And left-back hoping to spoil Martinez' Goodison league bow as Toffees boss
LIAM Ridgewell admits there is a thing or two he could learn from fellow left-back Leighton Baines – but hopes he comes out on top of the England man tomorrow (Saturday).The Baggies defender says he still has room for improvement in his current role, having only made the transition from centre-half at Blues during the 2009/10 season.
But he insists he enjoys the huge responsibilities the modern-day full-back is faced with in the Barclays Premier League.
“I look at Leighton massively,” said Ridgewell.
“I watch a lot of his games and him playing for England.
“It’s good to see him doing very well.
“He’s a great left-back and he is someone for me to look at and duplicate what he does.
“I’m a newer left-back than him, so I’ve got much to learn from him.
“Him and Ashley Cole are good left-backs for me to watch and I try and duplicate what they do.”
He added: “A lot of teams play narrow and allow the full-backs to push on – it’s like having wing-backs.
“No-one likes playing wing-back but I like getting up and down the field.
“I like getting forward and I like defending as well – I enjoy playing that position and hopefully I can do well in it this season.”
The Baggies head to Everton (ko 3pm) hoping to spoil the party as Roberto Martinez takes charge of his first competitive game at Goodison Park as Toffees boss following David Moyes’ 11-year reign.
And Ridgewell insists he and his team-mates will be focusing on correcting what went wrong in their 1-0 opening-day defeat by Southampton.
“I think we were maybe a little bit surprised at how we performed on Saturday and we’ve got to put that right,” he insisted.
“It will be weird going there and not seeing David Moyes.
“In my career I’ve always gone there and faced a David Moyes team - and a difficult crowd.
“I’ve had a battle there all the time.
“I suppose it will be a little bit different but we’ll be going there to try and get as many points as we can.”
He added: “Martinez had a more passing style at Wigan.
“Everton passed it under Moyes but they were also a little more direct, and hustled and bustled.
“We’ll have to wait and see what Martinez tries at Everton.
“But we won’t be worrying about what they’re doing.
“We have to concentrate on what we’ve got to do and do well in the game.
“Hopefully they haven’t adjusted too quickly to their new manager.
“But they might have done, and I’m sure we will come up against a very good team.
“We’ll be going there to play well – a lot better than Saturday – and trying to get as many points as we can.
“That’s the only thing in our heads.
“Whether it’s Martinez or any other manager we just have to play to our best ability and then we’ll do very well.”