Gerrard In or Out?

[Clampy]

I think everyone was sad to see Smith go. Even those that wanted him gone probably felt a tinge of sadness about it when it happened. Personally, I thought it was for the best.
The last thing you wanted was for him to be hounded out of Villa Park.

The jury is out on Gerrard so far for me. Mixed in with some piss poor displays have been encouraging glimpses of what could be a very good side.

[ChicagoLion]

I once supplemented my income as an odds setter for one of the big bookmakers.  My cold hard take on the probability is that Gerrard will not finish up with Liverpool or us.  When Klopp goes other more prominent names than Gerrard will go into the Anfield hat.  When Purslow retires the love in with Gerrard will be viewed by more critical eyes at Villa Park and the whole souffle concocted by Purslow will go in the bin.

Arsenals rise then fall coincided with the stewardship of David Dein and his subsequent departure.
There is no evidence to suggest that we have a CEO of any where near his caliber and without one we are destined to under achieve.

[Risso]

I do think the stepping stone argument here is a bit disingenuous, though. Yes, just about everyone in football sees just about every move as a potential way of getting an even bigger club, but Gerrard's appointment was generally regarded as the start of his trial for Liverpool. It's the perception that he's in a way only on loan to us as a part of his grand career plan that grates with me. 

It was just an obvious media angle, that neither the club or Gerrard could do anything about. Gerrard conducted himself really well on the trip to Anfield, I don't really understand why Villa fans really concern themselves with it.

[Risso]

Or put it another way, those who were most vociferous about the need for Smith to go are refusing to acknowledge any potential shortcomings with Gerrard.

Name one person who's done that. He's a young inexperienced manager, who is bound to make mistakes. His perseverance with Ings and Watkins up front is a real head scratcher and his subs are usually too late and ineffective. Calls for him to be sacked at this early stage are ridiculous though.

[Nunkin1965]

Plus the fact that Gerrard is only using us as a stepping stone. We have been put in a lose lose situation by Purslow wanking the process of selecting a new manager to get his choice one big step nearer the management of his favourite team.  We are truly between a rock and a hard place.  If Gerrard is a nothing manager Villa plummet.  If he is a success he departs.  What sort of a plan for the future is that?

I don't get the stepping stone thing.
Which player or manager ultimately isn't using their club as one?
If a bigger and better option in their view comes along then who wouldn't take it?
Why is it fine for Dean Smith to do it to Brentford so he can come to us but Gerrard is a shithouse if Liverpool come calling one day?

I agree with Vegas in that I wanted Smith to stay but while still unimpressed by Gerrard I think getting rid now would be daft.

I do think the stepping stone argument here is a bit disingenuous, though. Yes, just about everyone in football sees just about every move as a potential way of getting an even bigger club, but Gerrard's appointment was generally regarded as the start of his trial for Liverpool. It's the perception that he's in a way only on loan to us as a part of his grand career plan that grates with me.

I would say that Gerrard is going to have to be with us for a long and successful time for him to be even considered as a replacement for Klopp. He's light years away from one of the top jobs at the moment.
His ultimate aim is surely to manage his boyhood club but if  he's going to be bringing success the likes of which we've not seen for a while for that to happen then I'm happy.with that.
On the flip side this time next year we might be trying to offload
players from another failed project.
Who knows!

[dave.woodhall]

You're happy with us being perceived by the world as Liverpool's training ground? And with our manager effectively being bigger than the club?

[Nunkin1965]

That's one way of looking at it I suppose.
But I'm certainly not looking that far ahead.
Anybody who plays or manages us and is a success will attract interest from so called bigger clubs.
Isn't employing someone like Gerrard making that less likely?

[ChicagoLion]

You're happy with us being perceived by the world as Liverpool's training ground? And with our manager effectively being bigger than the club?

I see it as synergistic, if it works.
The problem is not if he brings success, its if he brings failure.
 

[Nunkin1965]

Let's say he's a big success and moves on and Villa are flying.
We might get the pick of Europe's elite managers.
Lots of ifs and buts there I know but I like to dream!

[chrisw1]

Plus the fact that Gerrard is only using us as a stepping stone. We have been put in a lose lose situation by Purslow wanking the process of selecting a new manager to get his choice one big step nearer the management of his favourite team.  We are truly between a rock and a hard place.  If Gerrard is a nothing manager Villa plummet.  If he is a success he departs.  What sort of a plan for the future is that?

Klopp is 54.  He seems to love it at Liverpool and is doing a brilliant job.  I presume he wants to continue to build that legacy.  I'm not too anxious about our manager becoming so successful that he may leave at some point in the future given it seems Klopp will be going nowhere soon.

I'm more anxious about whether he has the ability to take us to the next level.  I'm also a bit concerened that we're about to 'do an Everton' and I'm worried whether he is the right horse to be making that bet on.

Theres quite a lot I actually like about Gerrard and am undecided which way it will go.  I certainly think he should have done better since he came in, but acknowledge he's got a squad without a natural DM which makes implementing any change in tactics very difficult.  He's also got two off form strikers who can't hit a barn door at the moment and I'm not sure he can be blamed for the amout of sitters we're missing at the moment or the individual errors at the back which seem to be crucifying us.

I guess I'm happy to wait and see how things go for now.  It's a critical 12 months for the club and if we're going big I would have preferred it to have been under Poch or some other unattainable manager, but that was never going to happen.  So lets see what happens, but one thing is for sure I wont be happy if we splurge loads of money on Suarez and other ex Liverpool has beens.     

[chrisw1]

You're happy with us being perceived by the world as Liverpool's training ground? And with our manager effectively being bigger than the club?

I see it as synergistic, if it works.
The problem is not if he brings success, its if he brings failure.
 

Well put.

[Risso]

We haven't had a manager stay in the job for more than four years since Ron Saunders and it's nearly fifty years since he was appointed and 40 years since he left. Gerrard would really have to go some to be considered good enough for Liverpool in that time, we'd probably need to see top 8 next year, top 6 the year after and then Champions League after that. IF at that point there was a vacancy at Liverpool, and IF he left, which top manager wouldn't want to come to Villa to manage a Champions League team that would have to have been backed by the owners to the absolute hilt?

We'll see what he's about next year when he's had the summer to bring some of his own players in.

[Beard82]

I don’t care if he ends up at Liverpool - only one manager in my lifetime has gone onto bigger things after Villa - if he achieves it Fair play to him.

I didn’t want smith to go but reluctantly accepted it.  We weren’t in relegation form as such at any point this season as we have never been in the zone. 

I think it was clear the board had lost faith in him - and I wonder if some of the back room changes were forced on him to an extent

My biggest concern isn’t so much about SG but about the fact the club seems to have changed strategy for a manager who isn’t proven and it feels a risk that didn’t need to be taken.  I worry a great crop of young players will go because they don’t get a chance

I also worry that we’ll struggle with a cheque approach if we finish 14th or 15th.

Personally I don’t think our players are that bad - and a lot are playing there worst football for us. 

As we all know he’ll get the summer, and get backed but I worry in the long term it could do more harm then good if we’re not smart enough with the signings.  That said - Jans business was good so hopefully my fears are baseless

[Risso]

It's far too early to be talking about changes in strategy. Gerrard has had one January transfer window, and did what he could then. The youth players on loan mostly seem to be doing really well, and the others are getting valuable experience in the squad. I'd like to see a bit more of players like Iroegbunam, but perhaps the manager doesn't want to pressure them by bringing them into a team that is struggling for results at the moment.

[Brazilian Villain]

I agree with Risso. Bear in mind he's the hardest taskmaster on here when it comes to the manager's and players' performance.