Martin O’Neill has claimed that ‘the crowd have taken’ to Steven Gerrard after he swapped Rangers for Aston Villa, as he told talkSPORT.
It was a big talking point when Gerrard opted to leave his role at Rangers for a Villa team, who at the time, were struggling in the Premier League.
But, along with his coaching staff, it didn’t take too long for the legendary midfielder to change the mood around B6.
Whilst Villa are nowhere near their end goal, the signs are pretty positive, the style of play is very evident, the team have improved and big-name players have joined.
O’Neill understands the pressures of being in that Villa Park dugout and without pouring ‘cold water’ over Gerrard’s short period at the club, this is what the Irishman had to say.
“It’s very, very difficult to start making a lot of judgments,” said O’Neill. “He came at a very decent time for him, in the sense that Villa had lost a number of games, so coming in and settling things down.
“From that viewpoint, absolutely the crowd have taken to him. So, it’s early days yet to make big, big decisions.
“Let’s see by the end of the season how he has done. I am not throwing cold water over this particular affair.
“But I am always sceptical of someone turning things around in two games and then losing one or two.”
The last time Villa were in Europe, O’Neill was the man in the dugout and that’s where the club want to return.
It’s highly unlikely that it will happen this season, but there is every chance they can do the business during the next campaign.
Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne have been two big names Gerrard has lured to Villa Park.
And it’s going to be interesting who he adds to his ever-progressing squad in the summer.
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