It's partly a degree of self-absorption, yes, but there'll be few top strikers without a touch of that. In Sturridge's case I think it's partly a question of maturity as well. He's not an idiot, but he does have a degree of growing-up still to do.
Sturridge
- Thread starter HC
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Status
It's partly a degree of self-absorption, yes, but there'll be few top strikers without a touch of that. In Sturridge's case I think it's partly a question of maturity as well. He's not an idiot, but he does have a degree of growing-up still to do.
I don't know about Klopp, but the club, ever since the Owen era, has made itself look not so much fatalistic but embarrassingly vulnerable and needy. The default reaction to players looking elsewhere is to fall to the knees and start weeping and begging. Owen, Gerrard, Gerrard, Torres, Suarez and (the humiliating nadir) Sterling - the club has shown itself nervy and pliable when the agents get networking and the player starts looking restless. The outward image needs to be much stronger - This is Liverpool, we only want players who'll be totally committed to this club - while much more active, incisive and decisive behind the scenes. At the moment we appear so weedy that we practically invite the annual, or season-long, 'will he stay/will he go' sagas.
You could take this exchange from The Importance of Being Earnest, change 'Bunbury' for 'Sturridge,' and with the odd alteration it would sound like the typical backroom conversation between the coaching and medical staff during the past two years:
ALGERNON
I am afraid, Aunt Augusta, I shall have to give up the pleasure of dining with you to-night after all.
LADY BRACKNELL
[Frowning.] I hope not, Algernon. It would put my table completely out. Your uncle would have to dine upstairs. Fortunately he is accustomed to that.
ALGERNON
It is a great bore, and, I need hardly say, a terrible disappointment to me, but the fact is I have just had a telegram to say that my poor friend Bunbury is very ill again. [Exchanges glances with JACK.] They seem to think I should be with him.
LADY BRACKNELL
It is very strange. This Mr. Bunbury seems to suffer from curiously bad health.
ALGERNON
Yes; poor Bunbury is a dreadful invalid.
LADY BRACKNELL
Well, I must say, Algernon, that I think it is high time that Mr. Bunbury made up his mind whether he was going to live or to die. This shilly-shallying with the question is absurd. Nor do I in any way approve of the modern sympathy with invalids. I consider it morbid. Illness of any kind is hardly a thing to be encouraged in others. Health is the primary duty of life. I am always telling that to your poor uncle, but he never seems to take much notice . . . as far as any improvement in his ailment goes. I should be much obliged if you would ask Mr. Bunbury, from me, to be kind enough not to have a relapse on Saturday, for I rely on you to arrange my music for me. It is my last reception, and one wants something that will encourage conversation, particularly at the end of the season when every one has practically said whatever they had to say, which, in most cases, was probably not much.
ALGERNON
I'll speak to Bunbury, Aunt Augusta, if he is still conscious, and I think I can promise you he'll be all right by Saturday.
ALGERNON
I am afraid, Aunt Augusta, I shall have to give up the pleasure of dining with you to-night after all.
LADY BRACKNELL
[Frowning.] I hope not, Algernon. It would put my table completely out. Your uncle would have to dine upstairs. Fortunately he is accustomed to that.
ALGERNON
It is a great bore, and, I need hardly say, a terrible disappointment to me, but the fact is I have just had a telegram to say that my poor friend Bunbury is very ill again. [Exchanges glances with JACK.] They seem to think I should be with him.
LADY BRACKNELL
It is very strange. This Mr. Bunbury seems to suffer from curiously bad health.
ALGERNON
Yes; poor Bunbury is a dreadful invalid.
LADY BRACKNELL
Well, I must say, Algernon, that I think it is high time that Mr. Bunbury made up his mind whether he was going to live or to die. This shilly-shallying with the question is absurd. Nor do I in any way approve of the modern sympathy with invalids. I consider it morbid. Illness of any kind is hardly a thing to be encouraged in others. Health is the primary duty of life. I am always telling that to your poor uncle, but he never seems to take much notice . . . as far as any improvement in his ailment goes. I should be much obliged if you would ask Mr. Bunbury, from me, to be kind enough not to have a relapse on Saturday, for I rely on you to arrange my music for me. It is my last reception, and one wants something that will encourage conversation, particularly at the end of the season when every one has practically said whatever they had to say, which, in most cases, was probably not much.
ALGERNON
I'll speak to Bunbury, Aunt Augusta, if he is still conscious, and I think I can promise you he'll be all right by Saturday.
That's not just us... I mean Yaya, Rooneh, Fabregas, Henry... they were all perenial pains in the dick for their clubs, yet the first two stayed after being cuddled and paid. It's how it is now, the biggest talent is bigger than the club, can set the terms, so massaging egos is an important part of the game.
No one does all of that in quite such a painfully weak way as us. George Sephton will be digging out his old Chicago albums to play 'If You Leave Me Now' on a loop soon.
No-one would pay the because of his injury record.
There is a reason for all this.. just watch the cup final and the number of times he loses the ball in promosing positions. Too many...yes he can be world class but since that season with suarez he is more of a liability. If we can sell him for a decent fee then i dont see what the issue is. I am pretty sure Benteke will start on Thursday.
£ 25,000,001 bid on the way.
Haha. I think they understood the last time. 25 000 002 plus half a joint for Henry and we have a deal!
Against Villarreal I assume that Firms workrate off the ball made him the choice ahead of Sturridge. I think the coaches wanted us to close them down all over the pitch to avoid them starting counters against us. They are very strong with their accurate passing and direct play. We didn't see much of it, hence it worked well.
Cant have worked too well, we lost the match and didn't score an away goal
Does Firmino even work that hard?
Well. We lost to a moment of madness defending. It was not because their pressure gave the goal in the end.
And to Firmino defence we can say he hadde our best effort - off the post- and was off when they scored.
Not sure. However it doesn't take a huge effort to work harder than Sturridge?
Well it's a good job he's nothing like either of them then innit. That he doesn't get back much doesn't bother me at all. That he gets injured a lot does. It's a massive bummer and the only reason to consider replacing him, but while he's here and when he's fit he should play in the big games.
I don't much care that he doesn't get back much. He's an atrocious defender when he does get back, so he should stay as far away as possible. But it bothers me he barely moves around the other end of the pitch when he's not in the mood. And then expects to be picked for the next game.
When we signed Sturridge, his initial interviews made it clear how grateful he was to Brendan Rodgers personally for giving him another chance at a big club. I wonder how much of his current apparent disaffection stems from (among other things) the fact that Rodgers was let go. Just a thought.
- Status
