24 Sep 2014 21:07:21
Respected ED'002,
If you have the time, I would really want to know your view on Raheem Sterling's game.Do you see him as one of the best players in the BPL sometime in the future?
Also, as you have stated that Real Madrid have been monitoring Sterling for sometime now.What i'm concerned about is that when Real Madrid is after a player they mostly end up getting them.
So my question to you is will Sterling stay with us or leave?
As always your reply is always appreciated .
{Ed002's Note - The kid has had a great last 12 months and that will attract interest from elsewhere. Real Madrid enquired over the past summer as I explained at the time and my understanding is that they are still interested. They might well make a push in the spring and next summer to see if a deal can be done. Do not be surprised if Isco is offered up in part exchange. As to what will happen, I could only speculate.}
25 Sep 2014 00:30:30
Ed, apologies for labouring the point a bit, but I always assumed that Real usually go in for players who are just about finished in terms of development, and thus hitting their peak?
Wouldn't you agree that Sterling, as good as he is, is still a little way short of the quality of the players they already have (e.g. Isco, who has a great reputation), and that he still has aspects of his game to develop before he reaches the standard required at Real?
Are they perhaps starting to believe the media hype that always develops around young promising players (young Mr Townsend, for example), or are they right in thinking that Sterling is worth making an effort to sign?
And most important- for Sterling himself, would it be a good move as early as next summer, or might he end up as that saddest of creatures, a perennial young bench warmer?
{Ed002's Note - I cannot really agree - Varane, Carvajal, Casemiro, Isco all arrived when they were young and just beginning to show. Regardless of my views Real Madrid have been showing an interest in Sterling for most of this year and that looks likely to continue. Sterling had a reputation for being immature - that would certainly need to be fully fixed before any move, and you can add to that the point that few English players are able to make moves away.}
Thanks for your thoughts Ed, much appreciated.
I can't see Sterling leaving that early. If he goes on to win the player of the league, and we don't win the league, maybe, but that's asking way too much of the kid.
Hard to believe it based on his form, but he is still very young, and I think he should be playing a few years of top level football before he makes that "arguably" bigger step to Madrid. I know players like Bale argue that more English-based players should go overseas, but in this particular case, why would he?
Sturridge and Sterling, as the focal points of the club now, have it made if they stay together. Suarez leaving opened the door for them, alongside Henderson, to be the core of this team for the next five years. I think this will happen, despite the suitors.
I don't see it as a situation like Suarez's where they are doing everything in their power to get the move they want. I think they are happy under Rodgers.