Gerrard In or Out?

[Bad English]

I find this a bit premature.
It's all a bit shit at the moment.
But he is not going anywhere, is he?

This post looks a bit like a haiku but I can't be arsed to count syllables.

[markeeeebeeee2005]

I was only thinking / saying to my son yesterday watching the match that we have some very good players but we just rarely look like a cohesive unit / team. Some part of the team fucks up most matches, sometimes all of it and pretty much always the midfield. Yesterday the two strikers were miss firing and the two centre backs looked clumsy.
I’m definitely not in the bin him now camp but it does concern me. McGinn and Watkins are definitely better players than they’re showing at the moment. Luiz isn’t.
For that matter the 2 centre backs and Ings are better than they’re showing as well. That said, even with all that lot at their best we need some extra quality to ‘take us to the next level’ but I’m wondering as I have most of the time he’s been here whether the manager is the level we need too, and that’s based on there being no evidence from his career so far to suggest that he is. Someone with a proven track record would fill me with more confidence that he’s the man to turn this shit around.

This is where I am although you’ve set it out better than I did. I’m not sure if it’s claret and blue glasses but I’ve seen Konsa put in imperious performances, he currently looks a shadow and he’s far from the only one.

[cdbearsfan]

McGinn is the latest scapegoat. Not played in his proper position for about two years. Ran the show in the cup game against Man United. A player who you would struggle to replace for less than £40m. I just think this season has been a car crash. Players have let us down and both managers haven't impressed with their ability to manage their resources and mold a cohesive team out of the players at our disposal.

Gerrard needs a transfer window and about 10 games next season but I have to say the results aren't good enough. Meek losses to Newcastle and Watford and now this four game losing streak. Should have 4-5 points more on the board than we do.

Agree with first paragraph, not the second. He has done nothing to earn a lengthier spell as Villa manager at the moment. No point sacking him now, but no point sticking with him if things haven't improved by May. Someone like Ten Haag or Simeone wouldn’t have so many previously good players looking average or worse.

[Ads]

We're better than we were under Smith. If you don't think very much of what we're doing now, then that probably says a lot about Smith come the end.

[Allan C]

I’m in the “in” camp. I was sceptical when we got him but realistically he was the best choice of the contenders back then. He must be given time to build his own squad and that doesn’t mean 1 window. This is going to take time and patience. However, if the owners have any doubts at all, then he should be sacked now before he spends any money at all. The alternative is to end up like Everton with a mish mash Ill fitting squad of three previous managers for any new manager to rebuild from

[cdbearsfan]

We are better than we were under Smith, this season. Not sure why that matters.

We are worse than we would be if we had appointed a top manager rather than acting like starstruck teenagers going for someone just because he had a good playing career. See also: Everton.

[Clark W Griswold]

The last time we were good in this league we had a midfield with Barry and Petrov and then Milner looking like our current manager. The difference in quality, passing, knowhow, ability etc etc, any metric you can think of, is absolutely night and day compared to McGinn and Luiz. They're not top half players and they play like it.

You’re comparing the best part of a top 6 / team against the worst part of a struggling to get into the top half team there.
Petrov was very good but possibly the least good from the group of him / Barry / Milner / Young and I actually think Ramsey and McGinn could be fairly close to his level at their best and with someone solid alongside rather than piss weak Luiz / Sanson.
I’d say comparing Luiz/Sanson/Traore/Bailey with Barry/Milner/Young/Downing would be pretty laughable though. I think our centre backs are as good as any from that period apart from Laursen, our full backs now are better, our goalkeeper is quite a bit better and potentially our forwards are not dissimilar. Admittedly Carew was fabulous on his day.
It’s even harder now to break into the top 8 let alone top 6 and whoever comes in they’ll need some extra quality throughout but we need the right man doing it. If Gerrard can pick up 14 plus points before the end of the season I’d be more convinced.

[Ads]

If we had those 3 now, they'd start every week and we'd be better for it. How irrate can you get when you're relying on players who simply aren't good enough. Ramsey will be, the other two never will.

[cdbearsfan]

McGinn the player of the year last season? Or a different one?

[Clark W Griswold]

I disagree on McGinn but still.
Yes those 3 would walk in over the current 3 no doubt, and although none are out and out DM’s they could all put a foot in and stop the opposition, whilst linking with the forwards so we wouldn’t need a dedicated DM. They’d dominate the game against most and keep us competitive at least against the ‘top 4’.

[SoccerHQ]

McGinn the player of the year last season? Or a different one?

I thought Targett actually won player of the year? McGinn was pretty poor from Jan onwards and usually mirrors the teams form e.g. when he plays well we play well.

[cdbearsfan]

Targett got players' player, I think. McGinn won fans award but has now, apparently, always been terrible to those who would use an ly excuse not to criticise the Liverpool midfielder.

[Beard82]

I’m in the “in” camp. I was sceptical when we got him but realistically he was the best choice of the contenders back then. He must be given time to build his own squad and that doesn’t mean 1 window. This is going to take time and patience. However, if the owners have any doubts at all, then he should be sacked now before he spends any money at all. The alternative is to end up like Everton with a mish mash Ill fitting squad of three previous managers for any new manager to rebuild from

This is a pretty good summary - this summer we have to go all in either with him or without him.  If they have any doubts that he won’t be there next season they should sack him - otherwise give him the next season at least

[Risso]

Targett got players' player, I think. McGinn won fans award but has now, apparently, always been terrible to those who would use an ly excuse not to criticise the Liverpool midfielder.

Sorry to piss on your bonfire but Martinez won the Supporters’ award. I’m not pleased with how things are going but people need to stop making shit up.

[cdbearsfan]

Must have been year before then. Never mind. Still confused as to why you can't wait to criticise players but won't direct any criticism at the manager.