10 Oct 2020 10:34:56
Two years ago today Deano took over. We were 15th in the Championship with little to no chance of getting anywhere with the way we were playing. Two years later we sit second in the Premier League (albeit after three games) and have just absolutely battered one of the best teams in the world of the last decade.

I know this will fall on deaf ears for most however this is a prime example of giving managers and players a chance and giving them time. Smith even being one of our own, and even showing unwavering commitment in the face of probably the toughest time in his personal life, didn't exempt him from what is often a seriously toxic, negative element of our fan base.

As recently as a month ago, there were people (some on here) still claiming the jobs too big for him and we aren't good enough under him. We have shown consistent progress under Smith, of course there have been some rough patches, but that's football, we have all been watching long enough by now to understand that and not react like petulant children whenever results don't go our way.

I wouldn't want anyone else as our manager, and if we continue the steady progress we have seen since he took over, then in two years time there's a good chance we will be back where we all want to be!

1.) 10 Oct 2020
10 Oct 2020 13:16:33
Smith is still young in managerial terms but already has a lot of tactical nous which often goes unnoticed.

He's still learning at this level and I think lockdown showed his willingness to adapt.
He is still a little stubborn in his substitutions (same people at the same minute markers) but I'm excited by the prospect of team and manager growing together.
I think most of us fans agree with you and see how what was a 5 year plan has skyrocketed. We know the whole season won't be plain sailing but from top to bottom there has been considerable progress.

Investment will eventually be cut back like under the Lerner administration but the clear difference now is that we are buying into long term options rather than high wage quick fixes.

2.) 10 Oct 2020
10 Oct 2020 17:36:18
I agree with both your comments and I think the owners should also be congratulated for sticking with Deano, despite the pressure from a certain quarters.
Deano has learnt a lot from his first season in the Premier league and it’s already evident that he’s taken those lessons on board and is increasingly growing into the task.
The manager merry go round approach often fails. Take Manchester United for example, how many top managers have they been through since Ferguson’s reign?
Have they really progressed? I don’t think they have, arguably they would be in a better place now had they’d kept faith with some of the managers they’ve dismissed.

3.) 10 Oct 2020
10 Oct 2020 18:35:43
If I remember correctly Ferguson’s first 3 yrs at Man U were 11th, 2nd and 11th and on the verge of being Dismissed.
The rest is History.
Perhaps DS is following a similar path?

4.) 10 Oct 2020
10 Oct 2020 18:45:31
I agree that Deano has matured as a manager and I was always in favour of keeping faith with him. I think the recruitment has been first class from those destined for the first team, the youth products we have acquired together with the back room staff that together with tying down key individuals to long term contracts, all show that for the first time in a long time the club in general is heading in the right direction. It’s down to the fans to keep the faith no matter what. We have got off to a great start but we will go through rocky periods most clubs do, what we mustn’t turn on the manager or the owners we all want the same thing success for our club but it is going to take time.