Former Aston Villa hero Dean Saunders reckons Steven Gerrard ARGUED his way into a "knee-jerk" sacking from the Premier League side.
The former Rangers boss was shown the door after 11 months in charge after his 10-man side went down 3-0 to newly promoted Fulham on Thursday night to leave them 17th in the Premier League table, with a relegation scrap looming this term. Gerrard walked away from the Ibrox hot seat off the back of lifting the Scottish Premiership title during an unbeaten league campaign, but has failed improve results or form since taking over from Dean Smith in the Midlands.
The drubbing at Craven Cottage was the final straw for the Aston Villa owners, with Gerrard winning just 13 of his 40 games as manager with just two coming this term. However, Saunders reckons that Gerrard has paid the price for some disappointing results towards the end of last term.
He told talkSPORT: "From last season he probably had some baggage which has cost him. You look at it and two wins and you would be in the top half of the table.
"For Aston Villa, what their target is in their third year back in the Premier League, I would say seventh or eighth. With the money they have spent, the time he has had to get a team together, and the squad.
"Being 19th in the table and not playing that well, I don't think the fans are prepared to accept it or the owners. Aston Villa is too big a club to be 19th in the Premier League."
Saunders also claims that a row between Gerrard and the owners led to a brief two-line statement announcing the manager's sacking. He continued: "It was a bit sharp, wasn't it? I thought he would make it to breakfast, but they have just slashed his legs off.
"I have managed six teams and been sacked twice. First time I got sacked I got a phone call the next day. The second time was right after a game, and I said 'can't you wait until Monday?' It's a knee jerk reaction.
"I am trying to work out why it has been so quick. It sounds like he has had an argument with them and has gone 'well sack me if you like'; it was a bit quick."
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