It's the perennial question when faced with an underperforming manager. If Fergie had been sacked when he was finishing the season bottom half of the table, 1990's football would have very different. It's hard to tell when an underperforming manager needs more time, or needs to be axed. At the same time, if we stuck with Roy, I've no doubt that we would have deteriorated permenantly into a mid table team. Gerrard did well in Scotland and required less time to look good, but he's clearly struggling at Villa at the moment.
I think he's still struggling to work out his best team and system. Once he has that they may improve, but he needs to find it fairly soon. Not sure how the mood in the dressing room is either. That may be more difficult to overcome.
I think sometimes you can see a style developing. I take Brighton for example. Potter came in and totally changed their style. They became a very good team to watch but would still lose games due to lack of goals. But you could see a team there. He didn’t massively improve their points total or position in first couple years and they went through a long period where they had some poor form, but overall you could see it was a good manager and at times squad were just unlucky as all stats suggest should have won more. Can see now, they’re looking a solid team that should be finishing top half and club were right to stick with him when they had a really poor winter last year. I think similar with arteta. You could tell how he wanted to play and see the development of that team and needed time to implement and get the right personnel. Gerrard hasn’t really had time to implement a style at villa yet. I think if he can do that, even if results are still a bit iffy, then will be ok, although having spent a lot of money won’t help. But last 3 games he’s played 3 different formations which shows a lack of clarity in how he wants his team to play
Isn't that itself, a problem? I mean, take Klopp, his first year didn't really improve our position much, but his style and direction was obvious after two or three games. Shouldn't Gerrard have been able to develop his style by now? Even if it's not the finished article, it should be showing what he intends to do.
I know a bunch of Villa fans who say there is no style - they all want him gone ASAP. I haven’t seen a game of theirs myself so just repeating what some have told me
Possibly. Not sure if he’s had enough time to do that though? Had this summer window to get his own players in and a pre season so you’d expect over the first 10-15 games to start seeing something. I can’t say I watch villa enough to know, if they start developing a style over that period then he might get more leeway, but yes, if nothing changes then would be a problem
i know quite a few Villa fans 4 of which are season ticket holders " and all are running out of patience with him or have run out of patience as they see no plan behind the signings nor the team selection . *might be 5 if Steve and Sharon have bought one for their little lad yet .
The style was all Michael Beale. The coach who worked with Gerrard at Rangers and for an initial stint with him at Aston Villa. Soon as he left the football turned to thick pea soup. I've watched a few games and listened to the fans phone ins. Gerrard sets up with no width. Everything through the middle and tactically one dimensional. Fans openly saying he's the worst manager they've had in terms of playing style. Should've stayed at Rangers then cut his teeth in the lower leagues in England and learnt his craft. They all want the PL immediately. Well... all except Rooney who doesn't have the ego and seems to be doing it the right way
Yeh won nowt in his career obviously. Having said that, he seems to have a good head on his shoulders for management.
He worked in the liverpool youth ranks at various levels before going to Rangers. He didn't exactly jump in head first. Same with Lampard (Derby) but he jumped a bit quicker. There quite a few decent young managers about atm though that are looking better
It's the great ex-player big name thing though. Not aimed at just him btw. I mean any top players given a free ride to manage a top club and full media backing like they're going to be great managers. But you look at Graham Potter and he's the real talent. He wouldn't have got a look in at Everton or Villa though. Bet they'd love him there now but I doubt he'd leave Brighton for them now... and probably best for him if he doesn't as he deserves a bigger shot than either of those clubs atm.
There's a few of them in the PL atm; Gerrard, Lampard, Vieira, Parker, Arteta, etc. Solskjaer not that long ago too, plus Rooney isn't far away
Viera is doing a decent job and to be fair has gone and done a few stints before joining. Started in MLS before going to France so has bit more experience.
He's the best of the bunch atm. Arteta is doing very well right now but been through a difficult couple of years.
Parker been sacked… 4 games into season.. harsh? However has just lost 4-0, 5-0 and 9-0 so maybe not so harsh?
