Raheem Sterling

[Gibbo]

Proper strong for his size isn't he.

[DeeTheDog]

Huge player for us now, easily one of the most important members of the squad. We really need to manage his game time sensibly as he will now be playing 90 mins across Europe for England as well. Always a worry with players that rely on speed that the hamstrings will go due to overplaying at a young age.

In fact, can anyone think of any player known for his speed and playing regularly at such a young age that didn't burn out mid to late twenties? Giggs maybe but he had a catalogue of injuries to contend with.

[red g]

Huge player for us now, easily one of the most important members of the squad. We really need to manage his game time sensibly as he will now be playing 90 mins across Europe for England as well. Always a worry with players that rely on speed that the hamstrings will go due to overplaying at a young age.

In fact, can anyone think of any player known for his speed and playing regularly at such a young age that didn't burn out mid to late twenties? Giggs maybe but he had a catalogue of injuries to contend with.

Messi? 27 and still going strong?

[DeeTheDog]

Messi? 27 and still going strong?

Superb player still but I would argue that rather hitting his prime he is on the wane with injuries becoming more prevalent.

[Le Chef]

He is not just part of England squad but Hodge sees him as someone who will make a big impact for England during their Euro qualifyers.

There is nothing BR could do change that.

I get that, but a bit ridiculous leaving him on for a full 90 and will probably do the same in Switzerland on Monday. Hope Brendo gives him rest at some point

[RedReet]

Huge player for us now, easily one of the most important members of the squad. We really need to manage his game time sensibly as he will now be playing 90 mins across Europe for England as well. Always a worry with players that rely on speed that the hamstrings will go due to overplaying at a young age.

In fact, can anyone think of any player known for his speed and playing regularly at such a young age that didn't burn out mid to late twenties? Giggs maybe but he had a catalogue of injuries to contend with.

I'm sure there are plenty of **** ones, the likes of Huckerby, Martins or Emile Mpenza come to mind. Hard to think of too many great ones, Giggs was the first I thought of, you have Ronaldo (Portuguese), Henry, Overmars or even ones like Bellamy or Robben who have got over their injuries and retained their pace into their 30's.

For every speedy footballer who has been crippled by injuries, you probably have 10 slow ones just as unlucky, although the decline is probably more noticeable as speed was one of their strongest assets.

I'm not sure where I stand with Raheem. We don't want to make the same mistakes we made with Owen, but equally what's to say that if we do play him sporadically for the next 2 or 3 years, he won't still pick up a bad injury regardless. Players peak at different ages too, so what if Raheem's best years are the next 3 or 4 and we regret not using him more. Look at the Messi example, even if he declined dramatically now due to injury, he's still had 10 years as being one of the best footballers on the planet, which I'm sure Raheem and all of us would be delighted with and I'm sure Messi wouldn't change.

It's probably for selfish reasons but I hope Raheem plays every week he is fit. The club have managed him excellently since he broke through, so I have no worries that they won't continue to do so.

Haha, I had a much better post in my head earlier when I read this on my phone, but I'm sure you get the gist.

[Paddy]

Be tempting to start Markovic ahead of Sterling for the Villa game perhaps.

[meffin]

Are you kidding? Drop our best player...

[Paddy]

Are you kidding? Drop our best player...

It might be the ideal game to give him a rest after the summer, then this international break which he'll have played two full games most likely. CL is also around the corner too. I know Villa have started well, but we will have to rest him at some point.

[meffin]

We've played 3 games, plus 2 for England- that's 5. He's a professional athlete, i'm sure he can manage a little longer.

Just rest him for the leage/FA cup games. No reason he can't play a full season.

[Pablo]

It might be the ideal game to give him a rest after the summer, then this international break which he'll have played two full games most likely. CL is also around the corner too. I know Villa have started well, but we will have to rest him at some point.

I do agree with the idea of tactically resting him every now and then, the last thing we need is to overplay him and get him injured. It's happened with Wilshere and Walcott in the past. We did the same to Michael Owen.

I think we might bench him for either this or the Ludogorets game actually. We've got two midweek games this month (Middlesboro being the other) so I'd be tempted to bench him for both of them.

[Paddy]

And isn't this why squad building was the priority this summer? So we can actually rest players like Sterling and bring in players equally adept to do the job.

[EwarWoo]

I wouldn't rest him for Ludogrets. On paper its our easiest match this season, however he's earnt the right to play in his first CL fixture, he'd have every right to be pissed off if he was rested

Villa would be a good spot. He can be on the bench just in case.

[baronvonskidmark]

I wouldn't rest him for Ludogrets. On paper its our easiest match this season, however he's earnt the right to play in his first CL fixture, he'd have every right to be pissed off if he was rested

Villa would be a good spot. He can be on the bench just in case.

Yeah I agree with this. The idea in signing Markovic after all is that he actually plays. If we can't play him against Villa at home then when can we?

Stirling on the bench though just in case.

[RedReet]

I do agree with the idea of tactically resting him every now and then, the last thing we need is to overplay him and get him injured. It's happened with Wilshere and Walcott in the past. We did the same to Michael Owen.

I think we might bench him for either this or the Ludogorets game actually. We've got two midweek games this month (Middlesboro being the other) so I'd be tempted to bench him for both of them.

Did Arsenal overplay Walcott though and is that the reason why he injured his cruciate?

06/07- 5 PL starts
07/08- 11 PL starts
08/09- 16 PL starts
09/10- 12 PL starts
10/11- 19 PL starts
11/12- 32 PL starts


Hardly excessive IMO.

Likewise, are Wilshere's injuries a result of being overplayed is is he just injury prone? He seems to have been getting injured regularly since he broke through.

Using the Arsenal examples, without checking the stats, I would imagine Fabregas probably played as many games if not more from a young age and he doesn't seem to suffer too badly from injuries.

Personally I think it has as much to do with the player as is does with how they are managed, some players are just injury prone no matter what. Resting Sterling 3 games into the season is madness IMO. I could understand the need for a rest when he was 17/18 and noticeably struggling 2 seasons ago, but certainly not right now.