I have read this messageboard nearly every day this season, and thus far posted nothing. I can bite my tongue no longer.
Losing the players we did in the summer meant that this season was always going to be one of transition, and perhaps therefore not a very succesful one, but you have to draw the line somewhere. The bottom line is that the current quality within the squad is woefully inadequate, and with attendances dropping, and therefore finances suffering, I can see no change to the situation in the short-term without a change at the top.
I believe Smith to be a decent guy, a hardworking guy, who wants to play football the right way, etc etc etc, but fact remains that the situation with the first team was appalling a month ago, and it has descended into nothing short of farce in the couple of weeks most recently.
We have a goalkeeper who is as inconsistent and error-prone as any I can remember at PVR. We fortunately have a defence that is reasonably good, but as the last two weeks have shown, lacking in depth, and surprise surprise, two injuries and we're ****ed. A midfield lacking in legs in the middle of the park, and lacking in quality delivery into the box out wide. Finally, a strike force that we have "beg, stolen and borrowed", yet is still unable to hit a cows arse with a banjo......
in addition ....
- we lose one of our better players to a 5week ban in Sunday football, - we will shortly lose half of the strikers on our books back to their rightful clubs, - we have lost one of our most consistant performers this season in Patterson back to his "other" club because of our desperation and lack of numbers earlier in the season, - we are trying to sign a striker who has made more sub appearances than starts for a lower league team to hopefully change our fortunes, - we are offering next years season tickets now, right in the middle of an appalling run of games and at the most expensive time of year for most people/families,
Given a group of decent players Im sure Smih could make a decent manager, but no-one is handed a successful team, you need to identify the players and attract them to the club (failed at), train and coach them to perform how you want them to, and as a unit (failed at), keep them motivated (failed at), the list could go on all day .......
I bit my tongue longer than most because I went to the Meet the Manager evening and was happy with what I heard and wanted to give him the opportunity to do as he'd suggested he would/could but I cannot think of one aspect of the managers role at which Smith has succeeded at since him taking over.
Before it is too late, please, someone, somewhere who carries some weight, take action, have some balls and make a decison. The right decision. SMITH OUT !!!