AvfcTheObsession

Do really like the manager, but hope we finish above them next season. Bit of a rivalry seemed to start, maybe they didn't like someone bigger coming down to the Championship and flashing the cash. In some ways we are similar historic clubs but I just remind fans who say they are bigger that we nearly always get bigger crowds than they do, have won more and spent a lot, lot more of our existence in the top flight (even if you compare the last 100 years only since Leeds were formed).

I haven't said that. This discussion started with Mantis' post that he remains unconvinced about Dean Smith being a good Championship manager, due to the way we played when we didn't have the services of the best player in the division for an extended run last time. I'm in the same camp, I believe Dean to be average rather than good at that level, hence constantly finishing in average positions with Brentford, compared to how they are doing now, as well as the awful form without Grealish as mentioned.

That was very much the exception rather than the rule. We won only one other game without Grealish out of the 13 he missed in that run through injury.

Hadn't heard of him at all, 'Senior Player Recruitment Analyst' is his title according to his LinkedIn. I'm assuming he reports into the Sporting Director, our man Suso.

Well, clearly before they sold that £36m of talent the summer just gone, Smith had them to work with, so I don't think it's unreasonable to think he could have done better, considering Frank is now 3rd in the league having really improved their defensive side of the game, something Smith wasn't able to do in 3 years there. My concerns over Smith are whether he was just a pawn in the game at Brentford, and whether the recruitment and board strategies there are the real key to the success, and the much maligned '2 wins in 13' last season when Jack was out, despite having a Championship team containing the likes of Mings, Mcginn and Abraham. I have sympathies with Smith as the recruitment this summer from Suso was poor for the money spent. My gut is that we need to aim higher than DS, in order to get Top 2 next season.

They did, but is that any different to previous years when likes of Egan, Hogan, Jota, Harlee Dean, etc. have left and needed to be replaced.

By £500k, clearly immaterial. Pontus was a different type of signing yes, after he phoned them as he knew his Leeds career was over and wanted to move there and they agreed with him. Vast majority of their signings were under 23 even summer just gone, but the new head coach has got them a lot better organised defensively than they were previously, which has been key.

How have you come to the conclusion they've 'gone for it' this year when they've done the same as they always do, spend the majority of what they bring in, but always have a negative net spend. They sold more star players last summer so had to spend more to replace them, but they did what they always do, brought in more than they spent, the exact same thing they did in 17/18 when Smith was there. negative net spend summer just gone: £8m. 18/19 had a bigger negative net spend £25.5m. 17/18 negative net spend £8.5m. They spent money on 8 players last summer, only 2 of them older than 23, Jansson was the main exception to the usual young players from abroad policy. There has been a slight change in policy in signing some others from bigger clubs, but it was still mixed with signings from Barnsley, Sparta, Piast Gliwice, Blackburn, Troyes.

Not in terms of net spend. 19/20 negative net spend £8m. 18/19 negative net spend £25.5m. 17/18 negative net spend £8.5m. Their model is always very similar, bring in more than you spend, the summer just gone was very much in line with 17/18.

I've seen this myth a couple of times now. They did no different to any other year, sold star players (Konsa this time, previously Jota, Hogan, etc) and brought in a number of gems from abroad, and still ended up with a negative net spend.

We also had a good squad last time around, but were stuck in mid-table until Grealish came back, we all agree we won't have him, or someone of that quality to do that next time. Mings, McGinn, Hourihane, El Ghazi, Abraham were all in that team where Smith could only win 2 out of 13 games, I just see it being play-offs at best if he stays, and I want to aim for Top 2 given we'd have a large budget like you say. I'm finding myself questioning how well he did at Brentford finishing 9th and 10th for 3 seasons, when they have carried on with the same model and are now 3rd. Maybe he was just average.

It hasn't been waived for the EFL has it? I heard UEFA relaxed it, which affects all of the top leagues. The owners have already showed me how serious they are with the hundreds of million they've already lost/spent on the club in such a short space of time.

And Arsenal at home, they are pretty poor this season (still favourites against us of course), but we simply have to take points against games like Arsenal at home if we are to stay up. United, Palace & Arsenal (H) and Everton (A) - I think we will need 5-6 points at least from these to go into the final day showdown with a shot at survival at West Ham.

For me it's the fact he was never anywhere near the Top 6 with Brentford, and the fact we won 2 games out of 13 last season under Smith when Jack was injured, that injury lasts another couple of weeks or so, and we don't go up.

For me, the difference is I hardly remember Dyche having much money at all to spend when he first brought Burnley up. Granted, he'd have been unhappy with a return of 30 points, but Smith has had well over £100m to bolster the squad, and not been able to mould them into a cohesive, organised unit. That, along with the fact his Championship finishes are something like 9th, 10th, 10th and 5th (80% of the season with us), are why I would rather trust someone like Dyche next season to get us back up if we drop, I'd feel much more confident with someone with experience of Top 2 or pedigree abroad (Bielsa/Nuno types) than Smith. Brentford have also kicked on massively since he left and are 3rd, still with a shot of 2nd this season having been a lot more organised defensively under their new boss, despite again a negative net spend this summer.

Yes it did fail but was over 10 years ago, no way of knowing how this will pan out. Key to whether it works is how successful the club is, relatively speaking. With a financial advantage if the club was to be on the up gain promotions then I'm sure people wouldn't lose interest with having the app at hand.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47386953 Interesting new concept. Actually think it could work in the non league, massive revenue for a 6th or 7th tier club with thousands on board. Set to be a vote on Midlands team tomorrow for takeover.

We still don't really play to a system that suits Gestede (I'm not saying we should, he's not good enough to be accommodated), so I'd rather see him on the bench despite the injuries we have. Maybe Grealish at the tip of a diamond just behind RMC and Old Kodjia on Sat.

I agree with WoodyTom actually on this one. He's been a senior figure at the club over the last few years as we tried to integrate younger players and players new to the country in to the squad, and he has been a complete hindrance rather than a help with his behaviour and attitude to representing the club and playing football.

Richards (injured/doubtful) - not that anyone sees it as a loss I'm sure De Laet (out for the season) - assuming he just wasn't mentioned as it's such a long-term lay-off

Don't worry about whether you have 'made it' by a certain age or not, or feel down about how much you are earning just because you have friends or colleagues earning more than you. It's always worth thinking long-term, never give up on a dream because of the time it will take to accomplish it, the time will pass anyway.

Nah, I don't believe it. It says 'Birmingham City fan from Rugby'. Sha fans always tell me all of their fans are from the Second City, but Villa fans come from Worcestershire, Warwickshire and the likes.

Yep. Also as VillaChris pointed out, they normally get a win against Newcastle before Xmas which kickstarts them, and take 4-6 points off them over the season.

He looked good last season though when he was motivated under Big Sam. Reminds me of Gana, if he followed his path and went to Everton I think he'd look decent again.

If I were them my order of preference would be: Pearson Lambert Tactics Tim Although Pearson is unhinged I think he has the potential to do the best job, Lambert has only really done an impressive job at one club (Norwich), although some people may disagree and think he did well here. Sherwood is hopeless in the transfer market (Richards as captain, Lescott and Gestede) to be the spine of our team in the Prem, thanks for that. That's before we mention his 'tactics' and the Cup Final and Soton away spring to mind even during his 'purple patch'.