Sterling's first senior 90 minutes
- Thread starter doctor_mac
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Status
At this juncture, Id settle for a Lennon but yeah, I think comparisons may end at running styles, this lad could be massive.
He had another really promising game, but in fairness to Glen C, he did lose possession, and a number of challenges today where he was muscled off the ball. For the skill it is a price worth paying though.
He was out muscled on occasion. But I was WELL impressed by his defensive work.
Not really, he gave away a couple of silly free kicks. He is also likely to be outmuscled by almost every full back in the league. He's fucking tiny.
I also didn't like the fact that he tried to skin Toure for pace on the outside. He'll learn quickly that'll be of no help to him in this league. He doesn't have the frightening pace that the likes of Lennon or Walcott do to be able to do that, and nor does he have the strength to hold off his defender even if does manage to skin him for pace. He has a fair bit of skill, and he'll be better served developing that, and using that to run at defenders, and beat them on the inside, or turning them inside out.
There's a lot to be encouraged by his performance, but there's a lot of development required yet for him to become a quality player.
I also didn't like the fact that he tried to skin Toure for pace on the outside. He'll learn quickly that'll be of no help to him in this league. He doesn't have the frightening pace that the likes of Lennon or Walcott do to be able to do that, and nor does he have the strength to hold off his defender even if does manage to skin him for pace. He has a fair bit of skill, and he'll be better served developing that, and using that to run at defenders, and beat them on the inside, or turning them inside out.
There's a lot to be encouraged by his performance, but there's a lot of development required yet for him to become a quality player.
Agree with his tiny frame and giving away free-kicks, but remember we are comparing him with Toure who is huge, and is no slow runner himself. What's good as others have pointed out is his ability to get into dangerous positions and he is resilient - kept on trying and pushing himself to the limits against larger beasts !!!
Very good point- the kick and run tactic didn't work so well as it does at reserve level. As you say, he'll learn. I also thought he could have got the ball in earlier when he was switched to the right after Carroll was brought on- he was clearly moved there to provide ammunition, however it is a kind of game of which he had very little experience in the reserves. It will all serve him well though.
What's the song the Kop sang for him Yesterday ?
Going back to the Ince thing, you didn't really compare Hamill and Barnsley with Ince and Blackpool did you?
I am going to come back and haunt you with that one. Ince has it, Sterling has it, Suso and Pacheco might have it, Hamill never did.
regards
I am going to come back and haunt you with that one. Ince has it, Sterling has it, Suso and Pacheco might have it, Hamill never did.
regards
Hammill wast he creme de la creme of our academy ... So I compared the situation, not the players. I don't know if Ince has it - but time will tell. Pacheco unfortunately doesn't seem like he'll make it here ..
Raheem Sterling quality supports elite approach
On the fast track: Sterling’s impressive home debut at Anfield on Sunday was in large part testimony to the foresight of Benítez, the former Liverpool manager
-
On the fast track: Sterling’s impressive home debut at Anfield on Sunday was in large part testimony to the foresight of Benítez, the former Liverpool managerPAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images
Published 1 minute ago
When Rafael Benítez invited a 15-year-old Raheem Sterling for a tour of Liverpool’s training ground in February 2010, the Spaniard knew that he had no choice but to give the teenager the hard sell. His club were engulfed in political infighting and mired in penury and Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal were circling, hoping to tempt the Londoner from Queens Park Rangers.
Benítez had been stung years before when Arsenal’s personal touch snared Aaron Ramsey; there would be no such mistakes this time. Sterling and his mother were invited to Melwood; the club’s captain, Steven Gerrard, was enlisted to provide a dash of stardust; and Benítez outlined just how bright the winger’s future could be at Anfield. Sterling was told that he was not being bought as a prospect, but as a player on the fast track to the first team.
Benítez would be excused if he allowed himself a wry smile on Sunday as he watched Sterling’s impressive home debut — against the Barclays Premier League champions, no less. How fans view the Spaniard’s legacy to Liverpool rather depends on which side of the Anfield divide they fall, but this was his last great project — the revamp of the academy — made flesh.
“I have seen a lot of development in him in a short time,” Brendan Rodgers, Benítez’s eventual successor, said after the 2-2 draw with Manchester City. “He takes on a lot of the concepts and he is very good with instructions. He is improving tactically every day. I’m certain over the next few years he will develop into a very good footballer.
“One of the things I have specialised in is the management of top young players. He is in that bracket. I look at players like Scott Sinclair and he is certainly up there. He is maybe more advanced at his age. His attitude is wonderful. I like exciting players and he is a player that excites you.
“We don’t have the money that some of our rivals have. I want to make the philosophy through the club that allows us to bring players from the academy to the first team.”
That, too, was Benítez’s vision. It centred on a philosophy that he had imported from his homeland, where Barcelona and Real Madrid trawl the country, cherry-picking the best young talent and using their youth systems as a crucible of excellence. With his adjutants, Pep Segura and Rodolfo Borrell, the Barcelona-schooled coaches, Benítez wished to see the best playing with the best. He was not alone.
At the Premier League, discussions were under way about how to rejuven-ate England’s failing youth system. The result was the Elite Player Performance Plan, a controversial revamp in which the 90-minute rule — which allowed clubs to recruit only from their local catchment area — was abolished and fixed transfer fees introduced for under-18s.
The controversy centred on the plan aiding larger clubs in their attempts to hoard the best young talent. The fear was that smaller sides would be unable to develop the prospects who provide, once matured, the transfer funds that are their lifeblood.
Whether that comes to pass remains to be seen, but there is little debate that the model it replaced had been proved to be ineffective. Gone are the days of youngsters facing gnarled old pros in reserve-team football; in their stead, a new under-21 league, launched this year, where all those sides with toprated academies face each other in mini-leagues and play-offs. The best, with the best, against the best.
That, too, was the principle behind the NextGen series, the brainchild of Justin Andrews and Mark Warburton, sporting director at Brentford. Sixteen teams from across Europe — including Liverpool, Ajax, Manchester City and Barcelona — took part in the inaugural under-19 tournament last season. With Borussia Dortmund and Athletic Bilbao among those added to their ranks, 24 will compete this year and plans are afoot to expand even more.
At Liverpool, those who have watched Sterling’s progress see the NextGen as a crucial stage in his development; the chance to play against the finest players in his age group gave him a taste of truly competitive football.
At Aston Villa, where Gary Gardner emerged last year after starring in the tournament, they no doubt say the same. Certainly, NextGen’s organisers are doing something right: they are close to securing a TV deal and sponsorship for this year’s competition; they had 30 applicants for the tournament at the end of last season; and, with imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, their success has even prompted Uefa to hold talks over launching an under-21 Champions League next year.
They, too, can take some satisfaction from the emergence of Sterling, who could perhaps become the competition’s first genuine star. He will not, one suspects, be the last.
Good to see someone giving Benitez a bit of credit too.
As an aside, I wonder why rodgers isn't after sinclair if he's available
As an aside, I wonder why rodgers isn't after sinclair if he's available
Well, you also have to consider coati.
Who'd want a Brazilian aardvark? We've already got Lucas
I fear that Raheem - though impressive thus far will not manage to keep it up, due to his physical build not being up to the required level. I think the physical conditioning/build of a player is important for him to succeed at this level and especially in English football for certain positions and unfortunately the wing (left or right) is one of those. I know he is young but I don't think he will devleop much further and as examples of early fading talent that either have fallen by the side, or had to drop playing for the top clubs include Walcott, and Shaun Wright Philips - both not physicaly that big and therefore can often be a liability on the defence side of thier duties, and also may find it difficult fending of big pacey full-backs/wingers in opposition teams.
That's a very negative way of looking at it.
He's 17, he's still growing and i'm sure the fitness people at LFC will know how to go about bulking him up without overdoing it meaning he's not as sharp and pacey as before.
We have a very exciting player here, i know defenders will be more wary of him now but i'm sure Sterling can mix his game up and be an unpredictable winger if he needs to be. Against City, we saw him cutting inside and putting in a few wonderfully executed crosses, mainly the one for Borini which almost resulted in a goal so it's not like he's a speed merchant and nothing more.
His fitness was also very impressive. Still going strong at the end of the game.
He is more than a speed merchant - what I am questioning is if he can maintain and progress what he has delivered so far in the two games we have seen him play 90mins. If he finds that he is up against lumbering big shit every game, he may find himself spending most of his energy trying to physically overcome the big guys and then getting exhausted (hence struggles in rest of game) or injured. Thats all.
Fair enough, as always time will tell. I'm sure Rodgers will know how to handle him, when to play him and when not to etc.
It's just great to see an Academy player break through and make such an impact, it gives everyone at the Club a huge lift. Great to see as a fan as well.
It's a fucking awful thing.
- Status
Similar threads
-
- Locked
