Dean Smith - Confirmed

[john e]

We dropped points in my view. Significantly though, I saw us defend well for the first time all season.

I agree,
 I only saw the first half and no player was having a complete nightmare from what I could see

Central pairing looked good, but the team laboured

I just don't go along with this 'he can't do anything else' it's his job to find something else

[Ads]

The midfield isn't right. It's obvious, but with Jack and Landsbury out, we don't have the creative elements. Hourihane, BB, Whelan, Jedinak are not good enough for me.

[dave shelley]

The midfield isn't right. It's obvious, but with Jack and Landsbury out, we don't have the creative elements. Hourihane, Whelan, Jedinak are not good enough for me.

No, they're not.  Too slow by half.

[pauliewalnuts]

I am not suggesting he gets binned but if I am totally honest I haven't seen anywhere near enough on the pitch to make me feel this was a good appointment.

It's just not good enough and he has got to at least get us looking like we may improve pretty soon.

[Steve67]

I know he needs time but Tom Carroll really wasn’t the answer either.

[hilts_coolerking]

Comparison of Bruce and Smith's numbers (league matches only), for what's it's worth.

Bruce: 11-3-6-2-19-18  Points=15 from 33  PPG=1.36

Smith: 18-7-7-4-33-26  Points=28 from 54  PPG=1.56

Despite our defensive problems, Smith has had 6 clean sheets in 18 games, while Bruce had 1 in 11.

[Ads]

I wasn't defending Bruce, far from it. I just think we've given away so many cheap goals, under both Bruce and Smith. Today we looked solid.

[Toronto Villa]

I know he needs time but Tom Carroll really wasn’t the answer either.

You can’t judge the kid on 15 minutes. He’s a beat and tidy player who likes to play get forward and can play a very decent through ball from some of the stuff I’ve seen of his time at Spurs. And in the end he’s a loan with an option to buy. He has to prove himself. I hope he gets his chance instead of Whelan on Friday.

[KevinGage]

I really really really want to believe in him I really do

but he just isn't learning, playing the same players every week in the same way,
He has to be better than this, he needs to try something new or he'l get himself bogged down

I'd agree for the most part.

But it's interesting that we went in for not one but two central midfielders on deadline day - and two who fit the profile of first team players, rather than squad depth options.

That suggests to me that both Whelan and Hourhane know they're on borrowed time.

Defence better today with Mings, but Reading offered nowt.

[hilts_coolerking]

I am not suggesting he gets binned but if I am totally honest I haven't seen anywhere near enough on the pitch to make me feel this was a good appointment.

It's just not good enough and he has got to at least get us looking like we may improve pretty soon.

I think that's pretty much where I am.  Unimpressed, underwhelmed.

[ChicagoLion]

How did Hourihane do?

[Neil Hawkes]

Since the start of the season the consensus has been our defence needs addressing, Smith has replaced the keeper and both centre backs with his own choices as soon as possible and today, apparently, we had a comfortable clean sheet for the first time since Axel injury, (Chester we know needs recuperation), I would be greatly surprised if we do not have 2 different fullbacks by next season.
Midfield is still dreadfully imbalanced and cannot be fully addressed until the summer with only one extra come in this window, and probably not for the position intended - Jack coming back will be a great boost but will not solve the problem entirely.
If our forward line misfires, we do not have the strength from midfield to make the difference, as witnessed today.
Time, not impatience, is required - in my opinion.

[Malandro]

I wasn't defending Bruce, far from it. I just think we've given away so many cheap goals, under both Bruce and Smith. Today we looked solid.

By May, I’d be delighted if we are in the playoffs and look solid.
Let Grealish, McGinn and Abraham take care of the rest.

[Toronto Villa]

By May if everyone we have are healthy I want to see genuine progress having been made. We took a gigantic leap forward when Dean Smith arrived and while I accept injuries have played a major part a very large step back in the last two months. I don’t think he has mDe full use of all of his resources. That’s on him. He doesn’t have to pick Whelan every week. He doesn’t have to play two wingers. Play two up front on occasion. He has options. Use them.

[hilts_coolerking]

We took a gigantic leap forward when Dean Smith arrived

Did we?  What makes you say that?