alreadyexists Posted October 11, 2018 VT Supporter Share Posted October 11, 2018 Apparently Richard O’Kelly has joined the coaching team from Brentford with Dean Smith. I thought he deserves his own thread. Not confirmed on the OS yet so still speculation for now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A'Villan Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 Welcome addition in my mind, will help bring and instill the methodology that Smith has planned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMAICAN-VILLAN Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 (edited) 22 minutes ago, A'Villan said: Welcome addition in my mind, will help bring and instill the methodology that Smith has planned. But can he do it without the "system" and "Structure" at Brentford? If you go off some peoples opinions, everybodies footballing knowledge, ethos and ability evaporates once they have left it. Edited October 11, 2018 by JAMAICAN-VILLAN 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post A'Villan Posted October 11, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted October 11, 2018 1 minute ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said: But can he do it without the "system" and "Structure" at Brentford? If you go off some peoples opinions, everybodies footballing knowledge, ethos and ability evaporates once the have left it. I think I know what you're saying. The analogy I used in another thread is apt. An architect can draw up different plans for different jobs and they will still be effective as long as the principles of the trade are followed. Likewise, a builder doesn't need to be an architect to follow the plans and understand the practicalities of the task at hand, they share the same language. Following the principles of the trade should ensure a fairly successful build. Regardless of the fact that different projects will offer unique challenges they all require fresh eyes, a sharp mind and a concerted effort. Some constructs are more detailed, complicated and demanding than others, and I will wait to see how Smith fares as he steps in to new territory, but I am quite confident he will at least be a noticeable improvement on what we saw under Bruce. Hopefully that is enough to gain promotion. Comparisons to Lambert are too pessimistic for me and while there is potential for parallels to arise I feel like the hierarchy and circumstances are nothing alike. From the mouth of the 'architect' at Brentford, the difference in their model to other clubs is that they scrapped the academy in favour of a B Team which would yield more finance as academy players were too young for professional contracts and would get poached for nothing, whereas the data analytics model enabled them to identify players abroad whose skill set and league are of a quality equal or greater than what Brentford have but due to the country they play in are worth a fee affordable for Brentford. Add to this the head coach deals only with day to day strategy like training and match day preparation, the director of football deals with medium-term strategy like transfers and succession planning and the board deal with long term strategy and objectives. They all liaison with one another and have input in decisions. Everything is tailored to the goals established from the top. Like the architect and the builder, they are all speaking the same language and understand the roles of the other to a degree that allows them to function successfully. As @TrentVilla has made mention of, there was deliberate wording in the title of our announcement for Smith's appointment. Head Coach. We have also recently employed a director of football who has enjoyed success at the highest level. Same goes for our CEO. I can't speak for Sawiris but Edens seems down to earth with ambitions where the sky is the limit. Seems to take the time to inform himself so that he can be effectively involved in the process. So it would seem like Villa is also setting up for a system where autonomy is spread and the model reliant on effective teamwork and the highest of standards from top to bottom. That's how it seems to me. 8 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post sne Posted October 11, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted October 11, 2018 Quote There have been two key figures in shaping the manager Aston Villa fans hope will lead them back to the Premier League. Legendary former Villa captain Chris Nicholl is one of them. He mentored Dean Smith during the early years of his management career and was an experienced ear for a rookie boss starting out. Nicholl joined Smith on the training ground at Walsall in 2011 and helped him steer the Saddlers to League One safety at the last. Down the years Nicholl’s words of wisdom have come in handy to Smith. But even more crucial to Smith’s success has been Richard O’Kelly. Background In his day O’Kelly was a goal-getting forward in the lower leagues for Walsall, Port Vale and Grimsby Town. He’s enjoyed two partnerships in coaching with the Smith/O’Kelly double act threatening to usurp the achievements he enjoyed alongside Sean O’Driscoll. O’Driscoll and O’Kelly won promotions at Bournemouth and Doncaster Rovers and worked in tandem for 12 years. O’Kelly left Walsall in 2012 to go it alone at Hereford but couldn’t prevent them from League Two relegation. Smith lost O’Kelly again in 2013, this time to O’Driscoll, but they couldn’t rekindle their magic at Bristol City and O’Kelly returned to Walsall to retake his position as Smith’s left lieutenant. Back to work O’Kelly’s greatest successes, however, have come on the training field where he tends to take the lead. The 61-year-old will be the busiest man at Bodymoor Heath. When he’s not ribbing Jack Grealish and Co he’ll be ordering them around on Villa’s pristine training pitches. O’Kelly, who’s rarely seen without a cap, will set about imposing his and Smith’s principles on Villa’s squad to ensure those fans questioning Steve Bruce’s style can see a clear plan when they turn up to Villa Park. Application mocked Target breaks “We don’t believe that’s the right way” Smith and O’Kelly share the same philosophy, which is why their partnership has only yielded success to date. Admittedly, they’re yet to lift silverware but the West Bromwich-born pair have overachieved year after year. A high intensity passing style based on defensive solidity is what Villa fans crave - and what Smith and O’Kelly will strive to provide. Smith says: “I think when you strip football down and go back to basics, it’s you trying to score more goals than them. You have to pass to get through them but there’s different ways to do that. “I say to the players there are three ways: play through them, go round them or you go over them. “We’re about winning games but there’s also different ways to go and win those games. You can go and get two big centre-forwards and say, ‘When we get it we’re just gonna (knock it long)’ - but we don’t believe that’s the right way to play. “But if teams come to press us and win the ball high then we know there’s going to be space in behind their defenders and we can play like that. Then they have to drop off and the spaces open up for you to play again.” “Sometimes I leave it to the axeman!” Smith reckons the hardest part of management is telling his players that they won’t be involved in the game and jokes that it’s another area where O’Kelly is useful. The Villa boss says: “Sometimes I leave it to the axeman and say, ‘Richard, he’s not playing today, go over and have a word!” https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-richard-okelly-dean-smiths-15266859 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Pangloss Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 This is a huge signing for us, a lot of the Brentford fans (based on me reading one of their forums) seem to consider him the brains behind most of the success they've had. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted October 11, 2018 VT Supporter Share Posted October 11, 2018 But... but... he's a 61 year old Englishman! 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briny_ear Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 Seems like a good appointment if confirmed. Sounds like Smith would be mad to move anywhere without him. Wonder how JT fits in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnnyp Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 Either some bitter Brentford fan got hold of his wiki page or it's a wind up but full name Richard "Florence " O'kelly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson1 Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 Just hope this isn't another false dawn. I've read comments on this site previously when we employed Culverhouse and Clemence etc, that they were the brains behind previous managers and what a coup it was getting them. Didn't quite work out that way for us though. I simply know nothing about the guy, but very much hope he's a success here, along with Smith and Terry. Welcome Richard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Made In Aston Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 Brentford had 2 assistants, while arsenal has a similar set up. Its not beyond the realms of possibly that this scenario will happen at Villa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa89 Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 7 minutes ago, Made In Aston said: Brentford had 2 assistants Sure didn't Bruce hire about 15 assistants in the end. Didn't do him much good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briny_ear Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 18 minutes ago, ferguson1 said: Just hope this isn't another false dawn. I've read comments on this site previously when we employed Culverhouse and Clemence etc, that they were the brains behind previous managers and what a coup it was getting them. Didn't quite work out that way for us though. I simply know nothing about the guy, but very much hope he's a success here, along with Smith and Terry. Welcome Richard. That’s the understatement of the year! I had forgotten about those two guys but didn't Culverhouse get sacked for bullying in the end? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post sne Posted October 11, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted October 11, 2018 Richard O'Kelly Dokely? 5 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alreadyexists Posted October 11, 2018 Author VT Supporter Share Posted October 11, 2018 41 minutes ago, mjmooney said: But... but... he's a 61 year old Englishman! Dinosaurs OUT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson1 Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 (edited) 25 minutes ago, briny_ear said: That’s the understatement of the year! I had forgotten about those two guys but didn't Culverhouse get sacked for bullying in the end? Without checking, i’m sure you’re right mate. When you also think of Keane, Clarke, Wilkins etc, we’ve not had much luck with assistant coaches. Edited October 11, 2018 by ferguson1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alreadyexists Posted October 11, 2018 Author VT Supporter Share Posted October 11, 2018 9 minutes ago, ferguson1 said: Without checking, i’m sure you are right mate. When you also think of Keane, Clarke, Wilkins etc, we’ve not had much luck with assistant coaches. I think it sums up our managers too... all shit for far too long. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
romavillan Posted October 11, 2018 VT Supporter Share Posted October 11, 2018 1 hour ago, briny_ear said: Seems like a good appointment if confirmed. Sounds like Smith would be mad to move anywhere without him. Wonder how JT fits in? O'Kelly will be first team coach I reckon, JT was named Assistant to Smith wasn't he? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnnyp Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 5 hours ago, alreadyexists said: Apparently Richard O’Kelly has joined the coaching team from Brentford with Dean Smith. I thought he deserves his own thread. Not confirmed on the OS yet so still speculation for now. Officially confirmed now. ( Don't trust Sky sauces anymore ) ! Matthew Benham just tweeted to wish Dean and Richard all the best in the future. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaChris Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 4 hours ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said: But can he do it without the "system" and "Structure" at Brentford? If you go off some peoples opinions, everybodies footballing knowledge, ethos and ability evaporates once they have left it. He was Dean's number 2 at Walsall for a good few years aswell. I can assure you with the penny pinching way Jeff Bonser (Walsall owner) runs things there was certainly no "system" or "structure" at that club! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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