Steven Gerrard has ‘four games to save his job’ after Aston Villa source’s reveal – expert
Aston Villa will give Steven Gerrard another four games before they think about sacking Steven Gerrard.
That is the view of Aston Villa’s record Premier League goalscorer Gabby Agbonlahor, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the pressure on Gerrard.
His side have lost their opening four games of the season and were booed off following their 1-0 defeat to West Ham on Sunday (28 August).
An Aston Villa source told Football Insider on Monday (29 August) that Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino as potential replacements for the 42-year-old.
“Every club’s owners will look at what fans are doing and will take note if there is fan unrest but I do feel that Steven Gerrard will be given time,” Agbonlahor told Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley.
“Yes, the end of last season wasn’t good but what were Villa playing for last season? They weren’t going to get relegated and they weren’t going to get into the top seven. You don’t really look at last season.
“He’s been given a pre-season. He’s lost to Bournemouth, who are going to be on their game in their first game back in the Premier League. The next game was Everton when they got a win and were comfortable.
“After that, Crystal Palace is a tough place to go. At the weekend, they were the better team against West Ham who scored a deflected goal to win the game.
“I understand. Sometimes when you’re a fan you can react and say ‘Gerrard out’ but when you’ve been in the game and know how it works like me, Aston Villa could go and beat Arsenal or draw. Man City as well, last season, they lost both games by one goal.
“I don’t think Aston Villa will panic. There is talk of Graham Potter but he’s at a Brighton side who he is enjoying managing.
“We are four games in, this isn’t eight or nine games where you are seven or eight points adrift of safety. That’s different, that’s when clubs will try and make a change.
“For now, Gerrard’s next four games are Arsenal, Man City, Leicester and Southampton. After those four games, if he’s not got six points, that’s a different discussion to be had.
“I feel Leicester away and Southampton at home may end up being must-wins.
“Then it’s eight games and you can look at where the points are. There will still be time there to claw the points back if a change is needed.
“I don’t think they’ll sack Gerard now but he knows he is under pressure. He’ll be getting his players to fight like they’ve never fought before to get something from these games.”
In other news, Aston Villa have reached an agreement in principle to sign a star with 30 league starts last term.