Dion Dublin picks out Rafa Benitez as one of two potential Steven Gerrard replacements at Aston Villa
Dion Dublin picked out Rafa Benitez and Sean Dyche as two managers out of a job who could fit in at Aston Villa should Steven Gerrard be sacked.
Gerrard is on the ropes at Villa Park and fans and pundits have already begun talk of his successor before his time at Aston Villa is cut short.
Former Villa striker Dublin was questioned over who he’d have take over the Villa hot seat, and he picked out two potential candidates.
Speaking to Express Sport, Dublin said: “The only managers I can think of off the top of my head out of work are Sean Dyche and Rafa Benitez.
“Is there any symmetry between those two managers? I’m not quite sure, but they are the two I can think of out of work.
“I don’t really like managers getting sacked, but inevitably, if you’re having a bit of a stinker, the owners are going to think this isn’t working. The fans are going to make themselves heard as well. Villa fans have always done that.”
Look elsewhere
Dublin has clearly taken the approach of looking at managers currently out of a job, but Villa can’t afford to gamble their Premier League status on a manager’s availability.
Both Dyche and Benitez were recently sacked for leaving clubs at the bottom of the Premier League table, and that isn’t the profile of manager that Villa should be looking for.
The ambition at Villa Park is to make the club a serious top-half side competing for spots in Europe. Neither Benitez nor Dyche has the CV to suggest they can achieve that goal.
It could well be the reason Gerard is yet to be sacked – the club are sniffing around for managers ready to leave their current post to take over the Villans.
Mauricio Pochettino is definitely a name being thrown around in the media [The Sun]. but Villa obviously need to confirm whether he’s willing to take charge on short notice.
But what Villa can’t afford to do is rush the decision and bring in the wrong person just because they’re available. Both Dyche and Benitez would be panic appointments and should be avoided.
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