View: Philippe Coutinho must improve to save Steven Gerrard’s job at Aston Villa
Aston Villa entered the campaign hoping to produce much better than they did last season as they finished in the 14th spot in the Premier League.
However, after just six matchdays, things are already looking tricky for the Villans as the side are 17th in the league table with just four points.
Those results have definitely put manager Steven Gerrard’s future at stake and he is now under increasing pressure to turn things around.
Time running out
When Gerrard arrived at the club from the Scottish side Rangers, one of the first statement signings Villa made under him was to bring Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona on a loan deal.
The Brazil international was still a household name in the Premier League for his heroics during his time with Liverpool and remains one of the most expensive signings in the history of club football.
Despite his okayish return to England’s top-flight football, Coutinho ended up securing a permanent move to Villa in the summer of this season.
However, things are once again looking not so pretty for the 30-year-old as he is finding it hard to compete at this level.
The former Inter Milan attacking midfielder has played 337 minutes for Villa this season where he has managed to provide an assist, just not good enough for someone who is not famous for his defensive work rate as well [Transfermarkt].
It is said that a manager’s future in club football is often dependent on the kind of players he brings to the club. Few can turn him into a world-class tactician whereas others can end up costing him his job.
It seems like Coutinho is that one signing for Gerrard as with every passing game if he fails to contribute and Villa’s results do not improve, it might become one of the primary reasons for the end of the former Liverpool midfielder’s reign at Villa Park.
In other Aston Villa news, Richard Keys has been singing the praises of one Villan who has proven his many critics wrong, including his manager.