Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , Liverpool hero Vladimir Smicer has given his assessment on former Liverpool strikers, claiming we may yet see Darwin Nunez return to the Premier League and gives his opinion in the Owen vs Fowler debate.
The Champions League-winning former midfielder also spoke on managers including whether about his boss Rafa Benitez could return to the Premier League one day and if Arne Slot has changed his player management approach from last season.
Smicer has given his perspective on his former teammate and whether Jamie Carragher would've made a good manager, he also backed Steven Gerrard to work his way back to Liverpool in the future but stresses he find success again in England before that happens.
Former Liverpool Strikers
Darwin Nunez
We may see Darwin Nunez back. He's a very young player. I think that football in Saudi Arabia… I only know the financial aspect is very interesting, very attractive, and a lot of players are playing there, but some players don't like the environment of the football there, or the atmosphere at the stadiums, which are different to the Premier League.
Some of the players are missing that, and they are coming back, in Europe or playing in the Premier League. We have seen Jordan Henderson do that. I can see Darwin Nunez coming back one day to the Premier League, and I would be happy to see that because he was a special player, he always gave 100 percent.
People argue he missed some chances, that happens in football. I was always behind him, but he did make me quite nervous.
Owen vs Fowler
I had the honour of playing with both Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen. I didn't play with Robbie when he was at his best. When I joined Liverpool in 1999, I missed his peak seasons, where he scored 30 or more goals.
In 2001, Michael Owen won the Ballon d’Or and was considered the best player in Europe. It's difficult to choose between them.
Robbie's nickname, ‘God,’ speaks for itself. Comparing ‘God’ to a Ballon d’Or winner is a tough decision. Liverpool fans have strong opinions about these two, especially since Michael played for Manchester United after Real Madrid and Newcastle.
They were both very special for Liverpool and England. They were both incredibly talented. I believe they would have been even better players without their injuries. Their injuries stopped them from reaching their full potential. They are both good lads and we are good friends.
Rafa Benitez
Benitez Premier League Comeback
I think Rafa Benitez wants to work, and I think he's a quality manager. What more can I say? We won the Champions League with him.
He's shown throughout his managerial career that he can do special things. He's very clever and tactically astute, and I think he still has the energy to manage a Premier League team, and he's around and probably waiting for offers.
What about Scotland? I think it would be perfect for him. It depends if he wants to manage in the Scottish league.
Rangers and Celtic are very big clubs, playing in Europe every year. I think it's a good destination for any coach. If you're successful there, you're close again to coming back to the Premier League.
These two clubs are followed by people and fans all over the world. Rafa doesn't need to prove himself with his success and everything he's done in football, but if you want a quality, experienced manager, he's perfect for that.
Arne Slot
Slot’s “Different Side”
We have seen a different side to Arne Slot this season. You need to critique players when they are not performing. Of course, you don't want to do that publicly. It's always a fine line when you want to critique the players. It's better when you take them to the training ground, you speak to them, you say, ‘Hey, I'm expecting better from you.’
You don't want to say everything in public because people like that, but the players don't like that. Of course, I never liked it when you were criticised publicly by your manager. Last year, when Jurgen left, he left a very good squad and team for Arne Slot. And Arne was clever. He didn't panic; he didn't buy any players.
It was not necessary to do any big movements, big things. But this season is different. The team is completely new, new players. Now he must work really hard. It's a hard job for him to put the team all together again and find everyone their space and the system which is working for these new players and new team.
So it's much, much harder now this season for Arne, and that's why he's maybe saying to the players that he's expecting more from an individual point of view, from the performances, and it will help the team
Jamie Carragher
Could Carragher Have Managed?
I think Jamie Carragher chose well. I think his role is fantastic. He understands football and makes good points. A lot of times, I agree with him, and I think he's better as a pundit than he would’ve been as a manager. He would be very, very emotional as a manager on the training ground.
I remember him when he was playing as a right-back behind me, and my goodness, he was shouting all the time at me, if I played badly or well. I think he would be a very, very emotional coach. I think being a pundit is perfect for him. I like the way he's working for Sky, and yeah, he's a good lad.”
Steven Gerrard
Gerrard’s Next Managerial Move
Stevie G wants to be a manager. He had a good start at Rangers, then, of course, he went to Aston Villa. Then he went to the Far East, and now he's back. I think he's definitely looking for a job. I think he's still a young manager, and it’s good to prove yourself with a few teams in different leagues.
The Championship could be a good move; if you’re successful, then you’re in the Premier League. Frank Lampard is doing well there and has shown that he loves the job. He loves doing his work, and he's not afraid to take a Championship team.
There's nothing wrong with taking a Championship team. And if you prove yourself, that's fantastic for your career.
Birmingham Or Wrexham For Gerrard?
It's important that if you sign for a club, you need to know where you want to go and what the club's ambitions are.
It's not good to sign for a club that is financially struggling and has no future. Of course, Steven Gerrard has been a fantastic player, one of the best players I've played with. But as a manager, as I said, he's still very young.
His name is big in England, Europe, and world football. Stevie is fantastic. I know his mentality; he's a winner. He definitely wants to go to a club where he feels he has a chance to win games, be a strong team, and build something. So if they show him plans for the future and he feels it's achievable, it's interesting for him.
But it must have a future, it must have ambition. People sometimes ask me if he can one day be the manager of Liverpool. And I'm saying yes, I think one day Stevie G can be a manager of Liverpool.
He would be a very good manager of Liverpool, in my opinion. But we'll see in the future. He needs to have some success with a team. Could it be Birmingham or Wrexham, maybe? But if he has success, why not Liverpool one day?
Gerrard’s Rangers Return?
He did very well for Rangers. The fans were not happy because they knew they were losing a very good manager. He had an offer from Aston Villa, so he took it.
He knows the place; he won the league with them, but I’d prefer to see him working in England somewhere. One day to take a Premier League club and then Liverpool after.
I don't know if it's his desire, but I'd love to see it.
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