‘I’m told it’s over’ – Richard Keys says Steven Gerrard is done at Aston Villa
Richard Keys has claimed that he has been told “it’s over” for Steven Gerrard’s time as Aston Villa manager after their defeat to Chelsea on Sunday.
Villa saw their four game unbeaten run snapped despite one of their better performances of the season, as Kepa Arrizabalaga turned in a masterclass and Mason Mount scored twice to give the blues all three points.
Reports suggested that “pressure is building” on Gerrard’s job, with a suggestion he has two games to save his job, and Keys wrote in his weekly blog [17 October] that he had heard the former Liverpool captain was set for the axe as boss.
“I’m reading that Gerrard has two games to save his job,” he said. “And it’s not the first time I’ve read that this season.
“Unless something dramatic happens now I’m told it’s over for him at a Villa Park.
“If that’s the case I’m genuinely sorry that it didn’t work out. I hope it still does.
“I’ve always believed that we need players like Gerrard to continue their careers in coaching once they’ve hung their boots up. We can’t give our game up entirely to school teachers. So I admired Gerrard for giving it a go.”
Over
Despite okay results in recent weeks, they’ve still not been nearly good enough for what this squad is capable of and it’s the right time and decision to let Gerrard go elsewhere.
It was an ambitious appointment at the time a year ago, but it hasn’t gone the way many expected it too after a strong start and if anything the squad has gone backwards since Dean Smith’s exit despite all the money spent.
With over a quarter of the season gone the team needs something to give them a boost, and it’s clear that Gerrard’s methods and words aren’t having the affect on the players that he wants them to.
Before it’s too late and there is a big gap at the back of the table that Aston Villa have to climb, lets make the change and start building something new.
If a decision has been made already as Keys suggests then there is no point waiting, just pull the trigger and get it done so we can all move on.
In other Aston Villa news, Gerrard wants to silence the Holte End boo boys