Too Poch for Purslow

Despite Gerrard's shocking performance throughout his time with Villa, whether it be communication, motivation, tactics, player judgement, respect or simply honest and dignified self evaluation, he has failed.

Miserably, nobody, other than Lambert has ever got close (even O'Leary and Houllier got one of those right).

We are now linked with Pochettino and it seems just one man cannot see or accept the reality that this is something, however remote, that needs to have the proverbial hand snapped off.

After all:

• Most fans were at least concerned after Bournemouth.

• Some were pulled back in to be convinced it was an opening day one off after Everton.

• A significant minority saw the writing on the wall against Palace.

• Only the gullible were fooled at Bolton.

• A much larger minority realised West Ham was their turning point.

• Arsenal brought a few back to positivity in the shadow of a (ultimately terribly disappointing) transfer deadline day.

• Manchester City convinced no-one yet convinced everyone. Typical Villa raising their game only to...

• The performance against Southampton, despite a win, brought us crashing back down to earth.

• Leeds depressed a generation.

• Forest outraged a fan base, both present and absent.

• And Chelsea exposed Gerrard like never before, ironically because for a fair portion of the game it was the best we'd seen under his leadership. That is until he intervened.

There are still of course those who shout into the vast emptiness of space "But what about Arteta." But they probably also believe all Ollie needs is to channel Pele, all Super John McGinn needs is to watch a bit of Maradona and all Bailey needs is to have a chat with Ronaldo.

Now however Villa's hierarchy - for this read Christian Purslow - not content with embarrassing himself as part of the Villa warm up on Sunday - has decided that Gerrard deserves yet another two games to save his skin.

Fulham away, Brentford home.

Teams this squad should have the beating of. Fixtures that Villa often fall foul in.

Even if Villa lose at Craven Cottage, Gerrard now stays.

Only if Villa lose to Fulham as well will Purslow's judgement be revisited.

By that time Villa would have 9 points from 12 games. In all likelihood would be in the bottom three, if not at the bottom of the League a third of the way through the season.

By that time Poch could well be gone to a different project. After all it's hardly likely to be enticing to see yourself being delayed to the benefit of an incompetent.

By that time any goodwill to NSWE will have begun to erode with great speed.

Villa, Purslow and NSWE have one opportunity to end this dreadful 12 months and set Villa on a different, more positive path.

There is no sense in delaying if the engagement with Pochettino is true.

Sacking Gerrard with two games, and in all likelihood Poch, gone will render Villa lumped with another sub standard manager no-one wanted and who will lead us nowhere.

That may sound negative but with NSWE's first choice Potter gone who is going to have a similar catalytic effect so far into a disrupted season?

If there is any chance of Pochettino becoming Villa manager it would be unforgivable for NSWE and Purslow not to act even in the best circumstances.

To not do so to protect the incompetence and inevitable consequence of retaining Gerrard would be criminal.

There is no time to wait.