NSWE Investment

[Billy Walker]

The only way I can rationalise this is in the terms of a cold, unsentimental business arrangement for both parties. Gerrard's remit is to make us a top six/four contender in double quick time - in effect he is accepting he is a stepping-stone manager to the elite level guys that we want (the media, of course, will not report this angle of it).  It will be a relationship where there's little room for genuine emotional attachment from either side. 

[Billy Walker]

What is going on with this "stepping stone" obsession!? I understand the criticism around lack of experience etc. but this one is just weird. As has been pointed out repeatedly, we can only be a stepping stone to something else for him if he is successful here. What's our problem with that?

The problem with that is if you are trying to build a successful club, you need to keep your successful managers.

[Neil Hawkes]

Whomever it will be, and if they are given financial backing by the owners, they will need to deliver on NSWE ambition of European qualification.
Probably a high target for this year, but if it's not looking likely next year, then I would not be surprised if the new management team isn't binned for another choice.
They are not sentimental when wanting to achieve their set targets.

[Drummond]

It's Mickey Mouse. There are plenty of managers who could be successful here without being talked up as a potential Liverpool manager every time Klopp loses two games in a row. Being happy to see someone leave for a "bigger" club is Small Heath fawning over Jude Bellingham type small time behaviour.

Yup. Being a stepping stone is fine if you're Brentford.

Or Rangers.

[Risso]

Mickey Mouse is keeping a manager who'd never, ever get you anywhere near the top 6. That's Brentford level.

[paul_e]

I'm not too worried about the stepping stone thing but, I suspect, for the people who care it feels a lot like the Luiz thing where if he did really well we wouldn't get the long term benefit of it.

[Toronto Villa]

Mickey Mouse is keeping a manager who'd never, ever get you anywhere near the top 6. That's Brentford level.

I completely understand the apathy towards Gerrard given it's a bit of a gamble. But Dean Smith deserved to be fired. If his name wasn't Dean Smith and he wasn't an Aston Villa fan very few would want him still here. His record across almost 12 months was dreadful and much worse as a percentage of games lost when Jack dind't play.

[gpbarr]

Mickey Mouse is keeping a manager who'd never, ever get you anywhere near the top 6. That's Brentford level.

I completely understand the apathy towards Gerrard given it's a bit of a gamble. But Dean Smith deserved to be fired. If his name wasn't Dean Smith and he wasn't an Aston Villa fan very few would want him still here. His record across almost 12 months was dreadful and much worse as a percentage of games lost when Jack dind't play.

It’s more than a bit of a gamble.

And how does comparing Smith to Gerrard invalidate the general feeling he isn’t the man for the job?

[Sexual Ealing]

Mickey Mouse is keeping a manager who'd never, ever get you anywhere near the top 6. That's Brentford level.

I completely understand the apathy towards Gerrard given it's a bit of a gamble. But Dean Smith deserved to be fired. If his name wasn't Dean Smith and he wasn't an Aston Villa fan very few would want him still here. His record across almost 12 months was dreadful and much worse as a percentage of games lost when Jack dind't play.

Speaking only for myself, it's not apathy, it's antagonism.

[Chris Harte]

Mickey Mouse is keeping a manager who'd never, ever get you anywhere near the top 6. That's Brentford level.

I completely understand the apathy towards Gerrard given it's a bit of a gamble. But Dean Smith deserved to be fired. If his name wasn't Dean Smith and he wasn't an Aston Villa fan very few would want him still here. His record across almost 12 months was dreadful and much worse as a percentage of games lost when Jack dind't play.

Dean Smith did not deserve to be fired. At least not yet.

As for Gerrard, I can't believe the owners hooked Smith only to (possibly) hire him.  Surely there are better, proven options out there.

[Chris Harte]

Speaking only for myself, it's not apathy, it's antagonism.

Same.

[PaulWinch again]

Mickey Mouse is keeping a manager who'd never, ever get you anywhere near the top 6. That's Brentford level.

I completely understand the apathy towards Gerrard given it's a bit of a gamble. But Dean Smith deserved to be fired. If his name wasn't Dean Smith and he wasn't an Aston Villa fan very few would want him still here. His record across almost 12 months was dreadful and much worse as a percentage of games lost when Jack dind't play.

Dean Smith did not deserve to be fired. At least not yet.

As for Gerrard, I can't believe the owners hooked Smith only to (possibly) hire him.  Surely there are better, proven options out there.

Disagree. 18 defeats in a calendar year is really poor.

[Flin5tone]

A Backup Goalkeeper should be at the top of Stevens list handed over to our Owners.

[cdbearsfan]

We already have one.

[Toronto Villa]

Mickey Mouse is keeping a manager who'd never, ever get you anywhere near the top 6. That's Brentford level.

I completely understand the apathy towards Gerrard given it's a bit of a gamble. But Dean Smith deserved to be fired. If his name wasn't Dean Smith and he wasn't an Aston Villa fan very few would want him still here. His record across almost 12 months was dreadful and much worse as a percentage of games lost when Jack dind't play.

Dean Smith did not deserve to be fired. At least not yet.

As for Gerrard, I can't believe the owners hooked Smith only to (possibly) hire him.  Surely there are better, proven options out there.

Disagree. 18 defeats in a calendar year is really poor.

It’s not poor at all. It’s atrocious. And that’s with almost 6 weeks left to go.