Why could Norwich City be keeping Dean Smith in post?

But as of yet, Norwich's decision makers remain unmoved - so what are the reasons that they could be keeping the ex-Aston Villa man in post? 

Here are five reasons as to why... 

Underlying data

This is perhaps the most significant reason that clubs opt to stick or part company with managers. 

Norwich have, in the last few months, assembled a data team tasked with monitoring the metrics around aspects of the football club. They hire data and performance analysts - there is no number that won't be accessible at their very fingertips. 

They have the third highest expected goals rate in the league behind Sheffield United and Burnley, they average the second highest amount of shots per Championship game.

Yet, they sit 13th for goals per shot on target, the average shot is coming from 17m, 13 Championship clubs are averaging shots from a closer distance than Norwich and their xG per shot is 0.10, with three clubs ranking higher. 

Some of those metrics hint to a lack of quality in goal-scoring positions, but is further evidence that Norwich are struggling to consistently create positive moments in dangerous areas of the pitch. 

In terms of possession, only Swansea have attempted and completed more passes than Norwich this season - yet the Canaries rank fifth for passes into the final third but, only Sheffield United have made more passes into the penalty area. 

So there is undoubtedly improvement required to help progress the ball into the final third - but the metrics show that when they achieve it, that often translates into the ball being worked into the 18-yard area. 

Only Blackburn have had more touches of the ball in their defensive third. Norwich rank mid-table for touches in the middle and attacking third. 

You could, depending how you wished to interpret the data, come to the conclusion that Norwich just need to make improvements in certain areas. Whether Smith is the man to oversee that is the bit that remains subjective. 

League table

This is perhaps the reason cited by most as to why Norwich have elected to keep Smith in post despite the pressure that arrived from the stands during their 2-0 defeat to Blackburn last weekend. 

For all of the reasons that have stacked up in the 'cons' column, Norwich do currently find themselves sitting fifth.

A win over Blackburn would have elevated the club to third - in that aspect, those making decisions will undoubtedly be aware of how fine those margins have been. Smith made that point after the game. 

Norwich, for all of their flaws, have sat inside the top six for the majority of the campaign. Throw in Smith's previous success of navigating a play-off campaign during his time at Villa - beating West Brom over two legs and Derby County at Wembley - also may be a consideration. 

Although the trends suggest that current form won't be enough to sustain that position, there is a feeling that Smith's coaching ability will keep Norwich in that hunt for the top six for the rest of the campaign. He still enjoys support from the playing squad in that respect. 

Whether performances and trends are worth listening to is another conversation - but the argument from supporters is that the current eye test is suggesting that a slide down the table feels inevitable. 

Norwich City have changed course in recent seasons. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

Philosophical outlook

This is perhaps where Smith isn't to blame for the current situation. Norwich, and more specifically those tasked with making the sporting decisions, haven't been as vocal as in previous years to communicate their decision-making processes. 

After Daniel Farke's struggles in the Premier League, a decision was made to alter the direction of travel. 

Norwich wanted to become pragmatic, acknowledging that there was a naivety behind Farke's desire to apply the same formula he enjoyed great success within the Championship to the top flight. 

In the end, the German ditched his playing style - namely against Leeds where there was a sizeable shift. Smith's appointment was an attempt to solidify and, in many aspects, comply with the conventions of a struggling Premier League team. 

Smith was appointed to bring improvement off the ball, an increased physicality and a better defensive structure. Given there was little finance to do that in his first season, it was recognised the road ahead may be enduring. 

But there is no argument that, after 13 months in post, this team is Smith's and operates in a way coached by him. But after making that decision, there is a willingness to give it time to work. 

Stuart Webber has always favoured giving coaches time, recognising that it is not often the silver bullet to fixing a team's issues. 

Plus, there is a sense that, irrespective of how they get promoted this season, if they could do it then Smith's approach would be geared toward a greater chance of survival - rightly or wrongly. 

So would Norwich sack Smith and then revert back to a progressive, ideological coach knowing that this hasn't brought success in the Premier League previously? Or continue down the current path, where the playing style isn't as defined and feels geared for top-flight success, even if the road is tougher now? The answer is one that those in the corridors of power will be mulling over. 

Track record

Smith is a builder of football teams - Norwich has proven to be the exception rather than the rule judging by his own CV. 

He inherited Walsall when they were eight points adrift in League One and left them as play-off contenders with multiple assets like Romaine Sawyers and Rico Henry - improving their fortunes over the long term despite limited resources. 

Brentford was another case study of slow and steady improvement - where Smith stabilised them in the second tier, guiding them to three successive top 10 Championship finishes. 

Smith remains a popular figure with Bees supporters, who recognise the work he completed to help them march to the Premier League. Something taken on by his former first team coach Thomas Frank to great success after he left for Aston Villa. 

Villa was much the same. A late season run to the play-offs created momentum that ended with a Wembley win over Derby. Then came a dramatic great escape in their first top-flight season followed by an 11th-placed finish. 

Throughout every job that Smith has held, there has been a poor run in form or displeasure from the stands. He has seemingly been able to emerge from them. 

Although it may not feel significant, it is the type of thing that will be getting researched and monitored as they plot for the future. 

Any decision to dispense with Dean Smith would like include his backroom team. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Limited)

Financial element

This one is somewhat of an elephant occupying the corner of the room. 

Smith signed a contract until the summer of 2023, any compensation figure would be significant and include members of his backroom team like assistant head coach Craig Shakespeare and first-team coach Liam Bramley. 

Changing a head coach would be a sizeable task in terms of finances, that is before any consideration is made to who could succeed Smith and any compensation that may be involved in recruiting his replacement plus their backroom team. 

Norwich's financial situation is predicated on promotion to an extent. Throw in the desire to sign a player in January, most likely to be a wide player on loan, and the reality that two may have to depart before that is possible and you begin to understand why this may be a factor at play. 

That being said - if football clubs do want to undergo this process, they commonly find a way.