Gerrard In or Out?

[Clampy]

You've said that about Chuck before and it don't sound right to me. Loads more games? I can't remember the last time he got on the pitch under Gerrard.

If only there were sites where you could check league appearance data if you have the memory of a goldfish, but here you go:

Under Smith:

Brentford - 63 minutes

Under Gerrard:

Man City - 23 mins
Leicester - 12 mins
Norwich - 7 mins
Chelsea - 16 mins
Man U - 14 mins
Everton - 16 mins
Leeds - 31 mins
Newcastle - 6 mins

I don't know why he hasn't featured since, maybe it's something to do with his contract, or not looking great in training, or the fact he hasn't done a whole lot most of the time when he has come on, who knows. But he's featured in 8 of Gerrard's games, so saying that there's been a change in focus away from the youth following Smith's departurs is more made up rubbish.

Well, you missed out the Spurs game last season and the two League Cup games this season under Smith. That website of yours aye very good.

It's weird, you can remember back to posts people made 10 years ago to bring them up, but not a run of actual Villa matches a few weeks ago. And I specifically mentioned league games, as Gerrard wasn't afforded the luxury of cup games against lower league opposition in earlier rounds. One game last season doesn't change the overall argument one iota either.

Blimey, chill out and calm down. It's a Bank Holiday weekend.

[Drummond]

Given the changes he keeps saying need to be made, and the run of results, we couldn't do much worse than giving them a shot.

However, I won't pin that in Gerrard because its a complaint I've had about other managers too, Smith included.

My guess is that managers believe in bringing kids into winning teams, but then when they're winning, darent change it.

Anyway, Chukwuemeka is on a similar path to Ramsey last season in my view.

The difference is that Chukwuemeka clearly doesn't want to stay, so why play him?

[achilles]

You've said that about Chuck before and it don't sound right to me. Loads more games? I can't remember the last time he got on the pitch under Gerrard.

If only there were sites where you could check league appearance data if you have the memory of a goldfish, but here you go:

Under Smith:

Brentford - 63 minutes

Under Gerrard:

Man City - 23 mins
Leicester - 12 mins
Norwich - 7 mins
Chelsea - 16 mins
Man U - 14 mins
Everton - 16 mins
Leeds - 31 mins
Newcastle - 6 mins

I don't know why he hasn't featured since, maybe it's something to do with his contract, or not looking great in training, or the fact he hasn't done a whole lot most of the time when he has come on, who knows. But he's featured in 8 of Gerrard's games, so saying that there's been a change in focus away from the youth following Smith's departurs is more made up rubbish.

Well, you missed out the Spurs game last season and the two League Cup games this season under Smith. That website of yours aye very good.

It's weird, you can remember back to posts people made 10 years ago to bring them up, but not a run of actual Villa matches a few weeks ago. And I specifically mentioned league games, as Gerrard wasn't afforded the luxury of cup games against lower league opposition in earlier rounds. One game last season doesn't change the overall argument one iota either.

The whole argument is pretty irrelevant as time and development moves on and you could say that Ramsey has had more minutes under Gerrard than DS, which again is totally pointless!

[LeonW]

I think the Tottenham game was a microcosm of our time since coming back up. We showed that we can go toe to toe with the better sides for a period in a game but silly mistakes and a lack of clinical finishing ultimately cost us. And the midfield is the biggest problem. These are problems we’ve seen under both DS and SG.

The period when we’ve looked best back in the PL under DS (towards the end of 2019/20 season and start of 2020/21) is when the midfield briefly performed with some consistent standards (particularly Luiz) before returning to the normal inconsistencies we’ve seen either side of that period. I think SG deserves some investment to address this area before he’s fully judged as that could make all the difference to the rest of the side and how it functions. I don’t believe a lot of these players are as bad as some think. Until the midfield is sorted out I don’t think we’ll know.

[kippaxvilla2]

He might need his own players in bla bla.  But this is a thoroughly miserable end to a thoroughly miserable season.  I Fcukin hate football at times.

[lovejoy]

Gerrard needs the summer to get a fair crack of the whip. Hand on heart though I don’t feel it’s going to work out for us. His style of play worked for a dominant team like Rangers but at Villa we end up with much of the ball and get picked off by any half decent side.

[Steve67]

Gerrard needs the summer to get a fair crack of the whip. Hand on heart though I don’t feel it’s going to work out for us. His style of play worked for a dominant team like Rangers but at Villa we end up with much of the ball and get picked off by any half decent side.

You're absolute right, he does.  But I can't help seeing Tim Sherwood when I look at Gerrard.   For the life of me I cannot understand why we didn't go for a ready cooked manager when we had the chance.  With all the money and ambition we have, I can't help feeling that we will look back at this Gerrard era and think of it as treading water.  I hope i'm wrong.  Massively wrong.

[Toronto Villa]

Tim Sherwood had never managed a club before. Gerrard has. I know some will immediately point to Scotland and say it’s a two club system, but the Rangers he managed that still had to catch up with Celtic and ultimately win the title. Every manager starts somewhere. Every manager makes errors and has to learn from them. Whether it is the likes of Ferguson, Wenger, Mourinho, Pep etc at the top of the food chain, or anyone lower down they all grew from what they learned. Why should we be just tossing aside someone at this stage. And there is literally no guarantee whatsoever that another more reputable, more experienced manager delivers immediate results and success.

I’m not here giving Gerrard a pass. He needs to improve and in this game quickly. And results will determine his time with us. But for anyone to consider firing him or calling him the next Tim Sherwood after a few months is in my opinion very short sighted.

[pauliewalnuts]

Sherwood managed spurs for half a season.

[andyh]

My concern from when we were first linked with him is that he is all front/reputation and not a lot of substance.
By this time next year, I’d be quite happy for him to ram those words down by throat though.

[Drummond]

15th and below Newcastle. We may not have played this weekend but it's an embarrassment.

[N'ZMAV]

15th and below Newcastle. We may not have played this weekend but it's an embarrassment.

Improvement needed fast, from Gerrard and every single one of the players.

[pauliewalnuts]

15th and below Newcastle. We may not have played this weekend but it's an embarrassment.

It is indeed.

[Steve67]

Tim Sherwood had never managed a club before. Gerrard has. I know some will immediately point to Scotland and say it’s a two club system, but the Rangers he managed that still had to catch up with Celtic and ultimately win the title. Every manager starts somewhere. Every manager makes errors and has to learn from them. Whether it is the likes of Ferguson, Wenger, Mourinho, Pep etc at the top of the food chain, or anyone lower down they all grew from what they learned. Why should we be just tossing aside someone at this stage. And there is literally no guarantee whatsoever that another more reputable, more experienced manager delivers immediate results and success.

I’m not here giving Gerrard a pass. He needs to improve and in this game quickly. And results will determine his time with us. But for anyone to consider firing him or calling him the next Tim Sherwood after a few months is in my opinion very short sighted.

Spurs, arguably a much bigger club than Rangers?  I’m not being short sighted, I am simply saying that I can’t see much difference between the two of them at this moment.  I like Gerard’s honesty.  He needs his own players in this summer and I want him to prove me wrong. For the record, I am happy to back him.

[Beard82]

This season has been a disappointment - and I think as villa fans we we look at it as another false dawn. 

I have been overly critical of Gerrard - I think it was a risk that didn’t need to be taken.  I think we all knew that as soon as Dean went he would be are manager.  I hoped we would try to be more ambitious but it is what it is.  I think he is in over his head but like TV said - all managers have been at some point

In the big picture, 3 years ago we were in the championship - the success since then has been great.  this season has been tough losing Joe and Dean - people who we all had a lot of affection for because we felt a lot of empthy with them - it was a story we loved and it was a great ride and between those two and the owners it felt like we got our club back.

The owners are investing millions in us on and off the pitch - and have done well by us.

This isn’t learner they know how to run a successful sport business and achieve things people didn’t think we’re possible. 

If they think we’re going in the wrong direction and not have the right people at the club they will act. 

I don’t think it is fair to compare Gerrard to Sherwood - I think our setup is canny enough to see through bullshit

They appointed based on the advise of people they trust - Gerard clearly has clear ideas and plans and is by no means a chancer.  This will be hurting him as much as us

He might not work out - but I think the owners realistically have two options
At the point either to back him and give him at least the next season or go in a different direction.  I don’t think either is right or wrong.  Or rather there are pros and cons of both and they won’t hesitate for a minute to implement what they think is right

I am pretty sure they will back him - and I’ll try my upmost to stay positive.  At points we have looked great and if he can work it out and learn a bit quicker then amazing.