Gerrard In or Out?

[Brazilian Villain]

Spurs have not registered a shot on target since April 9th. Since they stuck 4 past us.

Also before today's game we hadn't registered a single shot on target since April 9th. It's no wonder we aren't winning games.

We havent played since the 9th though?

Like an Ollie Watkins shot, that's gone whistling over your head!

Ok fair enough.  Surely its customary to at least do one of those winky faces for those of us who are hard of thinking

Nah, where would be the fun in that?

[Nelly]

If Villa were just playing well, everyone - even those who were not convinced originally - would be right behind him. As it is there are genuine question marks currently. People are allowed to scrutinise the team and manager.

[PaulWinch again]

If Villa were just playing well, everyone - even those who were not convinced originally - would be right behind him. As it is there are genuine question marks currently. People are allowed to scrutinise the team and manager.

Not convinced they would. I agree on scrutiny, but I think some of the stuff off the back of an away draw is way over the top.

[Nelly]

If Villa were just playing well, everyone - even those who were not convinced originally - would be right behind him. As it is there are genuine question marks currently. People are allowed to scrutinise the team and manager.

Not convinced they would. I agree on scrutiny, but I think some of the stuff off the back of an away draw is way over the top.

In isolation, an away draw is good, I agree. From reading the forum, I think the worry is coming from the way we are playing currently. The loss of confidence, the poor form of individuals. The rhetoric that players will just be replaced.

For me, it looks like Villa have sort of abandoned the DoF gradual build model and we're going back to the Ellis style of 'new manager - new players' and wholesale changes. I thought with Smith formerly being head coach, the idea had been that if we needed to change management, we would get someone of a similar tactic mindset, so we could have some stability with the playing squad. So it's a worry to see all of that turfed up. It might be that it all works out but we were doing good things previously and just seem to have ditched them.

Personally I would have expected more of a new manager bounce and to have arrested the slide in confidence of our players.

[Ads]

If Villa were just playing well, everyone - even those who were not convinced originally - would be right behind him. As it is there are genuine question marks currently. People are allowed to scrutinise the team and manager.

The few who are so vehemently against his appointment, who are so vociferous now, were voices of patience when we were 13th in February under Smith. I disagree. They're against Gerrard, regardless. They were just quiet a few games ago when we were demolishing Leeds etc. If we whack Norwich the weekend, it will go quiet again or maybe we won't have whacked them enough.

[Nelly]

If Villa were just playing well, everyone - even those who were not convinced originally - would be right behind him. As it is there are genuine question marks currently. People are allowed to scrutinise the team and manager.

They're against Gerrard, regardless.

That's quite possibly true, but I still think if Villa were playing a bit better as a team we wouldn't see the dissent. I think it's fair enough if someone was not convinced to start with, to see the fluctuation and worsening of our form, that they might be less and less convinced by the manager. Equally, the better we play the more convinced a supporter might be. I just think Villa need to start showing more. Then all criticism falls away. Well, until the next crisis.

[PaulWinch again]

I think there are some rational concerns to be had, but nothing that suggests he shouldn’t be given more time. As Ads says I think a good number who were against him at the start are very comfortable calling for him to be out now. My personal view is that he, like any manager, needs time. It doesn’t mean it’ll work, but it’s the only way of finding out for sure.

[algy]

If Villa were just playing well, everyone - even those who were not convinced originally - would be right behind him. As it is there are genuine question marks currently. People are allowed to scrutinise the team and manager.

The few who are so vehemently against his appointment, who are so vociferous now, were voices of patience when we were 13th in February under Smith. I disagree. They're against Gerrard, regardless. They were just quiet a few games ago when we were demolishing Leeds etc. If we whack Norwich the weekend, it will go quiet again or maybe we won't have whacked them enough.

I think a proportion of the anti-Gerrard sentiment is born purely because folk are a bit downhearted with Smith getting the sack, especially when the outcome has been ... well, it's conceivable that Smith could've got us to a similar position. You have to ask whether Gerrard is actually a big upgrade on Smith.

Now, personally, I'd have been happy to give Smith a few more games, but think it's hard to argue that the sacking wasn't justified given the poor run we'd had for pretty much the whole of 2021.

Gerrard has done alright so far, I'd hoped for a top half finish so it's a tad underwhelming, but not exceptionally so. I'd be happy backing him fully in the summer. I can't say I don't have any misgivings, but he's been happy to give Chuky, Iroegbunam & now Chrisene games, and has brought Ramsey on leaps & bounds (obvs much down to Ramsey himself). So, for me, he gets this summer and a fair crack at next season.

[TonyD]

I think there are some rational concerns to be had, but nothing that suggests he shouldn’t be given more time. As Ads says I think a good number who were against him at the start are very comfortable calling for him to be out now. My personal view is that he, like any manager, needs time. It doesn’t mean it’ll work, but it’s the only way of finding out for sure.

Nothing suggests he should be given more time. 

[Sexual Ealing]

If Villa were just playing well, everyone - even those who were not convinced originally - would be right behind him. As it is there are genuine question marks currently. People are allowed to scrutinise the team and manager.

The few who are so vehemently against his appointment, who are so vociferous now, were voices of patience when we were 13th in February under Smith. I disagree. They're against Gerrard, regardless. They were just quiet a few games ago when we were demolishing Leeds etc. If we whack Norwich the weekend, it will go quiet again or maybe we won't have whacked them enough.

I think a proportion of the anti-Gerrard sentiment is born purely because folk are a bit downhearted with Smith getting the sack, especially when the outcome has been ... well, it's conceivable that Smith could've got us to a similar position. You have to ask whether Gerrard is actually a big upgrade on Smith.

Now, personally, I'd have been happy to give Smith a few more games, but think it's hard to argue that the sacking wasn't justified given the poor run we'd had for pretty much the whole of 2021.

Gerrard has done alright so far, I'd hoped for a top half finish so it's a tad underwhelming, but not exceptionally so. I'd be happy backing him fully in the summer. I can't say I don't have any misgivings, but he's been happy to give Chuky, Iroegbunam & now Chrisene games, and has brought Ramsey on leaps & bounds (obvs much down to Ramsey himself). So, for me, he gets this summer and a fair crack at next season.

When was this?

[Ads]

I think there are some rational concerns to be had, but nothing that suggests he shouldn’t be given more time. As Ads says I think a good number who were against him at the start are very comfortable calling for him to be out now. My personal view is that he, like any manager, needs time. It doesn’t mean it’ll work, but it’s the only way of finding out for sure.

Nothing suggests he should be given more time. 

That implies you've given him some time, which isn't true, as you've given him none.

[algy]

If Villa were just playing well, everyone - even those who were not convinced originally - would be right behind him. As it is there are genuine question marks currently. People are allowed to scrutinise the team and manager.

The few who are so vehemently against his appointment, who are so vociferous now, were voices of patience when we were 13th in February under Smith. I disagree. They're against Gerrard, regardless. They were just quiet a few games ago when we were demolishing Leeds etc. If we whack Norwich the weekend, it will go quiet again or maybe we won't have whacked them enough.

I think a proportion of the anti-Gerrard sentiment is born purely because folk are a bit downhearted with Smith getting the sack, especially when the outcome has been ... well, it's conceivable that Smith could've got us to a similar position. You have to ask whether Gerrard is actually a big upgrade on Smith.

Now, personally, I'd have been happy to give Smith a few more games, but think it's hard to argue that the sacking wasn't justified given the poor run we'd had for pretty much the whole of 2021.

Gerrard has done alright so far, I'd hoped for a top half finish so it's a tad underwhelming, but not exceptionally so. I'd be happy backing him fully in the summer. I can't say I don't have any misgivings, but he's been happy to give Chuky, Iroegbunam & now Chrisene games, and has brought Ramsey on leaps & bounds (obvs much down to Ramsey himself). So, for me, he gets this summer and a fair crack at next season.

When was this?

(Checks match report)

In my imagination.

[Deano's Mullet]

I'm wondering if maybe the players were unhappy at Smith getting the sack and that after the initial honeymoon period they're now showing it in their half heartedness on the pitch.

[TonyD]

I think there are some rational concerns to be had, but nothing that suggests he shouldn’t be given more time. As Ads says I think a good number who were against him at the start are very comfortable calling for him to be out now. My personal view is that he, like any manager, needs time. It doesn’t mean it’ll work, but it’s the only way of finding out for sure.

Nothing suggests he should be given more time. 

That implies you've given him some time, which isn't true, as you've given him none.

He has had 5 months and absolutely nothing about the team suggests he is going to succeed.  Quite the opposite.

[paul_e]

I think part of the problem is that how long to give someone before making a decision isn't something fans will ever agree on so whether this thread should even exist will be debateable. For me most maangers should get at least a summer transfer window and then the first 10 games of the following season so I think we should be looking at his record in October/November time and seeing where we are.

I'm largely the same with players as well, until they've had a full pre-season with the club it's hard to know exactly how well they fit in.