Dean Saunders has sprung to the defence of Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard over the club's poor start to the season, pointing the finger at under-performing players instead.
Villa lost 2-0 to Chelsea on Sunday to leave the Midlands club on nine points after 10 games of the Premier League campaign.
In truth it's been poor from the Villains this term, with their record their worst statistically since 2015-2016 when the club were relegated.
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Gerrard has been in the post just shy of a year and is on thin ice at Villa Park, but former Wales and Villa striker Saunders believes blame should be apportioned to the squad, not the manager, taking particular issue with Philippe Coutinho and Emi Buendia.
"They've scored seven goals all season," Saunders said on talkSPORT. "After watching the last game, against Forest, I think he's decided 'we need to get more players in the box'.
"He's left Coutinho out, he's left Buendia out, saying you're not scoring, you're not creating, and instead of having a go at Steven Gerrard, you've got to start pointing the finger at some of the players.
"What are you getting paid for? What is your job, what is your role in the team, so say for example, it's Coutinho, say to him 'your job is to score goals and make goals, that's why you're here'. How many goals have you scored, how many assists have you made? And are you getting on the ball for us.
"The answer is no. You're not doing your job. What can Steven Gerrard do about Coutinho's form, apart from trying to encourage him, show him videos of where he is going. At the end of the day, the players have got to go out and do what they are paid to do in their position. He got more players in the box yesterday, definitely. (Leon) Bailey should have scored a header at the back post, they should have scored goals."
Fans disagreed with the talkSPORT pundit though, believing the buck should stop with the man in the dugout.
"I like Gerrard but the amount of excuses the media give the likes of him, Lampard and other young English coaches is laughable. If a foreign coach was in charge the criticism would be that it's 'up to the manager to get a tune out of the players'," replied one to the clip.
"What Deano fails to realise is that none of the players are playing to their full potential. None have improved in the 12 months Gerrard has been in charge. This can’t be coincidence. Plus he mentions Coutinho but it’s Gerrard who keeps playing him. Gerrard needs to Go ASAP," added another.
"You do realise Gerrard continuously picked him in spite of him being in awful form? What he can do about it is drop him. It’s literally Gerrards job to get a tune out of the players. No other manager gets these excuses," said a third.
"As bad as Coutinho has been Gerrard can't get a tune out of any of the players. I struggle to name one player his improved. His win % is less than 35% after 36 games as manager which makes him the worst in the Clubs 150yrs. If he wasn’t ‘Stevie G’ he would be gone already," commented a fourth.
"2 wins in 18 is all down to out of form players is it ? Nothing to do with systems and tactics or playing the same midfield 3 every game and not noticing them get out played every single week . Not giving youth a chance Swapping the front 3 every game and hoping it comes off," said a fifth.
Villa sit 16th in the Premier League table, a point above the relegation zone.
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