Dean Smith - Confirmed

[kippaxvilla2]

yes, until he visits his local ATM.

[footyskillz]

I wonder if Dean is wishing he'd stayed at Brentford ?

If Sheff wed finish above villa or even get promoted then Smith would be questionned

[Toronto Villa]

I wonder if Dean is wishing he'd stayed at Brentford ?

You’re not serious with that are you?

[Drummond]

I wonder if Dean is wishing he'd stayed at Brentford ?

If Sheff wed finish above villa or even get promoted then Smith would be questionned

I think there would be a queue of people lining up to be questioned before Smith if that happened. The Gambling Companies, Referees Association, EFL, Serious Crime Squad, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Pope.

[robleflaneur]

Why this negativity ? Under Bruce and Kmac we played one team above us now in the table,4-1 defeat at Sheff U.With Tammy under Bruce we won 1 game v Rotherham.
In the last 11 games,the majority played against  teams currently above us,we have lost once.The lopsided nature of the squad is being addressed.Having Dean Smith is far better than having Bruce with Tammy in the side.

[old man villa fan]

Good grief. Give the bloke a break. He’s less than three months into the job , hasn’t yet had a transfer window, injuries to key players and we are still in with a good shout of the playoffs. How many of the critical posters above would feel happy being criticised in their jobs with similar constraints after that period of time , I wonder?

Think people who are giving a 3 month appraisal are perfectly right and healthy to on performance so far .

Injuries and unbalanced squad are taken into consideration by all , I believe , which comment here as we are all aware .

However it feels like some have head in clouds and that posters who even ' dare' give a critical performance observation and question are just told
" he hasn't been here long "
"It's not his squad"
"We have injuries"

I admire dean Smith as he doesn't use this as an excuse and I don't think ever would .
That's a massive plus about this coach.

He's working with what he's got and we are commenting on how he's working with what he's got.

Straightforward really.

I think we should be really critical of Dean Smith for allowing Grealish, Axel and Taylor to get injured.  In allowing this, the momentum, fluidity and confidence was stopped in its tracks because we hadn't got like for like players to bring in and, in some cases, players he should have brought in were injured or short of match fitness following injury.

The squad is paper thin in players that can influence games in the right way and drastically short of pace in midfield and defence.  To he'll with it, Smith is to blame for that too.

Now, I need to trawl the web ....... architect, Rome....

What about playing only one central striker when we current have a squad with striker options and there could be some felxibility in his system

What about using squad strengths or bringing in youth players to play in required positions.

What about sticking to his vision of collective responsibility in football and having different captains.

What about looking at the three positions where we have lost so much influence and how we replace those players effectively, rather than running away from the problems that are staring us in the face.

What squad strength do we have to replace Grealish. Our squad strength has meant a totally inexperienced player in that position coming in to replace Axel.  Our squad strength has meant Hutton having to go to left back because we have no other left back.  Which young players that were not injured could have been brought in.

Who else that holds down a consistent place in the side warrants being captain. To be honest, don't think even Chester has a strong enough personality to be captain.

Two up top with similar players of Abraham and Kodjia rarely works. Two up top needs to be of contrasting styles.

I have watched enough football over the years to recognise balanced teams where each player offers something in a progressive way without being a liability at the other end of the pitch. Football is a team game and each part of the team is important in making the team work.

[Matt Collins]

There are valid questions to be asked

But the negativity on this site and thread is ridiculous

There was a clear consensus we wanted Smith to deliver a longer term transition. We've already had an insight into what a Smith team can do. A few dodgy games amid an injury crisis, where we still only lost once, and the pessimism is way over the top

[Toronto Villa]

There are valid questions to be asked

But the negativity on this site and thread is ridiculous

There was a clear consensus we wanted Smith to deliver a longer term transition. We've already had an insight into what a Smith team can do. A few dodgy games amid an injury crisis, where we still only lost once, and the pessimism is way over the top

I agree Matt. He swings in mood are incredible. I get that after Preston and QPR we shouldn’t be happy but it’s not like the league is about to end. We’re still 5 points back of the playoffs, 1/2 season to go, a whole transfer window in front of us. Players come and go. Our still new manager need to create a squad and team in his own image. That might not ultimately include Tammy Abraham. But it’s not the end of the world. He built a side at Brentford from great scouting and a dedication to a style of play over many seasons. It just won’t happen with us over three months.

[old man villa fan]

There are valid questions to be asked

But the negativity on this site and thread is ridiculous

There was a clear consensus we wanted Smith to deliver a longer term transition. We've already had an insight into what a Smith team can do. A few dodgy games amid an injury crisis, where we still only lost once, and the pessimism is way over the top

Agreed.

I do not get the "I have to be first in saying something/somebody is no good".

[chrisw1]

We've had a few poor performances and it's become clear things aren't going to be as easy as they looked in Smiths first few games. 

Some of the praise during the good run was a bit daft, but he hasn't become a bad manager overnight and I'm still massively excited to see what he can achieve with this team over the next few years.

[Matt Collins]

If people bought into the concept of a period of transition, what did they think it would look like, if not some spells where we look great and others where it isn't working so well?

We're not getting pumped every week

[Toronto Villa]

I've used this analogy before but it's like improving your golf game. If you've ever been for lessons the first few you realize how absolutely shit your swing actually is. Then over time the coach tries to fix that and stop you from repeating all of the bad habits that you have committed to over many years. The transition period is terrible because you try the new swing and your game initially gets worse and you want to go back to the old way. So you have this internal fight not to go back to it (see pumping it long vs QPR as exhibit A in Villa terms). But over time as you keep going back to the coach and keep working on the new swing it starts to bed in and over time your game improves.

We simply have to get through the transition period from Bruce call to what Dean Smith wants to do long term. It's not going to be pretty all the time.

[footyskillz]

People may not want to critically appraise the here and now or just give Smith a free pass .

That's ok but as I say it's ok too , to be able to question or debate the current situation

Unfortunately Tammy Abrahams leaving will be added to the list of facts (excuses) to shield any comment on questioning Deano by some

Like all coaches Smith is on probation .

It would be nice , fair and reasonable for people to at least wonder in debate and discussion on aspects of performance of coaches JT and O'Kelly.

I guess we are looking time frames.
That can be fair as people have different out look.

I think it would be good if JT had managed to install some defence toughness and rigidity by now.

The December run saw 3-0 wins against Derby and Boro which were outstanding results and against Boro a super 90 min performance.
Versus Derby second half very strong showing.

But something happened after the 2-2 draw with wba . A match should have won.

For me since then things haven't been so good in performance let alone results.

It also seems system more suited to playing away than at home.

Yet again I say I take all into account the issues and constraints nevertheless the playing style , ball retention at times has been poor.

The defending and covering woeful. 

I do see it really as a work in progress and transition but at the moment seems that rely on attack to win match out right rather than the whole team play .

Hopefully things go better as knit together the ideas and play as at times under Smith we have been magnificent and played unbelievable football scoring sublime goals but also being involved in dramatic hectic matches.

There is a need for things to be addressed so am just waiting really to see if this happens.
In mean time will comment and provide observation on current play, performance in the fairest , thoughtful way . A way in which progress and what is both positive and what needs commenting on .

Up the villa
 

[brian green]

I have every confidence in Dean Smith because I genuinely believe he wants to be a good manager.  Bruce only wants to be a wealthy one.  Dean will make mistakes, plenty of them, all careers are rocked by them, but he will overcome them and he will take us where we want to be.

[Risso]

There are valid questions to be asked

But the negativity on this site and thread is ridiculous

There was a clear consensus we wanted Smith to deliver a longer term transition. We've already had an insight into what a Smith team can do. A few dodgy games amid an injury crisis, where we still only lost once, and the pessimism is way over the top

Which posts in this thread do you think are ridiculously negative?