Gabby Agbonlahor: Steven Gerrard will be sacked if Aston Villa draw the next two fixtures
Gabby Agbonlahor has suggested Steven Gerrard will be sacked if Aston Villa draw their next two Premier League fixtures to Fulham and Brentford.
Villa are three without a win and are coming off another disappointing defeat to Chelsea on Sunday (16 October) which has seen the pressure continue to mount on Gerrard.
Agbonlahor has suggested that if Villa can’t beat the West London clubs in their next two fixtures then they will be in a relegation battle.
He said on talkSPORT Breakfast on Thursday (20 October): “He’s got Fulham tonight and on Sunday he’s got Brentford at home, two massive games because after that it’s Newcastle away and then Manchester United. These two games are massive for Steven Gerrard.”
“I think minimum four points [from Fulham and Brentford]. Villa are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference and if you can’t beat Fulham and Brentford, what chance have you got? You’re in a relegation battle.
“He’s gone [If they draw both games]. Villa fans, they’ve gone, and the results against Fulham and Brentford will be expected and will give him more time but to draw them two games, the atmosphere on Sunday after that game will be toxic.”
Make or break
These two fixtures do have a make-or-break feel about them for Gerrard and it’s not just about the results. Villa have been boring to watch this season with a lack of attacking spark there for all to see. Fans want to be excited and at the moment the Villans are providing the opposite.
It’s vital Gerrard’s side put in two positive displays against Fulham and Brentford to give the Villa faithful some hope moving forward. Agbonlahor is probably right in assuming Gerrard has two games to save his job. He’s been unfortunate with injuries, but it’s still been an incredibly disappointing start to the season.
If he can pick up at least four points over his next two matches, then he will surely earn himself to right to be in charge until after the World Cup. The break for the World Cup could come at a good time for the Villa boss.
It will allow him to put in some extra work on the training ground and potentially plan for the January window in order to solve the goalscoring issues that are dramatically impacted upon his squad at the moment.
In other Aston Villa news, the links to Mauricio Pochettino are ‘pure speculation’ according to reports