Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth believes that Michael Beale’s recent departure cannot be downplayed amid Aston Villa’s indifferent start to the season.
The 42-year-old had been assistant to Steven Gerrard at Villa Park but took the chance to be a No 1 himself this term with QPR.
Beale left his role as head of the academy at Liverpool in 2018 to join Gerrard at Rangers, with the pair having previously worked together on Merseyside.
The English coach then followed the boss to Villa Park in November of last year before joining the west London club in June.
Gerrard previously admitted that it would take him “15 to 20 years to become as good as Michael Beale as an on-pitch coach”, insisting that he was an “expert”.
Villa have accumulated nine points from their first nine games without Beale, while his side sit third in the Championship.
Speaking before Villa’s draw with Nottingham Forest, Sheth told GiveMeSport that his departure has certainly had an effect.
He said: “I don’t think it can be underestimated either that Michael Beale, his assistant who was at Rangers and he came to Aston Villa, left the club because he wanted to become a manager himself.
“And look how well he’s done at Queens Park Rangers after quite a shaky start, but they’re up near the play-off places; might even be in the play-off places. So, I think there are a lot of factors that you need to take into consideration.”
TIF Thoughts on Gerrard and Villa…
Is it time to get rid of Gerrard?Yes, before it's too late
Judge him in May
In Gerrard we trust
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Despite sitting 16th in the table a win over Nottingham Forest on Monday night would have lifted the club up to ninth in the standings.
It was another disappointing result on the whole for the West Midlands outfit, with pressure now increasing on Gerrard as some fans voiced their concerns after the result.
With six games to go before the mid-season break, Villa only play one team currently outside the top half in Brentford, and with Chelsea visiting on Sunday, the doubters may only get louder.
Mention those who most let Gerrard down mcginn, mings, Konsa, Watkins and a few more getting greaselish back to the club would be a massive ‘pick me up’.