Sterling represents the new attitude of Liverpool youngsters and the Liverpool Way. Technically very good but his attitude and work off the ball is fantastic. Great credit to Rafa and Pep Segura for implementing this. The problem is that we don't have many players who are capable of playing on the wing - Sterling has come in and shown everyone what Downing should be doing. To be fair, Downing did start his Liverpool career very brightly before fading so there is nothing preventing the same from happening to Sterling. Who else can we play on the wing who has the pace, is fearless and direct? Hopefully Assaidi can provide this ... Brendan was a youth team coach at Chelsea so I'm sure he'll know how to handle youngsters. I'm not a fan of chucking youngsters in at the deep end, especially in a side that is a little short of confidence. But I'm extremely happy to see Sterling playing so well and more importantly, not being bullied on the pitch. He is showing incredible steel and strength for a 17 year old.
The only problem I have with Brendan Rodgers is with the older players, you can't teach old dogs new tricks. There is two options, its either they adapt to his methods, or they go and find themselves a new club. Rodgers cannot afford to do what AVB did at Chelsea and just drop them, it destroys the dressing room. Our dressing room isn't the most confident as of yet by any means. There is certain older players that will sit and listen to everything he says and take it as gospel i.e. Agger, Skrtel, Gerrard, Carragher, Johnson, Reina. Then there is others that may not, i.e. Downing, this may be the reason why he was dropped. The younger players not knowing any better will do so. Its the reverse of what Kenny had, Kenny found it easier working with the older players than the younger ones. The older players were scared of him because of his reputation, and almost bowed when he walked into a room. The younger players less so, they were too young to remember him as both a player and as a manager previously. Raheem Sterling has come on leaps and bounds since the Roma game, when it was revealed that he was slammed in public. Maybe he is just a typical youngster thinking he had ''made it'', but got a rude awakeniing early. Sterling is a natural talent, and the under 18s and reserves was a walk in the park for him, he was the best player and he knew it. He was a big fish in a small pond, now its not like that. Brendan Rodgers has to ensure that the ''iron fist in the silk glove approach'' works on both the older players and the younger players.
Good point - but the players that don't listen i.e. Downing can **** off. If players like Agger, Reina etc had a problem with Rodgers and his methods then I may be concerned. One thing I like about Rodgers is that he seems consistent - as you can tell by the type of player that he wants to bring in. Carroll, Cole, Adam, Spearing and Downing will all move within the next year I reckon, and our squad will contain nothing but young(ish), hungry and determined players who buy into the philosophy. Then we also have the youth players are already playing in a similar manner as well. It's crucial that everyone is pulling in the same direction and I can definately see that in youngsters, the new signings and the existing technical players in the team (Agger, Johnon, Suarez etc).
Hello mate. Good to see you getting involved on here Sterling is certainly coming of age in a big way. Citeh were scrawpy bastards on Sunday. Keep it coming mate, and keep in touch.
The positive thing about that is, is that Reina and Agger will not have a problem with Brendan Rodgers methods. Agger and Reina are and always have been distributors. Reina became one of the first premiership ''sweeper keepers'' and in the last 25 years for Liverpoo only Alan Hansen has passed the ball out of defence better than Daniel Agger. If both were asked to lump the ball out of defence and bypass the midfield like under Hodgson, both would and have done kick up a stink. In all honesty, I would like to see the likes of Carroll and Downing adapt to Brendans methods, but if they don't and get moved on, I won't lose any sleep over it. The reason being, I'm convinced that he will sign determined young players that will adapt to his methods. Joe Allen an expert on how Brendan Rodgers works, has come out and said Rodgers is brilliant with young players. He makes them sit up and listen and they take on board everything he says. Expect to see players like that be signed in the future.
""Young players will run through a barbed wire fence for you. Older players will look for the hole in the fence or just turn back and not even go through it. " - Brendan Rodgers Tell it to Dirk Kuyt. Or Craig Bellamy. Or Stevie.
Brendan Rodgers is such a ****ing ****, he was to blame for Kenny's departure. Rodgers out! Yanks out!
What the **** is all this bitching about? MFG is entitled to his opinion and to express it. If you don't like what he says then leave it be but don't moan about him saying what he thinks. You'd go berserk if the same was done to you.!! Rodgers out bring back Souness!!!!!
Sly one at me, fair enough. Of course he can express his opinion but how do you think MITO felt when after giving his opinion on a matter MFG decided to start with " It feels like kicking a puppy everytime I have to correct you"? That sure is fair dave, your right, we should just allow that to go on. It is not the first time either which is why I finally snapped back. I have let it lie long enough but enough is enough of this holier than thou ****ing attitude.
I've said a hell of a lot worse to MITO - and he to me I wasn't having a sly dig at you Bluff - honest
Come on Dave MFG posts then never hangs around to discuss anything. As you know I loved Kenny with my heart and soul but it doesn't make me blind to his mistakes as was the same with yourself. His posts are excellent and full of passion and yet he talks down to even the most knowlegable of people. He will pick out one post from a thread and rip it to pieces rather than discussing the thread as a whole. He is without doubt THE most patronising poster ever and it's a shame because he's obviously a highly intelligent fellow. IMO he would be better educating people rather than just talking to everyone as if they gained their footballing knowledge from a computer game. It's ****ing annoying and totally unnecessary.
...Or Downing? Perhaps there was a specific player in mind when he made his barbed point (mind the pun)
I am inclined to agree, and have picked MFG up on this in threads directly, but never received a response. but anyway...
MFG is so patronising and negative - he always come on to quickly act the clever one and then disappears for weeks, clearly due to not being able to back up his fantasied opinions. The only good he brings to the forum is some good photoshop images - the rest is simply putting people down and vanishing.
Just thought I would bring this thread up again after last nights showing. Though he was fantastic last night, the confidence to take players on, the pace, everything. Surely will start against Arsenal.
