Ryan’s a mover and a Shaker who knows Klopp’s favourite beer
RYAN LOWE got the beers in for Jurgen Klopp at a pre-season friendly – and he hopes Paul Scholes will be drowning his sorrows tonight.
On the same weekend that Klopp rides into town with his title contenders on serious Premier League business, at the far end of the Metrolink tram line from Altrincham the undercard has its own undercurrent of East Lancs Road rivalry.
Lowe’s great entertainers – Bury have scored 85 goals this season – meet Oldham and their Class of 92 graduate at Gigg Lane.
Scholes has started life in management with a win, draw and defeat and Fergie time has been unkind to him, with last-gasp goals costing the Latics points against Crewe and Morecambe.
If the formbook is a guide Lowe, who was in the same Liverpool youth team as Steven Gerrard, has more heartache in store for the dugout’s latest novice. Anfield messiah Klopp was complimentary about Bury’s attacking formation when they played out a 0-0 draw in July, and Shakers manager Lowe said: “It was fantastic to pick his brains over a beer afterwards.
“I managed to find out his favourite tipple and got a few bottles in the fridge. Even better, he invited me down to Melwood to watch them train – as a big Liverpool fan, I couldn’t think of anything better.
“Our club doctor also serves Manchester City, so we’re hopeful of fixing a date to go and see Pep Guardiola at work. I’m ambitious, and if I want to test myself against the best in the business one day, I might as well tap into their wisdom.
“It’s good that some big names are filtering down in to League Two – Sol Campbell was a hell of a player, and Macclesfield have improved since he got hold of them, and this weekend I’ll be shaking hands with Paul Scholes.
“Say what you like about Liverpool’s rivalry with Manchester United, but I had no end of respect for Scholes as a player and I’m looking forward to pitting my wits against him as a manager. “Whether it’s a League Two manager, or a guy from the Premier League or a top European club, I like to ask questions.
“The only way you can hope to be the best is by learning from different situations and using that information to improve. So when Jurgen Klopp or Paul Scholes comes to Gigg Lane, when they talk I’m all ears.”
Lowe, 40, was already a cult hero among Shakers fans after scoring 72 goals in three spells with the club as a player. When the third spell morphed into management, Lowe’s attacking philosophy – based loosely on the teachings of Chinese hermits Gung and Ho – took a while to bed in.
But Bury, who are also one step from Wembley in the EFL Trophy, are scoring goals for fun now.
“We seem to have that special bond and I just feel that it’s ‘my’ club,” said Lowe, 40.
“I always had a good relationship with the fans because I was part of the side who won two promotions.
“And I’ve been fortunate to get the job in circumstances which have allowed me to put my stamp on it which is all about scoring goals, creating chances and being relentless.
“We have players who are very comfortable on the ball and many have played at a higher level, so you might as well use their experience and play to their strengths.
“Just because they are little old Bury of League Two, why can’t we try and play like Liverpool, Barcelona or Manchester City?” Championship: 3pm
IPSWICH boss Paul Lambert has told veteran duo Luke Chambers and Cole Skuse they still have a future. Even if the rock-bottom Tractor Boys drop into the third tier for the first time in 62 years he doesn’t want to lose them. Lambert, who starts a two-game touchline ban at Wigan today, said: “I don’t think there are better role models anywhere.” Chambers (left), 33, and Skuse, 33 next month, have played a total of 543 games for the club. Chambers said: “If I’m the captain that takes us down I’d also want to be the captain that brings us back up.”