Football 2014/15

[eFestivals]

For a while I was sceptical of Sterling, and thought lots of people were overrating him, but it seems like it isn't just a bout of good form, he really is brilliant.

Unlike Januzaj who's had, what, one good half in his career and is the best teenager in the world? Balon D'or winner 2020, for sure.

(Slight exaggeration for sure, but point still stands)

they both started to get attention at around the same time. Januzaj looked the better then, and looked like he'd probably progress better too (and I can remember posting as much on here).

But you're right. It is starting to look like Sterling really is brilliant. He's defo one of the best (perhaps the best) young English players i've seen in 40 years of watching footie. I just hope he keeps progressing.

[eFestivals]

Sterlings big test will be if liverpool advance to the latter stages of the champions league. If he does well, maybe Real Madrdi will come knocking!

it's probably not going to help Liverpool keep him with him only being paid £35k a week at the mo either.

[Mouseboy11]

it's probably not going to help Liverpool keep him with him only being paid £35k a week at the mo either.

Think that could actually help us out, means there's room for growth in his wages. Although we wouldn't give him astronomical wages.

[ThomThomDrum]

Edit: point about Wilshere; he smokes. Regardless of what people say that affects performance. I'd say that hasn't helped Rooney progress as he was expected to.

Not this again. There is no way you can prove Rooneys development as a world class player, or Wilsheres development has been limited due to smoking and there is no way it can be proved it has not affected such development. Its just an opinion. It will affect some players, most likely, from what we know of smoking, but it would not affect all players in the same way and the fact that over the years some of the best players in the world have been smokers shows that the smoking factor for players is probably not the biggest factor when looking at and assessing performance and progression. Surely a players performance and progression in influenced by a complex array of multi-faceted factors, of which smoking may play a part, but will not necessarily be a determining factor?

[eFestivals]

Not this again. There is no way you can prove Rooneys development as a world class player, or Wilsheres development has been limited due to smoking and there is no way it can be proved it has not affected such development. Its just an opinion. It will affect some players, most likely, from what we know of smoking, but it would not affect all players in the same way and the fact that over the years some of the best players in the world have been smokers shows that the smoking factor for players is probably not the biggest factor when looking at and assessing performance and progression. Surely a players performance and progression in influenced by a complex array of multi-faceted factors, of which smoking may play a part, but will not necessarily be a determining factor?

until your reply, I'd failed to grasp what kwassa1 was meaning with his "he smokes". Here was me thinking "is that saying he's good, or that he's not good?"

While it's impossible to argue that smoking doesn't have detrimental health effects, I don't think that's causing Wilshire to hold onto the ball too long and then run into a dead end and fall over.... is it?

Edited September 5, 2014 by eFestivals

[Gucci Piggy]

Arguably the biggest team in the world. The 2 Spanish ones compete, but based on worldwide fanbase and recognition amongst non-football fans it's hard to say any other team is close.

I don't think Januzaj playing for Man U had much of an impact on the hype though. LOTS of young players get ridiculously overhyped on the basis of a few good performances. Townsend, Milner, Bentley, Barkley, Albrighton, Berahino, Young. Januzaj's got slightly more hyped than many other non-English young players, but then, Obertan had massive hype, Arsenal have had lots of heavily hyped youngsters who haven't made it. Hell as a Newcastle fan we constantly get told some academy product is going to be the next Shearer and they always fail to be so.

Young players and English players both get overhyped here. Anyone that falls into both categories is almost bound to not meet it. I don't think Sterling has matched the hype yet and I think he's been excellent. I'm sure at some point in the next 3 years he'll have a bad patch and everyone will start moaning about him like they have Wilshere this last 9 months.

Jack Wilshere? Bad patch? There's nobody as good as him at running ten yards, straight into a defender and falling over.

[Gucci Piggy]

Edit: point about Wilshere; he smokes. Regardless of what people say that affects performance. I'd say that hasn't helped Rooney progress as he was expected to.

So does Koscielny. So does Szczesny. So does Özil. So did Bergkamp. So did Zidane. So do/did many other players.

There's as much evidence of all of those being smokers as there is Wilshere. A couple of pictures.

[TheGayTent]

Vialli smoked like a chimney and was quite open about it

[Gnomicide]

Vialli smoked like a chimney and was quite open about it

Then all his hair fell out. Think on.

[kwassa1]

Not this again. There is no way you can prove Rooneys development as a world class player, or Wilsheres development has been limited due to smoking and there is no way it can be proved it has not affected such development. Its just an opinion. It will affect some players, most likely, from what we know of smoking, but it would not affect all players in the same way and the fact that over the years some of the best players in the world have been smokers shows that the smoking factor for players is probably not the biggest factor when looking at and assessing performance and progression. Surely a players performance and progression in influenced by a complex array of multi-faceted factors, of which smoking may play a part, but will not necessarily be a determining factor?

While I agree with that, for wilshere- and Rooney- those players were so talked about because of the high energy they put into their game. Certainly for Rooney that is no longer apparent. I'd also say the same for wilshere, but that's just me.

[mrtourette]

Trouble is nobody has any idea idea of how many, how often or for how long these players have smoked so it's pretty daft to make such a generalisation. Wilshire may well have smoked 20 fags in his lifetime, is that responsible for him not quite developing at the pace that fans would have liked? Or is it an insignificant drop in the ocean lost amongst far more important and meanigful factors that would affect his development?

[kwassa1]

Trouble is nobody has any idea idea of how many, how often or for how long these players have smoked so it's pretty daft to make such a generalisation. Wilshire may well have smoked 20 fags in his lifetime, is that responsible for him not quite developing at the pace that fans would have liked? Or is it an insignificant drop in the ocean lost amongst far more important and meanigful factors that would affect his development?

I'm more arguing the point of fitness. It can't just be he's become less energetic over the space of a few years for no reason. For a player like Wilshere, energy seemed like an integral part of his game which, in his case, obviously then affects his performance.

Edit: you call it a generalisation, I call it an educated guess.

Edited September 5, 2014 by kwassa1

[ThomThomDrum]

Edit: you call it a generalisation, I call it an educated guess.

Or stab in the dark??

[Andre91]

I never understand this shitstorm in the media that surrounds players smoking. If they want to have a smoke whilst on holiday, or over the summer, where's the problem? They're human beings. I don't care if a player smokes zero fags a day or 10, as long as they still play well, I don't see the problem. Look at Socrates

[ThomThomDrum]

Sturridge sent for a scan on an unspecified injury.

What? FFS! Hope its not bad...........last thing he and Liverpool need right now.

[Gnomicide]

And Balotelli subbed after kicking an oponent in a friendly.

So it begins

[kwassa1]

Or stab in the dark??

Educated guess considering the lack of excitement or energy he brings on the pitch now. Rooney too.

[kwassa1]

I never understand this shitstorm in the media that surrounds players smoking. If they want to have a smoke whilst on holiday, or over the summer, where's the problem? They're human beings. I don't care if a player smokes zero fags a day or 10, as long as they still play well, I don't see the problem. Look at Socrates

Yeah I don't have a problem with it, it's their choice. Was merely pointing out why I think wilshere's progression has been hindered.

[eFestivals]

Sturridge sent for a scan on an unspecified injury.

he seems to be a bit of sicknote, particularly around England games.

Oh well, it'll be interesting to see how Balotelli fits in when he's up-front on his own, and how well Sterling is able to interact with another frontman to Sturridge.

[strummer77]

And Balotelli subbed after kicking an oponent in a friendly.

So it begins

Not true - a Wolves player on twitter has even said it didn't. Someone made it up based on a photo.

Sturridge sent for a scan on an unspecified injury.

Think all his big injuries since he joined have been picked up at England.

Edited September 5, 2014 by strummer77

[eFestivals]

Was merely pointing out why I think wilshere's progression has been hindered.

i've yet to see any fag smoking keep forcing anyone to only ever run down dead-ends.

[ThomThomDrum]

Educated guess considering the lack of excitement or energy he brings on the pitch now. Rooney too.

Well there is just as many pictures out there with them with drinks in their hands so my "educated" guess is that they drink too much and it affects their performance...........

No wait, maybe they dont care about football because they get paid loads of money and sure "fuck it" they have their contracts so why bust a gut?..............

No wait, maybe the media wanted to believe that they are more talented they they are and that is why they are not percived to be improving to where the "should".............

Maybe the last injury or set on injuries they have both got has had an impact on how they apply themselves? Maybe they dont want to get injured so dont try so hard?

Hmmmmmmmmmmm. I think we could go on with "educated" guesses all night but at the end of the day its guess work and means pretty much nothing really

Edited September 5, 2014 by ThomThomDrum

[ThomThomDrum]

You're forgetting borini. :-)

And the boy Rickie!

[eFestivals]

You're forgetting borini. :-)

True, I had done. And of course there's Lambert too.

Borini could be interesting if he gets the chance to play, given how hard he supposedly fought to stay at the club. Is his ability as big as his ambition? Prolly not.

[kwassa1]

Well there is just as many pictures out there with them with drinks in their hands so my "educated" guess is that they drink too much and it affects their performance...........

No wait, maybe they dont care about football because they get paid loads of money and sure "fuck it" they have their contracts so why bust a gut?..............

-so he started off alright but thought fuck it? That's just a guess, not an educated one.

No wait, maybe the media wanted to believe that they are more talented they they are and that is why they are not percived to be improving to where the "should".............

-that's possible, but to label it as the media is daft.

Maybe the last injury or set on injuries they have both got has had an impact on how they apply themselves? Maybe they dont want to get injured so dont try so hard?

-again fair enough, but again just a guess that's uneducated.

Hmmmmmmmmmmm. I think we could go on with "educated" guesses all night but at the end of the day its guess work and means pretty much nothing really

Difference being to all those is that smoking does affect the rates at which we can exercise.

If you're gonna' complain about a discussion don't get yourself involved in it in the first place.