Raheeeem
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Yes. I think, in the most immediate sense, he's more mentally fatigued than physically fatigued - it's his final decision, final touch, that is getting slower and slower while his actual physical speed is still exceptional. But in the longer term the sheer wear and tear his body's undergoing at his age is bound to have a negative, and potentially lasting, impact. He needs a few brief breaks during the season.
Indeed, that an he needs Sturridge back in the team, Sturridge becomes the central man (rightly so) when he's in the team, without him there everyone looks to Raheem, and at his age that must be exhausting.
Very good piece by Carra today:
It has been another difficult week for Liverpool. A last-minute equaliser conceded in the Merseyside derby followed by a Champions League defeat to Basle has put the club in the spotlight.
Since losing in St Jakob-Park, players have been questioned and Brendan Rodgers has been scrutinised, as have Liverpool’s dealings in the transfer window just gone. Amid all that gloom, though, is one shining light: Raheem Sterling.
So on Friday morning, when I saw the back page of this newspaper, I was sent into a rage. A headline reading ‘Kop fight to keep Sterling’ was not what was needed before a game of huge significance for Liverpool.
The Daily Mail back page on Friday
Do not underestimate the importance of the showdown with West Brom. If Liverpool fail to win again, the international break will be an absolute nightmare and the mood will worsen.
Now, before we go any further, I want to make it clear I have no issue about a journalist unearthing a story. Nor, on a separate matter, do I have a problem with agents trying to get the best possible deal for their clients. In both circumstances, people are just doing their respective jobs.
The reason for my fury was the timing of this particular story. Whoever has let it be known that Sterling is in no rush to commit his future to Liverpool has made a massive mistake. No thought has been given to the big picture.
If anyone around me had put out a story like that about me during my career, never mind the day before a game, our relationship would have been over. My agent, certainly, wouldn’t have done anything like that and I would never have allowed that, even if he had wanted to.
No matter what your job, we all like to see our wages increased but in the 18 years I played for Liverpool, I never put pressure on them or went asking for a new contract, as the club were renowned for rewarding those who made progress quicker than anticipated. They still do it now. Daniel Sturridge’s new deal is evidence of that.
I regularly signed four-year deals that were ripped up within 18 months, either by Peter Robinson — Liverpool’s fabled former chief executive — or his successor Rick Parry, when the club felt my performances had improved. That was the way it was done.
Had I found myself central to a story like that, I would have been mortified having to face my manager, so how would Sterling have felt on Friday morning when he walked into Melwood and saw Rodgers before training?
What particularly frustrates is that it isn’t the first time we’ve seen stories about Sterling — who has been linked with Real Madrid — and his contract. He is one of Europe’s finest young players, a star in the making, but he is old enough to have his own voice and put a stop to things like this happening.
Whoever believes it is a good idea to put pressure on Liverpool has failed to understand the emotion of fans. There is never a good time for these stories to appear but when your team is losing, the last thing you want to read about is potential problems for your star player. It also creates a perception that a player is more interested in money than football, which in turn creates an image. Part of an agent’s duty, after all, is to portray his client in the best light whenever he can.
They have also not grasped just what Liverpool have done for Sterling since he signed as a 15-year-old in 2010. He and his family have been looked after; Rodgers, meanwhile, has protected and nurtured him, providing him with the platform to showcase his talents.
Young players should concentrate on playing games, not get distracted by what is going on off the pitch. That is why it was heartening to see another young star across Stanley Park sign a new contract in the summer without any fuss, how it should be done.
Ross Barkley, who is only 20, may have been linked with Manchester City recently but he has committed to Everton and he should not be giving any thought to leaving Goodison Park until after the next World Cup in 2018. That message would also apply to Sterling.
If, in the future, both players feel they want to try a new adventure, it should be when they are 24 or 25 and a team will be formed around them. If they were to leave too early, they would simply become pieces in a jigsaw rather than the main building block.
Sterling and Barkley are the two most exciting young players in England and now is the time for them to repay the clubs that have given them such fantastic opportunities and will continue to guarantee them regular starts.
Continue as they have been and Liverpool and Everton will have no hesitation about paying them what they are worth. Indeed, Brendan Rodgers has said that it is only a matter of time before Liverpool ‘reward’ Sterling, who has three years remaining on his current deal.
This, to be clear, is not a criticism of the money these young players are being paid — I was on the receiving end of such comments from old pros when I was starting out — and I appreciate we all maximise what we can earn.
There are, though, ways and means of doing things. The best is behind closed doors.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ory-Why-page-left-seething.html#ixzz3FAOYTWz8
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
It has been another difficult week for Liverpool. A last-minute equaliser conceded in the Merseyside derby followed by a Champions League defeat to Basle has put the club in the spotlight.
Since losing in St Jakob-Park, players have been questioned and Brendan Rodgers has been scrutinised, as have Liverpool’s dealings in the transfer window just gone. Amid all that gloom, though, is one shining light: Raheem Sterling.
So on Friday morning, when I saw the back page of this newspaper, I was sent into a rage. A headline reading ‘Kop fight to keep Sterling’ was not what was needed before a game of huge significance for Liverpool.
The Daily Mail back page on Friday
Do not underestimate the importance of the showdown with West Brom. If Liverpool fail to win again, the international break will be an absolute nightmare and the mood will worsen.
Now, before we go any further, I want to make it clear I have no issue about a journalist unearthing a story. Nor, on a separate matter, do I have a problem with agents trying to get the best possible deal for their clients. In both circumstances, people are just doing their respective jobs.
The reason for my fury was the timing of this particular story. Whoever has let it be known that Sterling is in no rush to commit his future to Liverpool has made a massive mistake. No thought has been given to the big picture.
If anyone around me had put out a story like that about me during my career, never mind the day before a game, our relationship would have been over. My agent, certainly, wouldn’t have done anything like that and I would never have allowed that, even if he had wanted to.
No matter what your job, we all like to see our wages increased but in the 18 years I played for Liverpool, I never put pressure on them or went asking for a new contract, as the club were renowned for rewarding those who made progress quicker than anticipated. They still do it now. Daniel Sturridge’s new deal is evidence of that.
I regularly signed four-year deals that were ripped up within 18 months, either by Peter Robinson — Liverpool’s fabled former chief executive — or his successor Rick Parry, when the club felt my performances had improved. That was the way it was done.
Had I found myself central to a story like that, I would have been mortified having to face my manager, so how would Sterling have felt on Friday morning when he walked into Melwood and saw Rodgers before training?
What particularly frustrates is that it isn’t the first time we’ve seen stories about Sterling — who has been linked with Real Madrid — and his contract. He is one of Europe’s finest young players, a star in the making, but he is old enough to have his own voice and put a stop to things like this happening.
Whoever believes it is a good idea to put pressure on Liverpool has failed to understand the emotion of fans. There is never a good time for these stories to appear but when your team is losing, the last thing you want to read about is potential problems for your star player. It also creates a perception that a player is more interested in money than football, which in turn creates an image. Part of an agent’s duty, after all, is to portray his client in the best light whenever he can.
They have also not grasped just what Liverpool have done for Sterling since he signed as a 15-year-old in 2010. He and his family have been looked after; Rodgers, meanwhile, has protected and nurtured him, providing him with the platform to showcase his talents.
Young players should concentrate on playing games, not get distracted by what is going on off the pitch. That is why it was heartening to see another young star across Stanley Park sign a new contract in the summer without any fuss, how it should be done.
Ross Barkley, who is only 20, may have been linked with Manchester City recently but he has committed to Everton and he should not be giving any thought to leaving Goodison Park until after the next World Cup in 2018. That message would also apply to Sterling.
If, in the future, both players feel they want to try a new adventure, it should be when they are 24 or 25 and a team will be formed around them. If they were to leave too early, they would simply become pieces in a jigsaw rather than the main building block.
Sterling and Barkley are the two most exciting young players in England and now is the time for them to repay the clubs that have given them such fantastic opportunities and will continue to guarantee them regular starts.
Continue as they have been and Liverpool and Everton will have no hesitation about paying them what they are worth. Indeed, Brendan Rodgers has said that it is only a matter of time before Liverpool ‘reward’ Sterling, who has three years remaining on his current deal.
This, to be clear, is not a criticism of the money these young players are being paid — I was on the receiving end of such comments from old pros when I was starting out — and I appreciate we all maximise what we can earn.
There are, though, ways and means of doing things. The best is behind closed doors.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ory-Why-page-left-seething.html#ixzz3FAOYTWz8
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Durham and Gough were babbling on yesterday about how Carra had probably done similar things himself in his time. He phoned up and straightened them out, though characteristically Gough was still insisting afterwards that "every sportsman does it".
The point about Sterling having the power to stop this happening is particularly important IMO. I sometimes wonder why more players don't intervene in such a way. Mercenary they may be, but there must be occasions on which their own agents cut across their personal preferences.
The point about Sterling having the power to stop this happening is particularly important IMO. I sometimes wonder why more players don't intervene in such a way. Mercenary they may be, but there must be occasions on which their own agents cut across their personal preferences.
Absolutely right. The common perception from outside is that the agent says what the player wants him or her to say, but the truth is usually that the agent gets on with the job and most of his clients are way too self-absorbed, naive and/or stupid to take any notice. They just wait to be told that something is happening, be it a move, a new contract or a new endorsement deal. I suspect Sterling probably wasn't even aware that anything was being leaked to the papers at all. But Carra's right, he needs to grow up a bit in this sense and take control.
Fantastic article from Carra that.
My heart hearts Carra.
Still a legend around these parts.
Still a legend around these parts.
He really needs a good rest. Been utter shite by his high standards.
An assist today though
Mystic, please start the Henderson love in thread. He's immense. Captainson 😉.
Also, might soon be time to change that Avatar.
'by his high standards'
even by his high standards.
We should rest him against QPR regardless imo.
Next 7 games. I'd prefer that we start him for the red games and rest him for the other 2.
October 2014
Sun - 19 (A) QPR
Wed - 22 (H) Real Madrid
Sat - 25 (H) Hull
Tue - 28 (H) Swansea
November 2014
Sat - 1 (A) Newcastle
Tue - 4 (A) Real Madrid
Sat - 8 (H) Chelsea
Rest him for Madrid Away... Fuck that - he would resent us for not letting him play at the Bernabau... More likely that he could be rested vs Newcastle if we had to rest.. Is that Swansea game the League Cup? Even just One rest in those 7 games would be fine IMO..
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