Announcement

**JohnDoe** · 10-02-15, 11:38 AM

If we sell Sterling, there is no hope for this club.

**Patricks_Berger** · 10-02-15, 11:38 AM

Originally posted by McDermotX View Post

Age has got nothing to do with it. Its actually illegal (in most situations) to discriminate between employees' pay on age grounds.

His role and status in the team entitles him to expect to be amongst the top earners at the club.

**Trippendicular** · 10-02-15, 11:46 AM

Originally posted by Patricks_Berger View Post

Age has got nothing to do with it. Its actually illegal (in most situations) to discriminate between employees' pay on age grounds.

His role and status in the team entitles him to expect to be amongst the top earners at the club.

But what wage would put him in the top earners? If he's demanding something that throws our wage structure out of whack (including the top earners) then I think it's definitely worth weighing up our options.

**McDermotX** · 10-02-15, 11:48 AM

Originally posted by Patricks_Berger View Post

Age has got nothing to do with it. Its actually illegal (in most situations) to discriminate between employees' pay on age grounds.

His role and status in the team entitles him to expect to be amongst the top earners at the club.

Age ?.....or experience ?, because it's quite common to value an employee's worth on the experience scale.

Let's face it, it's not simple to just acquiesce to the agent/player's demands as there is not just a direct effect on that particular player, but also on any future negotiations with him, and by extension, any future negotiations with not just other players in the squad, but also anyone you're wishing to bring in.

He's important to the squad no doubt, and will hopefully develop along the lines he has been already, but we cannot pay indefinite amounts on wages whenever situations like this crop up. I've no doubt someone will, which could come in handy for us when we decide to cut him loose. We're offering a huge amount of money for an important first-team member, albeit one of limited time in the game - it's just a case of finding the right balance.

**MrMichael** · 10-02-15, 11:58 AM

Johnson's wage is an anomaly, one the club are currently trying to correct. And Gerrard's wage is because he justified it for over a decade. Sterling is a very important player at the club, currently our best performing one, but he is still developing and currently is in the "world-class potential" rather than "actually world-class" bracket,

The big issue with Sterling's deal for me is that we know 100% he will be back in 2 years or less wanting double whatever we give him now. If we're to keep him long term we have to leave ourselves room within our structure, and reward his progress up to now rather than immediately throwing the max we can afford at him. ~£90k is an amazing offer that would make him one of the clubs' very highest earners next season, if that isn't enough for him at the moment and he does decide to push for a move then more fool him honestly.

**Daffy Duck** · 10-02-15, 12:03 PM

Give him the cash, or someone else will. I don't think we'll get much sense of pride from not bowing down to his demands while he's winning titles somewhere else.

It's 100% clear, if you wanna win stuff you need to spend money on top quality and he's clearly been our best attacking player for a while - and he'll get 10 times better. Or are we looking to rebuild our team every ****in summer and then hope that next year will be our year, while still gradually selling all of our best players in the meantime?

Yeah Sterling is 20, but he's also carrying this team, so why should he be paid less? In the last 10 years we've had some players that were probably the best in their position for a while, and they've all told the club to go **** themselves because of lack of ambition. That can't hapen again, because this should not be a ****in feeder club to Barca, Real, Chelsea and the rest of that dross.

**Muddled** · 10-02-15, 12:05 PM

Originally posted by Trippendicular View Post

But what wage would put him in the top earners? If he's demanding something that throws our wage structure out of whack (including the top earners) then I think it's definitely worth weighing up our options.

Nailed it.

As much as I love Sterling and think our future looks bright with him in it, we can't just throw money at the situation. The knock-on effect to the squad and future signings could be detrimental to how we want to operate within FFP (which, whether you like it or not, John Henry is keen to adhere to). He's been offered an annual pay rise of £3.5m+ ... that's more than generous.

**Patricks_Berger** · 10-02-15, 12:15 PM

If you don't pay your top players top wages then ultimaty they'll leave for clubs who will. And then we won't be a top club anymore.

If experience is so important then why has Raheem played more minutes than anyone else in our side this season? Based on utilisation he should be the club's top earner.

**EwarWoo** · 10-02-15, 12:34 PM

Originally posted by captainfog View Post

Not his age, his current level of ability.

OK then, so his current level of ability stops him being worth more than 90k a week but it doesn't stop him being worth 45m?

**Darkon** · 10-02-15, 12:46 PM

The main problem is that it can easily become a slippy slope on wage budget in general. Every single club have a wage policy that's related to age/squad status and it's not a simple task going around it.

Say Sterling get's a unprecedented wage rise now, and get terms that more established team members have and they want a similar wage rise to keep the squad status / wage ratio intact. Then it's costing us even more, and if the other youngsters we have feel they should follow relatively it's a snowball effect. If not fullfilled, we might get unrest in the squad etc.

There are good reasons why there are wage policies that go beyond the bottom line for the single player. If the club isn't willing to break the wage policy for Sterling, then it's likely for the best. I'm on the Sterling needs to be realistic team and still have something to strive after as the rest of the squad.

**ntto** · 10-02-15, 01:00 PM

what's he worth to the club in terms of performance?

Is he worth more to the team than Sakho? Coutinho? Sturridge?

If we rank him against everybody else in terms of his worth to the team he would definitely be in the top three

Pay him what he's worth

**Vermilion** · 10-02-15, 01:08 PM

Originally posted by Muddled View Post

Nailed it.

As much as I love Sterling and think our future looks bright with him in it, we can't just throw money at the situation. The knock-on effect to the squad and future signings could be detrimental to how we want to operate within FFP (which, whether you like it or not, John Henry is keen to adhere to). He's been offered an annual pay rise of £3.5m+ ... that's more than generous.

While i agree that's an issue, i think it's avoidable by only paying big bucks to the players that show on and off the pitch that they are worth such money, it's up to every player to show they are worth being one of our higher earners, make Raheem the incentive for others, then all they have to do is....

Put in consistent stand out performances that could be compared favorably to other so called top players around the world.

If they all did that, we'd be a winning team, and money would take care of itself.

Disclaimer: all above comments made in relation to the perfect world i live in.

**magicalbarnes** · 10-02-15, 01:08 PM

Regardless of what he is demanding i dont see why both Gerrard & BR have mentioned the situation publically?

Surely the old Liverpool way of keeping everything in house, would be the best way to handle. The constant media headlines does not help the club.

**Muddled** · 10-02-15, 01:11 PM

Originally posted by magicalbarnes View Post

Regardless of what he is demanding i dont see why both Gerrard & BR have mentioned the situation publically?

Surely the old Liverpool way of keeping everything in house, would be the best way to handle. The constant media headlines does not help the club.

I think some leaks will be from Sterling's agent.

Obviously we have spoken out and you're right to raise the point. However, Gerrard will be acting as club captain trying to reassure the fans we are looking to keep our best players; Rodgers will be responding to a barrage of questions from the media relating to the current hot topic of a talented, up and coming English player.

Such is our 24/7 coverage of all things football, nothing will ever be done 'in house' again.

**Vermilion** · 10-02-15, 01:16 PM

Does anyone think his agent has been tipped off as to a better offer if he can weasel his client a way out ?

I say pay it this one, call their bluff, and if they again start talking ****e about more money, then **** em off! It'll be obvious.

Maybe it already is to LFC, hence the publicity sounding like we've upped or made our final offer. tioli!

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