Dean Smith - Confirmed

[PeterWithe]

I'd suggest that should we stay up in 17th then he's achieved the goal, given the squad, but not over achieved, which could mean that he may simply be one of a number of candidates to have a go at next years target. A mid table finish.

Anyroad, Id rather everyone at the club just concentrate on wining on Sunday for now.

[Drummond]

I'd suggest that should we stay up in 17th then he's achieved the goal, given the squad, but not over achieved, which could mean that he may simply be one of a number of candidates to have a go at next years target. A mid table finish.

Anyroad, Id rather everyone at the club just concentrate on wining on Sunday for now.

There will be plenty of whining if anything but the desired outcome happens. As for wining, I hope they wait to do that after winning.

[Lastfootstamper]

I'd suggest that should we stay up in 17th then he's achieved the goal, given the squad, but not over achieved, which could mean that he may simply be one of a number of candidates to have a go at next years target. A mid table finish.

Anyroad, Id rather everyone at the club just concentrate on wining on Sunday for now.

There'll be much wining on Sunday, I imagine. That and beering. I know I will be!

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

17th place before a ball was kicked would have been accepted by most, however given the tub thumping about the way we would play pre season from the hierarchy it’s been disappointing. Unbelievably we’re in a position to stop up and hopefully it’ll be confirmed on Sunday evening and that’s job done.
I’m on the fence as to if he stays or goes, give or take a few occasions it’s taken 34 games for him to show successful in game management and tactical flexibility, will this continue into the new season or will it revert to same old, same old. Given the limited time in between seasons I think I’d keep him and then see how the teams performing after say 10 games.

[themossman]

Please, this thread can’t take another pun fest so quickly or it will collapse into a world ending singularity.

[dave.woodhall]

The shorter close-season is what tips the balance for me as well.

[Damo70]

If we have stayed up he will have got us up and kept us up like Saunders and Taylor. Saunders finished 16th out of 22, SGT finished 17th out of 20 and both went on to take us on to better things. If he keeps us up he should stay, if he takes us down he should go. His job was to keep us up, even if it meant finishing 17th.

[cdbearsfan]

Agreed.

[TonyD]

I think there is a lot of question re Smith this season. 

Some of his selections, subs and game management have been so dubious that part of me thinks he doesn’t have a completely free role as head coach. 

[maidstonevillain]

I don't think he is a Premiership manager. But then again I don't think Chris Wilder is either. So what do I know. But I am just about in the keep him irrespective of where we are come Sunday camp.  Partly because of the short close season, and also because of recent better results/performances.
I'm also prepared to cut him a bit of slack because I anticipate his brief when he took over was to ensure promotion by this season. Made a bit of a rod for his own back having to throw together a team  to stay up, rather than having a year to put together a team.

[CT]

Against Arsenal, there were several tweaks in the formation, and the game management was so much better. For the last 20 minutes, we took the sting out of the game just at the right times.

A bit more of that over the season and it would be us playing in flip flops on Sunday.

[Risso]

Micah Richards made a couple of interesting points in the post-match analysis.  He said that Smith had told him bluntly that Richards wasn't at the standard required, but also said that Smith could be too nice after defeats.

[Drummond]

I noticed that.

Could be taken in different ways. My feeling was that Smith doesn't rest on sentiment, hence telling him he could go. However, the being too nice after defeats is either a bad thing because there's not enough passion etc or that he tries to maintain an emotional level and therefore consistency which is something else he alluded to.

Whilst I like the consistent thing, I'm not sure that's the best way for all players and an absolute bollocking and him losing the plot on occasion would be no bad thing.

[ChicagoLion]

Smith has said on numerous occasions he tries to maintain an emotional equilibrium, not using those words exactl.

[mr underhill]

I can't think of a manager anywhere who would use the word equilibrium conversationally. Rodgers might, but only in the wrong context.