Dean Smith New Interim Manager - Official

[Jattdogg]

4 minutes ago, StanSP said:

 

 

Running home to be with wife before he gets there?

[coolhandfox]

1 hour ago, ronnup said:

 

Relies on midfielders that can pass the ball well. We can't expect that, unless we start playing Mendy and Praet possibly

Youri is back in training which makes a massive difference. 

[gw_leics772]

19 hours ago, Stadt said:

If we stay up and give them a contract it has to be a year max. We negotiate so badly, I'm surprised we managed to land an interim appointment.

We probably thought we were just booking an after dinner speech. 

 

 

Oops, I did it again. 

Edited 12 April 2023 by gw_leics772

[Mike the Metal Ed]

51 minutes ago, browniefox said:

The scary thing is they will ask S&S for their opinion which could be catastrophic for Saturday's game. 

He at least apparently watched the Bournemouth game, so he will be able to apply their input to that, combined with his own opinions on the (many!) ways to improve on it.

[Chelmofox]

8 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

Youri is back in training which makes a massive difference. 

He was at training but didn't look very much like he was training. 

[5waller5]

2 hours ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

I'm of a similar vintage and unfortunately we are equally blessed and cursed to have followed this club for so long - You can tell yourself it doesn't really matter but you'd be absolutely fooling yourself. 

 

It's the feeling of hope and a good performance against Man City and a win against Wolves could see us turn the corner. The last 6 games are then all winnable.  

 

I often wonder if we have experienced the best rollercoaster of any club during our last 50 years. 
 

It’s been pretty eventful hasn’t it!? 

[Ricey]

20 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

Youri is back in training which makes a massive difference. 

He isn't training yet, which is a worry. We need him back for Wolves.

[CrazyKopCorner]

2 minutes ago, 5waller5 said:

I often wonder if we have experienced the best rollercoaster of any club during our last 50 years. 
 

It’s been pretty eventful hasn’t it!? 

Yes if you throw in some of the off field antics as well it's been quite a ride. 

 

I don't remember too many dull seasons 

[VintageFox73]

The boys look relaxed for a change, A different routine was probably all they need after Bodgers Ball.....They know they can play, we know they can play , just need to play with freedom and flair and on our day we can beat most teams, they have  proved it countless times ! I'm fully expecting Cags back in, maybe Vesty as well in certain games ( had a rough time of it, rated him at Southampton ) .... I fully expect us to to go to city and come back with at least a point, the fire in the belly will be back ! 

[sacreblueits442]

2 hours ago, Tielemans63 said:

Interesting that Smith alluded to fitness in his first interview and said there's not much that can be done in that regard but then the training video looked high-intensity play i.e. to boost fitness.

 

Makes me even more pissed off that Rodgers was just bleeding the club dry. He couldn't even be arsed to do the basics correctly. I realise it's all what you want to see and maybe this is confirmation bias but videos / photos of training under Rodgers had lots of images of players jogging and having a laugh and not a lot else. It SEEMS the players are being made to put a bit more work in and it SEEMS as though they're willing to do so.

...when Puel went the players were stating that the training was not vigorous enough!!!

  Lots of concentration on the technical stuff but the players felt under powered on the pitch. They relished the changes that Rodgers brought in, and Rodgers himself stated that his teams were always stronger at the end of seasons.

  Stark contrast to what we have seen at the end of seasons under Rodgers, as we had tailed off enormously in every season.

  For some reason this club functions better as a high tempo, high press outfit. Pearson had us in peak fitness, we could not be outworked.

 There is a minimal level of fitness we need for this club, and it seems we were nowhere near where we should have been. 

[Chrysalis]

So Shakespeare back, and we get Terry as well, this will be interesting and I hope they can save us.

[sacreblueits442]

3 minutes ago, Chrysalis said:

So Shakespeare back, and we get Terry as well, this will be interesting and I hope they can save us.

..no, they said it was Shakespeare and Terry, not Flash!!!

[Ian S]

6 hours ago, Dickov22 said:

‘Youri look slow and ponderous’ ??

bloke has carried this team all season. Hugely missed when he not in the side. If he’s back fit, we can stay up. 

He really hasn’t, what have you been watching.Always amazing how much better players seem to get when they are not actually playing.

if anyone has carried us it has been Maddison far more than Tielemans, and even  Madders is feeling the strain now.

[hejammy]

10 minutes ago, Ian S said:

He really hasn’t, what have you been watching.Always amazing how much better players seem to get when they are not actually playing.

if anyone has carried us it has been Maddison far more than Tielemans, and even  Madders is feeling the strain now.

Agree with this completely! I'm no world has Youri carried this team this season. He's been a hindrance more so than not infact. Not been at the top of his game for a while now. 

[Chrysalis]

I do have a positive vibe, shame about the awful timing from top for the appointment.

[Ric Flair]

2 hours ago, Ricey said:

He isn't training yet, which is a worry. We need him back for Wolves.

Wasn't he due to start back today?

[Ric Flair]

In regards to fitness, the reason we'll have poor fitness isn't because Rodgers doesn't train intensly enough, the complete opposite. This is 4 years of training in such a way that many of them broke down long ago and then the base work that gets done each pre season and fine tuned with impactful work in the season has fallen apart. 

 

There's many reasons we needed huge change but this is right up there.

[fox_up_north]

A colleague supports Villa and says we'd be hard pressed to find their fans say anything bad about him. He praised the work ethic, recruitment and improvements to players. 

 

"I'd say he'll keep you up"

[Beachyboy]

I've  only experienced 25 years of those 50, I'd imagine our opponents Saturday could put a case forward. Both teams have won the premiership, an been in league one in my lifetime. I get the methods behind their success has been far different.

Edited 12 April 2023 by Beachyboy

[Simoken]

2 hours ago, VintageFox73 said:

The boys look relaxed for a change, A different routine was probably all they need after Bodgers Ball.....They know they can play, we know they can play , just need to play with freedom and flair and on our day we can beat most teams, they have  proved it countless times ! I'm fully expecting Cags back in, maybe Vesty as well in certain games ( had a rough time of it, rated him at Southampton ) .... I fully expect us to to go to city and come back with at least a point, the fire in the belly will be back ! 

I took you serious till i read that bit. get in the bin, im not falling for your hopeful upbeat messages.

[jerry]

8 minutes ago, fox_up_north said:

A colleague supports Villa and says we'd be hard pressed to find their fans say anything bad about him. He praised the work ethic, recruitment and improvements to players. 

 

"I'd say he'll keep you up"

Fear it may be too late. These appointments should have been made at least 8 games ago.

[fuchsntf]

Man.City fixture is really Carte Blanche,for our 3 Amigos.

They use this game to

# at least get their chosen players right.

# work on ( of late a decent defence) our team and B.line defence.

# middfield interfacing with both  B.line and Forwards.

#Ask Barnes & Tete to play more forward

# Getting front 6 set up correct..

# please get us back on the Front foot…

 

## prevent a tanking,but still showing intent.Play at least showing no lost cause.

       M.City defence still needs to be threatened.

[jv1]

3 hours ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

Yes if you throw in some of the off field antics as well it's been quite a ride. 

 

I don't remember too many dull seasons 

Doesn’t get much more boring than 2001-2007 

[Mike the Metal Ed]

Just now, jv1 said:

Doesn’t get much more boring than 2001-2007 

You mean during the time we genuinely thought the club might cease to exist?

[jv1]

Just now, Mike the Metal Ed said:

You mean during the time we genuinely thought the club might cease to exist?

Maybe that should have been rephrased to say - doesn’t get much worse than 2001-2007 👍