Steven Gerrard does not know best eleven at Aston Villa this season – Darren Bent
Darren Bent believes that Steven Gerrard is still struggling to find his best eleven after a poor start for Aston Villa this season.
The Villans have had a tough beginning to their campaign where they have managed to register just three points from their first four matches.
Bent, while speaking on talkSPORT, stated that one of the primary reasons for Villa’s struggle this season is because their manager is still not sure which players to pick.
“It’s a difficult one from Steven Gerrard,” he said. “Because when he came to Aston Villa, and I questioned it but I always thought with Dean Smith, was it a bit too soon that they just got rid of him.
“But listen, I think Villa had wanted him out even though he’s one of their own. But for Gerrard, I thought if I’m honest it would have gone better.
“I just thought that he’s young. He’s hungry. He’s fresh and you’re right taking that confidence and I know there’s a difference in levels in the Scottish League and In the Premier League.
“But I just thought they’d be a little bit more but the way they kind of ended last season there was an initial kind of pop when he first came in to start to get a tune out the squad but then this season it’s coming back.
“It’s been a disaster and you look at what Bournemouth have been doing by absolutely everybody. When you allow them to beat you, it’s not great but I do think he’s still trying to find his best eleven.”
Alarming
Villa entered this campaign hoping to have a better outing than the previous one where they had two different managers.
However, despite having a full pre-season under Gerrard, things are not looking rosy for the side as they have suffered three defeats in the first four matches, with the most recent one coming against West Ham while playing at home.
To make things even worse, next up for them is league leaders Arsenal whereas after that, they will face defending champions Manchester City which means that they could be restricted to just three points after six matches.
That will not going to be acceptable to Villa fans as well as for the club’s hierarchy who would be demanding better results from a manager who has been backed in the transfer market as well.
Therefore, it is imperative that Gerrard must rally his troops in a manner that they will be able to register a positive result in at least one of the next two matches to ease some pressure.
In other Aston Villa news, Alan Hutton believes Ismaila Sarr would have been a good signing for the club.