It's a valid question.
We can all agree that Team of the Matchday is not the most important source of validity. However... Seriously, how has he not been named coach of the week? Not ONCE.
This past weekend was a perfect opportunity once again. And yet here we are, with the question.
Charles Boehm and Matt Doyle both discussed Dean's impact on the match this past week, and we thought it important to share their thoughts here. We want to make sure we show we aren't the only ones singing Dean's praises. There is no bias here.
"Rocket man: Dean Smith ignites Charlotte FC second-half comeback" - Charles Boehm
"Most coaches have their particular style of stern rebuke required to shake an underperforming team out of the doldrums before it’s too late, most commonly delivered at high volume in the locker room at halftime.
The legendary Sir Alex Ferguson’s version was dubbed “the hairdryer treatment” at Manchester United; on Saturday, we learned Charlotte FC’s Dean Smith prefers a more galactic metaphor for the angry dressing-down he delivered after his team’s poor start to their clash with Nashville SC at Bank of America Stadium.
“First half was like watching a testimonial game. The second half, we actually came to play,” Smith told reporters in his postgame press conference. “I had to give them a little bit of a rocket at halftime, and they came out refreshed.”
That helped spark a dramatic comeback, The Crown rallying from a 1-0 deficit to snatch a 2-1 victory via late goals from Wilfried Zaha and substitute Idan Toklomati that extend Charlotte’s home record to an MLS-best 4W-0L-0D and nudge CLTFC into second place, at least for a few hours, in both the East and Supporters’ Shield standings."
Read the full article by Charles Boehm HERE.
"St. Louis CITY's big test, Charlotte FC switch it up & more from Matchday 7" - Matt Doyle
"Credit to Charlotte head coach Dean Smith, who made a good, aggressive sub – he brought in winger Kerwin Vargas for central midfielder Djibril Diani, moved Pep Biel inside as a 10, and switched from a 4-3-3 to a double pivot. This is the type of thing (not just subbing but doing so early, and literally changing the team’s shape, both in build-out and attack) I want to see more of from managers who are watching their side underperform.
“We changed the build-up. We worked [out] that we'd build with a [back] two and four [across midfield],” is how Smith explained it in the postgame presser. “And we just didn't move the ball quick enough to get it to our fullbacks.
“So we decided to go back to our three and two. And that allowed us to create a box in midfield with Kerwin coming inside.”
That was one turning point, in that it stopped the flood of Nashville chances. Charlotte looked more comfortable once they changed their shape."
Read the full article by Armchair Analyst Matt Doyle HERE.
Coaches coach. Dean does that, and then some, every week. He's not just a manager. He and his staff actively make adjustments and tweaks on the fly every week. Accountability is key. Willingness to adapt is key. Dean Smith has brought both of those things to the Club, and the performances prove it week in and week out. Look at the form at home. Incredible.
So MLS, here we stand, staring into each other's eyes. We have but one request.
Dean Smith deserves the plaudits. The Gaffer deserves Coach of the Week here soon. We'll be in touch.
