Dean Smith - Confirmed

[Chris Smith]

Sorry to continue to nit pick but "possibly even Wes"? The most expensive player we have ever signed?

The fact that Wesley is our Record signing and the biggest outlay we made this summer kind of underlines the problem both the club and the manager faced putting a side together like they had to.

Two of our more established rivals, West Ham and Newcastle, each paid twice as much for their strikers that have both stunk the place out.

Exactly and is why the comparison with Everton is a little misleading. Ancelotti took over an expensively assembled but under performing established PL club. In comparison we got promoted against the odds and had to rebuild pretty much from scratch. Staying up on goal difference should be seen as a success this season.

[luke95]

if he keeps us up he'll have succeeded in both of his seasons, with a cup final thrown in as a bonus. 

This with brass knobs on .
We have to give him at least untill the end of the season unless we are relegated before then & then look at him again .
He hasn't failed yet!

[Pat Mustard]

if he keeps us up he'll have succeeded in both of his seasons, with a cup final thrown in as a bonus.

Couldn't agree more - given where we were when he took over, Smith will absolutely have earned the right to another crack next season if we stay up.  Put it this way, he will have effectively achieved more (and in less time), than Graham Taylor did when he took over.

The one thing I would be looking at though is John Terry's role.  Our biggest single failing this season has been defensive organisation and that it surely in his remit.  Get in a much better defensive coach to work with Smith and I think things would look a lot rosier.

[dave.woodhall]

if he keeps us up he'll have succeeded in both of his seasons, with a cup final thrown in as a bonus.

Couldn't agree more - given where we were when he took over, Smith will absolutely have earned the right to another crack next season if we stay up.  Put it this way, he will have effectively achieved more (and in less time), than Graham Taylor did when he took over.

The one thing I would be looking at though is John Terry's role.  Our biggest single failing this season has been defensive organisation and that it surely in his remit.  Get in a much better defensive coach to work with Smith and I think things would look a lot rosier.

The biggest disappointment to me this season has been Terry's (lack of) input. I don't much care about his non-celebration of scoring against Chelsea but our defence should be doing the basics right.

[Sexual Ealing]

The club would do well to be rid of Terry in any circumstance.

[Lastfootstamper]

I'd argue it's our goal scoring. It must be a bit draining playing in our beleaguered defence knowing that your best likelihood of any points is keeping a clean sheet.

[hilts_coolerking]

Does this also mean that if we go down he has failed and should leave?

[Pat Mustard]

I'd argue it's our goal scoring. It must be a bit draining playing in our beleaguered defence knowing that your best likelihood of any points is keeping a clean sheet.

Goalscoring has crept in as the season has gone on, but this is a promoted team that so far has:

Scored first away to Spurs and couldn't hold on
Scored and led twice away to Arsenal and couldn't hold on
Scored first against Liverpool and couldn't hold on
Scored twice at Old Trafford and only drew
Scored twice against Spurs at home and couldn't hold on
Scored first against Chelsea and couldn't hold on

To read some posts you would think we have been getting massacred by every top team we play.  We have actually had enough chances to pick up points against some big teams, but defensively have made individual and collective blunders that don't seem to get any better.  Given we have one of England's most capped centre-halves on our coaching staff, you have to ask what he is doing.

[Mister E]

Sorry to continue to nit pick but "possibly even Wes"? The most expensive player we have ever signed?

The fact that Wesley is our Record signing and the biggest outlay we made this summer kind of underlines the problem both the club and the manager faced putting a side together like they had to.

Two of our more established rivals, West Ham and Newcastle, each paid twice as much for their strikers that have both stunk the place out.

I'm not prepared to give up on some of the signings - they need a second season and maybe a manager that can get more out of them.
Despite the usual narrative here, Wesley is not a lost cause, unless we get relegated (when he will move on anyway).

[dave.woodhall]

Does this also mean that if we go down he has failed and should leave?

If we go down with all guns blazing I'd be happy to give him a couple of months into the new season, whenever it might start.

[john e]

Sorry to continue to nit pick but "possibly even Wes"? The most expensive player we have ever signed?

The fact that Wesley is our Record signing and the biggest outlay we made this summer kind of underlines the problem both the club and the manager faced putting a side together like they had to.

Two of our more established rivals, West Ham and Newcastle, each paid twice as much for their strikers that have both stunk the place out.

I'm not prepared to give up on some of the signings - they need a second season and maybe a manager that can get more out of them.
Despite the usual narrative here, Wesley is not a lost cause, unless we get relegated (when he will move on anyway).

difficulty for him to move on if we go down will be finding someone to pay a lot of money and wages

[Mister E]

Exactly and is why the comparison with Everton is a little misleading. Ancelotti took over an expensively assembled but under performing established PL club. In comparison we got promoted against the odds and had to rebuild pretty much from scratch. Staying up on goal difference should be seen as a success this season.

You're right to challenge the example of Everton.
When I referred to Ancelotti's appointment above, I was thinking less about this season and more about where we might have to go in our thinking next season if we stay up but fail to progress in any meaningful way.

On the point that Dave W, re our defence, I 100% agree that 2 former CB - both our manager and the celebrated coach that we have - should have been able to arrest the sloppiness of our defending (which we've witnessed pretty consistently over several years with several squads). In the EPL, not conceding goals easily is a prerequisite to achieving any aspiration.

[Risso]

Does this also mean that if we go down he has failed and should leave?

If we go down with all guns blazing I'd be happy to give him a couple of months into the new season, whenever it might start.

That just doesn't seem to be happening though.  We're going down with all squibs dampening.

[dave.woodhall]

Exactly and is why the comparison with Everton is a little misleading. Ancelotti took over an expensively assembled but under performing established PL club. In comparison we got promoted against the odds and had to rebuild pretty much from scratch. Staying up on goal difference should be seen as a success this season.

You're right to challenge the example of Everton.
When I referred to Ancelotti's appointment above, I was thinking less about this season and more about where we might have to go in our thinking next season if we stay up but fail to progress in any meaningful way.

On the point that Dave W, re our defence, I 100% agree that 2 former CB - both our manager and the celebrated coach that we have - should have been able to arrest the sloppiness of our defending (which we've witnessed pretty consistently over several years with several squads). In the EPL, not conceding goals easily is a prerequisite to achieving any aspiration.

I fear John Terry is proving that the best players don't necessarily make the best coaches.

[dave shelley]

Exactly and is why the comparison with Everton is a little misleading. Ancelotti took over an expensively assembled but under performing established PL club. In comparison we got promoted against the odds and had to rebuild pretty much from scratch. Staying up on goal difference should be seen as a success this season.

You're right to challenge the example of Everton.
When I referred to Ancelotti's appointment above, I was thinking less about this season and more about where we might have to go in our thinking next season if we stay up but fail to progress in any meaningful way.

On the point that Dave W, re our defence, I 100% agree that 2 former CB - both our manager and the celebrated coach that we have - should have been able to arrest the sloppiness of our defending (which we've witnessed pretty consistently over several years with several squads). In the EPL, not conceding goals easily is a prerequisite to achieving any aspiration.

I fear John Terry is proving that the best players don't necessarily make the best coaches.

See Charlton R.  And Ince P. As two to be starting with.