th.  In their next 29 matches they won 21, drew 5 and lost 3.

It's on...

[Toronto Villa]

Thing is you don't need to be Alex Ferguson to play a defined style and commit to it. You can be Chris Wilder or Eddie Howe. You just cannot be Steve F Bruce.

Bruce has gone. Let it go. Just try looking forward.

You're right. But given how massively different it is now it's not unusual that people are going to reference the former manager for context. And we're on a place where MON was discussed ad nauseum many years after his departure.

[Clampy]

Bruce held us back massively, even to his biggest supporters it must be obvious now considering what the same players are capable of under Smith. So as it was only 6 weeks ago that we looked like a bag of shit people aren't going to stop mentioning it.

Maybe not but he's gone now. I prefer to look forward. Mind you, Paul Lambert still has his own thread and we've had 4 managers since he went.

[PeterWithesShin]

I doubt the fans of any club on the planet have stopped talking a manager 6 weeks after he left. Especially when the gulf in ability between the old and new is already looking massive.

[VillaAlways]

[Brassneck]

I always said that it was a mistake to have sacked Bruce. 

[kippaxvilla2]

Paul McGrath
@Paulmcgrath5
·
4h
Dean Smith so much respect to you pal  #UTV