That’s the issue with changing manager. Yesterday I was all for getting a fire fighter in like Allardyce but having slept on it I’m not sure. I’ve always thought the squad has major weaknesses, what if we appointed Allardyce (say) and still go down? We then will be trying a complete rebuild yet again. This is such a tough decision I reckon. My guess is they’ll stick with Smith even after relegation.
Quote from: tim on February 23, 2020, 11:37:16 AMQuote from: Big Ming on February 23, 2020, 11:23:38 AMQuestion:Dean Smith is responsible for coaching/tactics/match day selection/ team motivation.Suso is responsible for getting the best players for the money available which means all of our signings since he took the job.Who do you blame most and how long do you stick with a failing system?To be honest I think DS is doing ok with the players he has. There are 5 or 6 genuine PL standard players, but enough that just aren't quite there which makes things that bit more difficult for them. A change of manager might help in the short term, but until the quality of players improves I don't see much hope.That’s the issue with changing manager. Yesterday I was all for getting a fire fighter in like Allardyce but having slept on it I’m not sure. I’ve always thought the squad has major weaknesses, what if we appointed Allardyce (say) and still go down? We then will be trying a complete rebuild yet again. This is such a tough decision I reckon. My guess is they’ll stick with Smith even after relegation.
Quote from: Big Ming on February 23, 2020, 11:23:38 AMQuestion:Dean Smith is responsible for coaching/tactics/match day selection/ team motivation.Suso is responsible for getting the best players for the money available which means all of our signings since he took the job.Who do you blame most and how long do you stick with a failing system?To be honest I think DS is doing ok with the players he has. There are 5 or 6 genuine PL standard players, but enough that just aren't quite there which makes things that bit more difficult for them. A change of manager might help in the short term, but until the quality of players improves I don't see much hope.
Question:Dean Smith is responsible for coaching/tactics/match day selection/ team motivation.Suso is responsible for getting the best players for the money available which means all of our signings since he took the job.Who do you blame most and how long do you stick with a failing system?
DS may as well use the same after match comments for all the away games. Just change the opposition name. Nothing changes and it's arguably getting worse. The players simply have no respect for their manager.
I don't think that Purslow is a shrinking violet, he did sack Rafael Benitez after all. I am a bit surprised by his loyalty to Dean Smith with our club and performances in decline. Lose the Final and there really is no reason to keep Dean Smith.
Quote from: Villafirst on February 23, 2020, 12:07:32 PMDS may as well use the same after match comments for all the away games. Just change the opposition name. Nothing changes and it's arguably getting worse. The players simply have no respect for their manager. Is the last sentence your opinion or is it based on something you have heard or read?
Quote from: ChicagoLion on February 23, 2020, 07:23:45 AMAnyone really expecting Smith to get sacked before the end of the season?No chance whatsoever. I think he stays even if we go down too.
Anyone really expecting Smith to get sacked before the end of the season?
Quote from: Newby on February 23, 2020, 10:53:53 AMI don't think that Purslow is a shrinking violet, he did sack Rafael Benitez after all. I am a bit surprised by his loyalty to Dean Smith with our club and performances in decline. Lose the Final and there really is no reason to keep Dean Smith. This.I never expected this kind of loyalty to Smith.We all know we should have had 2-3 points more from the first ten games and possibly another 2-3 by Christmas. About 4-6 points pissed away? Relegation pushes us behind by about 5 years I reckon. You are a year out (minimum). You lose Jack, Mings and McGinn. You become a 'scalp' for every team in the Championship. The Championship becomes another tough, tough grind. If you come up (a big if as Leeds will tell you) you are back to being cannon fodder for another year and you have fallen further behind the other teams who have leapfrogged us this decade.Staying up was the objective this season. Hell for leather for survival -a bit of pragmatism here and there would have been nice. Playing the right way is all well and good - if it keeps you up.
Purslow’s expectations at the start of the season were a lot higher than not being in the bottom three.
Quote from: Risso on February 23, 2020, 11:00:46 AMPurslow’s expectations at the start of the season were a lot higher than not being in the bottom three.Purslow's expectations were to stay in the Premier League and we have not been relegated just yet and we are not in the bottom 3.
Quote from: Virgil Caine on February 23, 2020, 12:10:07 PMQuote from: Villafirst on February 23, 2020, 12:07:32 PMDS may as well use the same after match comments for all the away games. Just change the opposition name. Nothing changes and it's arguably getting worse. The players simply have no respect for their manager. Is the last sentence your opinion or is it based on something you have heard or read?Judging by the complete lack of desire, fight, passion, determination - call it what you like - yesterday, I think it's pretty clear something's not right behind the scenes. AEG mincing off after being caressed on the side of the face is, in my opinion, also pointing in that direction. It won't be confirmed of course but in instances when we know the dressing room has been lost that's the kind of performance you tend to get.
I love how people draw conclusions from so little. There was nothing wrong with the spirit against Spurs or across the two legs of the League Cup Final. Note the way the players rallied around Engels last week too. It's more likely that we have a bunch of young, inconsistent players who are too easily overpowered and intimidated when things aren't going their way. I don't think the players have given up on the manager. We have one of the weakest squads in the league. We're about where we should be in the table.
Should have binned Smith in December, still think Alladyce could keep us up. Still not convinced Smith can.