All of which made it hard for Smith to be popular by comparison

It’s probably a bit unfair on him as a person. It also probably wouldn’t have been the case had Farke only lasted a season or so, but we had 4 1/2 years of reasonable success and in some cases outstanding football.

It took a long time for us to get over Mike Walker, who had a very similar effect: a reserve team coach, unknown to start with, who brought through largely unheralded players and made them better. He was also good at the interviews and modern in his football style (Culverhouse as sweeper etc). It probably took his return for us to get over him properly. Rioch, an experienced and previously successful manager, was never popular as a follow up (I know he wasn’t directly after Walker, but he was still in his shadow, in my opinion).

Posted By: APB, Mar 6, 14:29:24