11 Nov 2021 09:11:06
Realistically Stevie G atm is no different from Ole at Utd. Done well in a minor league but unproven in a top job.
I think it could be a big mistake if Villa appoint him but agree it's something he has to do eventually if one day he wants to manage us.
Are there any recent examples of top english players who have successfully become managers because I am struggling to think of any although there were some in past (Venables, Robson, Ramsey etc)

11 Nov 2021 09:54:56
I think the challenge is that, especially in the last 20 years, success has become something that fans and Boards demand immediately. As a result, top clubs are extremely reluctant to appoint unproven managers. This having been the case for a number of years means that younger managers haven't got the opportunity. Most of the HG mangers tend to be at mid-table clubs or lower - think Eddie Howe (interested to see where he can take Newcastle with all that money), Moyes, Bruce (albeit he was god awful! ) and before them Roeder (RIP) and Curbishley.

I think the path to a top club is always difficult - Fergie was given 5 seasons, Moyes barely got 1. I hope that Stevie G does prove himself at Villa and therefore can succeed Klopp in the eyes of both the romanticists and the realists.

Interesting to note that he is reportedly agreeing a 2.5 year deal - the end of which coincides with the end of Klopp's deal?

Coincidence? That's just Joe-incidence with a 'J' ;-)

11 Nov 2021 10:06:17
OP, are you comparing the Norwegian League to the Scottish Premiership? Pls, do not try to diminish what SG achieved at Rangers in a bid to make him look on par with Ole. They are not and never will be on par. If Ole never played for Utd they would never look his way whereas Villa looked at Gerrard’s actual record as Rangers manager and have taken a punt on him based on his record and merit, not cos he played for him.

Rangers are a huge club and SG won the the league for the first time since liquidation over a decade ago with less resources than Celtic did. He also stopped Celtic from winning their record 10th league title, which has out him in living legend status among the fans. I didn’t say that. A Reds fan who is also a Rangers fan, said so in any LFC podcast.

Please, compare what is comparable cos your current comparison has no basis in actual reality.

11 Nov 2021 10:23:55
It’s official, Stevie G is a Villain.

11 Nov 2021 10:56:39
Stevie wants the LFC job and to get it he has to prove his worth in the premier league. Fair play to him leaving his comfort zone up in the Scottish Premiership and putting his neck on the line at Villa.

It’ll be a tough task for him but if he doesn’t gamble now then he will never put himself in the running.

11 Nov 2021 11:26:14
Totally agree JK, fair play to the chap and I hope he does well.

11 Nov 2021 11:41:51
He signed a 3.5 year deal. It's funny how some LFC fans are writing him off already. Yes, he was in a crap league, but he took Rangers through an entire season unbeaten and won the league ahead of Celtic by 25 points, whilst also taking them on a very decent run in Europe. Some people just can't go through life without giving people the credit they deserve. As an ambitious, young English manager, I say go for it and hope he's a huge success, it's about time the English game produced a decent manager!

11 Nov 2021 11:45:47
It's good to see we still have some decency and logic left here lol.

11 Nov 2021 12:40:35
December the 11th will be interesting!

11 Nov 2021 12:56:43
Yea Totally agrees. fair play to him after pledging his loyalty with the Rangers last week while leaving them midseason with everything to play for lol.

11 Nov 2021 13:09:24
Good luck to him. The Premier League has never been more competitive in that middle section so it'll be a tough gig to follow Dean Smith who did a pretty decent job. Villa do have a very good squad (Ings, Watkins, McGinn, Consa, Buendia, Bailey, Martinez) and wealthy owners so he'll have the tools at his disposal.

11 Nov 2021 13:49:35
So lazy to compare stevie to Ole, Frank et al. The only similarity there is that they are ex pros.

Its in context of the Scottish Premier for sure, but we shouldn't dismiss so easily the job he did there. And the thing I lie about his approach to management is that he is looking to earn his stripes. Taking on projects he can sink his teeth into.

Villa is fantastic for him imo. Solid core, young team. I'm excited to see how he goes.

11 Nov 2021 14:31:16
Lol, it's one of them for me. I mean I wish him the very best but what is he going to do with villa? Come on we have to be real here. I think it's a great test for him, see how he does but this is make or break should he want a managerial job at a top club. Personally I think he'll do bugger all simply because it's villa but good luck to him, hopefully I'm proved wrong. It'll certainly be an interesting one. Miracles do happen after all.

11 Nov 2021 14:50:04
Salah mate I agree abt make or break for him and like you just thought what's villa"s celling? Coz they aren't good for top 4 or even top 6.

Is top 8-10 better then winning another league/ cup with Rangers?

But after reading some stuff came to know they've got very rich and ambitious owner who wats European places hence he was appointed coz of how Rangers performed in Europa and the calibre of players he can attract.

11 Nov 2021 15:40:56
Salah, don’t quote me on it but I’m sure villa’s owners put ours to shame financially. Europe isn’t out of the question for them and what an achievement it would be if Stevie could do it with them, even if he just gets them close. He was never going to prove himself in a two horse race.

11 Nov 2021 16:53:42
So what's he meant to do Salah? He could win 5 leagues on the trot with Rangers and even then none of the top English might give him a chance. I think if he could break the top 6 or even get Villa into Europe then that's another tick on his C. V.

11 Nov 2021 18:58:27
Yeah and it's a big if JH.

11 Nov 2021 19:23:31
Agree salah in Scotland he won nothing really 3 1/ 2 years and got a league trophy in a one horse race. I really can’t see him doing anything at villa how anyone would see a top6 finish as success is beyond me. Martin O’Neil managed top 6 with villa on two occasions and where is he now not managing LFC that’s for sure!

11 Nov 2021 19:48:25
Andy if you don't think a top 6 finish with Villa is a success i don't know what to say to you. You can be sure his bosses will be happy with him next season if he achieves it.

11 Nov 2021 19:59:35
Jason have you seen how rich villas owners are? With their backing a top 6 finish should be a given so if that’s the case how can achieving the basic requirement with that backing be classed a success?

{Ed002's Note - You need to move all of this misinformation and nonsense to the Aston Villa pages - there the Liverpool fans can spout on about their lack of understanding of the finances and jealousy as long as they wish.}

11 Nov 2021 20:26:19
End of day it’s upto him if he makes it or he fails! He’s got the resources to give it a good go at villa. I’m sure I read it that the villa owners are worth more than chelsea.
If he fails he fails but unless he tries he’ll never know. The bloke gave everything while at Liverpool and some of you should hang your heads in shame, he’s only trying to progress!

11 Nov 2021 21:35:31
Everyone outgrows being the big the fish in the small pond. Everyone wants to make the jump to the big pond. He's made it now, let's see if he sinks or swims.

11 Nov 2021 21:53:59
I think it's a risk for him, a big one, but it's one he'll feel he has to take. Opportunities don't typically come along at the perfect time.

In my head I like to think that if I was a manager I'd go ply my trade in the Championship or overseas (language is always a
challenge obviously) . I'd probably have not taken the road Gerrard has taken, but hell it's easy to be pragmatic when you're imaging it.

12 Nov 2021 10:20:48
Lol jealousy of villa? Who's jealous?