Sterling

[keniget]

Is he getting enough love? Or is it too early to start heaping praise on the kid?

It's been a long time since someone of genuine quality came out of our academy system and we've all been wondering when it's next going to happen. It feels like Sterling can do it for us. We've been incredibly lucky to get players like Fowler, Owen, Gerrard, Carra et al over the years. Sterling may not be Scouse but for me he's been one of the best attackers in the league over the last few months and that'll do!

 

[gkmacca]

He'll start next season as a major player who'll have World Cup experience and an appetite for a league title.

 

[Mystic]

He's absolutely phenomenal, he should be starting in the world cup for England, because on the form of the last two months he's the best winger in the country (as in English). I think people however are cautious after last season to put all the pressure on him again as he's still so young. Rodgers deserves a huge amount of credit for how well he's handled Sterling, as do our now departed youth staff, it's great to have players as talented as him coming through, lets just hope Texieria and Ibe follow suit.

 

[Brizzle]

I'm a big fan - I was worried if we got Konoplankakakaka that Sterling would just warm the bench again but he has really taken responsibility for his performances and is putting in top display after top display. Love seeing him outmuscle those bigger than him!

 

[Silver Sean]

How he's kicked on this season has been remarkable. Bulked up, worked hard, improved in every aspect, great attitude and gets stuck in. Love the kid.

 

[dmishra]

The improvement has been nothing short of remarkable. You can genuinely see him turn into a world class player within 2-3 years.

 

[Mystic]

The benefit of him playing in a side with such high quality attacking must be huge too, same for Sturridge, I look forward to Hodgson trying his best to curb that brilliance in the summer.

 

[Lippy]

How he's kicked on this season has been remarkable. Bulked up, worked hard, improved in every aspect, great attitude and gets stuck in. Love the kid.

What this fine fellow said. Exactly this.

 

[cloggypop]

That ball for Sturridge last match was phenomenal. I did not expect him to be able to do that ever.

 

[HC]

I got absolutely annihilated at work for suggesting he's 2-3x the player januzaj or however the fuck you spell it was, this was about 2 months ago, they've all gone very quiet on the topic since.

He's SO much more intelligent on the ball now, it's unbelievable. He's got the ability to leave his man for dead but can also pick out a worldy of a ball as we've seen in recent weeks, with the knock around on the arsenal cb for what should've been his third and the ball for sturridge the other day.

I just hope he can continue as he could be one hell of a player if he can sustain and grow this performance level.

There's no English player in his position playing as well as him at the moment, in fact on form, hendo,gerrard,sturridge & Sterling surely all have to start the upcoming friendlies* - in view of the World Cup

*I'm sure Rodgers won't allow that.

 

[Mystic]

I got absolutely annihilated at work for suggesting he's 2-3x the player januzaj or however the fuck you spell it was, this was about 2 months ago, they've all gone very quiet on the topic since.

He's SO much more intelligent on the ball now, it's unbelievable. He's got the ability to leave his man for dead but can also pick out a worldy of a ball as we've seen in recent weeks, with the knock around on the arsenal cb for what should've been his third and the ball for sturridge the other day.

I just hope he can continue as he could be one hell of a player if he can sustain and grow this performance level.

There's no English player in his position playing as well as him at the moment, in fact on form, hendo,gerrard,sturridge & Sterling surely all have to start the upcoming friendlies* - in view of the World Cup

*I'm sure Rodgers won't allow that.

Personally if I were England, I'd copy us as much as possible in attack. Replace Suarez with Lallana and Coutinho with Wilshire, fuck Rooney the lazy cunt.

 

[red_maradona]

That ball for Sturridge last match was phenomenal. I did not expect him to be able to do that ever.

incredible ball, incredible talent, so much strength, pace.

 

[iseered]

incredible ball, incredible talent, so much strength, pace.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

'Well, let's not start sucking each other's dicks quite yet.'

 

[Dreambeliever]

He's shown great form in the past and faltered.

Let's see him maintain it for 12 months before getting ot excited.

He's been superb last 2 months though.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

He'll start next season as a major player who'll have World Cup experience and an appetite for another league title.

Fixed.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

The good thing is, you see him making better decisions, showing up even stronger, harassing and trapping more, playing equally well in more positions, getting into the box and running into spaces more, linking up better with the strikers, taking on his man more, and showing more composure than last season.

The silly thing is, he's not even the finished article yet. He still has room for improvement in his finishing, can add to his repertoire of moves, and maybe even work on set pieces. Sky's the limit for the kid if he keeps his head down and keeps working on his game. He's had 3 good months now since returning to the starting lineup in December; he needs to finish the season in this form.

 

[Ryan]

His decision-making with the ball at his feet - when to run, take players on, to retain possession, to slow the game down, the angles to take on, the pass to make, the quick drat again to receive - are of a footballer playing way beyond his tender years.

Gary Neville had some wonderful things to say about his decision-making, positioning, and ball retention about 18 months ago from memory, and he was spot on.

Kid's a really special talent. You'd pay 30M+ for someone like him these days.

We've got us a gem.

 

[Markeh]

One of the fitness/medical guys was on tv earlier, he mentioned Raheem and I can't remember the exact term he used but I think he meant Sterling recovers exceptionally well from sprints and is ready to go again almost immediately.

He also said Suarez and Henderson would over-train if nobody managed them and Suarez's build makes him resilient to injury.

 

[red_maradona]

Can Sterling do a Henry and become a striker? I can't see why not?

 

[ibromurph]

Can Sterling do a Henry and become a striker? I can't see why not?

Henry was like 6'2 and built like a CF.

Raheem's size and frame is that of a typical winger.

Like everyone else has said, he's our most improved player this year.. his decision making and game intelligence has gone up by about 1000% since last year. It's almost too good to be true. I'm almost waiting for him to have a poor run.

If he improves his shooting/finishing and starts making a critical difference in games (ala Suarez/Sturridge) he'll be world class within a year or two.

 

[red_maradona]

Henry was like 6'2 and built like a CF.

Raheem's size and frame is that of a typical winger.

Like everyone else has said, he's our most improved player this year.. his decision making and game intelligence has gone up by about 1000% since last year. It's almost too good to be true. I'm almost waiting for him to have a poor run.

If he improves his shooting/finishing and starts making a critical difference in games (ala Suarez/Sturridge) he'll be world class within a year or two.

sure there is a size difference, but raheem is absurdly strong and at 5 ft 7 or 8, he could be a successful second striker. he has the pace, technical skill, judgement and passing range to do it.

 

[ibromurph]

Second striker for sure.

And he could play as a number 9 too I suppose, similar to Owen, where he's playing off a target man.

 

[Whirly]

On that note, I think Moses might be decent at Striker. Obviously we don't have a spot for him there at the moment, but I'd like to see it at some point.

 

[Leo]

I'd rather see him on strike at some point.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Gary Neville had some wonderful things to say about his decision-making, positioning, and ball retention about 18 months ago from memory, and he was spot on.

 

[gene hughes]

Can Sterling do a Henry and become a striker? I can't see why not?

Can I answer my own questions? Well it is the internet so I can't see a problem.

 

[juniormember]

Second striker for sure.

And he could play as a number 9 too I suppose, similar to Owen, where he's playing off a target man.

If Suarez isn't afforded a second striker role in our system, you can bet your house Sterling isn't going to be either.
He's in a perfect role for him right now in a perfect system for him, with perfect partners to work with. It means he can go into any position in attack that he likes, as the others will fluidly move around into other areas.
His best, most effective role is as an inverted winger and he should stay there.

 

[gkmacca]

I went to watch my son and a rapid winger aged 14 was quiet all game, then he scored a bicycle kick! His name... Raheem Sterling

By MARTIN ALLEN
PUBLISHED: 00:00, 3 March 2014 | UPDATED: 10:41, 3 March 2014

Four years ago on a cold, wet Saturday morning I stood next to David Pleat watching the QPR youth team play Brentford underneath the flight path into Heathrow.

I was there to see my son Charlie play for Brentford.

David told me he'd come to watch a young player and he pointed to a boy who was very small, very quick – with lightning acceleration – and very skilful.

But he looked totally uninterested and during the game had no final product.

Over the years we've all seen the super-quick boys at 14, 15 and 16 fade away. As other lads grow stronger and faster, those teenagers who used to be rapid just flitter away.

Between David and myself we commented that he just looked average and was nothing special.

At 0-0, with 10 minutes to go, David was about to leave when the boy, who was only about 14, was moved to centre forward.

Lo and behold, the QPR right back bombed down the wing and got to the byline, from where he floated a cross beyond the near post defender towards the penalty spot.

In an instant the boy changed direction from the edge of the six yard box, running away from goal and the monster Brentford centre back towards the penalty spot.

As the ball floated in the air the boy executed an astonishing over-head kick that smashed into the stanchion in the back of the net. The goalkeeper didn't even move an inch.

Everyone who was watching clapped, including myself and David. It was sensational.

We both looked at each other and smiled, and David took a note of the name. It was none other than Raheem Sterling.

What a shame that Liverpool beat QPR to it and signed him.

 

[dantes]

That ball for Sturridge last match was phenomenal. I did not expect him to be able to do that ever.

I would guess Coutinho was sat on the bench quite happily watching the game, until that pass made him think...you motherfucker. In the next game he will put Sterling back into his place.