Dean Smith - Confirmed

[BoVillan esq]

Villa Dean Smith and JT being discussed now on Talksport first subject on drive with Gough and Danny Kelly.
Taking calls now

Cheers

[LeeB]

Villa Dean Smith and JT being discussed now on Talksport first subject on drive with Gough and Danny Kelly.
Taking calls now

Thanks, I'll make sure I switch straight over to Radio 4 when I get in the car in about 5 minutes.

[CT]

I heard someone say earlier that he should rip into the players and let them know that was unacceptable.

Well, he did that at Southampton two weeks ago, and that was their response.

I know Dean isn't covering himself in glory at the moment, but these players are like locusts. As soon as we're down, they'll be off quicker than a nuns first curry.

That's what fucks me off the most. We're not really in a relegation battle because we don't actually battle.

[Ads]

If he's going to be sacked it will be after Saturday.

[Richard E]

Awesome to see how the post match huddle at Wembley produced such an inspirational performance last night.

[Luke8]

I heard someone say earlier that he should rip into the players and let them know that was unacceptable.

Well, he did that at Southampton two weeks ago, and that was their response.

Technically the response was a fairly decent performance at Wembley.

I get the general point though. Just feel that the inconsistency of our performances is maddening.

[Richard E]

Let’s not overstate the performance at Wembley. We didn’t get the anticipated hammering but we were still comfortably beaten.

[PaulWinch again]

I heard someone say earlier that he should rip into the players and let them know that was unacceptable.

Well, he did that at Southampton two weeks ago, and that was their response.

Technically the response was a fairly decent performance at Wembley.

I get the general point though. Just feel that the inconsistency of our performances is maddening.

It’s more the consistency of being utter shite that’s maddening.

[aj2k77]

We never for one moment looked like winning the Cup Final.

[Rigadon]

We never for one moment looked like winning the Cup Final.

Indeed. We avoided a massive hiding, that is all.  Smith is a pretty much universally liked character, so I hope when (it must be when now and not if) he leaves it's with a bit of dignity and no 'Bolton moment' because he doesn't deserve that.  I'd say now is the last point changing the manager makes any sense while the season is still ongoing.  I wouldn't wait until after the Chelsea game, that would be like writing one of our 10 remaining chances of staying up off in my view. 

[N'ZMAV]

I think Dean Smith is out of his depth now - he has done a few decent things this season - but it's faded away into nothing.
I'll always be grateful for what he did last season. But, he's lost at this level. All so disappointing.

[spk]

I've never wanted a Villa manager to succeed as much as Deano.So sad that he is struggling.Would I press the button now ? Just don't know.

[john e]

When he first arrived he was fresh and different, he played modern fast flowing attacking football

he has now morphed into every useless British manager we’ve had in the last 10 years
I just don’t get it

Norwich might well go down but at least the manager has  stuck to his football principles because he knows what they are
we’re all over the place with no idea what we are trying to do, just like the numpties who went before

[rougegorge]

It's interesting how the posts on 'Smith Out' and 'Smith Confirmed' oscillate. It almost reflects the ambivalence towards him. Certainly none of the previous incumbents have been afforded as much leeway as him.

We all wanted him to succeed, but the blind faith shown over Christmas by many fans and the owners hasn't been rewarded.

Now the tide of opinion has finally turned, but there is still inertia and seemingly a prevailing view that we wouldn't get anyone better now.

We might not get anyone better as a long term solution now, but paradoxically we might well get someone who can keep us up, especially as there are still 10 games left.

Smith just isn't getting anything out of the team let alone imparting any effective tactics or organisation and will lose any popularity if he takes us down playing like this.

[tony scott]

Everybody’s sitting on their hands and hoping.