Dean Smith - Confirmed

[KevinGage]

There was so much uncertainty in the early stages of the lockdown as to whether we'd even complete the season.

If they'd gone the route of scrapping relegation this year and promoting the top two from the Championship we'd have been spared a tough decision - or had the luxury of making it in the close season.

Even when it became clear that the league would resume, we had our destiny in our own hands with Sheff U at home and Newcastle away as early fixtures.

I can understand why they stuck with him on that basis.

But two from 12 after his initial reprieve tells its own story. I wouldn't be against him going now.

[Nii Lamptey]

If you want to believe G.Evans, he says Dean Smith is safe...

!

The same Greg Evans who say's 'Dean Smith has a knack of pulling off results'?

It’s not a false statement.... just failed to state that those results he pulled off were nearly always bloody shite ones

[Aldridge Villa]

How much of our woeful summer recruitment of 2019 was down to Dean we'll never know. Not sure how many managers would have got a tune out of El Ghazi, Wesley and Trez to be sure. The whole backroom recruitment has been awful , hold your heads in shame.

[IFWaters]

offer patrick vieira whatever it takes

[DB]

If you want to believe G.Evans, he says Dean Smith is safe...

The same Greg Evans who say's 'Dean Smith has a knack of pulling off results'?

Just reporting what I saw Crofts.

Evans is a tool.

[Monty]

The two biggest errors of the season were trying to play clever-clever on signing a striker, and getting sentimental about Dean.

The fact is he did a job about as good as that of Steve Bruce, but for reasons that make him worse than Bruce in the Premier League. Bruce steadied us after all the freefall and made some good signings, but he just couldn't let the attacking talent he had off the leash in a manner befitting Aston Villa challenging for the second division. However, in the Premier League and without the pressure of winning every game, at least he has a sort of footballing identity, and his defensive style seems to have made him a good fit to succeed Benitez at Newcastle, whereas Smith's laissez-faire approach starts to look like not actually having a plan at this level.

In this division, you either have a manager who can make a team more than the sum of its parts (Sheffield United, Bournemouth), players with enough individual quality to overcome a lack of direction or plan (Spurs, United, West Ham), or both a great manager and great players (Liverpool and City). As far as I'm aware, we're the only team in the league with average players following no particular plan. It's a disaster.

[itmustbe_it is!]

West Ham haven't overcome anything yet

[Monty]

West Ham haven't overcome anything yet

No but at least they have the players to give it a go! We don't have that, but unlike yer Bournemouths and Sheff Utds we also lack any sort of footballing ethos.

[brian green]

I like your point Monty about getting sentimental about Smith.  It is why and how so many of the shortcomings you list were diluted.

[hilts_coolerking]

West Ham haven't overcome anything yet

No but at least they have the players to give it a go! We don't have that, but unlike yer Bournemouths and Sheff Utds we also lack any sort of footballing ethos.

Ethos?  Philosophy?  Aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrggggggghhhhhh.  It'll be 'credo' next.

[cdbearsfan]

If we get rid now it will only be because we are appointing John Terry. For that reason, it's a no from me.

[Monty]

West Ham haven't overcome anything yet

No but at least they have the players to give it a go! We don't have that, but unlike yer Bournemouths and Sheff Utds we also lack any sort of footballing ethos.

Ethos?  Philosophy?  Aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrggggggghhhhhh.  It'll be 'credo' next.

Trust me I hated typing it. Let's just pretend I said 'plan' and nothing else.

[brian green]

Can I pretend you said flan?  I am hungry.

[Legion]

Meet an obnoxious little scrote called Aran O'Brien

[olaftab]

Unfuckingbelievable. An obnoxious character indeed.