Dean Smith - Confirmed

[N'ZMAV]

Or it could be we have recruited some awful managers and players.

that too

[brian green]

And had some awful owners.

[Nii Lamptey]

we do like to ruin a decent manager, oh and strikers too - we've ruined a few of those.

We've also made a few..... John Carew, Dwight Yorke and Christian Benteke to start. In Benteke's case, the grass is certainly NOT greener on the other side!

[hilts_coolerking]

we do like to ruin a decent manager, oh and strikers too - we've ruined a few of those.

We've also made a few..... John Carew, Dwight Yorke and Christian Benteke to start. In Benteke's case, the grass is certainly NOT greener on the other side!

I don't think we can claim to have made John Carew.

[DB]

I think both Sherwood and O'Learly in particular were heavily tainted by their time with us.  O'Leary was pretty highly regarded before joining but got massively found out.

I think saying we've ben a graveyard for managers is a pretty reasonable call.

We were f**king tainted by them more like. Chancers

[Somniloquism]

I suspect it has been mentioned already but Dean's problem, and the same with some of those other managers mentioned in recent pages, is that they initially found a tactic that worked well, then other managers adapted to nullify it and we had nothing else. Sometimes due to the players one tactic can't be nullified easily ('The Mighty Reds YNWA' at the moment, Citeh recent years) and sometimes the tactics can only be used because of certain better players can only be effective in that system (us at the moment trying to get Grealish in the best role).

I would love Smith to actually try different tactics and he definitely needs to look at changes in second halves to nullify the opposition changes and show he can adapt and learn.

[Risso]

The thing we lack all over the pitch is pace.  If you've got pace, then it makes it harder to nullify players.  Our midfield options in Hourihane, McGinn, Luiz and Nakamba are all quite one paced.  Neither El Ghazi or Trezeguet are especially quick for wide players, and Wes is just slow, as is Targett, woefully so.  Jack is quick enough when he gets space in front of him, and his skill massively helps as well.  Guilbert appears to be the quickest player we have I reckon, but is right back.

[PaulWinch again]

Yep pace is a real issue.

[ChicagoLion]

Yep pace is a real issue.

Agree

[john e]

the two two main problems i have ( and there is a lot of positives as well)

1- we sit back to much which is exactly the thing we were told Smith doesn’t do

so many times we get ourselves into a good position then sit back and invite pressure back onto us
We are also very sloppy when we come out just after half time, just when you hope Smith is giving it the full monty and they will come out fired up and focused they come out all powder puff
Pisses me right off

2- the front players we have Wesley, Trez, El Ghazi, Kodjia,Davis, Jota are collectively not firing
if we go down this will be why
Even teams around or below us have someone getting goals
Norwich - Puki  Brighton - Maupay  Southampton- Ings  we have no one yet

[ChicagoLion]

Giving away goals in the second half will be a major reason if we go down.

[Chris Smith]

the two two main problems i have ( and there is a lot of positives as well)

1- we sit back to much which is exactly the thing we were told Smith doesn’t do

so many times we get ourselves into a good position then sit back and invite pressure back onto us
We are also very sloppy when we come out just after half time, just when you hope Smith is giving it the full monty and they will come out fired up and focused they come out all powder puff
Pisses me right off

2- the front players we have Wesley, Trez, El Ghazi, Kodjia,Davis, Jota are collectively not firing
if we go down this will be why
Even teams around or below us have someone getting goals
Norwich - Puki  Brighton - Maupay  Southampton- Ings  we have no one yet

On the second point, we’re the highest scorers in the bottom half of the table. If we go down I think it will be failure to hold on to leads that does for us rather than the amount of goals we score.

[Ian.]

Giving away goals in the second half will be a major reason if we go down.

This is it, not sure if it’s lack of experience or lack of belief or sometimes just bloody bad luck!

[itbrvilla]

Giving away goals in the second half will be a major reason if we go down.

This is it, not sure if it’s lack of experience or lack of belief or sometimes just bloody bad luck!

Absolutely, the amount of points we've lost in the last 10-15 minutes has been ridiculous.

[Mister E]

I've said all season we lack: fitness, good ball retention and the speed of thought to distribute quickly and accurately from the back to players making runs (Mings is particularly guilty of this).