Joey Barton backs 'slow plodding midfielder' Steven Gerrard to succeed at Rangers

via Evening Times |

JOEY Barton has backed Steven Gerrard for success at Rangers as he believes ‘slow, plodding midfielders’ make the best managers.

The 35-year-old was unveiled as the new Fleetwood Town boss on Monday following an 18-month ban from the game for gambling offences.

Barton’s appointment at the League One outfit marks his first step into senior management, much like Gerrard and his former England teammate Frank Lampard, who took the Derby County job last week. 

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The former Burnley, QPR and Newcastle United player pointed to Gerrard and Lampard’s playing style as a reason they could be destined for success in the dugout.

“They (Gerrard and Lampard) both must believe in their talent to step out of the comfort of the punditry chair,” he said.

“They will face pressure but I think they will both be excellent. If you look at it, slow plodding midfielders tend to become good managers.

“Look at many great managers and they tend to be of a certain type.

“Pep Guardiola is the best coach but was a midfielder who had no pace and no skills. Mauricio Pochettino was of the similar profile.

“Zinedine Zidane may buck the trend but he was a midfielder! I am taking great refuge in the fact that midfielders tend to make really good coaches.

“I had no skills, I wasn’t really big, wasn’t really quick and wasn’t really strong.

“So to survive as long as I did I had to be able to scheme so hopefully that will help me.”