Dean Smith - Confirmed

[West Derby Villan]

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

He's from Great Barr. No chance.

Whatcha mean, there’s always conversations about equilibriumin in the New Bell of a weekend!

Changed a bit since I used it then.  Winky thing.

Certainly wouldn’t disagree with that statement Dave, shall we say it’s had a bit of a chequered history but on a very even keel now for the last 5/6 years

[exigo]

Premier League managers as Simpsons characters.

[Dave P]

I particularly applaud the work going on at Academy level

What work is going on at Academy level? I don't know much about that side of the club; so interested to find out

We seem to be mopping up the best in regional coaching and scouting talent.

[OCD]

I hope Smith will be staying, whatever the result on Sunday. Just for once, the club needs to stick to a long term plan.

It's the constant chopping and changing that is ultimately causing a lack of success.

I particularly applaud the work going on at Academy level

That's my take too.

[Three Spires Villa]

I hope Smith will be staying, whatever the result on Sunday. Just for once, the club needs to stick to a long term plan.

It's the constant chopping and changing that is ultimately causing a lack of success.

I particularly applaud the work going on at Academy level

That's my take too.

I get that point, and understand why you both and others would say this. I guess it depends on who would be available and would come, if we were to make a change or decide to stick with Dean

[PaulWinch again]

I hope Smith will be staying, whatever the result on Sunday. Just for once, the club needs to stick to a long term plan.

It's the constant chopping and changing that is ultimately causing a lack of success.

I particularly applaud the work going on at Academy level

I’m not sure that’s true. Sticking with a manager is only going to work if they’re the right manager. For instance if we’d given Sherwood 5 years I doubt he would have turned us into world beaters. Continuity in itself won’t deliver success, but it may do if we have the right person in charge. I’m not particularly convinced by Dean, seems to repeat mistakes too much, but we’ll see.

[mcgrath_85]

I hope Smith will be staying, whatever the result on Sunday. Just for once, the club needs to stick to a long term plan.

It's the constant chopping and changing that is ultimately causing a lack of success.

I particularly applaud the work going on at Academy level

I’m not sure that’s true. Sticking with a manager is only going to work if they’re the right manager. For instance if we’d given Sherwood 5 years I doubt he would have turned us into world beaters. Continuity in itself won’t deliver success, but it may do if we have the right person in charge. I’m not particularly convinced by Dean, seems to repeat mistakes too much, but we’ll see.

Very well said!

[N'ZMAV]

fair play to the owners for sticking with Smith all season - Smith deserved that....
It's been pretty dog turd most of the season. I don't think anyone is convinced he can improve us much next season.

[dave.woodhall]

fair play to the owners for sticking with Smith all season - Smith deserved that....
It's been pretty dog turd most of the season. I don't think anyone is convinced he can improve us much next season.

We'll have to see about that, and plenty of people believe it.

[paul_e]

I hope Smith will be staying, whatever the result on Sunday. Just for once, the club needs to stick to a long term plan.

It's the constant chopping and changing that is ultimately causing a lack of success.

I particularly applaud the work going on at Academy level

I’m not sure that’s true. Sticking with a manager is only going to work if they’re the right manager. For instance if we’d given Sherwood 5 years I doubt he would have turned us into world beaters. Continuity in itself won’t deliver success, but it may do if we have the right person in charge. I’m not particularly convinced by Dean, seems to repeat mistakes too much, but we’ll see.

Continuity in approach is what matters. The criteria they set which meant Smith was the right choice need to be reflected in the criteria for his replacement, whenever that happens. Having a bits and pieces squad put together by people with vastly different play styles is one of the main reasons we went down before and took 3 years to get back.

[hilts_coolerking]

The bottom line is that Smith is either good enough to get us where we want to go, or he isn't.

[Risso]

Their approach has been bobbins though.  The combination of Smith and Pitarch has been a disaster and at least one of them has to go at the end of the season.  As others have alluded to continuity when what you're doing is patently wrong is just stupid.

[PeterWithesShin]

Going from MON to Ged, looking at Martinez, hiring McLeish is the kind of 'joined up' thinking I hope we've seen the last of. If you believe in your plan, get a manager in that can deliver it, if that isn't DS then so be it, stick to the plan.

Obviously if the plan is shit, or it's a good plan but the people above the manager are shit at executing it, then there is a slight problem but we'll ignore that for now.

[PaulTheVillan]

I really want Smith to succeed. If he keeps us up then I think he deserves a bit longer. On paper, getting us up and keeping us up since he's taken over is good enough.

[dave.woodhall]

We've just had the equivalent of a close season and we seemed to have settled into being a comfortable mid-table side. Obviously there are a lot of unique factors to consider, but that's a step in the right direction.