Dean Smith - Confirmed

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I actually think Ollie can be a more productive forward if he’s not asked to run 20 miles per game. And that we have a legitimate alternative in the squad to share time with as you’re suggesting.

It’s just foolish yet again to have him on his own all game and not having signed another forward to help him.

I'd like to see us stop hoofing the ball up to him. Such a pointless exercise as even on the very rare occasion he manages to win the ball there's nobody near him to pass to and he ends up passing it back 30-35 yards.

[LeeB]

There was a point in the game yesterday where the camera cut away to our bench. Shakespeare was vociferously making a point with his fingers, where a player could move to to create an advantage; O'Kelly shrugged his shoulders; Smith brought on Barkley for Sanson.

I really want us to get to the next level with Dean at the helm. But he's got to be braver, more imaginative. Otherwise he's going to get called out for being another Bruce, making the same subs at the same time with the same predictable outcome.

Watkins is getting no service at the moment, so for gods sake change it around up top to help him. Even start with Davis alongside him, so that the ball sticks. If your solution is Barkley, you're asking the wrong question.

His inflexibility and doggedly doing the same things even when they don't work is a very worrying trait.

On the other hand, sticking to your beliefs and philosophy when you hit a bad spell is important, or you end up like Paul Lambert, and nobody listens to you anymore.

[Risso]

There was a point in the game yesterday where the camera cut away to our bench. Shakespeare was vociferously making a point with his fingers, where a player could move to to create an advantage; O'Kelly shrugged his shoulders; Smith brought on Barkley for Sanson.

I really want us to get to the next level with Dean at the helm. But he's got to be braver, more imaginative. Otherwise he's going to get called out for being another Bruce, making the same subs at the same time with the same predictable outcome.

Watkins is getting no service at the moment, so for gods sake change it around up top to help him. Even start with Davis alongside him, so that the ball sticks. If your solution is Barkley, you're asking the wrong question.

His inflexibility and doggedly doing the same things even when they don't work is a very worrying trait.

On the other hand, sticking to your beliefs and philosophy when you hit a bad spell is important, or you end up like Paul Lambert, and nobody listens to you anymore.

There's surely something in the middle of Lambert at one extreme and Guardiola at the other?  Sticking to your beliefs is all very well when they work, but when they don't, they often lead to a manager and his P45 being prematurely introduced.

[LeeB]

There was a point in the game yesterday where the camera cut away to our bench. Shakespeare was vociferously making a point with his fingers, where a player could move to to create an advantage; O'Kelly shrugged his shoulders; Smith brought on Barkley for Sanson.

I really want us to get to the next level with Dean at the helm. But he's got to be braver, more imaginative. Otherwise he's going to get called out for being another Bruce, making the same subs at the same time with the same predictable outcome.

Watkins is getting no service at the moment, so for gods sake change it around up top to help him. Even start with Davis alongside him, so that the ball sticks. If your solution is Barkley, you're asking the wrong question.

His inflexibility and doggedly doing the same things even when they don't work is a very worrying trait.

On the other hand, sticking to your beliefs and philosophy when you hit a bad spell is important, or you end up like Paul Lambert, and nobody listens to you anymore.

There's surely something in the middle of Lambert at one extreme and Guardiola at the other?  Sticking to your beliefs is all very well when they work, but when they don't, they often lead to a manager and his P45 being prematurely introduced.

Yes of course, the happy ground is somewhere in between. Lambert is the clearest example I could think of that flip flopped so much he just ended up looking like a clueless prick, which of course he is.

[Risso]

Yes of course, the happy ground is somewhere in between. Lambert is the clearest example I could think of that flip flopped so much he just ended up looking like a clueless prick, which of course he is.

You didn't enjoy the tiki-taka after he came back from his pilgrimage to Germany?! David O'Leary was right, we are fi.....

[Toronto Villa]

I actually think Ollie can be a more productive forward if he’s not asked to run 20 miles per game. And that we have a legitimate alternative in the squad to share time with as you’re suggesting.

It’s just foolish yet again to have him on his own all game and not having signed another forward to help him.

I'd like to see us stop hoofing the ball up to him. Such a pointless exercise as even on the very rare occasion he manages to win the ball there's nobody near him to pass to and he ends up passing it back 30-35 yards.

I’ve just never understood that. I hated it when Bruce decided that the best way to use Hogan who is 5ft 9 or something was to whack long balls all game to him. It’s just as daft to constantly make Watkins do the same. And if there is one aspect of his game that isn’t particularly strong it’s holding up the ball because that’s just not his game. Play the ball on the deck and play in a tighter more unified structure so we have more players in the final third as opposed to one waiting for everyone else to arrive.

[Toronto Villa]

Yes of course, the happy ground is somewhere in between. Lambert is the clearest example I could think of that flip flopped so much he just ended up looking like a clueless prick, which of course he is.

You didn't enjoy the tiki-taka after he came back from his pilgrimage to Germany?! David O'Leary was right, we are fi.....

Stop acting so spoiled. He gave us the backwards goal kick didn’t he? Be grateful.

[ChicagoLion]

we go a goal behind.
60 to 70 minutes swap under performing attacking wide player for  attacking wide player
70 to 80 minutes - swap under performing attacking midfield player for attacking midfield player.
80 to 90 minutes - Fuck it- where is  Keenan?

[exigo]

we go a goal behind.
60 to 70 minutes swap under performing attacking wide player for  attacking wide player
70 to 80 minutes - swap under performing attacking midfield player for attacking midfield player.
80 to 90 minutes - Fuck it- where is  Curtis?

I was livid yesterday when he took Sanson off for Barkley, shouting at the telly. I can only begin to imagine what the atmosphere would have been like with 40,000 in the ground in that moment.

[Monty]

It seems a bit obtuse to praise individual players in a defence as a way of criticising the manager. Famously - infamously - defending is a team effort every time, one impossible in the modern game without great coaching, and something we know for a nailed on fact that Smith's efforts in lockdown are the main impetus behind our improvement at the back. They're talented players, but it ways requires great coaching to make defenders look good.

I have a lot of criticisms of our attacking, but you cannot take away from Deano the defensive improvement. That'd be barmy.

[Toronto Villa]

And the defence isn’t breaking down. They are just under pressure beyond what is reasonable caused by how inept we are at keeping the ball for any length of time and by the fact they have to keep clean sheets. Which at the best of times at this level is really hard to do. That’s before we toss in that wanker Harry Kane cheating to win a penalty.

This is one of the best defences we have had in a very long time at the club and the coaching staff should take a lot of credit for that.

[Mister E]

we go a goal behind.
60 to 70 minutes swap under performing attacking wide player for  attacking wide player
70 to 80 minutes - swap under performing attacking midfield player for attacking midfield player.
80 to 90 minutes - Fuck it- where is  Curtis?

Curtis? or Keinan?

[exigo]

The defence is fantastic. They'd have far less to do if he can sort out our midfield next.

[London Villan]

Yes of course, the happy ground is somewhere in between. Lambert is the clearest example I could think of that flip flopped so much he just ended up looking like a clueless prick, which of course he is.

You didn't enjoy the tiki-taka after he came back from his pilgrimage to Germany?! David O'Leary was right, we are fi.....

Stop acting so spoiled. He gave us the backwards goal kick didn’t he? Be grateful.

I actually think Ollie can be a more productive forward if he’s not asked to run 20 miles per game. And that we have a legitimate alternative in the squad to share time with as you’re suggesting.

It’s just foolish yet again to have him on his own all game and not having signed another forward to help him.

I'd like to see us stop hoofing the ball up to him. Such a pointless exercise as even on the very rare occasion he manages to win the ball there's nobody near him to pass to and he ends up passing it back 30-35 yards.

I’ve just never understood that. I hated it when Bruce decided that the best way to use Hogan who is 5ft 9 or something was to whack long balls all game to him. It’s just as daft to constantly make Watkins do the same. And if there is one aspect of his game that isn’t particularly strong it’s holding up the ball because that’s just not his game. Play the ball on the deck and play in a tighter more unified structure so we have more players in the final third as opposed to one waiting for everyone else to arrive.

Isolated strikers has been a theme of ours for a good few years.

[ChicagoLion]

we go a goal behind.
60 to 70 minutes swap under performing attacking wide player for  attacking wide player
70 to 80 minutes - swap under performing attacking midfield player for attacking midfield player.
80 to 90 minutes - Fuck it- where is  Curtis?

Curtis? or Keinan?

thanks corrected.