Gordonsleftboot
Vital Reserves Team
I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit, aware that I’ve somewhat flip flopped throughout the season in my opinion regarding Smith etc.
This is where I’m now at... (still flip flopping!).
IF we stay up (a capitalised IF because it’s Vila and you still never know!) then I’m imagining two scenarios (the first might be wishful thinking).
First scenario (the ‘acting like a big club move’):
We somehow convince Poch and his team that Villa are the club for him. Smith is let go but his legacy is safe having guided us up and kept us up.
I, like all, desperately want us to become a club that can keep our best players (especially when they are home grown!)
Imagine us staying up, but Grealish has an offer from a champs league team that he simply can’t refuse.
But then, the Villa tell him that Poch is coming and he wants to build a team around you.... then would he stay? I think quite possibly.
Would Poch come in the first place? Who knows.
Second Scenario:
We realise we are not ‘there’ just yet in our quest to become a big club that thinks like a big club.
We recognise Smiths achievements and keep faith in him and the aim is a top half finish next season, and then we reassess whether we need someone else to take us forwards. There is an inquest into recruitment strategy, and possibly heads will roll (ie. Jesus but not Smith).
With this in mind, I’ve been taking a look at Man City’s Wickipedia page, needing to jog my memory, and these are the key facts I found:
Taken over in 2008.
Recent history of mid table finishes.
Retained Hughes as Manager.
Flurry of bids for high profile players.
Bought Robinho.
Team finished 10th.
2009 summer: over £100m on players (a lot more dosh than it is even now only 11 years later)
December: sacked Hughes.
Brought in big name in world football, Mancini.
Finished 5th, rest is history.
I’m not saying we look to replicate that, or even that we should model ourselves on that - prefer the Liverpool approach/spurs under Poch (minus their dippy chairman). It was also a different time (ffp), different owners (ours are rich, but not that level of rich!) But the key I think here is that City didn’t take long to start ‘thinking big’ and acting big (and ultimately, are still not a bigger club than Villa! Ha)
I think the big thing for me is all of the rhetoric in the summer was about ‘not making up the numbers’, in it to win it etc etc but it hasn’t been backed up on the pitch.
A combo of being a bit unrealistic, and not getting the buys quite right? Perhaps. If the owners think avoiding a relegation battle, at the very least, was achievable, then Smith’s head probably should be on the chopping block. For those fans that pre season believed finishing 17th (if that turns out to be the case) would be a good achievement, then they would argue against that. I can understand the reasons for that perspective, given the state of our squad when we got promoted. But that wasn’t the line that the club chose to peddle.
But if they talk the talk they need to walk the walk - to my mind though, it’s only worth getting rid of Smith if we can get a top name in woth
If you’re a top player (or up and coming one), who do you want to go and play for? Dean Smith, or Mauricio Pochettino? (Or insert other big name with good record here)
It all hinges on whether we can even get someone like that in, at this stage. And there’s also the problem that a manager like Poch wants to spend money... (sacked by Spurs because Levy wouldn’t spend, basically) how much can we spend? How much are our hands tied at this stage by FFP? (Over to you Mike, I don’t understand this stuff!!)
also if the next season starts in September, it ain’t long for a new manager to get his ideas over. Which is the bigger risk?!
Anyway that’s my garbled attempt at explaining my constantly changing thought process and I’m well aware of my own hipocrisy. I guess that’s what football is all about!
I’m tempting fate I might add, as we could still go down!
I’ve also just had two large coffees and I tend to go off on one.
I have to agree with a lot of this. The question, as you rightly say, is if Smith is discarded, it must only be because we have the chance to bring in a higher profile coach who will attract the players we want/ need. If this happens it will be harsh on a coach who has never been dismissed. (Can some of the top coaches claim that distinction?) What I would hate to see is Smith cast off and a new coach recruited from the merry-go-round on the expectation of a 3 year mission and then offski. To digress slightly, if Levi at Spurs sacked Poch for not wishing to back him in the market, why bring in Mourinho who has a poor record of developing his own talent? Was there something else that we don't know?
Another thought here too...there has been a lot of criticism of Suso. Follwoing the last few games which players aren't you happy with, given the amount of cash we had to spend? Luis? Konsa? Reina? Hause? Targett and Guilbert, albeit for only half a game, are stepping up too. Samatta is giving all and he can't score without supply...no striker scores with every chance.... and Nakamba could come good yet. Surely we aren't expecting too much to soon are we? One thing is clear, the PL is a big step up from the Championship as Leeds and Co will soon discover.
I'm glad I never worked for a few who contribute on here. Today I'll do the possible, the impossible will have to wait for tomorrow.