Dean Smith - Confirmed

[BC Villain]

If he is still here, then he'll be under serious scrutiny given how we've ended this season.  Very likely he'd be one of the bookies favourites to be the first sacking of the season. 

His post match interviews tell you he can see the problem (when he'snot bitching about referee's), yet he never reacts to them.  And it's not a new thing, as Walsall fans used to complain about his stubbornness when it came to making changes during the game. 

We looked terrific today until Palace pressed us.  Likewise, we were brilliant at Burnley until they pressed us. 

[kippaxvilla2]

I was so annoyed when he wouldn’t put Jordy Hiwula on that time.

[themossman]

Dean has to learn how to react earlier when things are going against us. He’s far too passive.

Not checked in for a while and this was the first comment I read, from November.

[curiousorange]

That's one of the things that really annoys me about Smith - he talks an excellent tactical game, about setting traps and pressing and all that stuff, and then when we don't win he seems to act like he couldn't possibly have done anything about it, and kind of shrugs his shoulders as if to say, 'yeah, it is what it is.' Bruce got crucified for more or less the same thing but because it wasn't rooted in xG speak, he didn't get away with it.

[themossman]

If smith knows these things (which I’m sure he does) but he doesn’t execute them in games, then something about his character not his ability must be holding him (and us) back which is probably harder to change.

[BC Villain]

Bruce had a habit of throwing his players under the bus as opposed to taking responsibility himself.  Smith is a tad more subtle, but his does it as well to an extent as well.

[SoccerHQ]

If smith knows these things (which I’m sure he does) but he doesn’t execute them in games, then something about his character not his ability must be holding him (and us) back which is probably harder to change.

It's a lack of confidence/decisiveness imo.

How often over last two years has camera panned on him around 60th minute mark and he's talking with Shakespeare, Terry and sometimes Cutler aswell. Another 3-4 minutes and they're still talking and then eventually 5 minutes later a sub will finally come on....and it's just a like for like change.

The very best managers usually react very quickly to game swings and deal with consequences after the match if result goes against them. Won't stop them doing the same the next match if situation dictates and they don't need to run it by their assistants for five minutes, they just do it.

I can't understand today why nothing happened between 2-2 and 3-2, there was a 10 minute gap. Then as soon as Palace score the third Davis comes on but surely it's more logical to do it when 2-2 and game is more open and stretched, all Palace had to do was just defend 18 yard box when ahead and we couldn't create anything.

Dean's done very well to establish us back into prem mid table but I fear that's his limit and with the money the owners are pumping in they are surely expecting much more in the long run.

He deserves next season (or most of it) but would be interested to see what happens if we have our annual 1 win in 10 match slump around November/December.

[Risso]

I just hope that our owners are as ambitious as they appear and can see that this is probably as good as it gets under Smith.

[themossman]

I agree, I think he’s unusually thoughtful and lacking in self belief for a football manager, who are mostly intransigent, egotistical sociopaths. It’s why he’s so likeable, probably a strength in many ways, but it’s his weakness when it comes to reacting quickly in games.

It’s funny that he didn’t seem to behave very differently when we were the form team in the league. I think it’s a character feature and it isn’t going to change.

[ez]

I'd like to see him get the start of next season but questions need to be asked. This poor run has gone on too long to just ignore.

[Risso]

I'd like to see him get the start of next season but questions need to be asked. This poor run has gone on too long to just ignore.

Nah. No point giving him the summer and then wasting the start of next season, give a new bloke the chance to shape his squad in the summer instead. 21 points from the last 21 games, exactly the same as Steve Bruce at Newcastle, and only slightly better than Big Sam at West Brom. Extremely poor. Every week he talks absout finishing the season as strongly as possible, and nearly every week he serves up dross.

[chrisw1]

Lets face it if the season was the other way round he would have been sacked by Christmas.  He deservedly bought time with the excellent start but this is a long run of very poor performances now.

I've not called for his head yet, but the owners must be thinking about it.

[ez]

I'd like to see him get the start of next season but questions need to be asked. This poor run has gone on too long to just ignore.

Nah. No point giving him the summer and then wasting the start of next season, give a new bloke the chance to shape his squad in the summer instead. 21 points from the last 21 games, exactly the same as Steve Bruce at Newcastle, and only slightly better than Big Sam at West Brom. Extremely poor. Every week he talks absout finishing the season as strongly as possible, and nearly every week he serves up dross.

Yes i get that and because of this bad run i expect his card is marked but from where we were when he took over i still think he should get the new season but if this run carries over he'll have to go.

[Villan82]

We will have no momentum going into the new season. It's damn sh1t the way we let this one fizzle out.

[Ads]

Like Sheffield United and Wolves' momentum?

Or that absence of momentum in West Ham and Leicester?

He's likely achieved the hard target and failed at the soft target. The higher up we go or seek to go, the smaller the room for error and the pressure increases. But there's no way he's getting sacked over the summer. People were very quick to call for him to go post Wigan in 2019, last season and now here they are again. He consistently proves people wrong and with more quality at his disposal following another summer of good recruitment, let's hope he does so again.