Steven Gerrard - yes or no

[BC Villain]

Footage on Twitter of him arriving in London.....

[Clark W Griswold]

Did he get lost?

[Beard82]

Did he get lost?

Hes giving Conte a lift up here

[AV82EC]

I think Naseef has his offices and is based/lives in London.

[Beard82]

Even Preece is reporting it as virtually done.

He's going to be our next manager, and can I be the first to say that I never doubted him for a second

[paul_e]

I've said before I'm half convinced that the actions in the summer will have had an element of preparing for the possibility that Smith wouldn't last until January. The board must've known as well as anyone that Smith had struggled to get results without Grealish so wehn he left they used most of the money to buy players to add creativity but 'kept their powder dry' to have funds in January if needed by a new guy.

I don't think the ambition has gone though, but appointing Gerrard would make me question the judgement of Purslow, which is frustrating because he's done well up until now.

[Clampy]

The more I think about it, the more it's going to be a media circus and we'll be seen as a stepping stone. It doesn't scream "Ambition!!!!" but then again, five Premier League transfer windows in, nothing they've done so far really has.

We haven't made a signing that's made people sit up and take notice (Bailey aside, that seemed to cause a few  'how did they get him' comments) but all the same, they have spent a stupid amount of money.

[Legion]

The more I think about it, the more it's going to be a media circus and we'll be seen as a stepping stone. It doesn't scream "Ambition!!!!" but then again, five Premier League transfer windows in, nothing they've done so far really has.

We haven't made a signing that's made people sit up and take notice (Bailey aside, that seemed to cause a few  'how did they get him' comments) but all the same, they have spent a stupid amount of money.

Ings.

[paul_e]

The more I think about it, the more it's going to be a media circus and we'll be seen as a stepping stone. It doesn't scream "Ambition!!!!" but then again, five Premier League transfer windows in, nothing they've done so far really has.

We haven't made a signing that's made people sit up and take notice (Bailey aside, that seemed to cause a few  'how did they get him' comments) but all the same, they have spent a stupid amount of money.

Those sort of 'wow' signings are difficult to do if players don't see you as being on the cusp of european football. Bailey is pretty much the top tier we would be looking at without creating problems for ourselves.

[Keeno]

If in 3 years time he's got us regularly in the top half and in European contention, I've got no problem with him moving up there.

If that's the carrot he needs to make him perform well so be it. We'll then be able to appoint a much higher calibre manager from that position and continue our progression. The media stuff will get tiresome if he's shit - if that's the case, we'll have bigger things to worry about. If he's not, it won't bother me in the slightest. 

No Villa manager in the last 15 years has come in to a team better set up to succeed. We're not adrift in the table, lots of the season left, we've got a good squad, loads of talent in the academy, a break ahead of the first game and money to spend in January. There are no excuses if he doesn't perform well - but also loads of reasons to be (cautiously) optimistic.

[Walmley_Villa]

I've had reservations tbh but looking at his coaching approach etc....4-3-3, keeping the ball, his passion, it might just work...Scousers have done pretty well for us in the past.

[TonyD]

The club should have always had a short list and plan B for a new manager. If this is the best they come up with - then poor show.  Really fucking piss poor.
I hope to be eating humble pie when Stevie’s Aston Villa win the title next year. 

[Scott Nielsen]

I've said before I'm half convinced that the actions in the summer will have had an element of preparing for the possibility that Smith wouldn't last until January. The board must've known as well as anyone that Smith had struggled to get results without Grealish so wehn he left they used most of the money to buy players to add creativity but 'kept their powder dry' to have funds in January if needed by a new guy.

I don't think the ambition has gone though, but appointing Gerrard would make me question the judgement of Purslow, which is frustrating because he's done well up until now.

I like this interpretation. Though I have also chosen to give Purslow and the owners the benefit of the doubt for now. They are all intelligent people who, I must assume, sit on information and assessments we do not.

[SaddVillan]

All this talk about Gerrard using Villa as a stepping stone to the job at Anfield is interesting

To move on to Anfield he will have had to have "succeeded: at Villa. How  might such "success be measured:

Villa established as a top 6 club
Cup final appearances/wins  - The Holy Grail (whisper it)
Europe
Better quality players in the squad

He'd raise the profile of the club both in the media and the football world.

Any and all of these will put us in a better position if and when it comes to finding his successor.

So perhaps it might not be that bad an appointment ?

[villa for life]

Gary Mac is favourite to takeover at Rangers, but surely he’s an integral part of the “Gerrard team”?