Dean Smith - Confirmed

[OCD]

Every game is magnified and scrutinised in normal conditions but when we're all in lockdown and other forms of distraction aren't available, it's just intensified it more. Then we get a poor run of form and it just feels very painful and we find people to blame for it.

If you zoom out, you can see really good progress over the past couple of years. The problems are patently obvious and hopefully can be fixed in the summer. We've got fantastic financial support and players who weren't interested in joining us last year because they thought we would be in a relegation fight will have a more positive image of us now and will see us as a side who will be at the other end of the season.

[West Derby Villan]

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?

Smith has ticked every “season” requirement since he’s been in charge. Every manager has had blips this season, Mourino, Klopp and even Pep!

[Rudy Can't Fail]

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.

Those aren't loyalists, they're lunatics.

[Ian.]

Instead of saying loyalist, can’t you say realists?

At that start of last season the remit was to stay up, which would have included lots of relegation material along the way. We did just that and we stayed up.

This season we have added to a squad with players which in this league is relatively cheap, we’re mid table which is about right. There is room for improvement in the first eleven and squad, also Smith does need to keep learning as well, he’s been outwitted by some managers but also done the same to others.

He’s doing a grand job so far.

[dave.woodhall]

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.

Those aren't loyalists, they're lunatics.

Thank you for letting us know your opinion of many supporters, myself included.

[Drummond]

We're going over old territory here but by that definition I'm a lunatic. Full on Screaming Lord Sutch, 3rd Earl of Harrow style.

[Moonraker]

Another lunatic here. We are on a poor run which every team has had this season, and every teams poor run seems to have been a deeper trough than previous seasons. Ours has been worse since covid break - coincidence or not. I would hope to be higher up the table at the end of the season, but if we remain where we are, I will not feel at all let down. The graph has been going up since Dean arrived.

[ChicagoLion]

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.

Agree.

[Allan C]

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.

If we are to continue to progress (and I think we are) then we need a higher quality squad built around Grealish. I take the point about our tactics but the players we have currently must be able to carry them out. We tried to address the quality issue with Barkley and, despite what others post, it worked initially. If you take out two of your quality players (Grealish and Barkley) when the back up is not of the same quality, you’ve got problems. That is where we are now. IMO AEG, Trez and possibly McGinn have reached their limit. They’ve done what they were bought for, got us here looking safe and playing mostly good football. Everyone else above us will strengthen with quality and we must do the same

[ChicagoLion]

I am a fence sitter, want Smith to be successful but have lingering concerns about poor game management and As each week goes by it gets more difficult to dispute the one man team accusation.
The stats appear to reflect these issues.

[Sexual Ealing]

When you have a player like Grealish you'd be mad not to build the team around him.

[ChicagoLion]

When you have a player like Grealish you'd be mad not to build the team around him.

and you also need to be able to cope when he is inevitably not available.

[Chris Smith]

When you have a player like Grealish you'd be mad not to build the team around him.

and you also need to be able to cope when he is inevitably not available.

Absolutely, we’ve tried a few things but they haven’t worked as well as we’d hoped. If Barkley, Traore, Trezuguet or El Ghazi had been able to step up then the problem would have been eased but unfortunately they have all lacked consistency.

[Sexual Ealing]

We're not yet in a position to have several of the world's best players. We only have one.

[dave.woodhall]

We're not yet in a position to have several of the world's best players. We only have one.

Two.