Steven Gerrard has, again, been strongly linked with a move away from Ibrox, this time it is to Premier League strugglers Aston Villa, who are a shadow of their former European Cup winning selves.
Yes, they are a “big” club with a rich history but they are miles away from being able to compete, even for European places, never mind the league title, that staying in the top flight is their number one priority says it all about their current predicament.
Despite some pundits saying that Villa would be a stepping stone towards the Liverpool job, former Gers gaffer and all-round legend, Ally McCoist, reckons that needn’t be the case when he was asked about the speculation on Talksport:
“Oh no, I think he can go straight to Liverpool. He absolutely can. I just think there’s a greater risk (going to Aston Villa first), but it is a possibility.
“What is the gauge of success now at Villa? Is it top eight? Top six?
“Unfortunately Dean Smith wasn’t given time and I think he should have been.
“Rangers are well within their rights to say ‘no we aren’t letting you talk to him’ which would be interesting.”
Of course McCoist is right, if Gerrard continues to progress at Rangers there is nothing to suggest that the Liverpool job wouldn’t be a possibility.
Winning trophies is one thing but his record in Europe is what is most likely to attract him to other clubs, the ability to adapt and change tactics depending on the opposition, especially if he manages to get us into the Champions League and have us competing at that level.
Will Gerrard go to Aston Villa?
Yes
No
Ally also talks about the pressure of the job at Ibrox, which he knows all too well himself, and how that in itself is ideal preparation for one day taking over a club that now expects rather than hopes for success – managing a club where second place is last is why Gerrard took the job in the first place, he’s a born winner destined for greater things than a relegation battle.