TrentVilla

11 minutes ago, Zhan_Zhuang said:

I'm not comparing, it's there in black and white and cannot be changed...

Like it or not, it's a high percentage.

If not comparing what relevance does it have to anything? It is in black and white but it needs to be viewed in context otherwise it is utterly misleading. 

3 minutes ago, Zhan_Zhuang said:

Hi Captain Obvious! I was going regularly to Villa Park back then and I remember it well thanks.

Yeah and...

So was Taylor's stint in the Championship.

One season of Taylor’s was in the Championship so not the same as Bruce at all. Comparing Bruce’s win percentage to those who managed us in the top flight is utterly flawed and pointless.

11 minutes ago, hippo said:

In reality though - it's just a list of names.

So purslow may have a password protected document containing:-

Howe 

Lampard 

Fonseca 

Gerrard 

So what ? - it's bit like the mythical "5 year plan" it doesn't actually mean much.

If you think it is just a list of names, ok. 

1 minute ago, The_Steve said:

It’s sensible to have replacements in mind. It would be a shambles to go weeks with an interim. Newcastle were linked to ‘bigger’ names - but given their situation, it does deter names. Either way, we are a well-oiled machine, compared to previous years and I do not envision a scenario where a shortlist doesn’t already exist as a contingency plan. 

I’d argue that any well run club should at all times have a short list of candidates that would be their starting point in the event they need to make a change.

The average appointment in the PL lasts around 2 years so it is only prudent to have a short list of managers for what is still the most important role in a huge business.

Doesn’t mean you are in contact with them but if I were a CEO I’d have a list of names to turn to that fitted what my club was looking for, the style, the players etc.

I’d argue if you are a CEO/Director of Football and you aren’t doing that you aren’t doing your job.

I know next to nothing about this guy so can’t comment, always amazes how much some know about people like this…

I said a while back well run clubs sound out targets before pulling the trigger. I believe we did it in 2019 around the time of the Leicester hammering.

I suspect we either have been or will be doing the same now. With 4 loses on the spin and other issues I think that is prudent.

So do I believe we’ve made some form of contact with Fonseca? Yes more than likely.

Clearly though he is a name in the frame at Newcastle a club that leaks more than our defence, Craig Hope certainly gets inside information. It isn’t hard to imagine this is how this has got out, how firm our enquiry has been is debatable and I suspect he has just drawn conclusions on the Villa side as no way is that leaking.

My money is on us having made contact very loosely and it has been leaked to try and apply pressure to Newcastle.

Multiple posts removed - please check names of threads if unclear.

Unless he goes between now and Friday there is surely nothing new to be said? No point having circular debates.

We know what he did three years ago, we know the points difference between X and Y positions and I think we all know we needed a DCM. I think someone mentioned injuries….

I’m out of here and back Friday unless something happens between now and then. 

14 minutes ago, hippo said:

Ming's V Sanson - hard to pick a winner if those two squared up to each other

Sanson would pull a hamstring trying to square up to him

1 hour ago, KentVillan said:

It’s been a completely stop-start season, though, and he’s barely had a chance to work with certain key players.

IMO the only valid reason for getting rid at this point is if he’s totally lost the dressing room, and they’re actively trying to get him sacked. If that’s the case, then his days are numbered.

If it’s purely about form, and the vast majority of the players are still behind him, then he should be given time to turn it around. I don’t see the benefit of sacking him in that scenario and then scrabbling around for a replacement when nobody obvious is available.

Yes players have been absent for varying reasons, they are for all teams that doesn’t excuse how poor we’ve been. If you think how we are playing is excusable because we’ve had absences fair enough, that is your view but it isn’t mine.

2 hours ago, birdman said:

Sacking Smith now would make things a whole lot worse. If we're in the relegation places come new year then of course the board have a decision to make but Smith deserves time to sort stuff out. I want the club to progress as much as you but I also value a bit of stability. 

That is your opinion, not fact, it isn’t an opinion I share. I’m not calling for him to go, I don’t though think he can turn this around and I think he will go.

There is no benefit in stability for stability sake.

3 hours ago, birdman said:

Because he needs time to get the new players firing together? It's been a rocky road for sure but now is not the time for panic sackings. 

He is two games short of a 3rd of a season. How long do you propose given we are getting worse?

I would agree if there were one sign of positive change but there isn’t, things are getting worse and confidence is ebbing away. 

It wouldn’t be a panic decision, wait for more games to pass and us be in real trouble would be a panic.

3 minutes ago, birdman said:

Psychologically the defeat to Wolves has had a huge impact. Now the players nerves are shredded and its affecting our play. It's imperative we wipe the fear from our minds. 

We need to stop shooting ourselves in the foot and giving ourselves a mountain to climb.

I'm fully behind Smith, I just hope he can bring the team together and get back on track. 

Why would he now when he hasn’t been able to get a result without Grealish over 3 years?

On topic please

2 minutes ago, av1 said:

I know the debate over the last few pages is between people that think he should/shouldn’t go, where do we think the club is?

I suspect they have at least had a "What if conversation", I'd imagine conversations have been had this evening because that was a horror show today.

2 minutes ago, vreitti said:

We can all see what's happening, or more importantly what's not happening. In general, football clubs are far too eager to pull the trigger. All good managers go through rough patches. This is Smiths first season where it's reasonable to expect more consistent performances and results. So far it's been below par, but not by much, all things considered, and we we're still only a quarter into the season. 

I don’t agree, it is rotten.

Just now, ozvillafan said:

Football is a funny game. Just 4 weeks ago we played well against Chelsea (still lost though) and beat both Everton and ManUre. We weren't thinking "Dean out" then and the squad was buzzing.

Two or three wins would change everything.

We were poor for most the game against a weak Everton side, Bailey won the game for us. The win at Old Trafford was brilliant but I’d still say there were some big doubts.

Two or three wins wouldn’t change everything and that is pretty unrealistic.

6 minutes ago, vreitti said:

Sometimes in football, things change suddenly. I'm still hopeful Smith will miraculously turn this around. 

I’m not a man of faith, I believe in things I can see.

7 minutes ago, av1 said:

As you’ve posted it I’m not doubting that’s correct, but wow, I genuinely didn’t think our form was that bad. 

I got the stat from elsewhere and haven’t checked it but based on previous ones I’ve done myself it looks about right.

Just now, vreitti said:

Too me it looks worse than it really is. Whilst I wouldn't entirely disregard last seasons poor games, I think he should be judged more by the mitigating circumstances this season. Having said that, we've spent plenty and I there can be no denying, we now have a proper squad, and should be doing a lot better. Next 2-3 games will be crucial. 

 

He has had three years and a huge amount of money to spend, I fail to see what another two or three games is going to change.

Just now, vreitti said:

I seriously doubt that the owners are as trigger happy as most on here. 

7 wins in 29 games. Not really trigger happy is it.

2 minutes ago, av1 said:

Not for me mate. 
 

Worst case scenario he flops

Best case scenario he’s great for 2yrs and then leaves to take the plop job, meaning we start again. 
 

Pointless imo. 
 

 

I agree and after the Houllier episode I can’t bare similar.

1 minute ago, av1 said:

I’m still not Smirh out, but Potter would be great. 
 

Im not entirely sure why so many think he’d be in unattainable, I don’t care what the league table says, Brighton to Villa is a big step up.  

Neither do I, I’m amazed anyone still thinks Smith can turn this around.

1 minute ago, KentVillan said:

He had similar long streaks of wins / losses at Brentford. It’s always been a feature of his teams, and something Brentford fans warned us about when he joined.

He likes to tinker with the team when they’re losing and then when he finds something that works he sticks with it for as many games as possible.

I don’t think Grealish is the only player in world football who can dig Dean Smith out of a hole. If Bailey finds form, he could be just as destructive.

I’m not saying he is. The point is that he had him on hand the previous times but doesn’t this time, so saying he has done it before (at Villa) isn’t really of any comfort.

It is though besides the point, spending what he has and being so reliant on one player whoever that player is just isn’t good enough. 
 

5 minutes ago, Made In Aston said:

This Smith out talk is a bit premature. His teams go through poor runs every season, but also have good runs to balance it out. Unless we get information that he has lost the support of the players then I don't think it's time to call for his head. It was only a month or so ago that the fan base was saying he was the best fit for us. 

He hasn’t got a returning Grealish this time though to turn it around for him. No reason to believe he will turn this around.