Gerrard In or Out?

[Toronto Villa]

Fair enough... I don't think anyone can argue with those stats.

We should have appointed Howe. 😉

And that’s the thing about the “we should have hired someone better” argument. Often it’s a simple case of timing. If Eddie Howe had been appointment then Dean Smith would have been fired sooner. And I don’t even think Howe would have come anyway as he’d already had his head turned with the scope of the job at Newcastle. But that’s besides the point.

It’s always easy saying we could have done this or that. The right person has to be available at the right time isn’t that easy. We appointed a manager that has got his badges, coached at Liverpool and managed at Rangers to a title which wasn’t an easy job given where they had been. He might not work out but, like Arteta or Vieira or Lampard they are aspiring to be top managers in the game. Why not do that with us?

[paul_e]

Can you imagine the breakdown on here if we'd signed Howe.

[Toronto Villa]

Can you imagine the breakdown on here if we'd signed Howe.

Precisely. Or David Moyes. Or conversely in some quarters the delight at Ragnick because he had experience. It’s not as easy as it’s made out.

[Lucky Eddie]

I think some of us are missing one of the reasons for his appointment. We are far more likely to attract top players to the club with him as manager, If as i suspect Coutinho signs on then it sends a signal that he has bought into Gerrards plan giving even more impetus. I'm not saying that he is or will be a great manager but without doubt his name gives the club greater exposure.

Isn't it insulting to the club to say that despite all the advantages we have - rich owners, big support, potential - we can only make decent signings because a former well-known player is our manager? It seems to go against everything we stand for.

Whilst that may resonate to a man my age, to a twenty year old footballer we are a recently promoted club who have never played in the Champions League.

[LeeB]

Can you imagine the breakdown on here if we'd signed Howe.

Without any evidence to the support the claim, I reckon Howe would be one of those that doesn't get us and would've turned his nose up at us thinking he's better than us.

[chrisw1]

Can you imagine the breakdown on here if we'd signed Howe.

Without any evidence to the support the claim, I reckon Howe would be one of those that doesn't get us and would've turned his nose up at us thinking he's better than us.

He would have bitten our hands off if the offer came before the Newcastle one.  He was entirely in the wilderness and a club like ours was more than he could have dreamed of - he hardly had teams kicking his door down.  He's very lucky Newcastle made such a modest, and as it turns out sensible, choice.  And to be fair to him he's done brilliantly and probably earned himself a longer stay at Newcastle than many would have expected.

[Chris Smith]

Can you imagine the breakdown on here if we'd signed Howe.

Precisely. Or David Moyes. Or conversely in some quarters the delight at Ragnick because he had experience. It’s not as easy as it’s made out.

Pretty much every manager we appoint divides opinion, arguing about them is what keeps this site going. It’s likely that 2-3 years down the line we’ll be debating it again but a few people will have switch sides.

[Risso]

Can you imagine the breakdown on here if we'd signed Howe.

Indeed. I don't think anybody would have really wanted him, and it would have been a case of "Done no more than Dean Smith, got Bournemouth relegated despite spending a load of money etc".

[paul_e]

I don't mthink he'd have turned his nose up at us but I do think our fans would've been massively disappointed given who he was replacing. Newcastle was a bit of a free hit because, in their eyes, he couldn't be worse than they had. Add on the massive budget and he was always going to come out of this season looking good. How they get on in the summer will be interesting though because aside from Guimaraes the rest of his signings have been very MON-like safe and steady but limited.

[chrisw1]

People talk about Howe's massive budget, but it's hardly like they signed a team of superstars.  Given where they were it's hard to imagine their fans were dreaming of the likes of Dan Burn, Chris Wood or Matt Targett.  Yes Trippier was exciting for them, but as been injured for most of his time there.  It took Bruno several games to get a game, but by then they were already on the up.  It was Howe and 3 workmanlike players who have made all the difference, which I think is incredibly impressive.

[RamboandBruno]

I don't mthink he'd have turned his nose up at us but I do think our fans would've been massively disappointed given who he was replacing. Newcastle was a bit of a free hit because, in their eyes, he couldn't be worse than they had. Add on the massive budget and he was always going to come out of this season looking good. How they get on in the summer will be interesting though because aside from Guimaraes the rest of his signings have been very MON-like safe and steady but limited.

Howe at Newcastle now has a very Mark Hughes in the early days of this man city project, feel to it. He has done very well, but i tend to think if come xmas/new year there hanging about in mid table and well off the European spots, they’ll hook him.

[cdbearsfan]

I wouldn't be amazed if they punt him this summer, even though he has done a brilliant job.

[chrisw1]

I wouldn't be amazed if they punt him this summer, even though he has done a brilliant job.

If they'd just survived I think you would have been right.  I'd be shocked f they did now though.  I agree with Ramno though, I don't expect them to be particulalrly patient.

[olaftab]

League table since Gerrard took over. Ninth.
AVFC Statto link on twitter.

This is a totally superfluous  and tiresome stat. There is nothing to suggest Dean Smith would not have achieved similar  results.

[chrisw1]

League table since Gerrard took over. Ninth.
AVFC Statto link on twitter.

This is a totally superfluous  and tiresome stat. There is nothing to suggest Dean Smith would not have achieved similar  results.

Well there is.  Half a season to be precise.  Or almost a full 12 months if you want to look at it that way.