The ability to play comfortably in more than one position is an extremely desirable one in the modern game, regardless of team or system. However, the squad that Brendan Rodgers is trying to accumulate at Anfield depends on players having the necessary versatility to cover all areas of the team adequately. Rodgers was recently quoted as saying that he wants a tight-knit, small group of 17 or 18 players with youth products providing back up, which in the modern game is the sustainable way to go about building a squad, and quite possibly a legacy. Having players who can cover at least two positions saves money on wages and a smaller squad tends to mean that the atmosphere within the group is more positive, as they are closer as a team.
The career of Stewart Downing at Liverpool is a fine example of how versatility can increase a player’s usefulness. When Rodgers first came to Liverpool many fans, myself included, thought that it spelled the end for Downing. He didn’t seem able to fit in the system, had struggled during his first season, appeared to be woeful value for money and the whole situation surrounding him just seemed like an embarrassment. However, due to a combination of an injury and a dire performance in Switzerland from Jose Enrique against Young Boys, events led to Downing covering him at left back when Glen Johnson was unable to, and suddenly the £20million man looked like a premier league footballer. He was by no means good enough to start at left back regularly, but provided cover when needed. This transition was epitomised during the home game against Wigan, when Downing started at left back and Enrique started wide left in a more advanced position. So, Downing’s ability to perform in more than one position saved his Liverpool career for one more season at least, although he may well be offloaded this summer.
It doesn’t always turn out quite that rosy though. Just ask Liverpool fans how Jordan Henderson fared in his first season, when consistently played out of position by Kenny Dalglish, who insisted on playing him out wide right of the midfield. A strange decision given that he has looked twice the player under Rodgers, and is the England under 21 captain, when played in his preferred position of central midfield. He is a player who a manager can ask to play anywhere and he will work as hard as ever, and has played right back and right midfield for Liverpool. As he matures as a player, I think he will eventually replace Steven Gerrard, albeit a less inspirational engine in the midfield. That is in no way derogatory to Henderson, who I rate very highly, but in fairness is there anyone who could replace Gerrard and do the same job for over a decade?
Back to the versatility point, even two living legends Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard have played in different positions for Liverpool over the years, between them covering every outfield position going except for the main striker. Gerrard even had a stint at right back during extra time in the famous victory in Istanbul.
So we go forwards into the current transfer window, and the rumour mill is already going into overdrive. The already signed Kolo Toure is a defender who can cover across the back four, and no one can quite agree on where Iago Aspas will fit in when his transfer is eventually completed. These two targets show encouraging early signs, as do Rodgers’ signings from January, Coutinho and Sturridge, that our manager recognises the need to have versatility within the squad in order to spend within our means and still challenge the top four, which we hopefully will do under his guidance. For the first time since Rafa, Liverpool have a manager that hasn’t got fans blinded to his faults by the memory of his playing achievements and what he means to the club, and one that isn’t Roy Hodgson (I for one still shudder at the memory of Paul Koncheskey and Christian Poulsen). For the first time since the dark days of Hicks and Gillett, the team is under the right guidance, and we’re moving forward.
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