Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has heaped praise on the job that head coach Dean Smith has done at Aston Villa since he arrived through the doors as Steve Bruce’s replacement.
With a bright start and a big wobble, we’ve got ourselves and our Play-Off hopes hugely back in track in recent months with eight wins on the spin and we go into this weekend’s clash with Bolton Wanderers on Friday evening looking to make that nine wins on the spin and smash past the record we matched going back to April 1975.
Following our victory over Bristol City last weekend, speaking to Football Insider Whelan described Smith as being ‘incredible’ given how he’s won over the dressing room egos, started to get the best out of players and has us playing in a far more attractive manner.
“It’s an incredible turnaround and the man who deserves most credit is Dean Smith. He was under a lot of pressure when he came in, but he changed the formation, the style of play, everything, and the fruits of his labour are now being reaped. Yes, the players have been fantastic, but you have to give huge credit to the manager. There are a lot of big personalities in that dressing room, and huge egos, and Smith has won them over and got them working towards one goal. To win eight games in a row is amazing, and no team will want to face them in the play-offs.”
Given Whelan is firmly in the Leeds United camp, it’s high praise indeed for our gaffer and long may it continue.
Nice to see Smith beginning to get the plaudits he deserves from the wider footballing world.
If He Can Stay Fit This Villa Man Could Be The Answer To McGinn Suspension Concerns
