I’ve always found Rio Ngumoha an interesting player because everything happened so quickly for him.
One minute he was the exciting kid Liverpool supporters wanted to see, then he was scoring at Newcastle, making an impact in the first team and eventually getting an England call-up.
But looking back at last season, Ngumoha admits there was a period when he wasn’t getting much football. Interestingly, he doesn’t seem bitter about it at all. In fact, what he has said about Arne Slot and his development makes a lot of sense.
Ngumoha knew he had to be patient
Ngumoha has explained that Slot knew he could stay around the first team and prove himself. But after the Carabao Cup, the minutes became harder to find.
“I didn’t get a lot of game time because obviously I was young, I was learning and I think my body needed time to adapt physically,” Ngumoha explained.
I actually think that’s an important point.
It’s easy for supporters to watch a talented youngster and think, why isn’t he playing? I was guilty of that myself.
But Ngumoha was still incredibly young. He was learning what senior football was all about and, as he admits himself, his body needed time to adapt.
Instead of becoming frustrated and switching off, he used that time to watch and learn.
“When I was on the bench, I watched every game closely, learning and looking at who I could learn from, even opposition players as well.”
That’s a really mature attitude from a teenager. He wasn’t simply sitting there waiting for his chance; he was studying the game and trying to understand what he could take from the players around him.
Then his opportunity arrived
Ngumoha says his big chance came in January against Leeds. He came off the bench and showed what he could do before starting against Barnsley in the FA Cup and getting a run of games.
But it was Nottingham Forest where he felt he really took another step.
Liverpool supporters who watched that game will remember the impression he made. He came on and immediately looked like he wasn’t frightened by the occasion.
That’s one of the things I like most about him. He doesn’t play like a youngster who is desperate not to make a mistake. He wants the ball, he wants to take players on and he wants to make something happen.
Liverpool themselves highlighted how his minutes increased as last season progressed, with Ngumoha eventually making 29 appearances in all competitions.
And now we know what was happening behind the scenes.
He was learning.
This is where Slot deserves some credit
I know plenty of Liverpool supporters were frustrated with Slot’s use of Ngumoha last season, and I understand why. When you’ve got a player who can produce something out of nothing, you want to see him on the pitch.
But perhaps we should also listen to Ngumoha himself.
He doesn’t describe that period as wasted time. He describes it as learning from Liverpool’s players, watching opponents and understanding what was required at senior level. When his chance came, he was ready for it.
That’s probably one of the most important things a young player can learn.
Your opportunity might not come when you want it, but when it does come, you have to be ready.
Ngumoha clearly was.
And now everything has changed
Look at where he is now.
He has established himself around Liverpool’s senior squad, made his England debut and experienced international football. He is no longer simply the exciting youngster waiting for his first opportunity.
Liverpool’s own review of his breakthrough season noted that he made 29 appearances and gradually earned more minutes as the campaign progressed.
That’s a huge amount of development for such a young player.
And I think his comments show just how quickly he has matured. He understands that becoming a first-team footballer isn’t simply about having talent. You have to learn, adapt physically, understand the game and then take your opportunity when it arrives.
Ngumoha did exactly that.
Now he wants to make the place his own
The final part of his comments is probably the bit I like most.
After describing how he watched and learned while he wasn’t playing, Ngumoha said:
“Ever since then, I’ve just tried to make a place in the team my own.”
That’s the mentality Liverpool need from him now.
He’s no longer just trying to get a few minutes here and there. He’s trying to become an important Liverpool player, and that’s a very different challenge.
I don’t think anybody should expect an 18-year-old to suddenly become one of Liverpool’s most important players overnight. There will be good games, poor games, starts and periods on the bench. That’s normal.
But the attitude matters.
And from everything Ngumoha has said, he seems to understand that.
For me, that’s really encouraging.
Because when I look at Rio Ngumoha now, I don’t just see a talented young winger. I see a player who has already learned how to be patient, how to listen and how to take his opportunity when it arrives.
Perhaps that’s one of the biggest things Arne Slot gave him.
Not just minutes.
A proper introduction to senior football.
Now it’s up to Ngumoha to show Andoni Iraola just how far that education can take him.
And judging by the way he talks about making his place his own, I don’t think he’s planning on waiting around for somebody to hand it to him.
By Jamie (The Kopite View)
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