Is key consultation going to be the difference for Steven Gerrard?
With The New Saints tonight, Bury
on Friday and the Europa League underway less than a week later, thought has to
start focusing on what system Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is likely to
deploy.
on Friday and the Europa League underway less than a week later, thought has to
start focusing on what system Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is likely to
deploy.
As we know every manager has a ‘favoured’
formation and system, and often this contributes to their downfall. Mark
Warburton refused to shift from his Barcelona
model, while Pedro’s obsession with 4-2-3-1 hardly helped his cause.
formation and system, and often this contributes to their downfall. Mark
Warburton refused to shift from his Barcelona
model, while Pedro’s obsession with 4-2-3-1 hardly helped his cause.
In itself this is not a bad thing
– every manager will have a preferred setup they’ll primarily deploy, but good
ones also have alternatives. They manage by game, and change their system and
personnel when needed. Walter was the master of this – the king of 4-4-2 in the
90s, he’d happily send out six or even seven defenders when a big match came
along, or use the one up top in his second spell.
– every manager will have a preferred setup they’ll primarily deploy, but good
ones also have alternatives. They manage by game, and change their system and
personnel when needed. Walter was the master of this – the king of 4-4-2 in the
90s, he’d happily send out six or even seven defenders when a big match came
along, or use the one up top in his second spell.
And that flexibility is key –
Stevie is set to have a word with Uncle Walter about the job, and there is no
better person for a manager to talk to about managing Rangers.
Stevie is set to have a word with Uncle Walter about the job, and there is no
better person for a manager to talk to about managing Rangers.
And that willing to learn from
someone who knows his stuff is a perfect example of why and how Gerrard is
doing things right and preparing for the mammoth task properly. Past managers
were ludicrously arrogant and treated Rangers poorly and with no respect – Gerrard
might not be one of us yet, but he is showing utter class in how he’s going
about business and he’s doing the right things.
someone who knows his stuff is a perfect example of why and how Gerrard is
doing things right and preparing for the mammoth task properly. Past managers
were ludicrously arrogant and treated Rangers poorly and with no respect – Gerrard
might not be one of us yet, but he is showing utter class in how he’s going
about business and he’s doing the right things.
And one of the right things is
consulting with a true master about how to approach the job.
consulting with a true master about how to approach the job.
Gerrard is his own man, a leader,
strong willed and a true warrior – but getting some vital tips for his first
foray into management from someone who’s seen it all, done it all (twice) is a
wise move to make.
strong willed and a true warrior – but getting some vital tips for his first
foray into management from someone who’s seen it all, done it all (twice) is a
wise move to make.
And one of the tips Walter will surely
give him is to manage per game, rather than rigidly sticking to one system and
never altering regardless of the opponent.
give him is to manage per game, rather than rigidly sticking to one system and
never altering regardless of the opponent.
Stevie has picked a brutal start
for life in management, but he is approaching it with the best groundwork he
could.
for life in management, but he is approaching it with the best groundwork he
could.
Will he be a success? Who knows.
We can have no clue yet as to whether Steven Gerrard will be more John Barnes
or Graeme Souness. But he is 100% laying the framework perfectly, and if he
doesn’t manage to succeed, it will not be as a result of a lack of preparation
and will.
We can have no clue yet as to whether Steven Gerrard will be more John Barnes
or Graeme Souness. But he is 100% laying the framework perfectly, and if he
doesn’t manage to succeed, it will not be as a result of a lack of preparation
and will.
And we look hugely forward to
seeing how he gets on, starting tonight.
seeing how he gets on, starting tonight.