Old Heads With Young Guns At Anfield
Earlier in the week Steven Gerrard called for Liverpool to be adaptable in their transfer philosophy, insisting it doesn’t always work to ignore an experienced player and citing Premier League strugglers Aston Villa as an example.
Now, Gerrard’s manager at Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers, has echoed his captain’s comments, he said: ‘I have got a terrific relationship with the guys at Fenway Sports Group.
“I will always do in my role what I think is best for the team and club. That is all I can do. It’s not my money and not my club. I’m here to manage the group and, hopefully, we will get the players in to take us forward.
“I have got no complaints with the owners. They allow me to work and work well. If you ask any manager, they will always look for a young player that they can develop. But there are certain times when you need that experience.”
Liverpool’s squad is vastly more experienced than Aston Villa’s but Rodgers is more than aware the impact of bringing in an experienced player can have on some of the older players within a squad, “Look at Robin van Persie as the example. If you bring him in at 29, there is absolutely no question that he reinvigorates Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes. He also gives the young players something too.
“If we bring in an experienced player of the right quality, there would be no question of Steven Gerrard getting a boost from it; Luis Suarez, Daniel Agger and the young players would feed off it. That is the importance. If you are going to be up there fighting for titles, you need the right blend.”
Sam Jewell
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