Dean Smith - Confirmed

[Three Spires Villa]

Maybe Traore was bought in to add to the striker role as well. It would be interesting to see him play it.

Strange he hasn't done it

[sid1964]

The only thing Bruce has over Smith is that he was a better centre half

[Drummond]

The only thing Bruce has over Smith is that he was a better centre half

And he looks more like a potato.

Ands let's face it, in life you're either a potato, or you aren't.

[Risso]

Crikey, a simple table shows how effective a manager is with subs. Smit is equal second worst.
We know he has gained 1 point from being a goal Down. We have seen that he does like for like subs to no effect.
 But somehow even the slightest suggestion that there might be a failing and the usual suspects rush in to his defence just like you did for Bruce.

Comparing Bruce and Smith is ridiculous in itself anyway.

The comparison to Bruce is a simple one really. With the same players available to both in 2018/19 Bruce took us to 13th in the Championship. Dean Smith got us to 5th and promoted.

The same players plus Mings and Hause.

[brontebilly]

Crikey, a simple table shows how effective a manager is with subs. Smit is equal second worst.
We know he has gained 1 point from being a goal Down. We have seen that he does like for like subs to no effect.
 But somehow even the slightest suggestion that there might be a failing and the usual suspects rush in to his defence just like you did for Bruce.

Comparing Bruce and Smith is ridiculous in itself anyway.

The comparison to Bruce is a simple one really. With the same players available to both in 2018/19 Bruce took us to 13th in the Championship. Dean Smith got us to 5th and promoted.

The same players plus Mings and Hause.

....and a fit Jack Grealish, think we had slipped back to about 13th in the table before Jack came back and the 10 in a row surge kicked in

I think there are three camps on here. The Smith loyalists who aren't for turning no matter what, the fence sitters and the more revolutionary types who see Smith as riding on Grealish's coat tails.

Reminds me of a debate I watched about a United Ireland (shared island is the latest tag line, pity it's not somewhere more tropical) a few nights back!

[Risso]

I think there are three camps on here. The Smith loyalists who aren't for turning no matter what, the fence sitters and the more revolutionary types who see Smith as riding on Grealish's coat tails.

I'm on the fence leaning towards thinking we need somebody better, depending on how the rest of this season goes. I strongly suspect though, that the rest of the season is going to go badly in terms of results.

[Clampy]

Is it really a case of 'Smith loyalists who are not for turning no matter what' or just that they think he is doing a decent job and don't see the need for a change at the moment?

[LeeB]

Is it really a case of 'Smith loyalists who are not for turning no matter what' or just that they think he is doing a decent job and don't see the need for a change at the moment?

It's unnecessarily condescending and dismissive, both of other supporters and the manager.

Plus it's a load of shite.

[Ads]

It's a case of the overwhelming majority being happy with Smith, concerns and grumbles existing as they always will. And a tiny minority of people on a very small website who do not reflect the match going fan, navel gazing.

H&V is a bit like Twitter promising Youth Quakes and huuuuuge Labour turn outs when it comes to Smith going. Then they get annihilated and take Putney. "Smith on the verge after Walford" coming up against Burnley New Years Day. 3 minutes in, 2500 people singing his name.

[Sexual Ealing]

Taking Putney would be a huge win for Dean Smith.

[brontebilly]

I think there are three camps on here. The Smith loyalists who aren't for turning no matter what, the fence sitters and the more revolutionary types who see Smith as riding on Grealish's coat tails.

I'm on the fence leaning towards thinking we need somebody better, depending on how the rest of this season goes. I strongly suspect though, that the rest of the season is going to go badly in terms of results.

I'm the same...hoping Grealish's return will prompt a marked improvement certainly in terms of performances until season end, mind. Of late, we have been rancid to watch and that simply can't be allowed to continue (and wouldn't be at a packed Villa Park). Very important break for Smith now to get things back on track.

From a hard nosed business perspective, on the merits of 38 games last season, I thought Smith was quite fortunate to get another season. Yes we survived but he was a goner pre covid and we had a lot of luck on the run in (Watford changing coach, the fake goal etc). 35 points and a -27 goal difference were surely below what most of us here were expecting.

[Sexual Ealing]

We've done a bit more than survived.

[LeeB]

Taking Putney would be a huge win for Dean Smith.

Putney is not the prize it once was, the closure of the Hammersmith Bridge has seen to that. I'm sure Boris is doing his best to get it open again.

He should go for Harrow East instead.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I don’t think Dean needs to abandon his principles to change his tactical approach. Surely his principles are philosophical, as opposed to being wed to a particular tactical approach. Either way though the current tactical approach isn’t working in the main because there is no link between midfield and attack. Dean needs to do something to address that.

Like purchasing a new quality midfield with Grealish.

If that were the case you'd have to ask how come the existing midfield were brilliant up to the end of December. If you read Dean's post match comments at the weekend, he points out that some players are failing to reach their previous levels but the problems and lack of form started back when Grealish was still in the team. I really admire his honesty and glad he sees what most have noticed this year.

What concerns me and as Paul pointed out above is the tactical approach. It's not working. There are very few signs of it working. All the great work made in the first half of the season is circling around the plug hole. The complete lack of an alternative tactical approach is worrying. Buying a new midfield isn't going to hide the fact we're failing to resolve basic tactical problems. The substitutions is a distraction from the real issue and whilst it would be unfair to compare Dean with Bielsa, every manager is expected to work with and bring out the best of his players no matter who they are.

On that note, it's frustrating to see so many players who we know can play so much better struggling week in, week out. It's turning out to be a season of two halves. Both players and manager need to raise their game between now and the end of the season.

[brontebilly]

Is it really a case of 'Smith loyalists who are not for turning no matter what' or just that they think he is doing a decent job and don't see the need for a change at the moment?

I think there is a decent number on here that at one point last season were backing Smith as the best man to take us back to the prem when relegation seemed inevitable. I'm not in any way trying to dismiss this view but these are the loyalists I'm referring to.