Anger. Large amounts of anger. Let’s aim all our anger at the best target. What’s that? He’s 19 and our brightest talent? Forget it. We’re letting our anger out.
When 19 year old Raheem Sterling told his manager, in confidence, that he was feeling tired and fatigued before a European Championship qualifying game away in Estonia, he didn’t imagine much would come of it. He was duly rested, although the bumbling manager in question, Roy Hodgson, managed to let slip what Sterling had told him, and indicated that this was the reason he wasn’t playing. Whether a tactical comment or not, Hodgson’s comments have started the most recent debate in the astounding world of ‘club vs country’ arguments. The man in the middle has found himself coming under heavy criticism, and this has obviously led to others jumping to his defence. The cycle continues. Club vs Country. Patriot’s vs people who don’t really care. The arguing continues. Is there no new points to be made? Maybe.
Let’s talk about Raheem Sterling. It’s been a fairly big year for the youngster. You don’t need me to tell you that. Let’s talk about the future for him, a topic that isn’t quite as exhausted. I like to believe that 10 years from now he will continue to fly through Premier League defences week in, week out in a Liverpool shirt. We’ll be wining trophies and it will be great. He might even enjoy international success with England. The players are coming through to have that potential. Ross Barkley, Will Hughes, John Stones, Jordon Ibe, Callum Chambers etc. There is a longer list than that, those just spring to mind first. The point is, there is potential for Sterling’s career to not look back from here, and continue to blossom. His talent and potential is limitless. However, this is in no means guaranteed. Does anyone think, truly, that he can play every single possible game from now, 13 October 2014, until the day he retires, in his mid 30’s? Of course not. The simple solution is to rest him in games where he isn’t necessary. You know, like Estonia away after a hectic start to the season?
After all, he wasn’t necessary, was he? It WAS only Estonia, right? Well, England laboured to a 1-0 win courtesy of a Wayne Rooney free-kick. It wasn’t very interesting, no one enjoyed it but one person will be at least happy with the end product. 3 points, Roy Hodgson can report to his superiors at The FA this week having recorded 2 consecutive clean sheets, which really does beg the question: why do people care about a teenager not playing? Did it cost England? No. Is it simply people taking frustration out on a successful teenager who is living the dreams of most? Perhaps.
Or, perhaps it’s a deflective measure. Today’s newspapers and general sport discussion focus on Raheem Judas Sterling, the man who let his entire country down and laughed afterwards. Anything on a fairly pathetic performance against weaker opposition, trundling to a win against far weaker opposition via a solitary free kick? Not a thing. Nothing on the lack of progress, despite what was promised after a ‘transition’ World Cup tournament, which yielded an entire point against Costa Rica. Once more, Hodgson has escaped media criticism. No point complaining about that though, some things aren’t changing.
At this point I was going to counter-act the ridiculous points being made in relation to Sterling’s wage having any sort of relevance to fatigue at all but, to be honest, there’s no point. If a person truly believes that by working a day shift and then participating in 6-a-side football at night, they somehow reserve more of a right to feel tired than a professional athlete, then you know what? Go ahead. You are of course entitled to that opinion, but it doesn’t have to be listened to.
So, the Sterling debate rages on, and on, and on. Just stop and think through, next time you hear a fan of a different team in the league boo Sterling as he plays, or slate him as an “overrated prima-donna”: will they be celebrating his goals in future internationals that he is fit for? Or, more to the point, do they ever feel disappointment when hearing of ANOTHER Wayne Rooney (or any other player who was overplayed in their youth) fitness problem? Maybe you should be thankful that you get to watch Raheem Sterling play football for your team, even if it is only for internationals? Trust us Liverpool fans, it’s a lot of fun.
