Dean Smith - Confirmed

[ozzjim]

I think most people thought the first 3 fixtures gave us a pretty easy start to the season. The problem is, if you don’t win those then you then have the harder games and you can end up being a long way behind and not being able to catch up. It isn’t just one game, it’s been a recurring problem for Smith without Grealish. I don’t think he will find an answer because he never has regarding that problem. I think he will be gone before the end of October

but a new manager makes that an even bigger problem - as the new manager won't know how to play with any of the players.

But on that basis no club would ever change manager

Some managers come to the end of their "cycle" and hit a ceiling. We will find out if Dean has with his this season, I really hope not.

But you are spot on, some managers go in and have a marked improvement, look at the job Tuchel did and is doing at Chelsea for example, or indeed Rodgers at Leicester. They are clearly top level managers that have taken their teams to a level the previous managers couldn't. the biggest issue Villa will have is finding a replacement for Smith, as it is a really tough leap from where we are to the top 6.

[VinnieChase84]

Let’s not beat around the bush. Given the level of investment, dean will be under some serious pressure this season if expectations are not met. That shouldn’t really be a shock

[Chico Hamilton III]

Some folk make me feel ashamed to follow my club
We have lost one game and the haters are out already
Pre season has been very unfortunate with cancelled game’s departures of players and staff together with several being unavailable this week
Suggest the haters either get back in their box or go follow another team as they are not true supporters

That was a shit performance yesterday - as bad as I’ve seen for a while. Most of the people around us were pissed off at the performance and complete lack of cohesiveness. If we want to be the top 6 club that a lot on here think we should be, then we have to judge the team as such.

Also, I  think it’s against forum rules to play the “better fan” card by telling people to support another club. You’re no better a fan than anyone else who watched that tripe yesterday.

[andyh]

I said the other day, probably for the first time since he joined, Smith is under proper scrutiny and pressure to get a tune out of the most talented and expensive squad this club has ever had.

[mr underhill]

every manager is judged on results and Dean's without Grealish are singularly awful. If we hare bottom six  come the end of October, i suspect it will be the end of Dean, given the financial support he has received. But such is football. The King is dead, long live the King.

[Drummond]

Smith has made great calls with the coaches.

We've got some great players in, who aren't yet fit or bedded into a system. We've lost a great player. Our main striker was out.

We've played one game.

Pre season has been shortened by Copa America, Olympics and Euros and then we lost our main friendly to covid.

Ings scored. Bailey got an assist to a great McGinn finish. We showed signs (when it was too late but still, it was an improvement).

Smith will be fine.

Some great excuses there mate for an abject performance against a club tipped for relegation
I know you’ve got a large back catalogue but I am hoping you’re not going to be dipping into too much this season

I've not said it was a good performance. But as usual, you seem. To thrive on finding fault and then calling others out. I've also said before when I've got it wrong, have you? I guess not because if you're always calling managers out and for them to go, you'll be proven right one day.

They are tipped for relegation and we're tipped for mid - table. We'll win some, we'll lose some, but to start calling Smith out after one game is boring and predictable.

I'd also hope you're not using your usual moaning every week too, and that we win more than we lose.

[WarszaVillan]

Strange many call a Villa fan leaving the club a rat, but also start pushing for another Villa fan to be sacked after one game of the season. I get it's a result game, but we could at least try and be more patient with a Villa man who has so far been very successful.

[N'ZMAV]

Strange many call a Villa fan leaving the club a rat, but also start pushing for another Villa fan to be sacked after one game of the season. I get it's a result game, but we could at least try and be more patient with a Villa man who has so far been very successful.

it's a bit knee-jerk

Dean knows the issues - which is a good sign. He's got time to sort them.

[ChicagoLion]

Started to wonder what the Lensbury Club kick around bar b que was all about.
I can tell you the Lensbury is no where near as good as BH. Was the club so transfixed by the Grealish saga that we went out of the way  to do it the right way for Jack as Smith said. What did this do to the spirit in the camp?
We were days away from the opening game of the season, fuck Grealish, focus on the blokes that want to play for the club.
When somebody wants out the first thing you do is try and make sure that it doesn’t impact negatively on the rest of the team. From what we saw yesterday it looks like we got this horribly wrong.

[Clampy]

It looked like a team bonding few days away which we might have organised ages ago. I don't think it was for Jack's benefit and besides, it wasnt exactly days away from the new season either, it was over a week and half ago.

[ROBBO]

Lets face it Grealish saved us for two seasons and kept Smith in a job, last season our time without Jack was woeful, relegation form, we will soon see if the manager has learned anything.

[CT]

I’m fully behind Dean, but there’s no doubting that this is a crucially important two weeks before the transfer window shuts.

Then it’s a pivotal few months following on from there. Not only for Dean. If we’re down in 16th at the end of October he’ll be under immense pressure, as would any manager.

But also, if we do end up in the bottom half, will it mean cheerio to some of our better first XI players and then we get to start all over again?

I hope the rumours of discontent are just that. It’s always come across a very happy coaching camp. JT has gone without actually becoming a boss anywhere else. ROK leaves two days before the season starts.

I hate the word “project”, but the next few months will tell us a lot about where we are with it.

[Scott Nielsen]

Let’s not beat around the bush. Given the level of investment, dean will be under some serious pressure this season if expectations are not met. That shouldn’t really be a shock

I don't doubt that but we haven't yet seen the level of investment - to my mind - that would quite justify it. I can't see how we can be expected to improve on last year's position based on business done so far.

[Risso]

Strange many call a Villa fan leaving the club a rat, but also start pushing for another Villa fan to be sacked after one game of the season. I get it's a result game, but we could at least try and be more patient with a Villa man who has so far been very successful.

The Villa fan part is completely irrelevant. Ratboy is a rat because he was happy enough to sign a new five year contract last year, then has seemingly spent every second since working on his move away. Dean Smith is a manager who has done well so far, but who seemingly really struggles to get a tune out of a Villa team without Greasy in it. If he proves to not be up to the task this year, he'll be gone.

[Pete3206]

The warning sign was there last season. Grealish carried the team and without him, we were average at best.

Smith's tactics and game management have always been suspect for me and the club needs to assess very soon, whether Smith is the man to take the team to the next level. IMO, I don't believe he has the chops and losing two of the coaching staff can't have helped either.

Love to be proved wrong.