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Aston Villa: Dean Smith’s track record indicates he’s here for the long haul

By Josh Tonti

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Dean Smith manager of Brentford applauds the fans after the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City and Brentford at Bet365 Stadium on August 11, 2018 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Dean Smith manager of Brentford applauds the fans after the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City and Brentford at Bet365 Stadium on August 11, 2018 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images) /
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He’s not exactly a hired gun. Dean Smith’s history at both Walsall and Brentford indicates he’s the man to fulfill Nassef Sawiris, Wes Edens, and Tony Xia’s long-term visions at Aston Villa Football Club.

It’s uncommon in today’s game to last three years at a club without getting axed. It’s rare to last four-and-a-half years without being forcibly removed. To do it in back-to-back jobs? Pretty incredible, and saved for those in the highest jobs in England.

Dean Smith’s combination of youthfulness, track record of over-performing in his previous posts, and support at Aston Villa, means he’s in this job for the long haul.

As a lifelong Villa fan, it’s surmise to say this is his absolute dream job – even if he never admits it publicly. It might not be the most ideal time, one quarter through the season in England’s second division, but everything remains to play for. The way the Championship has begun means the battle for places #1 through #6 will be fierce. Aston Villa sit 10 points behind league leaders Sheffield United and just 4 points behind sixth-place Sheffield Wednesday. In fact, an incredibly tight spread of 4 points separates places five through sixteen. No club, save for West Brom’s juggernaut attack, and Leeds’ penchant for not losing, have qualities that separate themselves from the pack.

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Dean Smith’s appointment at Aston Villa is the most important in recent club history. He has the chance to take this team back to the promised land. In his previous job at Brentford, Smith turned limited resources into 9th, 10th, and 9th-placed finishes. This season, Smith walked away from his best Bees team of all. One that was entering its peak years after seasons of development.

Of the 12 Brentford players to receive at least 500 minutes this season, only 1 is older than 26. They are: 29, 20, 26, 25, 20, 22, 25, 22, 25, 24, 21, and 23. Neal Maupay leads the league in scoring after fully developing under Dean Smith. Ollie Watkins, too, has transformed himself from League One starlet to Championship star.

Smith’s two starting centre-halves? Yeah, they’re both 20. If Smith achieves at the same level that he did with Brentford, with NSWE’s resources, another top-6 finish is assured. A place in the automatic promotion spots isn’t that far off either.

Smith encounters Swansea City in ten days’ time in front of a raucous Villa Park. Thereafter, he and the club face away dates with Norwich City and QPR before Halloween.

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