Dean Smith - Confirmed

[passport1]

Whilst I have never been a Deano believer and thought he would be found out at this level he was a fans favourite appointment just as Lambert was. I think this type of appointment is always a sign of weakness at board level and the worry to me is who will they appoint next.

[SoccerHQ]

Taking us up in his first season was dreamland for him. If we change things now he’ll be a legend forever but if he takes us straight back down, it’s tainted. I don’t think it’s necessarily the decent thing to keep backing him.

I think this is interesting line of thinking.

Dean leaves in next few weeks, his legacy is ultimately dragging this club back up to where historically it should be. Next manager also gets plenty of games to get the 20 points needed to stay up and build from there.

He stays, we go down and it just wouldn't be the same would it? We're mid table in championship this time next year and there will be Smith out chants from the Holte like there would be for any other manager.

I wouldn't like to see that for what is overall a very decent man.

Even better if we could actually win a game or two and he's the one who keeps us up. You never know I guess.

[AVH87]

He's a decent Championship boss floundering hopelessly out of his depth in a league that is way too big for him.  He can't handle the players or the expectations.  Time to put him out of his misery.

I agree Risso - who would you like as replacement?

[brontebilly]

Whilst I have never been a Deano believer and thought he would be found out at this level he was a fans favourite appointment just as Lambert was. I think this type of appointment is always a sign of weakness at board level and the worry to me is who will they appoint next.

Didn't they want Thierry Henry to start with? Smith was a decent appointment at the time but I was never keen on John Terry coming in as part of the backroom team. It reeked of tokenism. An experienced talented coach was what was and still is required. That team is hopelessly put together at the moment.

[villa `cross the mersey]

He certainly isn't the progressive coach many on here thought/hoped we were getting
He talks a good game and seems a decent fella - but the recent visits to opposition dressing rooms to congratulate / commiserate with the other team / coaches is very commendable and sporting  but not the traits of a ruthless winner - the club faces a huge dilemma now - back or sack
Who is available and what funds will be given in   January to buy a striker and midfield ace with experience of the Premier League ?
It's all turning a bit shit after a great summer and preseason

[SoccerHQ]

Whilst I have never been a Deano believer and thought he would be found out at this level he was a fans favourite appointment just as Lambert was. I think this type of appointment is always a sign of weakness at board level and the worry to me is who will they appoint next.

He's been a much better appointment than Henry would've been.

Regardless of the Villa fan angle his signing made loads of sense to me at the time. Manager who'd worked his way up the league structure playing a defined style of play and improving players on the training ground.

He's not the first or last manager to find aspects of the premier league hard to grasp. No shame in that and to me DS is the sort who'll improve with time at this level.

The problem we have is can we afford to risk another relegation to test that theory?

[pauliewalnuts]

I just read WM are saying the players held a meeting - without DS - to discuss our tactics after the Leicester game.

If - if - that’s true, it doesn’t augur well.

[Nunkin1965]

He certainly isn't the progressive coach many on here thought/hoped we were getting
He talks a good game and seems a decent fella - but the recent visits to opposition dressing rooms to congratulate / commiserate with the other team / coaches is very commendable and sporting  but not the traits of a ruthless winner - the club faces a huge dilemma now - back or sack
Who is available and what funds will be given in   January to buy a striker and midfield ace with experience of the Premier League ?
It's all turning a bit shit after a great summer and preseason

Are we in a position to actually sign anybody during the January window?

[Legion]

Poch: Open to offers

[Three Spires Villa]

I just read WM are saying the players held a meeting - without DS - to discuss our tactics after the Leicester game.

If - if - that’s true, it doesn’t augur well.

Really? Blimey

[Villafirst]

Relegation is a very real possibility now. Lose to Norwich on Boxing Day and DS will be under intense pressure. Mainly dreadful today apart from Jack. Wesley is just hopeless. Davis needs to start in front of him as soon as he's fit. Kodjia looked good when he came on.

[Rico]

If they are even considering changing the manager, then do it now. Give the new guy a couple of weeks to assess the squad, then give him what he needs in the January transfer window.

On a personal level I would love Dean to turn this around, but with his insistence on playing 433, I just can't see it happening. Dean, please try something different. We know our striker options are limited, but relying on Wesley is asking for the sack. Why not go 442 and play Kodjia alongside him. Defensively is it too early to bring Chester back? Maybe go 5 at the back? I don't know, but continuing with this current set up is going to end in relegation.

[phantom limb]

I just read WM are saying the players held a meeting - without DS - to discuss our tactics after the Leicester game.

If - if - that’s true, it doesn’t augur well.

If there’s any truth in this then the writing is on the wall isn’t it?

[AsTallAsLions]

I just read WM are saying the players held a meeting - without DS - to discuss our tactics after the Leicester game.

If - if - that’s true, it doesn’t augur well.

Jesus wept.

[Roysmert]

What I don't get is how tired and lethargic we look.

We have zero movement, are utterly without pace (esp in the middle) and entirely predictable in our attempts to move the ball forward.

Kodjia worked harder in 10 minutes today than Wesley has in the last 10 matches, yet we'll see again next week, a starting front three of Jack, Wesley and El Ghazi.

Getting stuff wrong is not the end of the world, everyone does it in all walks of life.

The problem is when you keep making the same mistake over and over.

Precisely. We learn nothing, absolutely nothing, from game-to-game. We change nothing, we know no other way. So we keep doing the same thing. Mind bloggling, and like all managers, his pig-headedness will cost him his job.

Thanks for those amazing 13/14 games last season, but Christ Almighty change things rapido or it's bye-bye from the board. Shame, but this is a ruthless league.