Just to play devil's advocate, it's a little early to be claiming he's a good manager. He's had what, 8 games?
I think you could put down the current season's start to the players giving it more and everyone being on a bit of a lift because of Gerrard's reputation/name more than anything.
It'll be interesting to see how he does when they lose a couple of games. That will be the real test of how good a manger he is.
I also think he is a hell of a long way away from a Premier League job, let alone Liverpool! He's at, arguably, the second best team in that division. Hardly that much of a challenge all told. If he can't succeed there, he won't last long as a manager!
Frankly, I would say that Lampard has taken the harder and more ambitious route by going into the Championship. Which is a better standard in my opinion, particularly if you take away 2/3 of the teams from the SPL. I'd say that Gerrard has a much easier time of it with his choice of club.
Well I did start my first comment there with "So thus far"
And thus far he's negotiated 9 competitive matches undefeated including an away day at Aberdeen where they played over 80 minutes of the game down to 10 men and still dominated in a way Burnley failed to with 11 men. Throw in 6 Euro qualifications ties undefeated and in none of these games domestic or Euro have they even been behind at any time it's unarguably a good and impressive start.
I think he has taken a far more high profile position than Lampard at a club where the expectations are far higher than at Derby. As you say even a single defeat far less a couple will see intense scrutiny but I think he's savvy enough to know that and knew it before he took the position.
Plus you say he's at "arguably, the second best team in that division" which hasn't been the case in the two seasons they have been back in it, Aberdeen were. And you need to appreciate that even being second best isn't good enough to get him plaudits. He has to make the team the best and quick at that or he will be labeled a failure not just by the fans but the media too. There's nothing like that kind of pressure or level of media scrutiny at Derby.
And considering the journey Rangers have been on over the past 6 years while Celtic stole a march with what amounted to probably comfortably over £100 million in Euro money overtaking them is a tall order indeed. If he can do it it's a remarkable achievement.
And at the end of the day all I said was it was a good start. I would fully agree it remains to be seen what will become of it over the course of a season.