Dean Smith - reflection & appreciation

[Behind Bluenose Lines]

Yeah, I hope Grealish gets the full Judas treatment in a couple of weeks because if he'd stayed in the summer I'm sure things would have been a lot different!

I doubt he'll be in the squad.

[London Villan]

By then his shins will be hurting again.

[cdbearsfan]

He will play, he will score. You know how this works.

[Legion]

I hope the weasel comes on as sub and gets a reception which makes the one Delph got sound like a warm welcome.

[kippaxvilla2]

Paul McGrath
@Paulmcgrath5
·
2h
I think Villa have pulled the trigger a bit early on Dean Smith, it’s obvious the man loves the club and is doing his best.  I honestly think one or two of the players could do with looking at themselves. Best of luck Dean and thanks for your commitment to our club
@AVFCOfficial

[simboy]

Sorry to see Dean Smith go. We competed again. A smile back on my face watching them. Who sees a 5-5? Who supports a team that annihilates the then European champions 7-2? Wembley… twice. A blocked save from coming back against Citeh. That day against Derby.

On our day we could turn over anyone, sadly those days became fewer and fewer. We saw the confidence drained out by that deflected goal against The Dogheads. He didn’t seem to be able to pick them up from there.

Thanks Dean. Fantastic memories.

[Behind Bluenose Lines]

Paul McGrath
@Paulmcgrath5
·
2h
I think Villa have pulled the trigger a bit early on Dean Smith, it’s obvious the man loves the club and is doing his best.  I honestly think one or two of the players could do with looking at themselves. Best of luck Dean and thanks for your commitment to our club
@AVFCOfficial

God has spoken on this Sunday.

[Behind Bluenose Lines]

Sorry to see Dean Smith go. We competed again. A smile back on my face watching them. Who sees a 5-5? Who supports a team that annihilates the then European champions 7-2? Wembley… twice. A blocked save from coming back against Citeh. That day against Derby.

On our day we could turn over anyone, sadly those days became fewer and fewer. We saw the confidence drained out by that deflected goal against The Dogheads. He didn’t seem to be able to pick them up from there.

Thanks Dean. Fantastic memories.

Don't forget that 3-3 draw against Sheffield United in the Championship in our promotion season when we were 3-0 down with 10 minutes to go!

[Rudy65]

Yeah, I hope Grealish gets the full Judas treatment in a couple of weeks because if he'd stayed in the summer I'm sure things would have been a lot different!

He has gone. Get over yourself and move on

[Demitri_C]

A wonderful video put out by the club. Warning you will get a bit emotional watching this. He saved us from the brink. Literally.

https://twitter.com/avfcofficial/status/1457339988924841984?s=21

Sad but absolutely brilliant tribute to dean. Well deserved. A legend for me for what he has done for this club even if this season never worked out.

[DC1874]

We have moved on that's the point and it's gone to shit because of all the destabilizing influences over the summer - reminds me so much of when O'Neill landed us in the shit at the last possible minute!

[Clampy]

A wonderful video put out by the club. Warning you will get a bit emotional watching this. He saved us from the brink. Literally.

https://twitter.com/avfcofficial/status/1457339988924841984?s=21

Sad but absolutely brilliant tribute to dean. Well deserved. A legend for me for what he has done for this club even if this season never worked out.

Those who have wanted him out are now being so kind.

[BC Villain]

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.

I know his son Jamie is on Twitter and there's some lovely messages that fans have left for him to pass onto his dad - can imagine that the family must be absolutely gutted that it's come to this

I hope the last few weeks don't cloud people's judgement of Dean's reign.  Very very few managers get to leave Aston Villa with their reputation enhanced.  I've no doubt he won't be unemployed for long, and he will get a magnificent reception the next time he comes back "home"

[simboy]

Sorry to see Dean Smith go. We competed again. A smile back on my face watching them. Who sees a 5-5? Who supports a team that annihilates the then European champions 7-2? Wembley… twice. A blocked save from coming back against Citeh. That day against Derby.

On our day we could turn over anyone, sadly those days became fewer and fewer. We saw the confidence drained out by that deflected goal against The Dogheads. He didn’t seem to be able to pick them up from there.

Thanks Dean. Fantastic memories.

Don't forget that 3-3 draw against Sheffield United in the Championship in our promotion season when we were 3-0 down with 10 minutes to go!

Yep. The tension against The Tesco’s in the play offs … turning over Chelsea the game before they went on to be champions of Europe in front of the first crowd back. Winning at the theatre of wet dreams.

However, let’s hope it’s, “the king is dead long live the king.” And not a Graham Turner moment.

[BC Villain]

My three favourite moments under Smith:

The final whistle after the Play Off final
The Everton home game first season back up
Beating Liverpool 7-2

The three not so favourite moments

The home battering by Man City for Drinkwater's debut
The drubbing by Leicester just before the first lockdown
The Wolves 3-2 this season, which was probably the catalyst to today

The "one more" sign at the Borethorns