Loan Will Help Guthrie Play for Liverpool
0Monday, June 25, 2007 by Paul Grech
The last thing Liverpool need at the moment is another central midfielder. With Xabi Alonso, Momo Sissoko and Steve Gerrard all securing extended contracts, the arrival late last season of Javier Mascherano will make Rafael Benitez’ job in selecting the ideal formation extremely complicated.
His job could get even harder next season if a player who had, so far, been on the fringes of the squad starts to prove that he is good enough for inclusion.
For that is what Danny Guthrie will do during his year long spell on loan at Bolton. Last season he enjoyed a similar experience at Southampton whom he joined as an emergency back-up but ended up as a regular in the side that lost in the play-off semi-final.
Those three months proved just what a talent Guthrie really is. He had already shown glimpses of his ability when handed the occasional opportunity by Benitez to play.
One of the things that to look out for when a young player gets the chance to play with the senior side is his attitude. Some players tend to fade away, almost afraid of getting the ball. Others rise up to the opportunity and, when Guthrie was asked to play, that is what he did. Irrespective of whether asked to play in his favoured central position or elsewhere he was instantly confident and at ease. That he immediately started looking for the ball – and always knew what to do with it – was equally impressing.
At Southampton he kept up that attitude, playing with an Alonso-like confidence that his passes were going to find the intended recipient on most occasions and, whilst lacking the ability to make that mazy dribble, his vision can put defences under pressure.
Having overcome the challenge of Championship football with relative ease, a taste of Premiership football was the logical next step. At Bolton he will initially start as a squad member, just as at Southampton, with the objective of forcing Sammy Lee into playing him on a regular basis. And, at the same time, forcing Rafael Benitez into acknowledging that his problems on who to choose to play in midfield are about to increase.
His job could get even harder next season if a player who had, so far, been on the fringes of the squad starts to prove that he is good enough for inclusion.
For that is what Danny Guthrie will do during his year long spell on loan at Bolton. Last season he enjoyed a similar experience at Southampton whom he joined as an emergency back-up but ended up as a regular in the side that lost in the play-off semi-final.
Those three months proved just what a talent Guthrie really is. He had already shown glimpses of his ability when handed the occasional opportunity by Benitez to play.
One of the things that to look out for when a young player gets the chance to play with the senior side is his attitude. Some players tend to fade away, almost afraid of getting the ball. Others rise up to the opportunity and, when Guthrie was asked to play, that is what he did. Irrespective of whether asked to play in his favoured central position or elsewhere he was instantly confident and at ease. That he immediately started looking for the ball – and always knew what to do with it – was equally impressing.
At Southampton he kept up that attitude, playing with an Alonso-like confidence that his passes were going to find the intended recipient on most occasions and, whilst lacking the ability to make that mazy dribble, his vision can put defences under pressure.
Having overcome the challenge of Championship football with relative ease, a taste of Premiership football was the logical next step. At Bolton he will initially start as a squad member, just as at Southampton, with the objective of forcing Sammy Lee into playing him on a regular basis. And, at the same time, forcing Rafael Benitez into acknowledging that his problems on who to choose to play in midfield are about to increase.
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