Dean Smith to Brentford

[WFC]

Some extremely bitter comments on the Walsall messageboard, don't quite know what their problem with Brentford is.

It's obvious that it's just frustration from our lot. We've done nothing of note for years and as soon as it all clicks into place he's jumped ship, a shame but that's football I guess. All about bettering yourself money wise.

Confirmed anyway, all the best Smith, no anger towards the bloke (unless he raids our squad come January that is!)

 

[Saddlerrad]

Officially gone then.

Can't help but feel dissapointed. Great chance for Smith and I don't begrudge him for taking it. However. As a Walsall fan this is how life works...

Do well...sell your players...spend nothing on replacing them....be shit

Build squad...do well after a few years of shit...lose your manager..... spend nothing replacing them...be shit.

Pointless club to support.

 

[WFC]

To be fair it's the life of a lower league fan really, not just Walsall.

If you ain't got the funds (and even if you have someone is richer) you'll always lose a good manager/star players.

Not nice, pisses you off but that's how it is. Doesn't stop me having a top time supporting WFC because how good we are is not what it's all about, already looking forward to tomorrow

 

[Shrimpurh]

Tony Humes is available?

 

[SaddlerJonny]

John Whitney as our manager alongside Neil Cutler...

Fucking love that!

 

[Saddlerrad]

Least the fans should be up for it tommorrow...could make for a decent atmosphere.

Will the players be though? At least we have people who know them in charge currently.

 

[joethegill]

Glad they didn't go for Edinburgh.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Glad they didn't go for Edinburgh.

Seems strange that they didn't. Given closer proximity. Dealing with Smith and us before and the fact Smith has done quite well over a number of years probably swayed them.

Brentford need to look forward to signing Rico Henry, he's a brillant prospect. The best youth player I've seen since Scott Dann, better infact. Given Smith has praised him so highly over the last few months, I wouldn't be surprised to see Brentford poach him. He won't come cheap either and if we have any release clauses on any of our star players - Smith is going to know them, giving him an advantage.

Tim Sherwood is 25/1 at Sky Bet to take over, HAHA!

John Ward is the most likely I reckon. But Tisdale would be my number one choice given the side and setup we have. O'Driscoll wouldn't be too bad given his philosophy, but forgive me If I'm wrong, but hasn't he always been a manager that works on at least a 'medium sized' budget?

 

[SpireiteDan]

Tony Humes is available?

So is Dean Saunders.

Get in there quick Walsall, managers with a CV like his don't come around often.

 

[Saddlerrad]

So is Dean Saunders.

Get in there quick Walsall, managers with a CV like his don't come around often.

If we appoint Dean Saunders I'll give up on football forever.

 

[dedwardp]

To be fair it's the life of a lower league fan really, not just Walsall.

If you ain't got the funds (and even if you have someone is richer) you'll always lose a good manager/star players.

Not nice, pisses you off but that's how it is. Doesn't stop me having a top time supporting WFC because how good we are is not what it's all about, already looking forward to tomorrow

Exactly, it happens to all clubs unless you are the bigger fish... which 95% of us aren't. Just enjoy it when it comes around, successful squads will always be broken up as there will always be a bigger club that they can step up to, it happens, it's cyclical.

We had an amazing first season in the Championship in 2006/07, all the best players left and we came bottom the next season, back to normality in League One. But it was the best season in the club's history and we'll probably never ever see those days again. It was superb and we enjoyed it whilst it lasted, but a successful top 10 Championship side was never going to stick around at Colchester and Layer Road. So we start again with a new squad.

Walsall still have every chance this season.

 

[Saddlerrad]

I see our official Twitter page has blank tweeted a fake Ian Holloway account tonight...LOL. Someone's getting a P45 tommorrow.

Some delusional suggestions being made on UTS.

Rosler? Powell? Holloway?

Like they would ever take a role under Bonser.

6p a week salary and 4p as the summer wage budget.

Thanks Jeff, but I'd rather go to the dole office.

Would love Tisdale.

 

[redjed]

Mark Cooper, cheap,plays football, has worked the last couple of years under severe budget cuts, could be thw man!

 

[Saddlerrad]

Mark Cooper, cheap,plays football, has worked the last couple of years under severe budget cuts, could be thw man!

He's been mentioned. Things either go very well for him, or very wrong. Would be a risk.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Some absolutely horrendous names on there. Not only in terms of having a different style, but I'm not sure the bookies comprehend that Jeff Bonser would rather appoint the Rushall Olympic manager and pay him £6 a week than he would hire Holloway on 4k a week.

On that list. Tisdale is my man. Ainsworth I would take if he would change his style, we won't hire someone who plays nasty football. We have said as much in the statement. I'd take Mark Cooper but he strikes me as a risk. I'd love Chris Powell, but we won't big enough for him, even remotely or pay him enough and that applies to the likes of Holloway, McDermott and Clarke.

One thing we do have going for us at the moment is that we are in an attractive position, with some good contracted stars. Something that can't be said for a lot of clubs searching for a new management.

It's not like they have a huge rebuild or a crisis scenario on there hands.

 

[JJ1532]

Shame to see Smith leave. I don't blame him for going, I do think his choice of club is not the right one. I think given the expectations that are in place at Brentford means he won't get time to spend a number of seasons moulding his squad. Look at what happened with both Warburton and Dijkhuizen, that to me proves they don't know how to handle their managers. If they start to struggle in the same way, will they stick with Smith or panic like a lot of clubs do and sack him?

This whole thing about why they got rid of Warburton also intrigues me. They wanted to run the first team via a different model, through the use of analytics and stats etc. Is that still the plan, or is the plan with Smith to return to a more traditional way of managing?

I hope it works out for Smith, I really do. He seems like a good bloke and a solid manager. Hope Brentford give him time and patience to build what he wants there.

As for Walsall, it sucks but it happens. Be interesting to see who they get next.

 

[Hooped Wizard]

I can see Paul Dickov getting this one.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Daily Mail are linking Walsall with Micky Mellon.

And that's why you don't read the Daily Mail, but I'd laugh if it genuinely did happen. Unless Mellon's fallen out with the Shrewsbury board for tightening up the purse strings now they're out of League Two there's no way he's leaving.

 

[toshj]

Shame to see Smith leave. I don't blame him for going, I do think his choice of club is not the right one. I think given the expectations that are in place at Brentford means he won't get time to spend a number of seasons moulding his squad. Look at what happened with both Warburton and Dijkhuizen, that to me proves they don't know how to handle their managers. If they start to struggle in the same way, will they stick with Smith or panic like a lot of clubs do and sack him?

This whole thing about why they got rid of Warburton also intrigues me. They wanted to run the first team via a different model, through the use of analytics and stats etc. Is that still the plan, or is the plan with Smith to return to a more traditional way of managing?

I hope it works out for Smith, I really do. He seems like a good bloke and a solid manager. Hope Brentford give him time and patience to build what he wants there.

As for Walsall, it sucks but it happens. Be interesting to see who they get next.

We were always running a analytical and statistical model when Warburton was in charge - a disagreement over this point was the line spouted around in the press to sensationalise the fact that he wasn't staying with us. The January transfer window was seemingly purposefully balls'ed up for us, undermining our long-term future by having transfers cancelled. As such, we changed our transfer veto model, and Warburton wanted out. That's pretty much the whole of it. Lots of opposition fans think we sacked him, or treated him poorly. The fact is the club stayed quiet in the PR realm as it stood to gain little even if they corrected the press at every turn, and this naturally allowed sympathy to build for Warburton as his media persona grew in the later stages of last season.

We're now 5 months into a 3 year plan, so I imagine that Smith will be given plenty of time and support - we supported both Andy Scott and Rosler despite average league finishes, and in the latter's case we knew that he was slowly going in the right direction, so we were happy to back him. I imagine the only way we'd get rid of Smith would be if everything nose-dived and we were facing relegation. As it is, we're 3 points off the play-offs and have half our likely first eleven returning from long-term injuries and suspensions.

 

[Saddlerrad]

I can see Paul Dickov getting this one.

Not a chance, same with Dean Saunders.

Daily Mail are linking Walsall with Micky Mellon.

And that's why you don't read the Daily Mail, but I'd laugh if it genuinely did happen. Unless Mellon's fallen out with the Shrewsbury board for tightening up the purse strings now they're out of League Two there's no way he's leaving.

I read that. It wouldn't be the worst move for us and Shrewsbury have been playing 3-5-2 like we have. Couldn't imagine him being too popular if he left Shrewsbury for us!

Tisdale please or O'Driscoll.

 

[Aber gas]

Not a chance, same with Dean Saunders.



I read that. It wouldn't be the worst move for us and Shrewsbury have been playing 3-5-2 like we have. Couldn't imagine him being too popular if he left Shrewsbury for us!

Tisdale please or O'Driscoll.

I doubt you'll get Tisdale. He's been at Exeter for a long time and I really can't see him leaving mid season especially since he's had loads of offers before and turned them all down.

 

[HertsWolf]

Shame to see Smith leave. I don't blame him for going, I do think his choice of club is not the right one. I think given the expectations that are in place at Brentford means he won't get time to spend a number of seasons moulding his squad. Look at what happened with both Warburton and Dijkhuizen, that to me proves they don't know how to handle their managers. If they start to struggle in the same way, will they stick with Smith or panic like a lot of clubs do and sack him?

This whole thing about why they got rid of Warburton also intrigues me. They wanted to run the first team via a different model, through the use of analytics and stats etc. Is that still the plan, or is the plan with Smith to return to a more traditional way of managing?

I hope it works out for Smith, I really do. He seems like a good bloke and a solid manager. Hope Brentford give him time and patience to build what he wants there.

As for Walsall, it sucks but it happens. Be interesting to see who they get next.

Good post this. Agree that Dean Smith is a decent manager and was rather hoping he might take over at ours as and when Jackett moves on to tinker elsewhere.
However....I am not sure Smith and Brentford are a good fit. Just a feeling. Think he'll be back in League 1 by the end of 2016.

 

[HertsWolf]

Derek Adams maybe? He's only been there a few months and it's a big old leap upwards in many respects.

 

[Saddlerrad]

I doubt anyone would leave Plymouth for Walsall, they are a bigger club, a bigger project and a team that could go much further than us on a consistent basis, unfortunately. Someone like Kevin Phillips might be worth a shout, ex Prem player that's retired and is now looking to get a chance in football.

Paul Pescidildo and Kevin MacDonald are other relevant names too I'd have thought.

We all know this is Jeff Bonser. Expect Jon Ward to be appointed next week if we win any of our 2 games this week.

 

[SaddlerJonny]

Tim Sherwood

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

John Ward 2/1 favourite now I see.

 

[Saddlerrad]

John Ward 2/1 favourite now I see.

That's who it will be.

Not sure if he's a little bit 'passed it' in terms of modern day management.

I'm pretty sure he tortured the Carlisle fans with boring negative away tactics and it didn't go well at Bristol Rovers either. Sean O'Driscoll has a shout I reckon. Him or Cooper. I just wish we had the financial muscle to get Tisdale in.

I read on UTS that we had it in Smith's deal that the club gaining him had to pay 3 x's his remaining contract to trigger talks. Roughly £300k apparently, which would be a decent chunk of money for a manager. That's something we added in when Smith asked to be able to speak to anyone interested in taking his services, if true, then the club have negotiated well there.

 

[Aber gas]

Id be a bit worried for Walsall if Wardy got the job long term. He started off well with us galvanising the squad and seeing us clear of danger. However his second season was a disaster showing up his sloppy tactics, poor recruitment and his poor handling of certain players. The bloke is an absolute gentleman and l wish him all the best but I reckon a full time manager job might be a bit beyond him now.

 

[SaddlerJonny]

O'Driscoll is now the favourite.

 

[Saddlerrad]

O'Driscoll is now the favourite.

With O'Kelly at Brentford, I'm not sure he would fancy it so much.