The rapid rise to prominence of Raheem Sterling continued apace yesterday, and with two goals and an assist against Norwich, the youngster almost single-handedly drove Liverpool to victory. The plaudits just keep on coming for Sterling, and Reds legend Robbie Fowler is the latest to hail his exciting progress.
After watching Liverpool's victory over Norwich, Fowler raved:
"Regardless of the score, I thought Raheem was absolutely magnificent today."
Gross overpraise really gets my goat, but in this case, it is deserved. Indeed, in my view, Sterling's performance against Norwich is a huge turning point for the youngster because it marks his graduation from useful luxury player, to genuine game-changer.
Prior to the Norwich game, Sterling - rated at £20m by Reds legend John Aldridge - hadn't really taken a game by the scruff of the neck and dominated to the extent that his personal contribution pushed the LFC to victory.
If you look at Sterling's goals this season, most have come in comfortable wins, and if you take those goals away, in almost every case, it makes little difference to the overall score. Against Norwich, however, the plain fact is that without him, Liverpool would've lost the game. Sterling's game-changing performance propelled the Reds to victory, and it's great that LFC now have another player capable of stepping-up, and taking that kind of responsibility.
Joe Allen is massively impressed with Sterling's 'incredible' form, and when asked last night why the youngster is flourishing at Anfield, he noted:
"I think it's a combination of two things. Firstly, being given that chance to perform as young players can sometimes be overlooked. But the other side of it is being willing to work hard day in, day out to improve, and Raheem has done that."
Just imagine if Jordon Ibe and Joao Carlo Teixeira have a similar impact for Liverpool over the next couple of years. Exciting times ahead...
Author: Jaimie K
After watching Liverpool's victory over Norwich, Fowler raved:
"Regardless of the score, I thought Raheem was absolutely magnificent today."
Gross overpraise really gets my goat, but in this case, it is deserved. Indeed, in my view, Sterling's performance against Norwich is a huge turning point for the youngster because it marks his graduation from useful luxury player, to genuine game-changer.
Prior to the Norwich game, Sterling - rated at £20m by Reds legend John Aldridge - hadn't really taken a game by the scruff of the neck and dominated to the extent that his personal contribution pushed the LFC to victory.
If you look at Sterling's goals this season, most have come in comfortable wins, and if you take those goals away, in almost every case, it makes little difference to the overall score. Against Norwich, however, the plain fact is that without him, Liverpool would've lost the game. Sterling's game-changing performance propelled the Reds to victory, and it's great that LFC now have another player capable of stepping-up, and taking that kind of responsibility.
Joe Allen is massively impressed with Sterling's 'incredible' form, and when asked last night why the youngster is flourishing at Anfield, he noted:
"I think it's a combination of two things. Firstly, being given that chance to perform as young players can sometimes be overlooked. But the other side of it is being willing to work hard day in, day out to improve, and Raheem has done that."
Just imagine if Jordon Ibe and Joao Carlo Teixeira have a similar impact for Liverpool over the next couple of years. Exciting times ahead...
Author: Jaimie K
forget about teixeira jaimie! Suso is IMO much better
ReplyDeleteSUAREZ IS OVERRATED!!!! now that i have you attention.....
ReplyDeletea few points concerning the season everyone associated with liverpool football club deserves a standing ovation (if we win the league.. which we will) what brendan rodgers has done is amazing... concerning Lucas and allen we need these players just like Man Utd had (john o'sea, david may, carrick) lucas and allen may not be world class but they are very good squad players who give balance to the team and keep unity and harmony in the team..... i would love a mascherano or a matic in the team but when they are not starting they will run to the press... also coutinho seems to be a big game player he has stepped up in big games and he will get better and score goals in the future...we also need to keep Agger he has champions league experience so does skrtel so no need to sell them we already have Ilori, wisdom as upcoming...Sakho for me reminds me of Traore or Cissoko but a better version, scares me at times
rightly so next year we will have teixeira suso and alberto than we can play proper tika tak
ReplyDeleteJaimie, it's not overpraise if it's 'deserved'. Overpraising is when you give someone more praise than they deserve.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we care much about playing tika taka anymore.
ReplyDeletenow that the league is all wrapped up, we need to sign the right players to keep the squad with the right balance. back-up striker, one winger, one attack-mid and central midfielder and a possible protege signing to replace steven gerrard.
ReplyDeleteBack-Up Striker. - now were in the best position possible to compete with the best clubs for the best talents. Alan Carvalho from FC Red Bull Salzburg is absolutely on fire. at the age of 24, across all competitions including CL, Europa League and Austrian league he has got 34 goals/18 assists in 41 games. this includes 4 goals/7 assists in 10 games in europa league. so clearly hes a great player who can score and create at a high level. he will cost no more than £10M and would be a great signing. still alot of development and can join our Brazilian revolution. £10M
Attack-Mid: Roberto Firmino has also been on fire but hes doing in the Bundesliga at the age of 22 which is astonishing. week in, week out performances and he needs to be brought to the PL ASAP. £20M
Right Wing: Andriy Yarmolenko has been a long term target and he has been world class this season. if he joins next season, he will definately aid our title cances and CL Quest. he can play back up striker as well if needed, and he also has crucial attributes including pace, skill, power, size and work rate, all things which mould well for BR philosophy. £20M
Centre Midfield: Stevie G could pickup injurys at any time due to his age and it is crucial we have a Stevie G protege. Rakitic plays in the stevie mould, alot of technique and very versatile. he also has good stats to back it up. £25M
Total: £75M
bring back Ilori, who is a beast at Centre back and is Skrtel's desired partner in disguise.
Haha...nice attention grabber...good comment though, agree with everything!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comments regarding squad players, but I definitely don't agree on your comments regarding Sturridge. Sturridge has set up a ton of goals and scored his fair share as well, and he has every right to have a pop at goal when he's in the form he's in.
ReplyDeleteCould be "The best young player in Europe"..........or is that just overpraise?
ReplyDeletePersonally I would never have described him as just "a useful luxury player" . He is an extremely talented young player who has been developing and growing as a person and player. He is now beginning to showhe could be a very special player and as you rightly point out a game changer and he is only 20 - amazing!
LUIS GARCIA <3
ReplyDeleteI kind of agree, but all of your signings are attack-minded. We severely lack a good senior LB and a solid DM. In my opinion, we can kill 2, or even 3 birds with one stone out of the 4 positions you mention. Lacazette, Kono, Yarmo, Muriel, Shaqiri and Cuadrado can all play across the front 4 (AM included). Also, many CMs can push up to play AM or fall back to DM as well. That said, I would only get 2 guys to cover those 4 positions considering that we also have Borini and Suso coming back after pretty impressive loan spells. We also have Assaidi, but he's sadly not on par with what we need. My choice for transfers would be Muriel/Lacazette/Carvalho(he sounds good to me :) for one and Cuadrado/Konoplyanka/Shaqiri for the other.
ReplyDeleteAs for the remaining "needs," Rakitic or Kroos or Koke would be dream transfers for the CM/AM area, but it probably won't happen. Because of that, I would focus on the DM area and get a youngster for CM like Will Hughes. For DM, M'vila sounds good to me. What ever behavior probs he has I feel confident that BR can iron those out. I'm really not sure about alternatives though... For FB, Rojos, Moreno, Rodriguez, etc would all be great targets. so thats a total of 5 potential transfers. If the first 2 cost around 40 M together, and the latter 3 costs around 30, thats 70 M. subtract 10-15 for out going transfers, and thats a pretty solid 60 M.
it isn't wrapped up yet.
ReplyDeleteThe one situation where you could see that tiki taka is not yet in the blood of this team though was just after the break when Suarez passed 60 yards for Coutinho. The pull back to Sterling was classic Barca but the Barca of old would have had Sterling pass into the path of Allen for him to finish from 4 yards out. So keeping this team together for a couple of years imagine what they can do when they only get better.
ReplyDeleteTrue, just look at Benteke.
ReplyDeleteOne season wonder??? He's been unstoppable since he came in January last season. Not to mention his time at Bolton.... As for him being selfish, isn't that what strikers are supposed to be? Look at Carroll scared to shot or get in the box... Plus he isn't selfish at all, half of luis' goals are because of DS
ReplyDeleteLoved watching him again, probably my all time favourite Liverpool player! Not the best but I used to love him in fact still do!
ReplyDeleteI said this last season. We played better when we played a mixture of styles. Tika taka and also the defence splitting 40 yards balls to keep the defence guessing. If we solely used tika taka I don't think we would be top right now and teams will have sussed us out.
ReplyDeleteHe was probably my first favourite Liverpool player.
ReplyDeleteSame really. First player I was old enough to make a proper decision. I just used to get given shirts with players names.
ReplyDeleteLiverpool is a team of shape shifting, and it's why we've been so hard to beat. A lot of great teams are only fantastic at one formation and style, but Liverpool are able to change their shape by comfortably playing in a variety of formations, and styles as a result.
ReplyDeleteI guess we can all be forgiven if we don't remember he's just turned nineteen
ReplyDeletei'm belittling him in anyway but sum times he gets greedy which is fine for a striker..... but sometimes he needs to pass he reminds me of andy cole sometimes he was exactly the same..... but we need a new left back a left wing forward....
ReplyDeleteSky sources: David Moyes facing sack as Manchester United manager in next 24 hours
ReplyDeleteFor the right price could be an amazing signing. I really hope we buy 2 or 3 top quality players rather than 6 or 7 half decent ones (like last summer).
ReplyDeleteWith the price given, It's not going to happen. If we win the PL, FSG will look at this season as a template for success with youngsters and may not spend. I gather this on Henry's latest interview in re to FFS..
ReplyDeleteI reall don't rate the guy that much. He is a decent player but 40 mil eur for him?? Come on! For that money you could buy Marco Reus who is a far superior player.
ReplyDeleteBarca can't buy or sell for the next two transfer windows. Shame as Peddon is a delight to watch. Experienced accomplished passing ability and finishing. Would be amazing to have him in the squad. Maybe in 2015. YNWA
ReplyDeleteSorry Pedro. Bloody iPhone.
ReplyDeleteWe have been linked with Antoine Griezmann who would be a much better purchase.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if there's a chance and I doubt we'd pay 40m euros but I would be delighted if we signed him. I think he's a brilliant player.
ReplyDeleteAnd they would be right! We have two fabulous strikers, one in his prime and one reaching his prime. BR has shown we don't need 40M Euro players at every position. We need experienced, young, smart guys with good position skills, vision, leadership ability, team ethic, speed and work rate. The rest will take care of itself. After his antics this year and in the last year at Arsenal, do you that RVP would be a good fit for us? Bawlotelli? No...not these high priced, self-entitled guys. We need Kono, Rakitic...and then we have our loaners who are getting great experience.
ReplyDeleteYou're right because we have a lot of talent out on loan and waiting in the wings.
ReplyDeleteThey can sell
ReplyDeletetika taka is old news now. The future is fast and furious. LFC will run teams off the pitch. Tika Taka teams won't be able to live with us. To play tika taka you need time on the ball and that's not going to happen when you play LFC
ReplyDeleteSACKED IN THE MORNING
ReplyDeleteYOU'RE GONNA GET SACKED IN THE MORNING
SACKED IN THE MOOOORNIIIIING
Sterling is really starting to look like the real deal this season.
ReplyDeleteGood management from Rodgers. He didn't play him too much last season, as he wasn't quite ready, but he's matured and deserves his place now.
I was also pretty pleased with Allen's performance. I thought he did well.
Disagree! His rum of form this year is a continuation from last season. He scored when he played at Chelsea & Bolton. I think he's just underrated, I suspect the misconception about his demeanour doesn't help. Trust me he's going to get better. I really hope Saurez stays, I think he will.
ReplyDelete