Gerrard appointment: Good or bad for Nakamba?
WITH Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard having been appointed the new Aston Villa manager yesterday, Zimbabwean soccer fans are now waiting to discover what plans the former Rangers coach has for Warriors midfielder Marvelous Nakamba.
Nakamba had started to enjoy good game time under Dean Smith, who was fired last week following five consecutive defeats.
Gerrard’s first task would be to make sure Aston Villa are hard to beat, which could win Nakamba game time, given that David Luiz is still out injured.
The former Liverpool skipper played the position that Nakamba currently plays for Villa, at some stage at Liverpool as well as for England.
Some fans reckon Nakamba will benefit a lot from Gerrard’s appointment, especially being coached by someone who is regarded as one of the best midfielders to have played in the English Premier League.
Aston Villa announced the capture of Gerrard and club chief executive Christian Purslow, also formerly at Liverpool, said Gerrard was their priority, especially with his ability to develop young players.
“The board of Aston Villa is delighted to appoint Steven as our new head coach,” Purslow said.
“Since moving into coaching after his illustrious playing career, Steven began by managing and developing top young players in the Liverpool FC Academy, which experience we value highly at Aston Villa.
“He then took the brave decision to test himself in the intense and high-pressured environment of the Scottish Old Firm. His subsequent achievement in winning the Premiership title with Glasgow Rangers really caught our eye as did his experience in Europe.”
Gerrard said the club’s ambition motivated him to join the Birmingham-based side.
“Aston Villa is a club with a rich history and tradition in English football and I am immensely proud to become its new head coach,” he said.
“It was apparent how ambitious their plans are for the club and I am looking forward to helping them achieve their aims.”
Villa clash with Brighton at home after the international break and have a tough run of fixtures, where they will face Crystal Palace (away), Manchester City (home), Leicester City (home) before Gerrard makes a return to Anfield, but this time in the away dug out.
Aston Villa sit on position 16, just two points above the drop zone.
Fans will be eagerly awaiting the Brighton clash to see how Gerrard will use Nakamba, who is believed to be a target of the mega rich Newcastle.