Dean Smith - reflection & appreciation

[Sexual Ealing]

The main problem with Norwich is not spending anything upon promotion. It guarantees financial security I suppose, but gives you little or no chance of staying up.

Didn't they spend £60m this summer?!

[Chris Smith]

The main problem with Norwich is not spending anything upon promotion. It guarantees financial security I suppose, but gives you little or no chance of staying up.

Didn't they spend £60m this summer?!

After selling us their best player from last season.

[Sexual Ealing]

The main problem with Norwich is not spending anything upon promotion. It guarantees financial security I suppose, but gives you little or no chance of staying up.

Didn't they spend £60m this summer?!

After selling us their best player from last season.

I know that this is an appreciation thread and, my God, I appreciate him, but that looks like a great bit of business by Norwich.

[Chris Smith]

The main problem with Norwich is not spending anything upon promotion. It guarantees financial security I suppose, but gives you little or no chance of staying up.

Didn't they spend £60m this summer?!

After selling us their best player from last season.

I know that this is an appreciation thread and, my God, I appreciate him, but that looks like a great bit of business by Norwich.

I think he’s a good player but he’s been a victim of our disrupted season so far with injuries, Covid and international breaks meaning we have never been able to pick from a full squad and his position has been shifted around to compensate for other absences.

[robbo1874]

Looks like Deano could be off to Norwich. Talks went well according to the Graun.

[Legion]

It will be.

Just for reasons of taste, or does someone from the club feed this back to management?

Our decision.

[Dazvillain]

Thanks for the massive improvement Deano, you achieved in part what you set out and were asked to do. Unlike the other couple of hundred aspiring AVFC managers on here , as supporters , you were lucky to sit in the hot seat. We’ll never know if, as a Villa fan, you would have thought more of the club in times of struggle and walked rather than be sacked, or how much longer the losing run would have gone on.
So, and for that reason only, I’m glad you departed last Sunday, to save you from wrestling with your own head/heart.
You can continue to be 1 of us , will always be welcomed in a very positive way, and again, thanks for being great . For me you are added to the Saunders/Barton , BFR, JG, Sir Brian mould 👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[Legion]

He's in the Sir GT, Ron Saunders and Tony Barton bracket for me.

[Dazvillain]

He's in the Sir GT, Ron Saunders and Tony Barton bracket for me.

Fair comment, and remiss of me Leeeege, my post edited and a couple added 👍🏻

[Neil Hawkes]

He's in the Sir GT, Ron Saunders and Tony Barton bracket for me.

Fair comment, and remiss of me Leeeege, my post edited and a couple added 👍🏻

Thirded.

[Ads]

I'll always look back on that 10 game run with misty eyes. We felt big again and proper for the first time in a decade. The old dreadnought had fired up, slipped down the causeway and was crashing through everything.

That game against Everton back up has to be one of the best atmospheres enjoyed at Villa Park.

Sadly a lot of the good work in the Premier League we could not see in person. But a good man who did his utter best for us and everybody will always be grateful for that.

With regards to Taylor, the revelations that emerged regarding sexual abuse really do sour things.

[john2710]

We have a huge debt of gratitude towards Dean, he was instrumental in getting us back to where we belong. Memories include the 10 game winning streak, play-off final, keeping us up against the odds & battering the best team in the country.

He didn’t get everything right, but then who does. For me the moment I knew we were on our way back was after being 1-0 down at half-time with 10 men, Dean brought on Kodja at half-time & we went on to win.

But this was the right time to move on.

Thanks for everything, you’ll get the reception you richly deserve when you come back.

[dcdavecollett]

Good thread, nice to see a good man getting all the praise he deserves.

Rather better than other threads! When I read comments like 'lower-division manager' and 'stealing a living' I sometimes wonder what the motivation is for some folk to make such despicable comments.

For me, Deano is right up in the top rank of Villa 'rescuers', along with Vic Crowe and Graham Taylor.

I suspect that some club is about to get very, very lucky!!

[West Derby Villan]

Good thread, nice to see a good man getting all the praise he deserves.

Rather better than other threads! When I read comments like 'lower-division manager' and 'stealing a living' I sometimes wonder what the motivation is for some folk to make such despicable comments.

For me, Deano is right up in the top rank of Villa 'rescuers', along with Vic Crowe and Graham Taylor.

I suspect that some club is about to get very, very lucky!!

Spot on mate, Norwich are very lucky to have “our” Deano. Couldn’t agree more about the “stealing a living” comment, an absolutely shocking defamatory description for such a gentleman!

[Risso]

Good thread, nice to see a good man getting all the praise he deserves.

Rather better than other threads! When I read comments like 'lower-division manager' and 'stealing a living' I sometimes wonder what the motivation is for some folk to make such despicable comments.

For me, Deano is right up in the top rank of Villa 'rescuers', along with Vic Crowe and Graham Taylor.

I suspect that some club is about to get very, very lucky!!

Spot on mate, Norwich are very lucky to have “our” Deano. Couldn’t agree more about the “stealing a living” comment, an absolutely shocking defamatory description for such a gentleman!

You want to see what people have been saying about Purslow and Gerrard then!