Just catching up on all the Koptalk videos now and listening to "THE 49MILLION [oops] TAKE" as I write this.
I have to say to Dunc and everyone that agrees with his views, I definitely disagree and think you'll all be eating your words later on.
This is not just a post to say that you're wrong, it's a post explaining why I think you're wrong.
Raheem Sterling is a 20 year old 'kid' who was purchased from QPR's academy by Liverpool and gratuated Liverpool's academy to become a first team player by time he was 18 years old. Now, you can argue that he only had that chance to show what he could do and force his way into the team because of our lack of quality but that's irrelevant.
Along with Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, Raheem helped to form one of the most exciting attacking lines that the Premier League has ever seen. This kid would have been buzzing, thinking that this triumvirate would remain together and continue to terrorise premiership defenses. What was to come was the departure of Luis Suarez and the introduction of Mario Balotelli, which was never going to work. Next came the injuries to Daniel Sturridge, forcing him out for basically the entire season. All of a sudden, the teams "attack" was essentially reliant on the young shoulders of Raheem Sterling and he had no quality or experience to help him out. Say what you want about his finishing etc yeah but Sterling has done a very good job this last season for a 20 year old kid essentially playing alone up top.
Then comes the news that Steven Gerrard, Mr Liverpool, is leaving the club. One of the last players with any top level experience winning trophies. For me, it's really no wonder that Raheem "wants" to leave.
Yes, he's starting and he's guaranteed that but he is no longer playing with big names that he's idolised growing up, players that can help take his game to the next level. THIS is why he wants to leave. So he can play with top quality players and improve his game.
He took the pitch last night against AS Roma for Manchester City and in his first 3 minutes in a City jersey he got behind the defence, one on one with the goal keeper and slotted away coolly. Then, as the game wore on, you could just see the connection between young Raheem and David Silva, like they'd been playing for 6 months together, not 6 minutes. You get that with top quality players, they just mix straight away more often than not and anyone thinking that he won't get minutes for City is totally mistaken. From what we've seen from City so far, they've scrapped the 442 and moved into a more 433 with Silva having a free role as part of the 3. A front 3 of Silva, Aguero and Sterling is very quick, very tricky and will score goals. Supplement that with a midfield of Fernando (who can break up play very well, likes to intercept/tackle and pass the ball to creative players), Delph, who's all action, not afraid to run at players with the ball and will run all game long and Yaya Toure, who'll drift between the lines, dictating the passing and can definitely create something special or hit one from distance. They've got the makings of a very good side once again.
We should NEVER have let Raheem go to City in this whole debacle, it just strengthens our rivals and it gives Raheem and Ward what they wanted. If Sterling came to the club and asked for a transfer, rather than the crap they've pulled and disrespecting the club in the way they did, then sure we could talk about it and think about it. We've given City what they wanted, we've given Raheem what he wanted and we've been weakened because of it all.
The money is irrelevant, Raheem will go on to be a very good player and will justify his price tag, he already looked up for it against Roma, in his first game at the club.
I love this club but I'm not at all happy with this decision or many others that have been made regarding this club of late.
If someone doesn't want to play for Liverpool FC, don't say "f**k off", talk to them and find out why and then give them reasons to want to come in. We aren't in the 80's anymore. We need top players again because top players attract other top players.
Look at Manchester United and Schweinsteiger. You can argue he's not the same player anymore but this guy is a German legend! He's won every trophy there is to win that he's competed for be it domestic or European. He's won a world cup and there's only a handful of players that have won a world cup, a league and a champions league.
Point is, his name alone will attract top players to the club that will want to play with the German. His name on the back of the shirt will pay back his transfer fee within a week of his signing with merchandising. His name on the team sheet will bring fans to the ground to see someone of that caliber and that's what we are missing.
After Stevie left, we don't have that caliber of name anymore, only Coutinho and Sturridge come close and are still miles away from being that draw card. Can you really blame Sterling for wanting to leave? I can't. I just blame him (moreso Ward) for the way they went about it.
