Progress report on Dean so far

His first four games were ok. The team seemed more motivated and had a bit more resilience about them, and managed to go three games without losing. It wasn't perfect, but it was better.

After the Everton game Smith highlighted how open we were in midfield and did not protect the defence. He described the match as being like a basketball game and insisted he'd put it right for the Fulham game. Then on Monday he again put Soumare and Tielemans in the middle and left Mendy out of the squad entirely. As soon as the team was announced, it was clear what would happen.

The verdict? Nice guy, possibly a good man manager, tactically clueless.
 
Either the rot in the football side of the club is currently so deep, no manager can fix it,

or Smith is really not very good at all.

I am inclined towards the first option.


I can only assume that Mendy is off and doesn't want to play. it is unfathomable otherwise.
 
Playing the same tactics and formation that hasn't worked in at least 18 months, is totally baffling.
Picking Soumare and Ndidi ahead of Mendy is as daft as Titanic increasing speed with iceberg's about.
On the positive side Iverson until the meltdown at Fulham, and Soyunco are good, though not rocket science.
Unfortunate Nacho and Ricci injured,
 
2 Pints of Lager said:
Playing the same tactics and formation that hasn't worked in at least 18 months, is totally baffling.
Picking Soumare and Ndidi ahead of Mendy is as daft as Titanic increasing speed with iceberg's about.
On the positive side Iverson until the meltdown at Fulham, and Soyunco are good, though not rocket science.
Unfortunate Nacho and Ricci injured,
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The Nacho injury has particularly hurt us.
 
EMExile said:
I know KDH has his critics on here, but surely he is a better option than Soumare? At least KDH gives it everything he has got and should be ahead of Soumare on his work rate alone.

I'm surprised Soumare doesn't turn out in his swimming trunks with a towel under his arm wearing a straw hat !!!
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I want neither in the starting XI, both proven to be not even is the same ball park as good enough.
 
As for Mendy, not one of the managers we've had in his time (7 years) here has fancied him.

Our current emergency assistant manager jettisoned him out on loan during his shambolic tenure here as permanent manager. What makes anyone think Shakespeare would think he's an option now?
 
There has to be more to the Mendy thing than we know about? Is it a hangover issue from Shakespeare's last spell here? Something new?
After including praet it means Smith has given all our midfielders a start, except Mendy and KDH.
Whatever it is, surely it's time to give him a try and all other options have failed.


Edit: apologies tartan for repeating your point, I was typing my post when you sent yours.
 
TartanFox said:
As for Mendy, not one of the managers we've had in his time (7 years) here has fancied him.

Our current emergency assistant manager jettisoned him out on loan during his shambolic tenure here as permanent manager. What makes anyone think Shakespeare would think he's an option now?
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Because we clearly need to play with a defensive midfielder and he's currently the best one we have? Or are they going to deliberately throw the remaining games by playing Ndidi instead?
 
EMExile said:
I know KDH has his critics on here, but surely he is a better option than Soumare? At least KDH gives it everything he has got and should be ahead of Soumare on his work rate alone.

I'm surprised Soumare doesn't turn out in his swimming trunks with a towel under his arm wearing a straw hat !!!
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He runs and will track and disrupt....all the things soumare and tielemans don't do
 
ClaphamFox said:
His first four games were ok. The team seemed more motivated and had a bit more resilience about them, and managed to go three games without losing. It wasn't perfect, but it was better.

After the Everton game Smith highlighted how open we were in midfield and did not protect the defence. He described the match as being like a basketball game and insisted he'd put it right for the Fulham game. Then on Monday he again put Soumare and Tielemans in the middle and left Mendy out of the squad entirely. As soon as the team was announced, it was clear what would happen.

The verdict? Nice guy, possibly a good man manager, tactically clueless.
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Head of the nail hit.
To say the midfield were in no way doing the defensive part of their job in the Everton game & then picking the exact same players in the exact same formation for the Fulham game is mental.
 
essingtonblue said:
Head of the nail hit.
To say the midfield were in no way doing the defensive part of their job in the Everton game & then picking the exact same players in the exact same formation for the Fulham game is mental.
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Totally agree. I Would play D'hall, Mendy, Madders, till the end of season.
 
We can all see it.
it's no good having two competent if not brilliant CB's if you leave the midfield wide open.
We've seen week after week opposition going straight through the middle not being forced out wide.
we've given opposition teams a shockingly high number of chances.
At this point i'd play any 2 of souttar, soy and faes in the back four and stick the other one in front as a def mid, they can't be any worse than soumare or ndidi have been all season.
 
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