Dean Smith - reflection & appreciation

[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.

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

Deans a useless  clown?

Better then ?

Seriously stop telling people how they should react or be for having an opinion

[Nunkin1965]

I created the initial thread now merged with Nigel’s to keep things positive. Reflection related to appreciation. We have other spots to discuss his failings. Let’s not turn this into something negative.

Agreed.
Loads of threads for the negative stuff but as always it's a bit of a stretch to expect people to keep it between the ditches.
Its human nature to argue and disagree even when there's no need to.

[astonvilla82]

I stick my hand up and wanted him gone, but what make it worse was because he a Villa man through and through and absolutely pig sick about it

[kippaxvilla2]

I’m in bits here.  This is following the meeting where he was sacked.

As for Smith, the 50-year-old was understandably gutted as he walked back to his car before driving the short distance back to his home in Sutton Coldfield.

[paul_e]

The bestvtribute I can offer for Smith is that he's the first manager we've had for years who left us in a genuinely better state tgan he found us in every way. He's done the work to get us back and set down the foundations for us to step on again.

It's a shame he won't be the one to take that step but if it happens I hope he gets his share of the credit.

[KRS]

Thanks Dean for all the memories, some great performances and results, getting us back to and keeping us in the Premier League…and above all else, for restoring pride, passion and respect back to Aston Villa.

You were the right man, and a Villa man, at the right time for the job at hand…and you did yourself, your family and all Villa fans proud. You and ourselves as fans should quite rightly look back at your tenure in a positive light, and we wish you a successful and healthy future.

Unfortunately football is an evolving game…you did your job in getting us to where we needed to be, and now it is time for this privileged position to change hands to someone who we hope can take us to where we would like to get to. You have played your part and we can all look forward to seeing our great club progress.

[LeonW]

A true steward of Aston Villa. Never interested in taking any credit or bigging himself up. One of the few managers we’ve had since i’ve been supporting the Villa that actually leaves the job with his reputation enhanced and a job well done. I feel events have conspired to lead to this but the failings have been consistent for awhile now and not just this last 5 games. I feel really sad that it’s come to this. Thanks for all the fantastic memories Deano.

[nordenvillain]

A very sad day for me. Thoroughly decent man which counts for me, I don't want a charlatan managing our great club. Gave us back our pride at supporting our club and tried to play in the right way. My 2 sons and myself have been very lucky to witness most of the matches shown in the tribute video put out by the club. I wish him all the best for his future in football, the game needs more Dean Smith's to project a decent image and encourage more young fans to want to attend games. Farewell Dean and thanks for nearly all that you achieved.

[Sexual Ealing]

Important also to note that he never played the 'Villa Fan' card to endear himself to supporters. He knew, we knew, everybody knew, but he never played it up. I would've. The man has integrity.

[Scamps180]

 They had a five year plan then decide after 3 to sack him, f@#k football owners, they gonna be in big trouble, there is no manager out at the moment to take villa forward, this could come back and bite an big time

[OzVilla]

I'm in my sixth decade of supporting this great club and I've not been so genuinely sad to see a manger leaving us. He's up there with SGT for what he inherited compared to what he left us.

Had it not been for DS, and promotion not happened when it did, who knows where we would be today, but I'd highly doubt it would be as an established PL club with the base we have to build on that we do.

Thanks for everything Deano, for the ten straight, beating SHA and the Albion, for Wembley, for that incredible survival season (which never gets enough credit), for last season's progress but most of all for being that typical understated Brummie who managed his boyhood team with success, integrity and calm. 3 years is a decent stint at a top level football club and although I wished it could've been longer I think it was probably time - for now. It really wouldn't surprise me if we saw him again some day.

[alan_clarke]

I see Deano is now bookies fav to be the next England manager…

[Ad@m]

I see Deano is now bookies fav to be the next England manager…

I think he'd be a disaster as England manager unfortunately.

Deano's a fantastic coach - he's developed pretty much all our players working with them day to day. But you can't do that as an international manager. It's all about game management which is what ultimately cost Dean the Villa job.

[Demitri_C]

I see Deano is now bookies fav to be the next England manager…

I think he'd be a disaster as England manager unfortunately.

Deano's a fantastic coach - he's developed pretty much all our players working with them day to day. But you can't do that as an international manager. It's all about game management which is what ultimately cost Dean the Villa job.

I actually think the opposite.  I think smith would be  a very successful manager at international level. I have a feeling Norwich will be interested  in deano. He may keep them up if he doesnt he will certainly bring them up next year and i feel maybe keep them up thw year after

[Hillbilly]

He can walk away with his head held high. I wish him nothing but good fortune.