Dean Smith - Confirmed

[paul_e]

Leeds might have had a load of shit prior to Bielsa, but now they're back in the Premier League *with* Bielsa, it'd be hard to see them going for somebody like Smith when they find themselves needing a new coach.

I'm not sure that matters. We probably wouldn't have hired him if we'd been midtable in the premier league when we had a vacancy either but that doesn't change the fact that he's achieved all of his targets. The point was that the idea that they ONLY recruit proven winners. In fact I'd say every one of the clubs listed has been a mixed bag of recruitment Leicester had Claude Puel stinking the place out for 2 years before Rodgers, Arteta was a gamble on a former player, and Everton has been covered.

The best list club on that list for getting high profile managers with a decent reputation is Spurs but given they've just decided to let Ryan fucking Mason lead them in their only chance at silverware this season and to try to sneak them into the top 4 so they're just as bad.

[chrisw1]

I am really concerned about our run-in though. Everton, United, Palace, Spurs and Chelsea is a pretty unkind few games, and if we fail to win any of them where will we finish, and how will that affect Dean's position in the minds of the owners?

Alternatively win them all and there is no problem

Perhaps.  But given that we've only won 4 of our 20 games since Boxing Day, which do you think is the more likely scenerio?

[LeeB]

I am really concerned about our run-in though. Everton, United, Palace, Spurs and Chelsea is a pretty unkind few games, and if we fail to win any of them where will we finish, and how will that affect Dean's position in the minds of the owners?

Alternatively win them all and there is no problem

Perhaps.  But given that we've only won 4 of our 20 games since Boxing Day, which do you think is the more likely scenerio?

The latter, innit? Law of averages says we'll go on a run soon.

[Toronto Villa]

The timing of the sacking of Mourinho as opposed to the inevitable sacking of Mourinho is just a stunning piece of arrogance on the part of a club that has won fuck all for a very long time. They had it all lined up I imagine to fire him anyway as they proclaimed to everyone from the top of the world their admission into the greatest league ever. Only for them to end up without said greatest league ever, without a legendary manager, on the eve of a cup final with a 1/4 of the season left and not in a CL or even a Europa spot. Good luck to Ryan Mason. Whoever the fuck he is.

[Ad@m]

I am really concerned about our run-in though. Everton, United, Palace, Spurs and Chelsea is a pretty unkind few games, and if we fail to win any of them where will we finish, and how will that affect Dean's position in the minds of the owners?

Alternatively win them all and there is no problem

Perhaps.  But given that we've only won 4 of our 20 games since Boxing Day, which do you think is the more likely scenerio?

The latter, innit? Law of averages says we'll go on a run soon.

I think we irreversibly shattered the law of averages the season we went down!!!

[Drummond]

The timing of the sacking of Mourinho as opposed to the inevitable sacking of Mourinho is just a stunning piece of arrogance on the part of a club that has won fuck all for a very long time. They had it all lined up I imagine to fire him anyway as they proclaimed to everyone from the top of the world their admission into the greatest league ever. Only for them to end up without said greatest league ever, without a legendary manager, on the eve of a cup final with a 1/4 of the season left and not in a CL or even a Europa spot. Good luck to Ryan Mason. Whoever the fuck he is.

Nah, I don't wish him good luck there. fuck them all.

He had to retire with a head injury and is still only 29 now. I think he came through with Kane. (so personally I hope he's ok but as for him with Spurs, nah, still fuck em).

Levy's spite and greed and getting rid of Mourinho even at the potential expense of his club and their fans, aligned to the Super League thing mean he can get to fuck too.

[eamonn]

I wonder was there a clause in Mourinho's contract making him more difficult/expensive to sack if he delivered a trophy.

[john e]

I think Dean Smith has done a great job since he came

But my own personal view is he will not be good enough to build a team to take us into the top six...

I agree with this and the rest of your post. I also agree with Risso that there's no point switching for another 'okay' manager. I'm happy to let DS prove me wrong for another season but a poor remaining run-in and start to next season may hasten his demise.

I think we need to look at Chelsea. 'Club Legend' Frank was doing an okay job but there was a top class manager available in Tuchel and they showed no sentiment and made the change. That will likely make the difference between a Europa League spot and a CL spot for them this season and it's the way we have to start thinking if we wish to rejoin the 'elite'.

He wasn't good enough to get us up, keep us up or take us mid-table either.

I think Dean Smith has done a great job since he came

But my own personal view is he will not be good enough to build a team to take us into the top six...

I agree with this and the rest of your post. I also agree with Risso that there's no point switching for another 'okay' manager. I'm happy to let DS prove me wrong for another season but a poor remaining run-in and start to next season may hasten his demise.

I think we need to look at Chelsea. 'Club Legend' Frank was doing an okay job but there was a top class manager available in Tuchel and they showed no sentiment and made the change. That will likely make the difference between a Europa League spot and a CL spot for them this season and it's the way we have to start thinking if we wish to rejoin the 'elite'.

He wasn't good enough to get us up, keep us up or take us mid-table either.

I can only speak for myself but I always thought he was going to be good enough to get us out of the championship
I was the one that said Bruce wasn’t good enough from the word go and got pelters for it from you and others

If I’m honest I thought he underachieved last year escaping relegation by the skin of our teeth on the last day after playing some poor football for most of the season, well I expected more to be honest
So did the club really because they said so at the beginning of last season that we were not just there making up the numbers but were expecting big things ,Especially after all the money we spent

This season has been weird admittedly
First half of the season we played the best football we’ve seen in a decade
Second-half has been a damp squib
But that’s mainly because Grealish has been out and Smith has been found wanting

That’s where I am I’m not against Smith I support him I just don’t think he’s going to be good enough to get us into the top six
You and others disagree that’s fair enough

[TonyD]

Without Jack we pass it around for a while and the ball eventually ends up out wide  - where we generally deliver a poor cross into the box.

This seems to be the sum total of our tactics.  It would be nice if Dean could try something else. 

[ChicagoLion]

Without Jack we pass it around for a while and the ball eventually ends up out wide  - where we generally deliver a poor cross into the box.

This seems to be the sum total of our tactics.  It would be nice if Dean could try something else.

Oh come on, there is the midfield player running towards our player with the ball, receives the pass and passes it straight back to him.
Terrific stuff.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Without Jack we pass it around for a while and the ball eventually ends up out wide  - where we generally deliver a poor cross into the box.

This seems to be the sum total of our tactics.  It would be nice if Dean could try something else. 

The players could do their part too. There was one instance last night where our player received the ball out wide on the half way line and there wasn't a Villa player in a 30 foot radius offering the pass. Pathetic.

[TonyD]

Without Jack we pass it around for a while and the ball eventually ends up out wide  - where we generally deliver a poor cross into the box.

This seems to be the sum total of our tactics.  It would be nice if Dean could try something else. 

The players could do their part too. There was one instance last night where our player received the ball out wide on the half way line and there wasn't a Villa player in a 30 foot radius offering the pass. Pathetic.

Coaching.  Look at how other team’s players move off the ball to give options.   

[brontebilly]

Without Jack we pass it around for a while and the ball eventually ends up out wide  - where we generally deliver a poor cross into the box.

This seems to be the sum total of our tactics.  It would be nice if Dean could try something else.

Oh come on, there is the midfield player running towards our player with the ball, receives the pass and passes it straight back to him.
Terrific stuff.

Our first goal last night involved two back heels in the build up, was one of our best moves of the season! Watkins movement inside the box doesn't match his movement outside it for me. On the rare occasion the ball comes in quickly, he is often caught on his heels. Case in point being in the first half yesterday, Traore put a low quick cross in with his right foot that went through the box with noone touching it. Watkins was waiting around outside the box for some reason. Whoever is playing number ten and the winger on the opposite flank should be getting in there.

I guess when Jack is there, he drags defenders towards him and makes the right decision on the ball most of the time.

[Risso]

Leeds might have had a load of shit prior to Bielsa, but now they're back in the Premier League *with* Bielsa, it'd be hard to see them going for somebody like Smith when they find themselves needing a new coach.

I'm not sure that matters. We probably wouldn't have hired him if we'd been midtable in the premier league when we had a vacancy either but that doesn't change the fact that he's achieved all of his targets. The point was that the idea that they ONLY recruit proven winners. In fact I'd say every one of the clubs listed has been a mixed bag of recruitment Leicester had Claude Puel stinking the place out for 2 years before Rodgers, Arteta was a gamble on a former player, and Everton has been covered.

The best list club on that list for getting high profile managers with a decent reputation is Spurs but given they've just decided to let Ryan fucking Mason lead them in their only chance at silverware this season and to try to sneak them into the top 4 so they're just as bad.

None of that means that any of them would give Dean Smith the time of day though.

[Toronto Villa]

The timing of the sacking of Mourinho as opposed to the inevitable sacking of Mourinho is just a stunning piece of arrogance on the part of a club that has won fuck all for a very long time. They had it all lined up I imagine to fire him anyway as they proclaimed to everyone from the top of the world their admission into the greatest league ever. Only for them to end up without said greatest league ever, without a legendary manager, on the eve of a cup final with a 1/4 of the season left and not in a CL or even a Europa spot. Good luck to Ryan Mason. Whoever the fuck he is.

Nah, I don't wish him good luck there. fuck them all.

He had to retire with a head injury and is still only 29 now. I think he came through with Kane. (so personally I hope he's ok but as for him with Spurs, nah, still fuck em).

Levy's spite and greed and getting rid of Mourinho even at the potential expense of his club and their fans, aligned to the Super League thing mean he can get to fuck too.

My best wishes to Ryan Mason was very much tongue in cheek. He’s done in a few weeks too. Spurs are a disaster relative to where they should be. But no doubt some will still see Levy as the master negotiator. How’s that Bale deal going?