THERE has been a collective loss of heads in the response to Raheem Sterling’s £49million move to Manchester City. Not at where the hell do Liverpool go from here after losing one of their brightest talents at the age of only 20, but with the idea that this is a brilliant deal for the club; that is has extracted a poisonous toxin who was never any good anyway and received a bucketload of cash in return.
A coup! Liverpool have pulled Manchester City’s pants down!
It’s nonsense.
The divorce has felt inevitable since the first rumblings of contract disputes in the spring and the nauseating interview with the BBC. Brendan Rodgers’ public announcement that contract talks had been suspended until the summer really set the alarm bells ringing and Aidy Ward’s public campaigning set the mood firmly against the 20-year-old.
Last year, I could only make it to two Liverpool games and unfortunately they were both against Aston Villa. The first, the home defeat in September 2014, saw Sterling enter as a second-half substitute to a rapturous standing ovation. After flourishing in the title run-in, shining for an hour in the Amazon for England against Italy and then delivering an outstanding individual performance at White Hart Lane, the stage was set for his career’s upward trajectory to sail ever higher.
Fast forward to April 2015 and the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, the tide of public opinion had firmly swayed against him. Vilified for a sub-standard display, one of many as the season reached its laborious conclusion, the warmth and affection of last autumn was a world away. The Sterling revisionism of the past few months has airbrushed those halcyon days from memory.
And they were halcyon. Sterling’s coming of age was the most enthralling sub-plot of Liverpool’s 2013-14 season. Watching someone grow into his potential in front of your eyes, so quickly and so exponentially; from that demoralising, anonymous performance at Hull in December 2013 to the two goals that spearheaded victory over Norwich only four months later. Witnessing the moment that the lightbulb flashes inside a player, when potential becomes possibility, is a glorious thing in football; to see it happen in a title-chasing season, when the pressure to perform is at its most intense, is rare and all the more remarkable.
Sterling had to deal with great expectancy long before his debut in March 2012. The big money move from QPR, a £600,000 fee rising to £5million for a 15 year-old in February 2010. Five goals in a 9-0 FA Youth Cup win over Southend a year later, which prompted Kenny Dalglish to take him with the first-team squad to a Europa League clash with Sparta Prague. His eventual debut against Wigan 13 months later arrived to much fanfare and intrigue. Gone are the days of unknown academy prospects; in the age of YouTube and social media, everyone knew who he was.
To see him deliver on this promise so quickly, to overcome the early struggles and the stagnation that followed a spell of over-playing in Brendan Rodgers’ first season, led many to dream. Here was the standard-bearer of the future, a footballer who was meant to grow with the club not abandon ship as the waves surged overboard.
The rights and wrongs of the PR struggle between club, player and representative have been debated to death. It has obscured the fact Liverpool are losing a prized asset, and allowed some fans to celebrate the end of an ugly affair. Joy at the price-tag measured in how the club can spend it — because Liverpool have such a great recent history in the transfer market…
The money should be spent because the club needs to regain some positivity ahead of the new campaign as much as it needs to replace Sterling. The inevitable bandwagon has built behind the more grounded Jordon Ibe, a year younger than his compatriot but nowhere near as developed as Sterling when he was 19. Yet there is Lazar Markovic, the forgotten man on Merseyside, ready to kick on. A year on from his arrival to a new country, a new culture, more settled and developed, and, as his goal in Thailand showed, fully capable when played in his best central attacking position.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT6pXuQJFlk
No matter Sterling’s under-achievement in the second half of the 2014-15 season, Liverpool are poorer without him. He has much to learn and achieve, consistency — not least scoring when the goal’s wide open — and a continual need to back himself. When he does so there are few young talents like him in European football for his direct nature, turn of foot, speed of thought, tactical flexibility and positional intelligence.
Harnessed properly the world is his oyster. At Manchester City he will given playing opportunities and give their attack an added dynamic, but he will not have the pressure of being the main man that weighed him down so heavily in his final months at Anfield. No 20 year-old needs that pressure.
When I look back at Raheem Sterling’s Liverpool career in five years it will be with a tinge of regret, not good riddance. Regret that his Anfield career was fleeting and over before he turned 21. That we will never see the best of Raheem Sterling in a red shirt. I will remember the goal against Manchester City — the instinctive brilliance and simplicity of it — at a sun-drenched Anfield basking in the glow of the title rush. That precocious full-debut against the same opposition less than three years ago. That magnificent slalom through the Chelsea defence in January. That goal at Norwich.
It’s a shame Raheem, it should have lasted longer, but that shouldn’t be held against you forever. Liverpool fans should rejoice at what was, not resent how it ended.
RAHEEM STERLING DEAL: NOW LIVERPOOL SHOULD ACT FAST
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Pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda Photo
Don’t agree. I am not bothered either way. Of course you never want to see talent exiting the club. But there has been talent coming in this offseason and still more transfer work to be done. We won’t miss the modern-day version of Sterling on the pitch. Maybe we will miss an evolved Sterling in the next 3-5 years, but that is what we call talent being actualized. And that is earned, not given.
Many Liverpool fans have this ideal of Raheem in their minds. They want him to reach that ideal and become it. But in reality, he isn’t there yet. And there is no guarantee that he will reach it. Sterling is replaceable on the pitch as of right now. But I hope he does well…. when not playing against Liverpool.
At least now we will see more of Coutinho, Lallana, Firimino, Ibe and thats not accounting for any future transfers. If we had to win a game tomorrow…I’d rather see Coutinho, Lallana or Firmino on the pitch over Sterling. Each are more creative, can effectively finish and can strike the ball cleaner. Now in 3 years maybe that will be a different answer. But that is earned on the pitch through hard work.
I’m not going to let my imagination begin to delude the reality before me.
You have already decided firmino is better than sterling yet he hasn’t stepped foot in a premier league game yet and no offence even though I’m expecting you to say you have but how much of hoffenheim have you watched, my guess would be not at all.
No way would you have firmino over sterling, this is what the author is getting at I think, if city gave up on sterling and signed firmino instead you would be saying well we got to keep the better player, fickle is the word I’m going for.
No way would Liverpool wanted to lose sterling to replace him with any players you mentioned, Ibe is a good player but he is only being raved about because sterling has gone, fact.
Whilst it is laughable anyone would rather have Firmino than Sterling, surely your derision would have been better kept for the statement he’d rather have Lallana than Sterling?
I mean, in what world do some people live?
He then finishes with “I’m not going to let my imagination begin to delude the reality before me.”
A world class comedian asked to write a parody of a football fan couldn’t come up with that post.
Don’t tell me, show me. I’ve yet to seen it.
Just for clarification, I said if I needed to win a game tomorrow. Lallana has just as good touch with the ball at his feet and is more of a veteran-presence on the pitch. Firmino has more creative flare. Coutinho passes better and strikes the ball better.. (with maybe a little less pace). Each one of them can strike the ball much cleaner than Sterling. Each one of them are better finishers. I will say Sterling is a little tighter with his control than Lallana and Ibe, but it hasn’t translated to much.
I know it may seem like I am being tough on Sterling, but this season was a severe disappointment. Maybe he had to work with less, but his game didn’t improve to what we all would have liked. A change of scenery was needed for him. Hopefully he actualizes his potential elsewhere.
Take a look at some of the England national games as well. Sterling has been severely ineffective. I don’t see how or why Liverpool will miss the modern-day version of Sterling. If you give any of the players above (including Ibe) the ball at midfield, and let them dominate the ball at their feet….they will show the same glimpses Sterling did. In another article someone chuckled at the Ibe reference. Yet he was the one abusing players on Besiktas when allowed to hold and dribble the ball.
Don’t tell me, show me. And I haven’t seen it yet.
I don’t know if you’ve seen Firmino playing in Germany or playing for Brazil, but he does things Sterling does not. He is comfortable striking the ball and finishing….. and he has plenty of flare to create goals. I suggest going to YouTube and checking it out if you haven’t seen him play. Firmino is a more well-rounded player than Sterling (right now) and a more explosive one. I don’t see how you can actually watch the footage or games and think Sterling is bette r.
I would take Firmino over Sterling right now without any doubt. You said you haven’t seen Firmino playing in Germany or for Brazil. I suggest you watch some of his clips on YouTube, especially some of the more recent ones.
Firmino has more explosiveness on the attack. He has more creative flare to set people up. He can strike the ball cleanly and with power. Firmino is comfortable in all aspects of attacking football, while Sterling needs to dominate the ball at his feet. Firmino does things that the modern-day Sterling does not do. There is no denying that. I know YouTube clips don’t tell the whole story, but they will show you things that Firmino does that Sterling simply can’t at his current level of development.
A squad today with only Firmino included is a stronger one than with only Sterling included.
I think the criticism of his finishing has been over the top. He played a few games up front last season but centre forward isn’t and will never be his natural position. He did miss a few sitters but he scored more goals last season than the three you mentioned above even though he isn’t as far on in his development.
It’s the first time since I started supporting the club that we’ve lost one of our best players before they reached their full potential. There’s talk of his attitude possibly holding him back but I can’t see it happening. With his talent and work-rate I can see him having an immediate impact at City and then kicking on even more in the future.
I agree it’s nothing to be celebrated really. Ultimately we can’t keep one of our better players because we’re not competing where we should be.
But rejoice at what was? Behave. He’s not that good. Yet.
Well sir I am a man city fan but you have restored my faith in Liverpool fans.
There is no doubt that Sterling has been badly advised, but I do think that there is more to it than being greedy, I think there was something that has happened that has triggered the backlash of the modern football agent, something just doesn’t add up for me.
When all said and done no 20 year old on this planet would ever turn down 100 grand a week for five years at Liverpool, it just wouldn’t happen, there has to be something else.
I was watching Sterling on his bbc interview and then again just now on a clip from his city interview and he is just a kid, he speaks like a young lad and was timid, although I think something else has gone on I do think his adviser needs to be looked at not Sterling.
Unless he wanted that extra bit of dosh and Liverpool said no, but I just can’t see it, these figures of 200 grand a week at city just will not be true city have been slashing wages because we don’t need to pay to attract as much anymore, I just don’t think it’s purely a money issue, Sturridge was told no when he tried to do that at city but he wasn’t on sterling a level at that time either.
Either way it’s done now and I’m with you I don’t think it’s a particularly great deal for either party, yet.
I don’t think sterling was as overpriced as people say, most of the premium we paid is because qpr get 20%, on top of that I don’t remember all this fuss when Utd paid 30 mill for Luke shaw, an overweight left back who had a decent season, granted sterling cost 19 mill more but I would reckon sterling is worth 19 mill more than shaw every day of the week.
All a big faff over nothing this transfer will soon be forgotten until the boos are ringing out at a field of course, good article and good luck in the new season.
I was incredulous (and delighted!) at Man U’s spending last season, especially the money they were spending on a young, full-back!
It just goes to show that money isn’t everything, although it obviously helps a lot. They are just lucky that Liverpool and Spurs were equally mismanaged, because Man U were an abysmal team (relatively speaking) last season, and should have been severely punished with a 5th-6th placed finish for their efforts.
Hi Gary
“there has to be something else”
There is … Sterling will be earning more and will have a better chance of winning things at City. I was going to say he’ll have less pressure on him not having to be one of the main men but I’m afraid the price tag and the manner of his leaving will mean that the pressure will still be there.
I agree with the article (well, all except the final sentence). From a Liverpool perspective it must be seen as worrying that we are losing such a bright young talent so soon in his career. It leaves the FSG plan of buying youth in tatters if that youth develops and then promptly goes! It might look good on the balance sheet but it won’t improve Liverpool where it matters – on the pitch. Hopefully the powers that be at the club won’t be patting themselves on the back at such a big profit on the deal but will be mulling over how they can do things differently in the future.
In the short-term, the sale might help on the pitch as it will provide the funds to get a better balance to the squad (if spent wisely!). In the long-term, I think Liverpool fans should be worried.
As for the last sentence – “Liverpool fans should rejoice at what was, not resent how it ended.” …
Nah, not having that. I don’t hate the guy & I understand why he might want to leave but I do resent how it ended. That’s down to him and his agent. You reap what you sow, 20 years old or not. I prefer not to think about him at all.
Gary, it has been widely reported Sterling turned down £100,000 pw, and that he demanded £140,000ish per week, further to this almost every newspaper is running with the story his City wage will be £200,000 per week, maybe they are all wrong then? As for the agent, well the least said about that bellend the better, but Sterling was complicit in the circumstances leading to his transfer.
It’s sad and more than a bit shit. I just keeping thinking about a line of Neil’s from a while back: it’s ok for LFC to be the club before the club, but not the club before the club before the club. So let’s hope we don’t become that, OR that by selling such an asset to a direct rival we contribute to City becoming THE club. Anyway, I’m clubbed out. Let’s just buy a fucking superstar who actually plays like a superstar and we’ll all be grand again…
Would like demichelis or sagna maybe both, superstars isn’t the word yours for just oh 49 mill, deal?
Sterling has ambition the club couldn’t match.
Suarez had ambition the club couldn’t match.
Torres had ambition the club couldn’t match….
The club does not have the ambition to attract or keep the quality required to be competitive at the top level.
Maybe had all those mentioned players shown a bit of loyalty and patience then Liverpool could match the ambitions of these guys because you would have a team with Suarez Torres and sterling in it, I don’t think it’s all as simple as the club making mistakes players are culpable, although Liverpool have made some poor signings in recent years should a player like Suarez when I say player I maybe mean person out grow a team like Liverpool ever? From a poor country brought from a decent but average at best league to the dream of putting on a Liverpool shirt, where’s the reality?
Loyalty doesn’t happen much these days, even Gerrard it seems to have been forgotten he said he wanted out of Liverpool at one time.
to be fair chelsea are very rich and we had his best years anyway. man city are very rich . suarez left cos of family in barca … and because its barca full stop . its more about money than ambition
Nope, I’m still not bothered.
Players come and go. Instead of expecting every talented player to retire at the club, fans should be limiting their expectancy to 4-5 years – that is likely 1/3 of a players professional career after all!
As long as a player does his best throughout the life of his contract, and (unlike with Michael Owen) gives the club time to plan and the transfer fee to adequately move on his absence, then fair’s fair and I’m content with any player moving on when the time is right.
Unless we’re talking about the Messi, Ronaldo, Suarez level of player, there’s always somebody else around the corner waiting for their opportunity to prove themselves at a club like LFC. It’s just up to the club to find them and bring them in.
It sucks that we’ve shown such ambition that a 20 year old is convinced that he is better off moving elsewhere already. Getting a record transfer fee for such a player minimizes that blow however.
If anything demonstrated the stupidity of the majority of our fanbase in one go this saga & its conclusion is it.
Sterling was our best or second best player last season. Was he sensationally amazing like Suarez? No. Was he consistent in his brilliance? No. But he was still the best we had. Even when struggling for form he was still our major goal threat. Even when not putting it all in he was superior to Lallana & Markovic & Ibe.
But apparently we won’t miss that version of Sterling because…..he left so fuck him? Because…..he might be so much better in the next few years and thats when we will miss him? Because….his agent is a knob?
Its bollocks of course. We will miss him & selling him is not “good business.”
Sterling’s 20 & a far better player than Firmino, who many liverpool fans have seen 3 minutes of and convinced themselves he’s Suarez & Torres rolled into one. Trust me on this, he’s not. Just wait and see.
We know Sterling can cut it in England for a start. And he also had the one thing that our team is badly short of – searing speed. Markovic aside (and he doesnt count as he’ll be subbed at half time every match unless he scores a hat trick in the first 45) who else can leave players in their wake? Firmino? No. Coutinho? No. Lallana? Don’t make me laugh. Ings? No. Balo? No. Benteke? No. Hendo? No. Milner? No. Lucas? No. Allen? No. Moreno, Clyne & Origi are quick but two are full backs & one is a benchwarmer.
LFC fans delighted we have sold our best player (he’s better than Coutinho & the fact he’s left doesnt change that) for the second summer running need their heads looked at. They think 49 mill is a good price just because he is nowhere near his peak & they think (hope) he may never actually get better. The hilarity. The delusions.
What they don’t realise is fees have taken another jump in price due to new TV money. What they don’t realise is that this is us not being able to match the ambitions of a 20 year old and the message that sends out. What they don’t realise is Coutinho is likely to be this time next year. (Thats when the idiots convince themselves Coutinho isnt as good as Markovic & us selling him to Barca for 50 mill is “good business”)
But nevermind eh? In fact lets celebrate! Hooray we got rid of the arrogant stupid black lad from London who isnt as good as he thinks he is! (lets ignore that regardless of that he was still our best player with potential to be even better in the coming years & its never a good thing when such players leave)
Everything is so much more fun when we are deluded cretins who turn a blind eye to reality! Look at the poster above – would rather have Lallana on the pitch instead of Sterling! Don’t need to say anymore. Can’t type much more through the laughter anyway.
To be fair lallana is decent but I see what your saying, Balotelli ( just seen the house he’s built while on holiday in Portugal in the middle of traditional style houses, what a guy) could be one of the best players in the world if he wanted to I would take him back at city because I think pellegrini could nurture him, but your right in what you say, I don’t know how pool fans feel about Rodgers either but he isn’t for Liverpool in my opinion. I really am a city fan by the way good level headed convo on here though.
It seems YOUare the delusional one if you honestly believe th BS your writing that he was our best player last year.
Stats show he was our best performer with Coutinho second.
Sterling scored 7 assisted 7, coutinho 5 and 5. Sterling key passes per game 2.1, coutinho 1.7. Sterling fouled per game 2.7, coutinho 1.4. Sterling passing accuracy percentage 81.1, coutinho 80.3. Interceptions 0.5 each.
Yea, stats eh? Facts? “BS”
Maybe you could tell us all who was better and back it up with some evidence? Judging by the fact you’ve already failed to do so and think he has regressed (all stats show you’re wrong shock horror) I won’t hold my breath.
Take a straw poll of any number of LFC fans you care to mention and I reckon 90% would name Coutinho as our best player last season.
As for “Sterling’s 20 & a far better player than Firmino” – you do realize that there are millions of people in Germany and Brazil who have seen as little of Sterling as you have of Firmino who are pissing themselves laughing at your suggestion? Firmino’s stats for a second-rate German team are excellent and his stock is extremely high in Germany. And he sorta plays up front for Brazil.
Sterling has the potential to be a really great player and even now – on his day – can hit the heights. But in terms of highest calibre performances produced over multiple seasons he’s behind Firmino. That is not intended as a criticism – he’s only 20 after all – but it’s nevertheless true.
Oh, and so far as I’m aware there are no questions marks over Firmino’s attitude or off-field behavior, unlike Sterling who has courted trouble since he was a young upstart at QPR. Sterling might be the next Ryan Giggs, but he’s just as likely to turn out to be the next Keith Gillespie.
(A) your 90% straw poll theory is something you’ve plucked from thin air to make yourself happy. It has no basis in fact nor reason.
(B) even if it were true, all it would show is how little people actually know about football. Stats, facts, evidence actually demonstrate Sterling a superior player to Coutinho. Hide away from that all you want but I won’t
(C) there are a number of reasons Sterling has been sold while Coutinho stays. But chief among them is the fact other football clubs know their stuff & know Sterling is simply better at the actual football, otherwise the Brazilian would have been sold instead of the Englishman
(D) theres also a reason Sterling cost 49mill while Firmino cost 29mill – guess what that could be? Yes, its recognised by people in the industry Sterling is better than Firmino at the football. Otherwise City or Chelsea or Munich or United would have bought Firmino and not us
(E) you say Firmino’s stats are excellent yet you don’t list them. I wonder if thats because they are not excellent and that is just something you tell yourself? Just a
Something else you’ve made up to make it sound like you know what you are talking about?
He has 35 goals in 140 games. Last season he scored 7 goals in 33 league games. His pass percentage is 72.7. His key passes per game is 2.1. His SPG is 2.9. (His best stat) His through balls per game is 0.2. I can go on if you want.
“He kind of plays up front for Brazil”
(i) “kind of” is correct – he hasnt established himself a starter at all. He was a sub for the first game in the copa america & was subbed himself in the quarter final
(ii) its a piss poor brazilian team put out of the copa america in the quarter finals twice in succession either side of humiliation at the hands of Germany, so lets not pretend playing for Brazil means as much as it used to
(ii) he dislodged the mighty Fred from the starting 11. Thats the same Fred booed by Brazilians for being shit. He also took the place of Diego Tardelli….who plays his club football in China! Wow! And his playing time was assisted by the fact Neymar was suspended. Robinho got a game for fuck sake!
(iv) stats show Firmino to be Brazils 11th best outfield player during the copa. He is way behind even Coutinho. We at least know Coutinho can cut it in England and we’ve already established (through evidence & not made up nonsense from your brain) that Coutinho is behind Sterling.
At least you didn’t defend the statement Lallana is better than Sterling.
My “90%” straw poll theory is based on discussions here, on the podcasts and other LFC sites and fora, and also my personal experience talking to other LFC fans. Unscientific for sure, but I note that even you don’t claim it is inaccurate per se, you simply content yourself with the belief that this 90% would be those people you’ve decided know nothing about football. How scientific is that theory of yours? You sure you haven’t just “plucked that from thin air to make yourself happy”?
And since when did stats alone work as an accurate barometer of a player’s worth (in any sport)? Stewart Downing scored one fewer goal than Sterling last season but made one more assist. Presumably you agree there’s nothing to choose between those two, right? Charlie Austin made two fewer assists yet scored 18 goals…for a team that was relegated. Presumably you think City have signed the wrong Englishman?
“there are a number of reasons Sterling has been sold while Coutinho stays. But chief among them is the fact other football clubs know their stuff & know Sterling is simply better at the actual football, otherwise the Brazilian would have been sold instead of the Englishman”
You’ve conveniently omitted the major reason Sterling was sold, which is that he wanted to be sold. Kinda relevant, I reckon. Coutinho has just signed a new contract and made it clear he sees his future at Liverpool, so not much point any big club wasting their time sniffing around the Brazilian. Sterling’s public demands to leave certainly drew interest as you’d expect of a player of his potential, but it hardly sparked a bidding frenzy amongst the world’s biggest clubs. Once it was clear that LFC would be holding out for nearly 50mill, there was only ever one taker. This doesn’t mean Sterling is crap, but it does indicate that 50mill is nowhere near the valuation placed on the player by the likes of PSG, Barca or Real. Because of City’s specific needs and because, well, they can, they are willing to go to 50mill.
“theres also a reason Sterling cost 49mill while Firmino cost 29mill – guess what that could be?”
As above, you’re not comparing like for like. What another mega-rich EPL team are prepared to pay to acquire a 20 year old Englishman with EPL experience who helps them reach their homegrown quota, is not comparable to the transfer of a foreign player to the EPL with no such premium attached. If Marco Reus is sold this summer he will go for less than Sterling even though he signed a contract with Dortmund last season. That doesn’t make Sterling > Reus. Players who solve a particular problem for a particular club will always attract a premium that doesn’t necessarily reflect their intrinsic worth. Who knew?
“you say Firmino’s stats are excellent yet you don’t list them. I wonder if thats because they are not excellent ”
No, it’s because I couldn’t be arsed. But as it happens, he matched Sterling’s goal contribution whilst providing more assists (10 – 3rd in the Bundesliga) in fewer games, all in a season when Hoffenheim adopted a more defensive approach after their 72-70 goal difference the season before. Like Sterling, Firmino has been moved around but whilst providing more in an attacking sense, he managed to combine that with 2.7 tackles per game, which would have placed him fourth in that stat at LFC and is comfortably more than double the tackles per game made by Sterling. So better stats for 2014/15 at both ends of the pitch, playing for a team that finished 8th. In fact, in his three seasons at Hoffenheim the club has finished 16th, 9th and 8th, and yet during this time Firmino ranks 1st – that’s 1st – in terms of goal participation (that’s first and secondary assists plus goals) in the whole Bundesliga, a league that includes the likes of Lewandowski, Muller, Ribery, Robben and Reus.
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/9893548/liverpool-target-roberto-firminos-stats-suggest-he-could-replace-raheem-sterling
Yes, I was coy about reproducing his stats because they’re shit. You are quite correct.
“he hasnt established himself a starter [with Brazil] at all. He was a sub for the first game in the copa america & was subbed himself in the quarter final”
Much to the derision of the Brazilian public. Dunga is persona non grata in Brazil in part because of his treatment of Firmino. The player has scored 4 goals in his first 9 games, 5 of which he’s come on as a sub and he’s not even played as the number 9 in all of those games. What a terrible start to your international career that is. And whilst it’s true Brazil are not at the top of international football right now, neither are LFC domestically yet you want to laud Sterling’s team-leading exploits (7 assists and 7 goals), achievements that in most of our recent past would have placed him in the middle of the pack.
For the avoidance of doubt, Sterling is a very good player who has the potential to be great, but if you’re going to make yourself a slave to stats to ‘prove’ Sterling is better than Coutinho, you can’t then discard that model when it also shows that Firmino is better Sterling.
Or rather you can, but you look like a fucking hypocrite if you do.
Hello Chris, by the way.
Out of interest, what’s Henderson’s stats?
So which club you managing these days with all that knowledge. He didn’t want to play for us , didn’t want to wear the shirt and basically behaved like a prize dickhead , whether he’s a great player or a player with great potential means nothing to me he has to go when that happens. I suspect a lot of reds feel that way. Because they think differently to you doesn’t make them stupid.
Leanne, your reasoning is filled with holes.
For one thing, when you can’t think of any evidence to support your claims (e.g. why Firmino is nowhere near as good as Sterling) we are simply supposed to trust in your enlightened judgment?
It seems to me you’re doing it the wrong way round. You begin by making up your mind, then you try desperately to think up different ways to support that opinion. Logic and sound reasoning works the opposite way.
I’ve responded to you in my other post above. The great thing is, we will see in a couple months whether we miss him or not. I don’t think we will. We have players that can dribble the ball up from midfield. I see you are taking great offense to others with a different perspective. For one, I am indifferent about it. I am not mad at Raheem or his agent. I think all parties can benefit from this.
I do take issue with your slights to Coutinho and Lallana. First off, they can cleanly strike the ball. They have a natural feel for it. That is not something that can be developed overnight. Sterling is an extremely poor striker of the ball. What Sterling does exceptionally well is control the ball at his feet. Very tight. Coutinho has better vision, a little less pace, but can strike the ball clean. Lallana has more creative flare but it looser with the ball. But Coutinho/Lallana can score a goal in an inopportune moment. Sterling needs that perfect setup or moment to come together.
Liverpool will be fine without Sterling. And hopefully we reinvest the funds for more impactful talent and goals.
I’d rather have a player here (Firmino) than a player who does not want to be here(Sterling)….
Why is that so hard to get your heads around.
Player x does not want to be here so player x leaves and we get an inflated price.
We have a player ready to step in for him as well (Ibe).
I really don’t see the downside to this deal.
No-one is mentioning the team spirit as well.
This move may actually improve the team spirit from last season.
Too many times last year the team just gave up….
It can’t all be down to Sterling but maybe he contributed to the atmosphere being negative rather than positive.
Judging by the way he behaved in getting his move then I’d say we are miles better off without a bad egg.
The idea that there are not enough quality footballers out there is nonsense.
And more show up every year from youth ranks around the world…..
The idea that Liverpool FC are not an attraction to these players is also nonsense, even though the “your a seling club” jibes have already started.
Don’t listen…. It’s nonsense.
We are a massive club…. a 20 yr old potential star leaving for money is not an example of LFC losing it’s allure.
It’s an example of greed.
If a players doesn’t want to play for Liverpool FC he’s better off going. So is the club. I haven’t considered him our player since the end of last season. The writing was on the wall and that’s it. He could have been something great for this club, but he chose not to. So be it.
If we’d been the nursery for Shaun Wright-Phillips we’d have had the same debate. I didn’t want Sterling to go but I didn’t want someone who was so determined not to play for us.
I have posted before that I am inclined to be vindictive. I actually enjoyed Torres’ failure after he left us, and I just MIGHT rejoice at Sterling’s failure to progress at City. I don’t mind City, all the Mancunians I ever met were City fans, and the failure of this particular investment won’t hurt them. It shouldn’t hurt us, either, if we use the proceeds properly. A big IF.
However it is spent…the ball is rolling and our players are for the pickings.
I don’t really get this. If you’re bothered that LFC can’t pay a 20 year old 200k a week, you’re basically bothered by our entire existence as a football club. It just isn’t our market and, for the considerable future, isn’t likely to be. City are lucky that they have much more flexibility than we do (the relatively toothless FFP notwithstanding). Good for them.
He’s a good player. He’ll do well there. They’ve got good players. But we’ve also got a bunch of good players, with probably more to come. Time to focus on the ones that actually want to play here, whether they are here now or not (hello Christian Benteke!).
He won’t be on anywhere near 200 mill a week at City I doubt that’s what he wanted off Liverpool anyhow Benteke really? There’s better than him for same money lacazette for starters.
I think the thing with Benteke is that he offers us something different. 32 mil is a bit too much and will put more pressure on him than he needs and puts pressure on Rodgers to play him more than he would like to I imagine, but if we buy Lacazette when does Origi get his game time? We spent 10 mil on Origi and he seems like he has the attributes to be a top class striker, it would be a waste to let him sit on the bench behind Lacazette and Sturridge (if and when he is fit).
Sorry u lost me at ‘ speed of thought ‘ there was no thought in his play. Most of the time he look dumbfounded after making a surge. Simply didn’t know what to do with the ball. I also think we HAVE seen the best of him. If anything he has regressed over the past year. Think we are seeing another Shaun Wright Phillips right in front of our eyes. He was made to look better than he really was because of that chap called Suarez next to him.
This is what Im talking about. A 20 year old bought for 49 mill after a year spent regressing? Delusions.
I said similar things when Torres left….but it was based on reality, based on him being noticably slower off the mark, based on his injury record, based on stats like his falling SpG & freekicks won. It wasnt based on the fact he’d left.
So much nonsense Ive read on Sterling has been based on the fact he wanted out & got out. Thats the only explantion. That…..or people have no fucking idea what they’re watching.
At least 15mill of that is because he’s English, and at least another 10mill because he’s 20 and not, say 27 (that ‘potential’ thing again). Put it this way, a 27 year old French guy with the same stats and performing the same way Sterling did last year is not selling for more than 25mill tops. To provide some context, Rickie Lambert scored twice as many goals in 13/14 as Sterling managed in 14/15.
Again, for the avoidance of doubt, this doesn’t make Sterling a bad player. He’s only 20…which is the point. That 49mill is not a reflection of his value today, but rather his potential as player in 2, 3 or 4 years time. Your insistence that he’s producing 49mill of value right now is ridiculous.
We are so lucky to have you posting your statistics. How else would all of us ‘fucking idiots’ have known that Torres was not the same player after his injury’s and prior to his sale to Chelsea.
this was posted on brownie and should have been under Leanne
Hi, can you tell me why you are so, so qualified to call us cretins, morons and have no idea what we r looking at please? Really sorry pure stats are not the only metric for measuring humans in a footballing capacity or any other. How about spatial awareness, communication, risk averse passing versus risk taking, emotional intelligence etc How come you fail to respond or ignore people who challenge your point of view? I guess it’s because we are not worthy and u know it all.
That’s because Chris has a UEFA B licence…
Nah, totally disagree re Sterling comments. Only looked decent with LS playing alongside him, and any person never mind player would look good beside LS. He is inconsistent, misses too many easy, and I mean extremely easy chances. Makes the wrong moves and ends up down dark alleys chasing the light. Watched him play for England in the RoI friendly. He couldn’t handle the boos and ended up a mess, I mean he couldn’t kick a ball in that game. The terraces across England will be relentless and there will be no hiding place if, IF he makes it off the bench. That said, the £49m is a measure of the ‘silly’ wealth that rich owners can splurge on ‘potential’. Something, which for the sake of the sport must be examined and tackled.
I think the leaving room for Markovic shout is a good one and the true silver lining in Sterling going. From what I have seen I rate Markovic very highly (particularly his Europa league performance before he got sent off) and think he was unlucky not to get more opportunities last year. Given a year or two to settle into the team I think he would start pushing Sterling for a place in any case. His balance and poise is phenomenal.
You can’t help be impressed by Ibe’s pace and power but in a team looking to play some intricate attacking football I worry that his speed of thought is up to it. Markovic on the other hand looks razor sharp and if he can build an understanding with Coutinho and Firmino you will really start to see him blossom.
I agree on Markovic. He has great promise. If you’ve ever played poorly in front of a big crowd, (and I have) you can hear every negative comment no matter how loud the surrounding noise. And most of the vilest comments seem to come from raucous, morbidly obese cretins who could trap a football in the crack of their arse but would fall over if they tried to kick it.
I generally agree with this article. Just like to make a couple of points….
1. We should be pleased that our youth development has been good enough to recruit and nurture such a talent. We need to do more of this going forward. We have some great prospects in our U21’s and U18’s. The fact that youth gets a chance will be attractive to other young players and we need to capitalise on that.
2. Raheem (most likely guided by his agent) has acted very unprofessionally over his contract and move. The club isn’t blameless either but we don’t need a disruptive influence in the dressing room and it’s best he has gone. £49M is a decent remuneration for a decent player with great potential.
3. Will he thrive at Man City? Remains to be seen but it will be tough for him. No doubt he’ll get his chance but he’s up against world class talent and he isn’t the “real deal” yet. I think it’s 50:50 that he’ll survive. This is to his and England’s detriment. Let’s see what he’s got.
4. Finally, and most importantly, it’s not good that another English club has the ability to “steal” our talent. We need success on the field and to compete on salary to stem this tide. Can FSG do it? Remains to be seen.
On a small scale this transfer is a good deal. The player did not want to be here, and our fans almost made it impossible to do so even if he had a change of heart. His talent at this moment in time IS replaceable. I just wish I had more confidence in our transfer policy to do this. Also There is a small chance Sterling will not realise his potential and then we’re laughing. At City, at Sterling, and at ourselves for relying so much on this 20 year old last season. But i don’t think this will happen. In my humble opinion, this kid is destined to be a world-beater.
On a long term scale this transfer is a massive worry. It’s a worry that there are four clubs richer and better placed to attract to players than us without having to worry about them pinching our own talents before they hit the big-time. 49m does not hurt city’s finances (FFP is a joke) but it could hurt us when Sterling realises his potential and makes City even more of a powerhouse; winning trophies and keeping us out of the top four whilst he’s at it. Imagine if he scores a winner against us. Actually don’t do that, It’s painful.
The biggest worry is it frames us as a selling club. Arsenal found themselves in this situation a few years ago. They appear to have turned it around but only by big investment in big names. A statement of intent. Can Liverpool do the same?
(*rhetorical question – I don’t want to hear the answer because I don’t think i’ll like it)
If you haven’t seen Firmino play in Germany or play for Brazil recently, I challenge you to go to YouTube and look up some clips. You will see a raw explosiveness, clean striking ability, creative flare and a nature ability to finish. Anyone saying Sterling is better at his current level of development has been drinking some of that red kool-aid since January of 2014 (when Raheem began starting).
Seriously Firmino I have seen play for Brazil recently he has been decent to be fair but in his last game labeled terrible and he was to, he could be a good addition nobody knows yet but he was a player that’s been over paid for to at 29 mill.
I just think that had Firmino been as impressive in the bundesliga as you make out that Chelsea, City, Utd, Arsenal not to mention Munich and so on would have been interested or am I deluded.
Sterling wanted to come to City so I agree good riddance, but pretending that he wasn’t an important part of liverpools squad is ridiculous, not to mention markovic and Ibe are apparently amazing players who will get their time now, markovic looks a terrible signing from what I seen of him, Ibe is definitely not as good as sterling and isn’t developing at the same pace although he obviously looks a good player.
I think what some people are saying here is yeah so long sterling you do t want us then we don’t want you, but why be delusional and pretend he won’t be missed.
Yawkey have you got some sort of fetish about striking the ball cleanly?
If you’re building a side with 1st class team spirit which along with talented players is the main ingredient to achieve success, then with this single issue in mind there is no room for 20 year old egomaniacs who alienate themselves as well undermine the whole team ethic. Occasionally with age and status an Ego can add to the winning formula without detracting from the team. Souness is the best example I can offer here. However it has to be said this Kid courts controversy on and off the pitch at every street corner. What’s the old adage, success is achieved with 80% attitude and 20% ability. He alone made his own position with us untenable and needed no help from the club. For me it’s a no brainer. Good riddance. YNWA
That old adage sounds a load of rubbish to me.
I think we refer to the Pareto Principle or the 80-20 rule here. Less an adage, more of a philosophy. Sadly, it bears no resemblance to the usage above. It’s more about the richest 20% generating 80% of the income or 20% of your clients generating 80% of your revenue. Either way, it’s not about attitude and ability. I’m sure there are other adages that cover that, however.
So, how are we lining up next year?
Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno, Henderson, Milner, Can, Coutinho, Firminho (sure strikes a clean ball), Benteke?
Nope don’t care. He scored 4 goals in 23 games as a forward last year. That’s what your replacing. Should be quite do-able.
He had a purple patch in 13-14 with an unsustainable on target rate (probably partly due to getting goals on a plate from Suarez). Was never going to be able to keep that going with the low number of shots and shots in the box he was getting.
And now he’s going to a team that has an attacking mid that likes to keep the ball and a striker that’s a shot monster. Let me know how all of that works out.
Meanwhile, Jordon Ibe is just as fast, bigger, more powerful, and Aidy Ward isn’t his agent. I’m not bothered.