Raheem Sterling

[Mostar]

I wonder how much we can credit Brendan Rodgers and his coaching staff for Sterlings upturn in fortunes?

It would appear he seems a total different player to last season.

Rodgers said he only gave him the chance and Raheem took it.

He also said that Raheem's success is the result of good work done in Academy and Rafa if I remember correctly.

[red g]

Probably more down to our scouting dept ........ Or lack of it more likely.

I reckon if Dalglish was here he wouldn't be playing though.....

[Tee]

BR deserves a lot of credit for the way he has handled Sterling and I think this lad can only become better for the coaching BR will be giving. Sterling releases the ball well, early when necessary (a great sign IMO) and as mentioned here by others he has a very good work ethic. He is still very raw but the early signs are very exciting.

[The Birdman]

I wonder how much we can credit Brendan Rodgers and his coaching staff for Sterlings upturn in fortunes?

It would appear he seems a total different player to last season.

Nah Sterling had a slow start to last season but he was away in the U18 world cup, (I think, something like that)
From Christmas onwards he was head and shoulders ahead of anyone else at reserve team level.

I posted at length about this last year aside from his awarness and final ball it's his ability to go either way off both feet that makes him so special.

He is unstoppable because he has and can do everything.

[Mostar]

I reckon if Dalglish was here he wouldn't be playing though.....

I don't think that is fair statement.

Let's not forget that Kenny had Bellamy last year who if he was around this year would have been ahead of Sterling.

Sterling had few cameo appearances last year under Kenny and if Kenny had been in the same position as Rodgers (Rodgers only had one winger at one time Downing) it is very conceivable that he would have played him.

[SB]

I reckon if Dalglish was here he wouldn't be playing though.....

Can't help but agree with you there.

[baitman]

I reckon if Dalglish was here he wouldn't be playing though.....

yeh, would probably still be trotting downing out for the odd gallop

[Fredo]

Sterlings work ethic has been most surprising to me. I expected him to be a bit lazy, not tracking back and helping out but he actually gets quite a lot of tackles in and he is pretty effective.

I've been impressed by his tactical ability, more than anything else, and for someone his age, that's exceptional.

[Shaggy]

Ahem, *cough.
Why did you need Gary Neville to tell you that, I told you last year he was a player and had absolutely everything

I didn't need it ....just found it interesting.

[BobTheCharmer]

It's exciting isn't it.

Amid all the praise he's been getting in the media, I haven't one single pundit mention that it was Rafa who brought him to the club.

although I think kenny had a part to play, in his previous role at the club, this is from an article posted on page 24 of this thread;

"Lawrence, 52, himself a good non-league footballer who still plays at a decent standard, found himself approached on a coaching course at Lilleshall by Kenny Dalglish, who asked him about Sterling (right). "He wanted to know how good I thought he was. We had just played in a coaches' match and I had done quite well, so I just said to Kenny, 'Well, he's better than me'. He shot back: 'Better than you at 14?' I said, 'No better than me now'."

[red g]

I don't think that is fair statement.

Let's not forget that Kenny had Bellamy last year who if he was around this year would have been ahead of Sterling.

Sterling had few cameo appearances last year under Kenny and if Kenny had been in the same position as Rodgers (Rodgers only had one winger at one time Downing) it is very conceivable that he would have played him.

Your right that Belllamy would have been ahead, but then I would have thought Downing would be back up and not Sterling under Dalglish.

[peekay]

For sure. Potential talent rarely blossoms into full blown talent. That's my excuse why I never made it anyway!

Sure it was the same with me. It was not the lack of ability, or laziness or too much ale. It was pure statistics.

[el matador]

If this season is going to a car crash then we need to start playing our very best youngsters like suso robinson coates and yesil and morgan so they have some experience for the following season.

sterling shelvey and kelly are getting some really good game time and its right to get the others especially suso involved.

[Shaggy]

If this season is going to a car crash then we need to start playing our very best youngsters like suso robinson coates and yesil and morgan so they have some experience for the following season.

sterling shelvey and kelly are getting some really good game time and its right to get the others especially suso involved.

I'm not sure exposing a load of youngsters to a "car crash" situation is a good idea. We badly over-exposed Insua, for example, and most of the fans turned on him.

[Mostar]

I'm not sure exposing a load of youngsters to a "car crash" situation is a good idea. We badly over-exposed Insua, for example, and most of the fans turned on him.

I agree.

Sterling is clearly an exception and I personally would be very careful about how the youngsters are introduced to the first team.

That said, I do think Suso is ready and should be given some playing opportunities.

if we don't do that I am not so sure he'll re-sign as his contract is up this summer if I am not mistaken.