Dean Smith defends his actions in Saddlers’ League One defeat
Monday 31st October 2011, 10:30AM GMT.
Walsall boss Dean Smith today stood by his actions after being sent off and forced to defend his selection policy.
The Saddlers manager was sent to the stands at the break of Saturday’s 2-0 defeat Milton Keynes Dons after a controversial first-half left defender Lee Beevers in goal.
The right-back replaced Jimmy Walker after he was sent off for handling outside the area – with regular No 2 David Grof left out of the squad.
A frustrated Smith was sent off after dissent to referee David Phillips at half-time but insisted he had the right to question Walker’s dismissal.
Smith said: “I will apologise if he thought I went in with an aggressive manner but, with the comments, I’ll stand by them.”
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Deano, I was sitting in the top of the stand and could see Wacka 3 yards out of his box, there was no need to question the referees decision, what decision you should question is your decision not to have a goalie on the bench. Are there really 5 outfield players worthy of sitting on the bench? I don’t think so.
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Umm?
Smith had no 2nd goalie in last game, at home either and maybe games prior to that. (it was going to come around and ‘HAUNT’ him eventually!…….no apology for the Halloween ref!)
Those that are old enough, (Dean Smith is just about) will remember when teams had just one sub and always had someone else in the team who could play in goal if called upon. The rules were changed for 2 on the bench, to enable teams to have one goalie and one outfield player. this was soon upped to 3 on the bench, to include one goalie. Having 5 on the bench these days is a luxury managers have forgotten, me thinks!
I am not sure when the ‘you must have a goalie sub’ rule was removed……but seems sensible to always have that back up?
Having said that Beevers did a good job I thought! OFFICIALS LOST CONTROL. Needs looking at.
We need to put this game behind us and focus the sometimes excellent play during the 90 mins.
Give us 11 players (inc FT goalie)and play like that and we will see more positive results than negative one’s………
UTS!
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Wacca did you see schezney on match of he day, wasn’t that a sending off, didn’t you see Alex when he was manhandled numerous times but no bookings or is that due to sitting with the “proper” fans in the tile choice whilst I sat in the old Health stand, also a family member is a senior steward and said the ref asked them to calm the one side of the stands for giving abuse to the linesman, but it was pointed out it was the FAMILY stand so what does that say. I defend Dean and his actions all the way UTS!
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The ironic thing was, Smith only used two of his 5 subs on Saturday, despite us being 2-0 down. 4 outfield options and a goalkeeper should be plenty in terms of offering options to change a game – whether in attack or defence.
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It was a shocking decision by Deano to not have Grof on the bench.
He needs to man up, admit he got it wrong and make sure it never happens again.
Learn from it and move on…always lots to learn in this game.
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Wakka should of been a yellow as it was not a goal scoring oppatunity as there was a defender in font of him saying that walker did not help him self as he was giving the lines man a load of abuse leading up to the sending off and there 2nd goal was a offside and looked like a foul on keeper. And for all the people moaning about no sub keeper who would you drop off the bench to put him on there it’s a weak squad as it is and need all the outfield plays we can get who can change a game! It just sods law walker gets sent off!! Also all the people moaning about smith he needs a number 2 as Whitney has to many injurys to deal with
In Deano I trust
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More of a concern is the number of red card we have picked up this season. Thats 5 already and with a small squad we cant afford that.
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It is not just a qustion of a keeper being sent off. From my experience keepers are more prone to bumps and injuries from other player contact. So a sub keeper should be top priority,
Unless of course you have Chris marsh in the team!
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