‘When Sterling figures international football out he’ll destroy teams’
England fans debate whether Raheem Sterling should star Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final, while Loris Karius’ Liverpool future is discussed in Your Says of the Day.
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Sterling divides opinion
As an United supporter it would be easy for me to have a go at Sterling but he’s very much a confidence player and right now he seems very low on it. I don’t know if that whole nonsense before the World Cup has had an effect on him but nothing he tries seems to come off at the moment. I think he’s always had spells like that in his career but it might just take one goal – maybe just a lucky deflection of his left knee – and his confidence will be back. England need everyone on top of their game in the semis and it’ll be intersting to see if Southgate is willing to give Sterling another chance to regain his confidence or if he replaces him with Rashford, Vardy or even RLC or Dier as Croatia’s strength lies in midfield.
I’ve been impressed with the togetherness in this squad. They definitely learnt from that humiliating Iceland loss (I’m Icelandic btw and was obviously over the moon at the time!) and have approached this competition with a lot more humility and professionalism. Kudos to Southgate and his players, who might not be the best ones England have taken to a major tournament but have gone further than most of their predecessors and made their country proud for the first time since 1996.
roygbiv
Sterlings problem has always been his final ball and finishing. There is no doubt he has improved since he left Liverpool and especially under pep. His movement is exceptional but he just can’t finish or cross a ball.
Have to give credit to Southgate. Really likeable chap and comes across so well in the media
Dandy was right. I look at this team and it has players who have worked their way up from the lower leagues. The back 3 all played championship football.
The whole team plays as a unit. It’s a real team.
I’d love to see Croatia or Belgium win it as they have never won it before but certainly would not begrudge England. They were very good yday and it’s great for English football. I’d really take anyone to win it apart from France
Best of luck guys. It’s been a great works Cup and England have a huge chance now. Whatever happens now they have done England proud.
Sean the sailor
I feel for sterling, if England get to the final he may score the winner lol. I know people talk about stretching defences, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. It’s what you do when you get the ball that counts, and each time he does the hard work, which is to make a great run, upon receiving the ball you just know he will lose it or nothing positive will come from it. Also his decision making has gone backwards again, his confidence seems so low, he is giving the ball to the opposition and a panicky way.
mufc
Those that say Sterling has to play as he runs and stretches defences – do you think that Vardy or Rashford can’t do that?
I think they will do that just as much, if not more, and then offer a threat in possession too.
Horses for courses.
alfie07
Football is all about opinions nobody is right or wrong on Sterling and the only opinion that really counts is that of Southgate and despite Sterling’s failings in front of goal which admittedly are frustrating Southgate obviously thinks Sterling is worth his place given his other attributes and Southgate hasn’t got too much wrong so far.
I’m pretty sure Sterling will start v Croatia and a bit more from him and one or two others might make be the difference between making the Final or not. Here’s hoping!
nine nine nine
Although Sterling wasn’t as effective as he can be in the final third I felt he gave Henderson the option to relieve the pressure on the England defence by playing the ball over the Swedish defence or down the channels knowing Sterlings pace would stretch the Swedes. Although not a game “stat” I’m sure it helped break up any Swedish attacks and should be taken on its own merit
metaxa
I’ve said on these boards we’re just waiting for the penny to drop moment with Sterling. We know he can finish given last season where he outscored hazard.
I look at what he does for England as Willian does for Chelsea. It’s the ability to turn defence into attack and he is a player who although has some faults provides a platform for the team to play off of.
When he figures international football out he’ll destroy teams… patience
romansdirtypants
No RDP, he won’t. The vast majority of his goals last season were basically steering square balls into the goal on the far post from distances up to two metres. Any further out, where he has to actually try to kick the ball, hopeless. His other “skill” is falling over. It was noticeable that the Swedish defence didn’t even try to tackle him yesterday, because they didn’t want to give him an excuse to go down, and they knew that, vertical, he posed them no danger.
I don’t think that after 42 caps, he is suddenly going to improve. I applaud Southgate’s loyalty, but I will applaud him more if he wins the world cup for us, and to do that we can’t afford to carry any passengers when there are far better options.
kingo
Karius dilemma
“He wasn’t the second best goalie in the Bundesliga the year before we signed him for nothing.”
Karius wasn’t in the top 5 keepers in the PL last season, so what does this really mean? I’m being generous by not going further than that but you know people will throw out stats that misrepresent his ability.
Exactly though, if we go into next season with Karius as first choice, how will the ambitious players who are carrying the team think if he costs them more silverware? Maybe Salah tells his agent that it;s time to go. So then next summer we’ve a keeper that we already knew we had to replace.. and we’ve the impossible job of replacing Salah, or Mane.. or whoever.
We’re playing with fire if we willingly head into this season without making the most obvious replacement required, since the dawn of time.
This will show our true colours. If we are genuinely looking to win the title, we’ll replace him. If we’re not then we won’t.
Mr Makaveli
I really hope that the “staying with Karius” statement is only a smoke screen for us to sign other GKs. Maybe Klopp is waiting for Keylor Navas who will only play a second fiddle once Real Mardid gets their ideal GK, no matter it is Alisson or Courtois. Just my hope and imagination.
Football Scouser
Madness to rely on Karius to help us gain silverware.
Captkirk
Captkirk many of us have said this. It would be a massive risk to start karius as our number 1. I’d keep him but replace him but let him regain confidence as a number 2. Klopp risks undoing all the good work with transfers if he doesn’t rectify.
Bingo there are very few idiots on here apart from the WUM, Karius has potential but still has his faults and imho hasn’t looked that much more assured than Migs. As I’ve said before Karius has had a much improved settled defence in front of him with VVD and Robertson. That being said I’d keep Karius and sell Migs as stated and see what he’s capable of over the next couple of years coming from the base of a number 2.
Bob-Notts
anyone see the clip of karius on sat floating around? The warm up were the ball slips through his hands?? its funny
also one of him with Baywatch music in the background while he is in la training.
Nine, agree mate. klopp can give players to many chances. We wont win anything with karius.
jc, I really think karius will be number one. I really hope he proves us all wrong.
Sean the Sailor
You may not know this but I prefer Migs., to Karius, but I agree with others if one had to go it should be Migs. Migs is now 30 & Karius 25 so we all may hope that Karius will improve as goalies seem to improve with age.
“I have a dream” Courtois is the LFC goalkeeper, not a snowball in hell chance though.
liverlad
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