regular_john

Crap game but 3 points is 3 points. Feels like a stay of execution for Stevie.

I think it's based on having had a certain amount of matches in charge (30 maybe?) Don't think Garde, Matteo or Black count as they weren't around for very long

You're correct. I should have been clearer, there were 'Steven Gerrard's claret and blue army' chants during the game, which implies the crowd are still largely behind him. By and large, that chant disappears when the crowd turn against a manager. For example, I never once heard 'Alex McLeish's claret and blue army' during his reign

No, think it was just the upper Holte really, definitely not the whole ground. There were plenty of chants of 'Steven Gerrard's claret and blue army' so I don't think the crowd has turned yet. Can't be too far off though.

We kept the ball quite well yesterday. We didn't do anything remotely useful with it but at least we kept it. Martinez, Cash, Chambers, Luiz and Kamara all played well. Buendia was great when he came on and seemed to link together all our attacking play in a way that had been missing. We have the best squad we've had in years. We have ambitious owners. Villa Park will be expanding. Plenty to be positive about.

I disagree. He had more than enough credit in the bank to warrant more time and support. It seemed like a mistake at the time and it has since proven to be so.

Ander Herrera has been let go by PSG. Worth getting him on a free? (Assuming he'd come) Is he better than what we have?

We need a win here to give the players and fans a bit of a boost. I wouldn't be experimenting too heavily or putting out a weakened side.

Yes and no. Take the best and most creative player out of any team and they'll struggle, regardless of how good the manager is. Imagine Rooney/Ronaldo getting a long term injury in 2007ish. Even Fergie would have struggled without them.

I think we should bring Nakamba back into the fold. He looked absolutely fantastic when Gerrard first joined, was a shame about his injury. He'd offer exactly the kind of steel and aggression we're missing.

Surely the money would be better spent signing a top CM??

Absolutely awful. Proper, proper, total and utter dogshit. Martinez is about the only player to come out of that with any credit. Could have been 5+ if not for him. Cash wasn't bad, made the best he could of it. Probably our best outfield player today. Konsa looks half the player he was. Chambers has to start. Digne looks like a downgrade on Targett. Really poor again. Another poor performance from McGinn. Making him captain, and therefore undroppable, feels like a real mistake. Ramsey largely anonymous as was Kamara. Buendia did well. Justified his start and should continue to start. Bailey anonymous. Watkins had no real service as we were so utterly dominated in midfield. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

I disagree. No attempt to block the shot

Terrible from Konsa

For now, in (just)

I'll walk

Absolutely

What a truly brilliant final episode. I don't think they could have ended it better!

They can have him! I'll drive him up the M6 myself!

We still have Hause, yes? I wouldn't be too apprehensive about having Mings + Chambers as our main centre back pairing with Konsa and Hause as back up. However, Carlos could very well be done now. How many players have ruptured their Achilles and come back able to continue to play PL football? Not many is my bet Might need a replacement regardless!

So, after 2 and a bit years of dodging the covid bullet. It finally got me. Not being able to taste or smell is really, really weird. I apologise to the proprietor of the curry house for referring to his food as 'flavourless'.

I am really not a fan of Gerrard but, even for me, this is a bit much after one game!

I want Gerrard to succeed. I want him to prove me wrong and shove my pessimism about him down my throat. At the moment, I'm yet to see anything from him that indicates that will happen. He has looked utterly out of his depth from day one.

Good signings addressing some key areas Good pre-season results and performances Plenty of preseason optimism ...ANNNNNNND IT'S GONE.