Dean Smith - Confirmed

[TelfordVilla]

Not sure what dean Smith is supposed to do about the drop off in quality if jack doesnt play. Unless he perhaps signed another jack to sit on the bench in case jack got injured. Then he would be criticised for not playing the 2nd jack from the start. At least it would improve our substitution stats if he brought on jack2 a few times instead of trex or elgoalsie.

[oldhill_avfc]

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

Two.

Three (one to be discovered by Southgate et al)

[JuanMartinez]

Based on form and stats to back it up on this season, both Martinez and Jack would get in most if not all top sides in world.

[Sexual Ealing]

True.

[eamonn]

Emi still has some weaknesses but there's no doubting he's been brilliant for us. When you think of the amount of average to dodgy keepers we've had since relegation. Gollini and Jed probably the only two worth sticking with. Heaton was unlucky but ultimately he's been very expensive for what he'll have ended up costing us relative to output.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Not sure what dean Smith is supposed to do about the drop off in quality if jack doesnt play.

The same thing Dean should do with the drop in quality when Jack does play. As Dean said Sunday night, our recent poor form started with Jack in the team.

[Ian.]

Not sure what dean Smith is supposed to do about the drop off in quality if jack doesnt play.

The same thing Dean should do with the drop in quality when Jack does play. As Dean said Sunday night, our recent poor form started with Jack in the team.

Our form wasn’t great before Jack went missing, which is true, he was also lacking the same form form Before the Covid break. Not sure why, maybe he was suffering with this injury then.

When he’s not firing, heavily marked or missing is a massive problem we need to fix this summer. A few have already said that the loan of Barkley was that player, it’s turned out he’s nowhere near consistent enough, not just that I’d actually hope for far better option than him this summer.

[brontebilly]

Not sure what dean Smith is supposed to do about the drop off in quality if jack doesnt play.

The same thing Dean should do with the drop in quality when Jack does play. As Dean said Sunday night, our recent poor form started with Jack in the team.

Was only that Brighton game really where Jack was genuinely poor (post covid) and probably impacted by injury. He was well held v West Ham (with them playing two right backs) until he switched late on and set up a goal within a few minutes. Smith surely needs to take quite a bit of the blame there for not changing sooner. Not sure I'm buying the narrative that he hasn't been at his best post the covid break. Thought against Burnley for example it was one of his best games for the club and he was our best player by eons at Southampton.

I think the main reason for the lack of form since that Burnley game is our midfield two or three have been outplayed in every game. Luiz's form in particular has fallen off a cliff.

[Mister E]

Our form wasn’t great before Jack went missing, which is true, he was also lacking the same form form Before the Covid break. Not sure why, maybe he was suffering with this injury then.
When he’s not firing, heavily marked or missing is a massive problem we need to fix this summer. A few have already said that the loan of Barkley was that player, it’s turned out he’s nowhere near consistent enough, not just that I’d actually hope for far better option than him this summer.

Fully agreed, Ian.
We have to provide our opposition with more to think about in every game; so that they are unable to plant 3 people on JG.

[Mister E]

Was only that Brighton game really where Jack was genuinely poor (post covid) and probably impacted by injury. He was well held v West Ham (with them playing two right backs) until he switched late on and set up a goal within a few minutes. Smith surely needs to take quite a bit of the blame there for not changing sooner. Not sure I'm buying the narrative that he hasn't been at his best post the covid break. Thought against Burnley for example it was one of his best games for the club and he was our best player by eons at Southampton.
I think the main reason for the lack of form since that Burnley game is our midfield two or three have been outplayed in every game. Luiz's form in particular has fallen off a cliff.

This relates to our insistence on playing mediocre* wingers; doesn't it?




*  Edit: may be a strong word; inconsistent, perhaps

[villa `cross the mersey]

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.

Remind of me of the environment you work in ......

[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.

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.

all we have tried is different personnel in exactly the same system.
A system that appears to be dependant on Jack’s availability.
We have taken 5 points from the last 6 games which is relegation form and suggests that the difference between success and failure is determined by wether Jack is available or not.

[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.

Remind of me of the environment you work in ......

?

[eamonn]

Social care ?

[JuanMartinez]

Back on topic, DS must be extremely proud of Ollie this evening especially if he gets game time.

Well done both.