Since arriving at Anfield in January 2013, Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has missed over 25 games as a result of various injury problems, and Reds legend Jamie Carragher argues that the problem is mental rather than physical.
In his weekend column for the Daily Mail, Carra described Sturridge as a 'huge goal threat', and hailed the striker for having an 'excellent season', but added:
"Rodgers gave him a chance to play in his preferred role up front and he’s thrived.
"He just needs to be a bit mentally stronger with his body as he succumbs too often to knocks and injuries".
Obviously, as an ex-pro, Carra knows his stuff, but I don't see how picking up injuries is a mental issue. If a player succumbs to injuries, surely that's a physical issue? Short of employing Jedi mind-tricks, how can Sturridge's mentality reverse the physical impact of a bad tackle?
£29m-rated Sturridge can have the strongest mentality on the planet, but if he's scythed down, lands awkwardly, or pulls a muscle, there's nothing his 'mind' can do to stop his body from 'succumbing' to injury. Or am I missing something?
Of course, the obvious comparison is Luis Suarez, one of the most mentally tough players on the planet. The Uruguayan rarely succumbs to injury, but that's surely more to do with his physical toughness? That said, even Suarez is not immune to injury, and LFC's 'Man of Steel' is currently on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury.
In a league game last October, I got taken out by a Kung-fu special, which led to a double fib-tib fracture (not fun!) - I don't see how being 'mentally stronger' could've changed the outcome of thatassault tackle.
Ultimately, how can Sturridge be 'mentally stronger' with his body?
Author: Jaimie K
In his weekend column for the Daily Mail, Carra described Sturridge as a 'huge goal threat', and hailed the striker for having an 'excellent season', but added:
"Rodgers gave him a chance to play in his preferred role up front and he’s thrived.
"He just needs to be a bit mentally stronger with his body as he succumbs too often to knocks and injuries".
Obviously, as an ex-pro, Carra knows his stuff, but I don't see how picking up injuries is a mental issue. If a player succumbs to injuries, surely that's a physical issue? Short of employing Jedi mind-tricks, how can Sturridge's mentality reverse the physical impact of a bad tackle?
£29m-rated Sturridge can have the strongest mentality on the planet, but if he's scythed down, lands awkwardly, or pulls a muscle, there's nothing his 'mind' can do to stop his body from 'succumbing' to injury. Or am I missing something?
Of course, the obvious comparison is Luis Suarez, one of the most mentally tough players on the planet. The Uruguayan rarely succumbs to injury, but that's surely more to do with his physical toughness? That said, even Suarez is not immune to injury, and LFC's 'Man of Steel' is currently on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury.
In a league game last October, I got taken out by a Kung-fu special, which led to a double fib-tib fracture (not fun!) - I don't see how being 'mentally stronger' could've changed the outcome of that
Ultimately, how can Sturridge be 'mentally stronger' with his body?
Author: Jaimie K
It's the sort of rubbish ex-players come up with when they start earning their income from being pundits and need to get their name out there.
ReplyDeleteI respect Carra as a ledgend but sometimes he talks a load of balderdash! I'm trying to keep the lingo above board!
ReplyDeleteSturridge relies on explosive action-sprinting full pelt, pirouetting, changing of direction etc etc therefore there's bound to be injuries.
Also the tone of the criticism once again leads me to think this is another thinly veiled attack on Sturridge's integrity as it implies it's his fault. As my username implies, I'm medically trained & feel qualified to say Carra is waffling!
Especially from one who does nothing but consistently hoofs the ball to no-man's land.
ReplyDeleteBrother, you beat me to it! Utter nonsense & it's clear you don't need medical training to see it!
ReplyDeleteIn his last season, Carra's passing accuracy was 92%; the 'hoofball' thing is a myth.
ReplyDeleteTo those with nothing better to do than criticise; Put this in your pipe...
ReplyDeleteIf Carra was with Liverpool in season 2013 / 14, LFC would be the Premier League 2013 / 14 WINNERS!
Now smoke that!!!
Remember JK you posted an article sometime ago about how the comments of various people affiliated with lfc (inc Stevie G), undermined Sturridge when he first arrived. Comments which cast aspersions on Sturridge's character. Well Carra's comments are in the same category.
ReplyDelete_
ReplyDeleteSimple; Look at players like Roy Keane and Steven Gerrard.
In a 50 / 50 tackle with virtually anyone in the game; Home and Abroad, These players stand up and walk away from the challenge.
Put simply, they want the ball more, want to win more and are prepared to not pull out of the challenge or go more for their right to the ball.
Thats Mental Toughness!
Thats also Jamie Carragher!
_
You have all heard of players who can't play unless they are 100% fit havnt you? That's what Jamie is saying, when sturridge is only say 85-90% fit, he can still be a threat and that takes mental toughness to play through the pain. It's the kicks and bruises that you can play through, even slight strains but pulls and breaks you can't. Should answer your question
ReplyDeleteWhat has this got to do with Carra's unfair comments about Sturridge?
ReplyDeleteCarragher isn't saying that he can use his mind to heal the injuries. He's saying that he can rather play through injury a bit more...
ReplyDeleteIf your injured, your injured. Perhaps Michael Owen may have had a longer career had his injuries been managed better. The medics will ultimately help guide the decision. Besides when Sturridge played through an injury for England he was criticised for putting country before club??!!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely not intended as a slur on Daniel Sturridge's integrity but merely the view of a former hard centre half who was seldom injured. There's nothing players can do about major injuries but we all know of some who check-out for minor ailments that the hard men with an empowering 'will to win' (like Luis Suarez and Carragher himself) play through. No one will convince me that Suarez was not 'carrying' an injury in the last 3 or 4 games but he would not capitulate and drove himself on. Cara's comment does not seek to deride Dan's injury record in any way IMO but rather want's to transmit the message that players must sometimes be prepared to play through the pain barrier for the team - even when not 100% fit.
ReplyDeletePeople weren't annoyed at the lone fact he played through injury, they were just annoyed that he did it in a meaningless international friendly (assuming it was?)
ReplyDeleteYour first sentence is true, but I think Carragher is more so talking about little niggling ones that you could probably play through, different to muscle tears and what not
I'd love to know the stats on how many times he passed the ball back to Reina - hence so much pass accuracy!
ReplyDeleteIn your eyes it was meaningless as it was a friendly but the truth is Hodgson used it as a yard stick to test Sturridge's resolve to play through an injury ie to verify whether Sturridge could play through a tournament.
ReplyDeleteI think he (Carra) just saw X-Men and said what he said......:)
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't mean what Hodgson did was right. It'd be understandable if it were a game that actually counted toward something.
ReplyDeleteYou can't make these blanket generalisations- if Carra can do it so can Sturridge! Doesn't work like that. Is Carra privy to the medical advice? How do you know Sturridge hasn't been playing through injuries? When he first came to us he came not being match fit but put a string of games together. Our last game against Chelsea Sturridge was clearly not 100% but he still played! I maintain that this is unfair criticism.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with you, Hodgson was wrong! As I remember what was worse was that BR didn't even speak in Sturridge's defence. Meaning Sturridge was between a rock & a hard place!
ReplyDeleteSorry JK, but Carra was far from a cultured footballer. Warrior & leader yes, Franco Baresi NO!
ReplyDeleteHe's obviously saying that there's certain minor injuries that you can play through and Sturridge worries too much about them getting worse???
ReplyDeleteMost of Sturridges injuries are muscular. In fact I'm not sure he's had an impact injury since he got here.
ReplyDeleteThe mentality part is regarding his training and lifestyle. I've heard a lot of things about Sturridge not being a particularly hard trainer and that he isn't the best at looking after and conditioning his body. That is where the mental toughness comes into it. He needs to focus more on his fitness and then he can be a world class striker for the next decade. If he continues the way he is, his fitness issues will catch up with him. Carragher is spot on if you ask me and I think a lot of you are deliberately turning a blind eye to what he meant just for the sake of argument. Don't forget, Carra has played with Sturridge and watched him train. He knows how much effort Sturridge puts in behind the scenes, we can only speculate.
Sometimes, a muscle injury is just a case of putting in an extra 10 % at the gym to strengthen your hamstring or even as simple as a good diet. There is a mental aspect to staying fit, so lets not play dumb and make out Carra is chatting 'shirt'.
sometimes being to careful about being injured can get you injured.
ReplyDeleteIf you're cautious you tend to "tense" your body and a twist of your ankle that would normally not hurt you because it is more flexible can hurt you because it is too tense and can "break" more easily.
Of course being assault on the pich with a poor "tackle" can't change that but a knock on articulation can be avoid.
There's a thin line between fact & fiction, sometimes it's hard to tell the difference unless you have all the facts. As far as Im concerned Sturridge is never overweight, rarely looks out of breath after runs & IMO it's physically more demanding as a modern day striker compared to being a centre back. He doesn't drink or smoke so I don't understand how conditioning can be an issue. Besides there's such a thing as over training!
ReplyDeletehave you ever thought we would/could have been a lot worse off if he was in the team still? what a blinded view you have, especially considering our team was basically the same last season to the season before minus carragher but did a lot better. only mignolet was really added who played all the time. carra was completely overrated (IMO)
ReplyDeleteI respect that you have worked hard to become a doctor, I really do but in your eyes I understand that if your injured your injured, fair enough by when your an important player in a football team you are expected to play through the pain barrier, its a football thing and its even more apparent in rugby but some players just wont do it as they don't feel fit enough to perform at the top level.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Carra. Small knocks and bruises are footballers contribution to a game. They must not look at it as an injury and be mentally strong to get over it. It's adifferfent situation if you broke a leg. Then it is a different kind of mental strength.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree
ReplyDeleteI'd hazard a guess that the 'mentality' of injuries thar JC is referring to has nothing to do with a bad challenge that would injure any player, but more to do with mentally blocking out pain (i.e. some people can play through a pain barrier more than others) - that's a mental issue & I fully agree with JC there.
ReplyDeleteI would rather buy Shaqiri for half the price
ReplyDeleteI don't want LFC to sign Lallana because at that price or close, we could get better players but i have to say, i disagree with all the comments stating Lallana isn't worth 25-30m. The fact of the matter is chelski, shitty, manure, monarcho, psg & madrid have driven the market prices to what they are today & they will continue to do so. Southampton are charging todays going rate for a talented player bearing in mind a world class player now costs between 60-100m (as dictated by madrid). We're just unfortunate that his previous club was smart enough to insert a sell on clause which at his price, would be a bone of contention for most clubs. Shaqiri, Markovic & Pedro wouldn't be my first choices either but they're better players & investments than Lallana imo. For me players like Firmino, Cuadrado, Iturbe, Sanchez & Pastore would all be better in both departments but i can understand the interest in Pedro & Shaqiri if indeed true. The price for Markovic is the standard, "i don't wanna sell but if i do, you'll pay through the nose" price which is exclusively for the clubs who dictate the market & that's not LFC.
ReplyDeleteJan Mølby, who is a commentator in Denmark for the premier league games have said severel times on danish tv that Sturridge is very special when it comes to his body. After every game there's endless of issues, he needs ice, massage, treatment. It hurts here, there and everywhere. He is completely nackered and broken after a game. Mølby is simply implying that he is hypochondriac. I do not know, Mølby say a lot of things. But maybe that is what Carra is on about. He just can't say it. What do you think. Would make sense to talk about mental toughness then.
ReplyDeleteCarra, like Suarez has one of those bodies that take a licking and keep on ticking. Sturridge seems to have glass ankles. Don't really think it's his fault. Usually when he's injured it's for 6 weeks plus which suggests a relatively serious injury. Rodgers also said he wasn't fit at the start of the season but he played and then br criticised him for playing for England when he wasn't fit enough which doesn't suggest that he has a negative mentality to playing when not fully fit
ReplyDeleteWhere did i say that i wanted to spend the money on him? Carroll is a completely different story. It was money up front and it was big money. I never backed that transfer. I thought it was completely idiotic. He cost us a huge lot. I said Lallanas price didn't scare me compared to the price of Pedro. Next time read my post, make sure you understand what i am saying. Then reply if you do. If you are in doubt, ask me.
ReplyDeleteRegarding money and the fact that they are real... Enlighten me! What are you sources? Do you think Liverpool at any time have offered 25m pound straight cash for Lallana? Do you know that? And when you talk about real money what do you include?
I am pretty certain that the Liverpool offer for Lallana is installments, performance based payments etc. If you know otherwise tell us. We'd be happy to know what you mean with real money exactly - atleast i would.
20/25m pound is far off the price for Alexis Sanchez. You should read my previous post. I don't for one second believe that the quoted price is correct.
ReplyDeleteDon't deliberately misinterpret what I said please - in so doing your argument lacks credibility.
ReplyDeleteDo you know of Dave Mackay, Billy Bremner, Wilbur Cush and Tommy Smith etc - these were the types of player I associated with Luis Suarez as 'iron men' who seldom missed games because of injury. Perhaps they were just lucky to be made that way?.
Dan is a tremendous player who has been unlucky to have missed so many important games for Liverpool through injury. - I hope you cannot misinterpret that statement?
What right does Carra have to make such a comment? To pass judgement on how another player's body responds to injuries! Here's where I find the unfairness in Carra's comments. Essentially he's saying Sturridge isn't willing to put his body on the line for the cause- "play through the pain barrier." Despite not having access to scan results, medical opinion, speaking to the player or even observing fitness tests. One would think these we're vital pieces of information!
ReplyDeleteAs far as I'm concerned there is no evidence whatsoever that Sturridge trains poorly, hasn't in fact played through minor injuries & isn't committed to staying fit-diet, partying, smoking etc etc.
Sad think is that people are willing to speculate on the basis of a poorly informed opinion. Sturridge himself said that he wished he had Saurez's body of steel, surely this implies a physical rather than a mental problem?
Take it easy mate, I think everyone is just taking a swipe at Danny Sturridge for some unknown reason and I am sure sooner rather than later he might consider leaving us for having such a hostile attitude from the ex-LFC players. I wouldn't blame him for that though, because its not easy to work where you're always scathed for something that's not even in your hands.
ReplyDeleteDon't understand where you're coming from? How have I "deliberately" misinterpreted you?
ReplyDeleteI do feel strongly about this because right from the get go people have cast aspersions about Sturridge on issues he has no control over! If it's not Stevie Nicol saying he's got an attitude problem, Carra's having a pop at his injuries. In my entire life as a LFC fan, I've never known a player criticised so much based on unsubstantiated reasons. Despite achieving all sorts of historic club records!
ReplyDeleteDo you honestly expect a "Modern" day footballer to go through a season without injuries? Mentioning past LFC greats does not had any credibility to your argument as people are different. Some heal faster than others etc etc.
ReplyDeleteJockintheKop summarise my sentiments very well & so for your benefit I'll copy the comment below:
Carra, like Suarez has one of those bodies that take a licking and keep on ticking. Sturridge seems to have glass ankles. Don't really think it's his fault. Usually when he's injured it's for 6 weeks plus which suggests a relatively serious injury. Rodgers also said he wasn't fit at the start of the season but he played and then br criticised him for playing for England when he wasn't fit enough which doesn't suggest that he has a negative mentality to playing when not fully fit
Yeah, I completely agree with you even though I am a fairly young fan compared to you guys. But, I completely agree with you re vendetta against Sturridge as if it was his ability then that's acceptable but its something else that these are guys about and I doubt he would feel much loved if thinks keep on going like this.
ReplyDeleteEx-players should support the players rather than taking swipes at them if they really want to help the club rather than blatantly going on about things that they're not privy to or their personal life and routine.
Totally agree. Pedro, Sanchez and Shaqiri seem better options for the money.
ReplyDeleteTrust me I share your sentiment but here's where I'm coming from:
ReplyDelete1) is it worth exacerbating the injury & risking a longer lay off or allowing recuperation.
2) multiple factors dictate susceptibility to injuries- genetics, muscle mass distribution, style of play etc. So why you compare one player to another as if it were like for like??!!!
Jan Molby was obese when he played and retired so I don't think he has any right to pass judgement. In fact as footballer Molby's physique towards the end of his career constitutes professional misconduct!
ReplyDeletedont believe this is a real likely,has to be shaq by far the best value
ReplyDeleteLallana is in the £20- £25m bracket in my view if he can be signed for that then fair enough Southampton not wanting to do business until they have a new Manager in place makes perfect sense im sure the new man will have a list of targets of his own and around £50m from selling an 18y old full back and an Attacking Midfielder would give him around £25m to bring in his own men and he would be quite happy i would imagine to fill two positions with that sort of money and give the owners money to reduce debts the same would apply to Rodriguez Lovran and the other players names as likely to go Im sure any manager would be happy to move into a team that has £30m plus to bring in half a dozen of his own players
ReplyDeleteGoing back to Lallana we have a bid on the table £25m i wouldn't go any higher when you are Shopping in the £25m range there are a number of good players you could sign for that money that would improve Liverpool if is a bit different when you are shopping in the £5m bracket Im happy that the Manager has money to spend and names on the list good enough to improve our team and will let him spend it
Firmino, Cuadrado, Iturbe, Sanchez, Pastore, Pedro, Shaquiri, Markovic.
ReplyDeleteWould anyone really be disappointed with any of these?
Butterfly? I want Liverpool players to have nicknames like the bull , the tiger, lion or boxer dog not The friggin butterfly......sorry pass on this one
ReplyDeleteThat stat is inconclusive. It could be that his 18% are hoofs whereas for his counterparts to the 18% is failed short passes.
ReplyDeleteI hate when people talk about how players who played in the 70's were real hard men.
ReplyDeleteHave seen how many of those players who were classed as hard men are today.
Many of them can barely walk. Tommy Smith has had a Hip replacement as well as both of his knees. On top of this he suffers badly from arthritis to the point where he requires wheelchair or walking stick from time to time.
All of this is because of he would often play when injured. Many players of this era all have had issues similar to Tommy Smith.
agreed. we already wasted lots of money on scrap.
ReplyDeleteSorry but that is rubbish. I played football for years with a on going knee problem (had knee surgery 3 times over a 3 year period) If you are injured you are injured, end off. There were many times I could of played but didn't, not because I lacked the mental strength but because I didn't want to make an small injury that might take a week to get over worse and take 3 weeks to get over.
ReplyDeleteIts like saying a player does not have the mental strength to play because they have a small hamstring / ligament tear or a muscle strain, sure it hurts but you can still play.
Its these small injuries which can very easily turn into something more serious and long term.
Sturridge has only officially been out injured twice with ankle injuries.
ReplyDeleteAlso he has only ever been out injured for more then 2 weeks twice in his entire career, both times were for his ankle.
Nothing to do with the subject at hand, also I would argue that is not Mental Toughness but desire.
ReplyDeleteNo. For a player who relies on pace playing with a slight muscle strain could result in a much worse injury. For all we know Sturridge might want to play when he has slight muscle strains but the medical staff will not let him as they do not want to make the injury worse.
ReplyDeleteJust look at Michael Owen.
He was out for more than 2 weeks around November time I'm sure
ReplyDeleteAgree. Stats are one thing but overall you judge a player by what you see.and I see a hoofer to rival Bruce Forsythe .
ReplyDeleteI am not medically trained as siuch but i have dabbled a bit in origami and I can confirm it's pure waffle.
ReplyDeleteYep sounds like sour grapes to me. Stuuridge is likely to be an England regular.
ReplyDeleteIn fairness, I don't think Carra is in that position where he needs to get his name out there or to seem objective.
ReplyDeleteAdmittedly, I don't get to watch his analysis every weekend since I'm not in the UK, but it seems like him and Neville call it pretty fair regardless of allegiance, and they seem to mix in some humor as well.
He was a helluva hoofer. The best of hoofers. A hoofest, perhaps?
ReplyDeleteThe one thing that hurts Sturridge here is the fact that Suarez seemingly plays through every single knock he picks up.
ReplyDeleteSo he's going to constantly be compared to Suarez, which is not necessarily fair.
The sad thing is that these attacks are coming from LFC associates, and we know how things get blown out of proportion! Look closely at Sturridge how he comes across-no attitude but humility, always about the team. Yet we have all this nonsense. IMO Sturridge is the brightest English talent in years why he is repeatedly questioned beats me!
ReplyDeleteI'd call him a horse, since they too are famous for their multiple hooves.
ReplyDeleteNice one :)
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, stats are at least two things such is the nature of a plural.
ReplyDeleteExcellent points, not iv when Michael Owen had recurrent hamstring issues there was no comments on his mental ability to overcome injuries!
ReplyDelete"A stat is one thing"
ReplyDeleteWhat is this, amateur hour!?
I don't know what you mean
ReplyDeleteyo Firminho is the way to go!
ReplyDeleteRemarkable comment stating someone else's comment is rubbish! Try reading what I have said clearly first before dramatically claiming something said is rubbish. Where have I stated that a serious injury should be played through or mentally blocked out? Different people take knocks in different ways; some can play through them by having the mentality to, some can't. You may even be surprised to know that you're not the only player who has played for years with ongoing injuries; some injuries it doesn't matter what mentality you have, you're not playing, some injuries it depends on the person whether they play through it or not, that's the mentality JC is talking about. TBH, I'd be much more inclined to agree with JC's perception of mentality than yours.
ReplyDeleteBest comment on this subject by far Tony H, but I'm sure Ghost Rider's superior intellect on the matter will again usurp anyone's opposing opinion; even stating others comments are 'rubbish' unless they agree with his/hers.
ReplyDeleteIt's simple, in the same way RVP is... You either want to get back sooner rather than later or you don't want to rush yourself for wot ever reason... I'm not suggesting it's a lazy thing nor a desire problem, just that some recover quicker or don't get injured as much due to the confidence they have in their physical stature
ReplyDelete...and just like that, the folder comprising the evidence in favour of my involuntary internment in a psychiatric facility gets a little bit thicker.
ReplyDeleteyou are on fire, today, my friend! :)
ReplyDeleteDo we really need this player? £25 million??? he looks average and we have better in our under 21's, unless it's just more papertalk! 'i have to agree with Gano as well Lallana has looked average for England and defo not worth £30 million, considering Diego Costa is going for £25 million, it puts things in perspective doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteI think Carra is talking about maybe his, perceived, low tolerance to pain. Where other Players might play through a bit of pain Sturridge maybe succumbs to easy to it..? This is just me trying to interpret what Carra means...
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why LFC has not gone back for Kono. Clearly a more than decent player for a reasonable fee.
ReplyDeleteAgree,and I fear how lifelong Nou Camp/La Masia graduates will perform elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteYep,tough as nails.
ReplyDeleteSturridge started last season already injured but played plenty of minutes and scored goals when the team needed him. He's played more than one game where he's not 100%. I guess Carra is entitled to conclude that this appearance of not being fit is a mental thing but I can't see how he can know that for sure. If this is how he would manage players if he was to take a role as a coach in the club I wouldn't want him there. That old school "toughen up" attitude went out the window a couple of decades ago.
ReplyDeleteCristian Ziege .. Harry Kewell anyone?
ReplyDeleteI only feel the fire when I pee. God damned gonorrhoea.
ReplyDeleteActually, Franco Baresi would be the one player I WOULD compare Carragher too.
ReplyDeleteB Rodgers needs to bring in 3 more attacking players to club: Not L Markovic(20) Of Benfica Or Not A Lallana(26) Of Southampton
ReplyDelete2 World class attackers and 1 class quality creative attacker:
2 World Class attackers:
1: CM : I Rakitic(26) Of Seville for £23-£30M
2: RW / RWF: A Sanchez(25) Of Barcelona for £20-£26M
1 Class attacker: Gamble but if fully fit injury free and motivated:
3: LW / LWF: B Arfa(27) Of Newcastle for £6-£9M
I know so many fans in here say I Rakitic(26) is Barcelona bound but Seville have not received one bid from anyone yet and Barcelona have 3 players they are trying to sign as priorities. ( A Turan(27) Of A Madrid £33M/41 Euro bid has been lodged, Marquinhos(20) Of PSG and Cuadrado(26) Of Fiorentina)
So If B Rodgers offers Seville £23-£30M for I Rakitic(26) i am sure the club will get him.
The three players above would complement the attacking class and quality of Coutinho, Gerrard, Sterling, Sturridge and Suarez.
The three players above would cost club £49-£65M
But these three players are Champions league calibre class and quality players, these three players fully fit and injury free could play for any team in top 5 in premiership.
That is the calibre, class and quality we need brought to club this summer.
With these three players brought to club we could have two strong midfields and attacks :
Suarez Sturridge Sanchez
Henderson Rakitic
Gerrrard
Arfa Lambert Sterling
Coutinho
Allen Can
I think the point Carra's made is being missed. He's referring to AFTER Sturridge has sustained an injury. He lies down too quickly. Most other players play with injury all the time. RVP says he hasn't played pain-free for 6 years. BR also told Sturridge to learn to sometimes play through pain. No-one's saying he should play with a torn hamstring or a broken metatarsal, but most players can continue playing with certain soft tissue injuries etc. In plain terms, Carra's saying he's a bit of a baby.
ReplyDeleteI think Carra is just saying that some of the small knocks he could play through, due to past injuries he has had, if Sturridge has a slight knock he lets it affect his game as he worries about it.
ReplyDeleteFair comments from Carra. Or they would be if, as you say, JK, Sturridge was a Jedi master. I'm all for the mental toughness thing, but that frankly has nothing to do with pulled hammies and those sort of injuries. People need to get off Sturridge's back as a matter of urgency. I've seen and heard nothing from him to warrant the kind of conversations we have about him.
ReplyDeleteyou lot on here are pathetic... firstly Carra doesn't actually says Sturridge isn't mentally strong he says he needs to be stronger. His comments are actually very positive about Sturridge. secondly to then have an arguement about Carra's stats and then criticise the man for hoofing the ball (which has nothing to do with Sturridge and also mental strength) is just insulting to legend of the club. Whether he did or not it clearly worked because the man has winners medals to his name.
ReplyDeleteJamie Kanwar... you are very good at putting misleading headlines up that actually when read them don't mean much about the article itself... Since when has Sturridge worth £29 million... I believe we bought im for £12 mill. You can't put a value on a player especiallyif you pluck out of mid air like you have done.
You mean you (and bubbles) are not already safely locked up!
ReplyDeleteI know where he's going with this, he just means he needs to tough it out. Defenders are well know (especially Carra) to be tough on the field. By means of taking knocks and shaking them off carrying on but forwards eg Sturridge take a similar knock and think it's too serious and come off 'injured'.
ReplyDeleteThe latest CIES football observatory study (they have access to all transfer fees over the last 5 years), lists Sturridge's worth as between 29m and 34m, and that is linked in the article. Perhaps if you read the article properly you would've seen the link.
ReplyDeleteHow do you know Sturridge has been pain free this season? Oh yes, you clarified it with his agent. Sorry for the sarc, but it's the same old speculation with no substance that a lot of fans spout about Sturridge.
ReplyDeleteIf pace & flair is your game trust me a twinge will affect your game. I dream of a day where Sturridge will be received fully by the fans & not allow unsubstantiated opinions to skew their judgement of a young man trying to become a world class player!
Which position is more demanding?
ReplyDeleteA) Modern day striker who works the wings, tracks back, running off the last defender or B) Centre back who really has far more cover from colleagues.
IMO striking is more demanding which is why you rarely see a striker over 32. Yes defenders are tough but understand that depending on where you play, the impact on the body may be different. Eg holding midfielders typically cover the most ground etc etc
As someone who has had many serious injuries (three ACL tears- on the same knee, one PCL tear, one medial knee ligament tear, cartilage tears, broken ankle, dislocated shoulder) as well as a fair few minor ones, but played semi pro up until the age 32, you can tell that a lot of people on this thread really have no idea about injuries and the mental aspects of recovery, and probably just as many haven't played the game to any kind of decent standard over a consistent length of time.
ReplyDeleteThere is a massive link between the mental side of injuries and the actual physical side, and anyone that says that injuries are all purely physical and if you're injured, you're injured obviously hasn't played before. Serious injuries (breaks, complete tears, etc) aside, I can tell you from experience that there are many many minor injuries that you can definitely 'run off' because whilst they cause you pain, they aren't debilitating, but that a lot of players won't. These are the sort of knocks Carra is referring to here, and they're the types that keep some players out for a week or two on regular occasions. And these are the types that sturridge is weak mentally to. Why do you think Suarez doesn't miss games? It's not because he doesn't take knocks or get small muscle strains, it's that mentally he's trained himself, so that his pain threshold is far higher than someone like sturridge. I'm sure Carra would've been the same. You can mentally train yourself to play through pain (again I repeat I'm not talking serious injuries here).
Physios and docs in this day and age will always be more cautious as it's there jobs and reputations on the line. If a play complains about tightness to a physics nowadays, it'll be a standard week or two rest, and this is where some mentally weaker players will end up taking the easy route and having that time off and reporting every niggle (only the player himself will really know). A player like Suarez or Carra, wouldn't bother reporting it, as they'd rather play through the pain as they know they can. And whilst this can result in the odd misjudgement leading to a further tear, 9 times out of 10, probably more it won't.
Back on Sturridge, he's definitely getting better in this respect, and playing next to someone like suarez probably helps, but historically he's been in the team one or two weeks then out for one or two. And this is what carra's talking about. I'd be very surprised to see him play all our world cup games for example, whereas others won't have a problem apart from with fatigue. I hope he carries on improving in this way, as he is, but he definitely still can, and i'd agree with carra on that 100%.
Is that a joke?
ReplyDeleteHandbags.
ReplyDeleteAfter some particularly tough matches I have lots of niggling injuries and pulled muscles but it does not stop me watching the next one.......
ReplyDeleteFirst, I didn't say that Mignolet hadn't made any difference. Plus, you precis of how I judge players is completely and utterly inaccurate, but I can't be bothered to contest the point.
ReplyDeleteYou can keep saying that the likes of Sakho and Allen made a 'significant difference' to LFC's campaign, but where is the proof of that?
Please outline specific examples of how Allen and Sakho made a 'significant difference' to LFC's league campaign.
In my view, if both those players were missing from the squad last season, LFC still would've finished 2nd in the league.
And the idea that top teams 'can't have passengers'? I totally disagree. Aspas, Moses, and Alberto were passengers this season; Borini, Assaidi last season.
If you find opposing views about LFC 'insulting', then I'd suggest it's you with the issue, not me.
That's not a true worth of a player Jamie as it does not acquaint what his worth is to the club itself.
ReplyDeleteI did read your article properly thank you very much and quite frankly I don't appreciate your condesending tone.
We signed Robbie Keane for £21 million. It wasn't CIES observatory study that settled the fee because lets face it what and who has given them the right to value a player. A number of factors are used to value a player the main two being how much it would cost to break his contract and then the worth and value he has to Spurs and we will never know that until the player is sold or an enquiry made to the club.
There is a similar arguement going on now with Lallana. He's not worth £25 million plus to Liverpool which is why they won't pay more but he is to Southampton so they are well with in their rights to ask that much money.
Errr, just a thought... I'm quite big. If you saw me in a dark alleyway you'd prob want to walk the other way (I'm ugly too). BUT I'm a wuss. Physically I'm strong - sometimes twice as strong at lifting/heaving/breaking as most of my fiends or peers. BUT I can't stand pain. When I run I get shin splints - which makes me cry like a baby. My scrawny mates keep on going. When I snowboard my feet hurt from carrying 18 stones so I have to take breaks/use painkillers/massage my feet. My scrawny mates keep going through the pain. When playing football I nurse my feet if I can, I see others playing with blisters/pulls/raw skin but I wince if have the same. I think this is all in my head. Why can't I put up with pain like my friends? Why can't I ignore the hurt? Perhaps I need to be "mentally stronger" ??
ReplyDeleteA thought for you Jaimie - you do tend to write articles that have a contentious slant. I'm not sure if you are really smart and doing it to provoke reactions/comments and hence increase your financial return or if you are a muppet who doesn't think twice - I'm inclined to think the latter as the few articles of yours that I have read always come across as naive at best.
Pompous little prig.
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