Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has seen his side pick up just eight points from their first eight Premier League games of the season.
At the end of August, it was reported that the 42-year-old was under pressure for a multitude of reasons, with results being one of the key factors.
Speaking to Football Insider, former Premier League goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has had his say on Gerrard’s situation at the Midlands club.
Gerrard under pressure
The Irishman said of the Villa manager: “100 per cent he is under pressure. Playing against a 10-man Leeds United side for 45 minutes you would expect them to win.
“They have only won twice this season. There are a few teams in the same boat. There has been a lot of draws.
“Gerrard is going to be under pressure. If you do not win for three or four games you are under pressure as a manager, I do not care who you are.
“Villa fans have been after Gerrard for a while now. They are not happy. They do not look to have progressed since Dean Smith. Let’s not forget, they have spent money. It is a difficult league though so I think he deserves more time.”
NSWE face big decision
Having taken charge of 37 games with Villa, Gerrard has seen his side win 13 times, draw seven and lose 17 matches in total.
To highlight how disappointing Villa have been from an attacking point of view this season, only three teams have a lower rate of shots at goal per 90 minutes than their 10.62, while just two teams have recorded fewer shot-creating actions than the Villans (125).
Taking all that into account and amid recent reports linking Mauricio Pochettino and Unai Emery with the Villa job, we feel that Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens have a big decision to make as to whether they want to stick with Gerrard and see if he can get the team on track, or dismiss him as they did with Dean Smith 11 months ago and get a new manager in to try and push the club into the top half of the Premier League table.
