Dean Smith - Confirmed

[AVH87]

Who next? The fact I can only think of Allardyce is pretty depressing.

Benitez would come if we acted now I think.

Not sure about that, when on MNF a couple of weeks ago he said no chance of a PL return at the moment.

We’re probably the pick of the PL clubs that could entice him over. Money talks. If Villa came calling, I think he’d jump.

Money talks but he'd also want a solid budget for Jan, and reports are where are in the loan market due to sailing close to the wind with FFP after the c.£120m summer spend.

[Toronto Villa]

If he goes we have to think big.

A friend of mine is always on about Pochettino but I'm trying my best to convince her this is not going to happen. Can anyone imagine we would be the next step in his career? A load of average players, and no money to spend.

Absolutely no chance in my opinion unless we make a mind boggling offer. He’s a young aspiring CL level manager now. He will have a number of offers later this season and certainly at big sides in the summer. We need to find the next Pochettino or someone much more experienced with a solid international reputation to help stabilize us and for player recruitment. 

[rougegorge]

The last four games have shown that he is not the manager people hoped he was.
Chelsea poor, Leicester worse, Sheffield United worse, today even worse.

Nearly all the players he signed are now looking out of their depth and he does too.

Everton changed in time, and we need to change if we are going to have any chance of staying up.

Bruce got so much stick for his brand of football, but he's doing a whole lot better than Smith.  I certainly don't like Smithball this season.

[Nii Lamptey]

IMO, if we’re going to spend money, it needs to be on the manager. The rest will follow. Both Poch and Benitez have worked under tight spending restrictions, but they’d know that it would only be short term at Villa.
If we gamble on an ‘up and coming’ manager or go for an ‘Allardyce’, we’ll be back here next year.
Need to start with that solid foundation.

[SoccerHQ]

There's plenty of good managers out there.

I actually rate Ralph Hasselhuttl a lot. Did very good work in Germany at Ingolstadt and Leipzig and I was very surprised when Southampton tempted him mid season. He hasn't quite made the impact at Saints I thought he would but that probably shows their decline over the last few seasons compared to what they were like under Poch and Koeman.

If Dean is let go I'd approach Howe and Dyche and see what they're thinking. Ultimately the club is miles and miles away from european contention so the short term goal is to keep the club up and build gradually from there.

Both have demonstrated they can do that with their eyes closed at their present clubs and arguably  they've both taken those two as far as they can. Don't know if either would walk out mid season though.

I get the feeling with Suso we'd look at the Spanish market and who's out of work. I read the other week Marcelinho was interviewed for Everton job and briefly linked to Arsenal. Guy has managed Villareal and Valencia into the CL in last 6 years and also beat Barca in the cup final last year so similar type of record to Nuno.

He's the sort I'd expect us to target. I wouldn't be that against Javi Gracia either. Disappointing start to the season but overall he did well in his 18 months at Watford.

[Joe S]

IMO, if we’re going to spend money, it needs to be on the manager. The rest will follow. Both Poch and Benitez have worked under tight spending restrictions, but they’d know that it would only be short term at Villa.
If we gamble on an ‘up and coming’ manager or go for an ‘Allardyce’, we’ll be back here next year.
Need to start with that solid foundation.

I can see your point, but if you don't then this time next year it's Millwall away?

Benitez or Porch is absolute fantasy, that is not going to happen.

I want to stay up...

[London Villan]

The only change to his tactics this season has been to shift Jack. That stopped working a few games ago. I hope he has it in himself to come up with another way of setting up the team. If he doesn’t he’ll be gone after Watford.

[SoccerHQ]

Another outsider to me would be Gerrard. I know he signed a new deal at Rangers only last week but he'd seriously consider it I reckon.

Imagine that, Gerrard and Terry our managerial duo. I might actually get a ticket for a Saturday game with the mass boycott we'd then have!

Even though I'm saying all this I still don't want Dean to be sacked but its starting to feel inevitable with how badly we're losing games now and getting key players injured. Hope he can get us going again in next few weeks but I'm not that confident. Seen this season play out before under Lambert.

[Toronto Villa]

We’ve stopped losing games by the odd goal. We’re getting battered now. Time is up when that happens.

[brontebilly]

The only change to his tactics this season has been to shift Jack. That stopped working a few games ago. I hope he has it in himself to come up with another way of setting up the team. If he doesn’t he’ll be gone after Watford.

Yeah, was clear a few games back, post Old Trafford that teams have figured out that Grealish on the left can become peripheral and frustrated quickly. Yet Smith hasn't changed shape since.

[ez]

I can't see Dean being trusted with anymore money which effectively means we're screwed. I just cant see any scenario where keeping him will keep us up.

[hilts_coolerking]

I can't see Dean being trusted with anymore money which effectively means we're screwed. I just cant see any scenario where keeping him will keep us up.

If they don't trust him with money they might as well fire him.

[themossman]

Sadly dean is being made to look thick by the calibre of manage he is now up against. The extent to which he fails to adapt is laughable. Any opposition can plan to neutralise us with pinpoint accuracy knowing his formation and selections are going to be the same every game.

[Nii Lamptey]

God no! Anyone but Gerrard!
The Chelsea/Terry love in is bad enough.... Gerrard and Liverpool would be insufferable! 🤢
Geez, I’d take Allardyce over him!

[ChicagoLion]

God no! Anyone but Gerrard!
The Chelsea/Terry love in is bad enough.... Gerrard and Liverpool would be insufferable! 🤢
Geez, I’d take Allardyce over him!

They don’t like each other.