RAHEEM STERLING HAS left his public image “in tatters” but Liverpool must take their share of the blame for the forward’s expected move to Manchester City, according to the editor of a leading fanzine.
England international Sterling is on the brink of moving to the Etihad Stadium, after manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed on Monday that a deal has been agreed with an unnamed club.
The transfer will bring an end to a long-running saga that has seen Sterling receive criticism over his conduct for reportedly trying to force his way out of Anfield.
Gareth Roberts — editor of The Anfield Wrap — has been left with a “sour taste” over the actions of Sterling and his agent Aidy Ward, but says Liverpool should have rewarded the 20-year-old with a new contract after a stellar 2013-14 season.
“I didn’t really see the point in a lot of the tactics of Sterling and Aidy Ward to get the move. Ultimately, if City had put a £50 million bid in at an earlier time the deal is done,” Roberts told Perform.
“The rest of it leaves a bit of a sour taste in your mouth. Raheem Sterling’s got his move but I would argue that his public image has been left in tatters.
“I think fans, not just Liverpool fans, across the country now will label him as greedy. I think he’s made himself a target for the boo-boys and the pressure is immediately on him now.”
Roberts added: “I think Liverpool are partly to blame for this situation as well, because if you go back to 2013-14 when we had the tilt at the title and came so close; the second half of that season in particular, Raheem played really well for us and was on top of his game.
“I think back to a game against Norwich, he essentially won that game for us. He scored one, set one up for [Luis] Suarez and afterwards the manager used the phrase ‘Raheem is the best young player in Europe right now’.
“Now if you’re the best young player in Europe and your manager is calling you that I think you can expect to be paid more than an average Premier League footballer.”
Fair play
A very decent gesture. Well done.
Great stuff Matt
Thats an outstanding gesture, practical, straight to the players and coaches at the coal face and no way that administrators can waste it (he says hopefully)
@Rochey77: yeah imagine the money went to Delaney instead, he’d have spent it on a ice sculpture of himself
Well done.
On a related note Robbie Keane needs to take note, as a multi millionaire he should step down from his FAI role and stop waiting around for a payout from our bankrupt soccer association which will ultimately mean funds go into his large bank account instead of grass roots football
@stoned.walled: totally agree – can you make any sense of giving him a 5 year assistant manager role when McCarthy was only on a 2.5 year contract ? Keane is holding out for the big payout and from reading media reports he seems to feel he is entitled to it as a “Irish footballing legend “……. he looks to join a list who have taken millions from FAI in termination settlements (MO’N – €4m apparently – Roy Keane €1M apparently. ) Now when FAI ask the Irish government for bailouts this becomes all of our business ….
@Fred Frederickson: Robbie Keane signed the deal he negotiated with the FAI and should be paid up. Robbie is a legend and has given everything in the green Jersey. Have some respect for the man. A deal is a deal. Just because the FAI are bad negotiatiors and incompetent
@padar: he is no longer a legend in my eyes.
Question who needs the money / will benefit more, Robbie Keane to piss away (as it’s buttons to him) or grass roots soccer (ie kids playing)
FairPlay, I’m aware of that course and the work they do with disadvantaged communities. Great gesture by Matt Doherty.
RoyKeane is all piss and wind should have had his Irish Passport taken away after the Saipan incident. I remember the Evening Herald running a front page fundraiser for Robbie Keane father to go and see him play in the U.18 Euro finals, Robbie has pocketed over €10M as his cut from transfers alone, so come on Robbie let’s see what your made of.
Soccer just reflects society – some give to their communities & some have a sense of entitlement & don’t give anything back. The latter usually give out about everything & everybody also
24 laptops, 24 GPS systems and a motion camera for 15k? Can you find out where he shops? Fair play to him.
Good man!