I think that this is a good and valid point WF,

Whether TS is totally to blame for disunity in the camp we don't know, but, you can't have a situation where young players, one of whom has been here for five minutes, openly calling out the boss if that indeed is what is/was going on. That is where senior pro's and also the assistant coach must play their part if the junior members of the squad have a gripe then why cant they, or do they have a player say a Hill, Clark, Westwood or Sims that the younger guys can look up to and help put their point over, or even put it to Agar so that it is a more rounded debate than a disgruntled rant straight AT TS?

I don't think that it is Agar's fault that he is close to TS but maybe that's a problem or part of it if the messenger is the blindly the Boss's man then he wont be effective.

All speculation but things are rarely as simple as are painted on here that all the disharmony is the management's fault IMO

I find the assertion that TS doesn't give youth a chance really unfair, to be honest.

GOB, Glenn Riley, Philbin, Jack Johnson, the King brothers, Currie, Patton, Wilde, Smith, Julien have ALL been given a chance under Smith.

Those who have knuckled down and consistently performed have stayed in the team (King brothers, Currie). Others who need more time to mature have dropped back down a level (Wilde, Smith) and others who weren't good enough were moved on (
GOB, Riley). Some (Philbin being a major culprit) have had plenty of game time and not progressed one iota in 18 months.

Some may feel he is scapegoating younger players but you look to experienced players at times like this.

Therein lies the problem. Our experienced players are letting us down.

I've heard he same on Andre. Questioned TS on Patton and he didn't like it. TS doesn't like anyone that questions his judgement. Any of the players who actually stand up and ask questions about his decisions risks being dropped or in some cases moved on. Smith only likes his yes men. This is the reason there's no real leadership in the team. All scared to voice their opinions. Don't get me wrong hilly is a fantastic player but he isn't a true leader. A captain should stand up and lead defend his team and direct them, all these players are just his puppets now.

If you're going to call out the boss - you better be playing well.

I'd love to see how Sir Alex Ferguson would have reacted if a young player started questioning his judgement.

If TS was scared of the likes of Patton and Savelio and guaranteed them first team every week how many games would they have won us by now?

You simply can't be in TS position and allow people to question your judgement and decisions. Do that and you're not a leader.

As Sally says, no decent manager anywhere will accept being undermined by young players.

TS rightly or wrongly in our opinions will have a strategy to get out of this mess and the players at least should get behind this fully and show unity. If not they shouldn't be in the team.

Savelio should be knuckling down and trying to get his career back on track and not questioning Tony Smith with regards to who he does and doesn't pick. He's been here for all of a couple of months and if true, I back Smith 100% on this one. If it were Hill, Clark, Gidley or another senior player, then fair enough, but Savelio? Nah, don't think he's earned the right and perhaps we're seeing signs of why Saints didn't care less when it came to letting him sign for us.

i agree, but since he's mates with patton, and thats the been the media narrative since he joined (latchford albion lads back together) i can understand that he's sticking up for him.

that said, it matters not, as he's only contracted till november so tony doesn't hold much sway over him, long term. As long as he doesn't get badly injured, it may not be his problem next year.

Savelio was not telling TS who he should and shouldn't play. Not only that some of the senior players believe TS was out of order. Can't say any more, however, a lot more work is required to unify this group. Hopefully this will be soon.

Nobody knows if there is genuine problems between players, coaches etc it is literally ALL rumour and gossip because the season is poop. Everything behind the scenes might be fine and we're just playing Garbage. Yes some of our players are badly off form and replacing them with younger players doesn't mean we will suddenly play better. Having young lads thrown in to the team and still get hammered every week could shatter their confidence, Smith has done wonders for our Club and if he has lost the dressing room and there is dissent behind the scenes, he will eventually go regardless whether him and Moran are friends.

Whatever may be said I think it unlikely that anyone currently posting on here actually knows what is going on behind the scenes. Even if someone does know a player, they are getting that players version of events with attendant "spin".
We may as well sacrifice a goat and read its entrails. This forum is clearly split on fairly obvious lines between for and against TS. The rewriting history (yet again) is becoming tedious.

There is one but he is conspicuous by his absence.

Hence the "currently posting"!