Rousseau

I don't see Tavernier going. I wouldn't be opposed to it, though. It's a big loss, but would allow us to play Patterson.

Aye-or Ally, or Warnock, or Steve Clarke, or Giggsy, or Neil Lennon... a safe pair 'o hawns. Get the f*ck out!

Right--Ross Wilson, mate, you're up! Go!

RANGERS can today announce the departure of manager Steven Gerrard to Aston Villa. https://www.rangers.co.uk/article/club-statement-11-11/59uIWHbnTGNvF7wRXO1oAI

I knew it was coming, but...

I would be really disappointed with that appointment.

Recently, sure, but they are a sleeping giant.

According to Sky Sports News: Steven Gerrard expected to join Aston Villa on two-and-a-half-year deal.

I'm not against GVB, but as I said elsewhere, I still have a sneaky suspicion that he's another DeBoer: good in the Dutch League with a big team, but will fail everywhere else. The arguments against that is that he did have a prolonged spell of success not at the two biggest sides (Ajax and PSV), and has been studying with Pep at City Group. He's also not actually been tested outside of the Netherlands, so it would be unfair to write him off.

Yes, and he also had MK dons playing some really nice football. That sounds good, but I don't think he should be a target, simply because he's not been a manager long enough. He was at MK dons for not even a year, and he's just in the door at Swansea. He needs longer before we should consider him. I don't like how almost everyone has written him off because it's Russell Martin, the donkey defender. I suppose it goes the other way too, with everyone plucking great players from the past as candidates, simple because they were good players. It's quite funny. Playing career has little influence on managerial prospects. Klopp was a failed player; Tuchel was a failure as player; Mourinho never played; Conte was an average player, but had a winning mentality; Pep was a star, learning from the best; Nagelsmann never played; Potter wasn't distinguished... etc.

This. I'll love him for the rest of my life for what he's done: The title was superb and those European nights will live long in the memory. I wish him well.

I'm excited for a change, but I wouldn't say I'm wishing it. Quite frankly, on current form, I don't see us doing anything. We're just limping along with really difficult away fixtures in December. Goldson is leaving anyway, and he's been absolutely abysmal this season. Tavernier won't be going anywhere; he was here before SG and he'll be here after. Kent could go, but if we're getting £15M+ for him then... great! The pessimism around this has really surprised me, to be honest.

I don't quite understand timing issue? OK--losing a manager half way through a season is less than ideal. But, if we lose a few games in December, which is more than likely with the fixtures and our form, then there will be plenty calling for his head. There's no guarantee anyway that he's going to win the league. Maybe it's because we've been burned in the recent past by appointments? However, the DoF is in place, and doing a good job, so I have trust that he'll make good decisions again. From SG's point-of-view, the timing is just down to the fact that the Aston Villa job is available. It is an attractive job, no matter how we may see it with our blue-tinted spectacles. If the Aston Villa job wasn't available, he'd still be here. Rodgers left because Leicester came calling - why would he wait until the end of the season to get stuck with Norwich, or some basket-case? Aston Villa is a step up.

@ian1964 !

He came to get his first job and build his reputation. He's done that. He's done a wonderful job. But it's clear he wants the Liverpool job eventually, and he'll not be able to go from us to that job. He needs another step. I hate to break it to you but we can't compete with (a) Villa, who spent £250M over the last season or two, or (b) the PL, the richest league in the world.

You can be happily married but if Margot Robbie throws herself at you, you've got a decision to make (which divorce lawyer are you going to choose). For me, the only way he builds his reputation more is by getting a PL gig. I don't think Aston Villa are getting relegated. I agree it's not a sure thing. What happens if we lose the League this season. Does that not tarnish his reputation? There's risk everywhere.

And yet you want Ally McCoist and Steven Davis in charge...

Why would he go to Newcastle? It's a relegation fight, with a small chance of them staying up. It's also got a lot of expectation now with the money. The job is not attractive - at least not the first manager; the next manager will be an attractive job, when a wee bit of money has been spent to improve the squad. There's a reason why two managers turned it down. Aston Villa are a big club, with a good squad and a good budget. I don't think it'll take much to get them firing again. And, to be honest, he needs a PL job if he wants to get to the Liverpool hot seat in a few years, IMO.

Surely it's because the Aston Villa job is available? You can't leave for a job that isn't available. It's the same with those that are saying he should wait until the end of the season - why would he wait when the job is available now? You can't pick and choose when a job opens up.

No, of course not, but my point was he was a good appointment by Wilson.

Ah. Sorry @Bill I rate Hasenhuttl. A very good coach, somewhat hampered by poor player investment.

Wilson appointed David Wagner at Huddersfield too, which was a good appointment. Wagner did well at Huddersfield and is currently head coach at Young Boys in the CL after winning the Swiss league last season.

I think he means Wilson, in terms of his managerial appointments. I agree that Hasenhuttl has done quite well.

I think Claude Puel was good, but he was unfavourably compared to Koeman and Pochettino, who over-performed in many ways. Pellegrino and Hughes were poor. I rate Hasenhuttl quite highly, though. I don't know what we can draw from these appointments, other than a safe pair of hands (Puel and Hughes) and looking for an exciting coach (Pellegrino and Hasenhuttl), maybe?