Dean Smith - reflection & appreciation

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Gutted

[Allan C]

I’m so sorry it ended this way. As one or two have said he was the right manager at the right time. I went through periods of having confidence in him and then doubting him. The fact that he is “one of us” didn’t matter to me, but after the awful stuff dished up by the previous manager, I wanted good football and we got it. I hope he bounces back somewhere soon and makes a success of it because he is definitely a bloody good coach

[villa_cads]

Likewise. We've reached then end of an era with Villa fans leading the club, we'll not likely see that again.

[clash city rocker]

Such a shame. Such fine margins in all the games. But something pre season just didnt seem quite right with coaches leaving with no real explanation.  As a defensive coach I think there is no one better than terry. But he just seemed to wander off. Who knows what has gone on.

[PaulTheVillan]

Will we ever have a manager who is a Villa fan again?

I’m sad it hasn’t worked this season.
I’m sad for Dean. But, he’s done it. He’s managed his club, he had success at his club.

Sad but I understand. It was time.

[VillaBoy_23]

Hard to put into words really but if there was one thing I could say to him it would be thanks for giving us our Villa back.

[SoccerHQ]

Nice this has been made a sticky.

If not Dean then I'm sure some of his family members/relatives probably look on these sites on occasions so hopefully they can see it's a case of just frustation and no hard feelings.

Or Alex Bruce is looking on here for another chapter of his narrative that Villa fans are the root of all evil. Wouldn't put it past him to say they hounded DS out of a job like his Dad.

[wince]

Shame how it ended but thanks for getting us out the championship and for letting us believe again. It won’t be the last time we see Deano at the villa I am sure

[ez]

A sad day but i think the club left the decision as long as they could.

[SamTheMouse]

Bugger. I mean, I totally understand why this was necessary and everything. It was no doubt the right decision.

But fuck, I really wanted him to be the one to take us back into Europe.

Thanks Dean, you'll always be loved.

[passport1]

Seemed like a decent person. Achieved his ambition of managing his boyhood club and had a modicum  of success and will ultimately  walk away several million pounds richer. Nothing to be too upset about all in all.

[Abbeyfealeavfc]

Thanks Dean you can certainly hold your head high where Villa is concerned. You’ve left the club in a far better place than you found it in when appointed. You’ll be more than welcome back on the Holte and in the opposition dugout. No other manager will hold Aston Villa Football Club in the same regard as you. All the best for your future!

[Toronto Villa]

The day he next walks back into Villa Park, and he will eventually in front of a packed stadium he needs to get a deafening ovation.

[supertom]

Sometimes you get to that point where it's clear a manager has no answer to any of the issues the side is facing. I'm glad we didn't let it drag on. Lambert as an example got 12 months too long when it was clear as day he was taking us in the wrong direction.
Still, Deano did a good job here all told. Promotion, final, survival then progression. In the end he'd hit his ceiling, when clubs around you are stepping up, and we never had an answer to the Joe-less conundrum.

Unfortunately the last five games suggested we were unable to figure a way to gel new players and a side without you know who... When players can barely string 5 passes together and create very little, and on top of it, can't defend, you know the dressing room is gone. Players have looked bewildered lately. Directionless.

Dean's left a mid-table squad which might be a few players short of stepping up. We need the talismanic manager. Tactically astute. Someone who can shape us into a solid team unit. There's enough creative players to create. We've got two double figure prem strikers to score goals. We've got a great crop of youngsters (and I hope Dean's successor still eases them in). So it's not all bad. We just had to act ruthlessly and quickly. It's the modern game. Several teams are improving. Newcastle have those owners, etc, etc. Sentiment would have got us nowhere and ultimately, better for him to go with more good memories than bad. I wish him a lot of luck. Top man.

Favourite Dean games:
Old Trafford win
7-2
Leicester Semi
4-2 Scottish Cafu wonder goal.
Playoff final win.
Spanking the Gooners 3 times on the spin.
For sheer entertainment (though additionally frustrating), the Forest 5-5.

[Legion]

The day he next walks back into Villa Park, and he will eventually in front of a packed stadium he needs to get a deafening ovation.

He will.