Dean Smith - Confirmed

[mr underhill]

i suspect nothing further will be spent which is why we've ended up with Drinkwater and Reina

[Demitri_C]

Disgrace.  Has to go

[PaulWinch again]

Good work Dean.

[ChicagoLion]

We keep seeing decisions that make absolutely no sense.
Add yesterday’s midfield to the list of Dean Smith fuck ups.

[supertom]

To put out a team that defensive minded and then get absolutely shredded 6-1 is unforgivable. 6 from 6 in the next two, or down to the doll office. Nothing less.

[Toronto Villa]

The thought of someone like Allardyce isn’t one that anyone wants to contemplate. No different to thought of Nigel Pearson as manager. The thought of relegation is much, much worse than that. I would sooner get in anyone right now with a reputation for making us solid and survive this season, much like West Ham just did with Moyes and build again. We need to establish ourselves as a PL club before we get ahead of ourselves with delusions of grandeur as to what we could be one day.

I take no pleasure at suggesting him, but I take less pleasure in considering the inevitable if we stick with the current manager

[SoccerHQ]

To put out a team that defensive minded and then get absolutely shredded 6-1 is unforgivable. 6 from 6 in the next two, or down to the doll office. Nothing less.

We'll be lucky to get two draws. I do fancy us at Bournemouth though, that's one we really have to win I think.

30 points by end of Sheffield United game at start of March needs to be the target and then a point a game from last 10 will probably be enough.

[lukey27]

Yesterday was shocking, no question. But they can do that to a lot of sides, they nearly did the same to Man Utd in midweek, they could have easily been 5 or 6 up at the break in that game.

The most disappointing thing yesterday was how we didn't learn in game. Some of the players are just as culpable as the manager.  When our centre halves had the ball first half, the full backs needed to be much, much higher and give them an option with the high diagonal. Essentially we were completely flummoxed by the high press and the fact we haven't played this formation consistently was found out in the very worst way.

I'd give this manager the rest of the season at least. Next three games, get Guilbert and Targett back in, get another attacking player in, play closer to 3-4-3 and lets see where we go. I understand doom and gloom, but people saying he's useless and out of his depth is very unfair. This is a bloke who got us promoted and won 10 in a row in the Championship. He deserves a little bit more respect.

[mallo]

Stay solid against Bournemouth and we'll have a decent chance. Watford I reckon are too good for us at the moment. Waiting for Burnley to self destruct is a very dicey strategy. We simply have to get some strikers in. We also need a reaction after that display.

[hilts_coolerking]

Relegation would be disastrous for the club so we have to give ourselves the best possible chance of avoiding it.  If that means replacing Smith with someone else then so be it; respecting him for getting us out of the Championship is fine but it counts for the square root of fuck all if he takes us straight back down.

[lukey27]

Relegation would be disastrous for the club so we have to give ourselves the best possible chance of avoiding it.  If that means replacing Smith with someone else then so be it; respecting him for getting us out of the Championship is fine but it counts for the square root of fuck all if he takes us straight back down.

You could currently replace him with Klopp and the squad he inherits would still have the same issues. The recruitment was been woeful. Yes as manager he needs to take his portion of the blame for this, but this squad is probably about 17th or 18th best in this league. Hence the league position. I'll be judging him against similar squads / teams in the next three. He and the team are capable of getting results and more than that deserve the chance to put this right.

[hilts_coolerking]

You could currently replace him with Klopp and the squad he inherits would still have the same issues.

The players would still have the same physical issues, lack of speed, strength etc, but I refuse to believe Smith is getting as much out of these players as anyone could.  He's getting virtually nothing out of them.  I think it's absurd to think no-one could do better.

[lukey27]

The players would still have the same physical issues, lack of speed, strength etc, but I refuse to believe Smith is getting as much out of these players as anyone could.  He's getting virtually nothing out of them.  I think it's absurd to think no-one could do better.

I'm definitely not saying that, but it's a massive risk. With Watford, less so, their squad is comfortably good enough to stay up in the league. With us, a manager change guarantees us nothing other than a massive pay-out and more turmoil. The Burnley game shows the team still has a pulse in the league. Lets see if they can back that up with a similar disciplined performance at Brighton

[Risso]

I think it's gone too far.  He's clearly not happy with the current set up, and even if Pitarch does pull a couple of transfer rabbits out of the hat, can you really see Smith getting the best out of them? 

[hilts_coolerking]

The players would still have the same physical issues, lack of speed, strength etc, but I refuse to believe Smith is getting as much out of these players as anyone could.  He's getting virtually nothing out of them.  I think it's absurd to think no-one could do better.

I'm definitely not saying that, but it's a massive risk. With Watford, less so, their squad is comfortably good enough to stay up in the league. With us, a manager change guarantees us nothing other than a massive pay-out and more turmoil. The Burnley game shows the team still has a pulse in the league. Lets see if they can back that up with a similar disciplined performance at Brighton

It's also a massive risk to stick with a manager who has presided over poor results and dismal performances.  I don't see him bringing about a drastic improvement in either.  What's going to change?