Tim Sherwood: Steven Gerrard is right man for Aston Villa
By Jonty Banks
Tim Sherwood has urged Aston Villa to stick with Steven Gerrard following increased speculation over his position at the west-midlands club.
According to the Telegraph, Villa are eyeing up both Mauricio Pochettino and Unai Emery as potential replacements for Gerrard, but Sherwood believes that two wins in the coming week could lift pressure from the former Liverpool legend’s shoulders.
Last weekend’s 2-0 loss to Chelsea leaves Villa in 16th place in the table, with pivotal fixtures against Fulham this Thursday and Brentford at the weekend likely to decide his fate.
Speaking to talkSPORT on Tuesday morning, Sherwood said: “I think he’s the correct man for the job, I really do and I think it’s too early to talk about him losing his job.
“It’s difficult, it’s a difficult environment, it can be the best environment at Villa Park. The crowd they get with you, and they call themselves the 12th man up there and they can be.
“I thought they were really good against Chelsea, I really did, they were unlucky not to take maximum points, Kepa (Arrizabalaga) was outstanding, and they missed chances again.
“Listen, those two games coming up are winnable games, if Stevie wins the next two games, you’re looking at the top six.”
Decisive week
Although Gerrard’s side was booed off following the defeat to Chelsea at the weekend, this was possibly their most promising performance of the season, with an inspired Kepa all that stood between them and three points.
Sherwood’s comments do make sense, with Villa remaining just five points off European football despite their poor form, but the fan base seems to have turned on Gerrard and this factor cannot be underestimated.
The Holte End is a hugely important asset to any Villa manager, but when you lose their support, it usually spells danger. Steve Bruce knows this only too well, as the former Villa manager memorably had a cabbage thrown at him by a disgruntled supporter as his side laboured to a 3-3 draw against Preston North End.
The next day he was given the boot.
Gerrard needs maximum points this week to ward off any further calls for his sacking, while anything less could spell danger for his time in the West Midlands.
One last roll of the dice it seems, or his time could be up.
In other Aston Villa news, Richard Keys has come to the belief that Gerrard if finished at Villa Park.