jackbauer24

I largely suspect nostalgia is the reason we'll end up with a round badge that isn't too dissimilar from the 80s design. People hold a fondness for what they grew up with, especially if that couples with a successful period. Same with kits. I'd guess most people who will get the opportunity to vote would be of the demographic that remembers the European Cup win, whereas those born after 1990, or definitely 2000, are less likely to be at a stage in their life where they have expendable cash for a season ticket etc. Tradition/history points to a shield. Nostalgia points to that tiny portion of our history that we had a circular badge.

I'm now under the impression that Gerrard is going nowhere soon. The lack of real stories about approaching managers, his general attitude and him saying he feels he has their support, added to the fact Purslow has a soft spot for him and we're not in relegation zone means he stays for a few months at least. Not until we're three or six points adrift will they consider his position I reckon. The general crowd are still a few games away from that yet (only pockets of boos) and the World Cup is coming. Depressing.

Most managers get sacked. Very few leave of their own choice or for better jobs. It's probably 90%+ who will inevitably get sacked or leave through mutual agreement. With that in mind, Purslow simply must have considered this day would come when he first hired his friend. They surely had this conversation and would have some agreement in place to separate business from friendship. I don't believe for a second that people in these roles don't consider these highly likely circumstances. Therefore, more concerning, is the notion that it isn't actually a discussion at all at the moment. He's not protecting a friend because that scenario has been discussed a year ago... they are all in agreement that there isn't anything to consider yet. I imagine they've probably said he gets a year regardless before there is even a debate.

Gerrard would be LUCKY to be sacked now. He can still rescue a tiny bit of reputation by, ridiculously in my opinion, pointing to the final few scraps of argument that could say he needs more time. He could suggest we've turned a corner, he could say we've been unlucky with injuries, he could protest we've drawn with Man City and played well against Chelsea. BUT the longer he gets, the less these arguments stand up and the more embarrassing it gets. We had everyone vs Bournemouth and he still lost. Pre-season was shaky. Most of 2022 has been a sh*tshow. He should be begging to be sacked so he can suggest it was unfair and get his mates in the media to salvage his career. Give it a month, two or horrifically three, and none of this will be left and his career is over. He should BEG to be sacked/leave mutually. Personally, I doubt we'll see him manage again after Villa. He's a winner to be fair and he'll know he'll never be that as a manager at a high level so will disappear in to media.

Play random formations, with mixed personnel in a variety of positions. Throw your players under the bus at every opportunity but say you're protecting them. Mistreat a host of players in a multitude of ways and create issues that didn't need creating. Be snappy with the media and never take responsibility for anything. Focus tactics around big players having moments of individual magic rather than set up the team well. Don't play youth or improve a single player. Sell players that provide width and then decide that's your best option. Be happy to get a point against mediocre opposition. Fight valiantly against big teams and lose. Play poorly against middling teams and lose. Play poorly against weak teams and draw. Sneak a win once every 5 games or so based purely on the law of averages as the quality is in the squad. Do worse than the previous manager with far better resources. But we got a draw against City and played reasonably for about an hour today... actually, give him a five year contract.

Gerrard barely plays him and then uses him in three positions tonight. Buendia doesn't have a world beating game... shock. Still, almost everything decent came from him, albeit in fairly short supply. Who really out performed him in tonight's 'performance'? Play him, in the right position, consistently, in a team that knows what it's doing and he is the least of our problems.

If the only managers available were Sherwood, Bruce, Garde, McLeish, Roy Keane or Steve McLaren... I'd still sack Gerrard tonight. We could make some brilliant moves for good managers and do a Newcastle like late surge. We could play it safe with some solid managers and end the season respectably. We could make a mistake and choose someone abysmal who would barely improve us. We CAN'T do any worse though. With this squad, Gerrard has them at their lowest. The quality keeps us in the fight to stay up, despite Gerrard.

Octopus Go which means we make sure it doesn't drop below about 70% to get 7.5p for four hours. Wife has a Vauxhall Corsa-E so weve been learning how to play the game.

Well I ordered my KIA EV6 in March. They told me it'd be in UK from 16th Jan 2023. It is being dropped off at my house on Wednesday! Must have smuggled those semiconductors in through the black market...

Problems with RB, play Guilbert. Problems with Watkins, play Ings. Buendia plays 30mins and is most people's nomination for MOTM. Bring on second striker with less than 10mins remaining despite 40mins.with man advantage. Clearly no game plan. Clearly no belief in the system. Clearly no urgency. All on Gerrard, even taking in to account individual form. Worst manager we've ever had an I include Sherwood, Garde and Venglos in that.

Southampton were poor and everyone said they were, including their players and manager. Villa were, at best, marginally better and yet Gerrard seems fairly content... Between saying he was critical of the defence but protecting his players... No clue. Practically any lineup would have resulted in todays toss up of a result. A decent manager would have made that are far more convincing and comfortable win against weak opposition. A win is a win but we are underperforming as a squad and that's on the manager.

Perhaps clutching at straws but; Clearly not involved today as he was just playing around on Instagram. Conspicuous by his absence in photos and media/comments on new signings. No real mention from players we've bought. Managers aren't sacked openly on Transfer Deadline Day. Signings made are very much club/squad signings. Has he gone already? Will it be announced tomorrow?! Please...

I don't think a manager gets sacked on transfer deadline day. It's just too hectic. Has it ever happened? Tomorrow, hopefully. Caretaker in charge for City.

If there are absolutely no viable options out there due to our pull (eg Poch) or due to us not liking their style (eg Dyche) then we still have to do something. I know. Let's get rid of a Liverpool legend who has some success in an obscure foreign league and replace him with a Villa legend who has some success in an obscure foreign league. Welcome Olof Mellberg!! I'm kidding... but he'd be better than Gerrard.

I don't think they do watch it. In fact I'm MORE worried if they do as it means they've had their eyes closed since the turn of the year!

I didn't clearly see the second but the first is not a keeper error for anyone who's ever played that position. His body is responding to the first shot and then does well to change to save from the deflection, he can't also hold it as his body weight is going the wrong way. Their player responds quickest. He messed up a few kicks/the roll back but he also had some really good saves tonight. He wasn't a problem.

Practically the worst result we could have had. The score flatters us and keeps him in his job. Should have been 4 or 5 by half time and that would have got him sacked.

What I want most is a win. If we can't get that, I'd rather we got thrashed than a narrow loss or a single point. Getting Gerrard out is worth more than gallant losses or a draw. But you've always got to go in to every game wanting a win.

That is pretty much the lineup I thought he'd go for. And apart from a tweak or two (McGinn/Konsa) I'd say it's not a bad lineup and apparent formation. However, this teamsheet is purely to backup his argument against it. Whoever we play, in whatever formation, will find the next two games tricky and this way he can throw them under the bus and argue he tried. Bring back two up front and Coutinho for Southampton and Leicester. Set up like we have today, against West Ham, and we'd have won that one.

He's never really got going at Villa, he seemingly refuses to sign a contract and there's one year left. For all potential he may have, we can't turn down £20m if it's on table. I'd take it. Probably ask for Milner for a year to add some experience, organisation and bite to the midfield. But Villa are feeling quite 'done' now and there's a real danger of us completely crumbling away.

Put Coutinho on against the poorer sides and he plays at best average every week til the clamour for Buendia gets too hard to ignore based on his cameos. Wait for a game against a big side, set up poorly and play Buendia instead. He can't get involved. Drop him instantly for the next run of games against the poorer teams. The Gerrard blueprint.

Martinez Cash (CB we get) Mings Digne Kamara Luiz Bailey Coutinho Buendia Watkins Against teams we should be attacking and dropping one of Bailey, Countinho and Buendia for another more defensive midfielder when we need to. Using subs appropriately. Reacting to players form. Change things based on how a game is going. Make players fight for the spot. This squad can easily be made to function without a transfer window for a new coach. That gets us solidly midtable at least. Then in January they add the missing piece or two. Gerrard's not quite messed us up enough yet but given more time he will do!

You joke but he's ten times the coach Gerrard is. Don't want him but if it was a choice between the two! Given a straight choice between Gerrard staying and any manager, probably in at least the top two divisions, I'd take the 'other'.

I personally think Mings is ill but it's mental health rather than physical (which is equally valid for the record). He's posted a few things about mental health and is a strong advocate for it too. He's lost his England spot, Villa spot until DCs injury, captaincy, been scapegoated by his boss, discussed in the media and Villa have had a bad start. I don't think he's in the right place at the moment and for good reason.

I think one could write a very long post about 'blame' but personally I think it can be simplified somewhat, whilst recognising it isn't necessarily a perfect answer; Basically I don't believe the players hold much blame at all, either for talent or effort. All players will have periods of poor form however. But if you're in your work place and you're not trained properly, you're not given clear roles, the aim isn't made explicit, you see valued colleagues being belittled in public, you see favourites and everyone is just doing their own thing... Well, then productivity falls, moral falls, confidence and even the most conscientious workers find it hard to motivate themselves. People can't perform to their best as the tools aren't there to do it. In our squads case I believe most players we have are trying and do have the talent to be a 8th/9th/10th based team. But they're lost, they're demoralised and they are being asked to do things they either can't do or don't respect. Or they're getting minutes rather than a match to get into a rhythm. The midfield have to come deep resulting in high risk hollywood pass attempts. Cash and Digne being asked to do way too much from an attacking side at the cost of defensive duties. The team being asked to play it high and long despite not being a physical team... I could go on and on. I think Gerrard has shattered several players confidence, including Coutinho by putting too much pressure on him and leaving him out there when there are alternatives and he could get him out spotlight. This is on Gerrard completely. This squad is good enough (no Gestedes) and seem to be trying (no accidental car tweets). The squad isn't the issue.