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View from the Kop

Suso over Sterling?

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AGAINST a fairly strong Udinese side on Thursday night, the Reds put in perhaps their most assured display of the season. That’s not to say it was their best performance, but the team looked confident and comfortable throughout and looked like another goal was just around the corner.

It was an enjoyable game to watch and, for me, the most promising aspect was the performance of our young Spaniard, Suso. His passing was strong, his availability was constant and he chipped in with his first assist of the campaign to cap off his best display yet.

At just gone 19, he is a very promising prospect and brings to the table a lot of attributes that Liverpool have missed for a number of years. However, not too much should be expected of him just yet, as he needs to really mature into his game, and should be given the same time afforded to other youngsters.

So, given all the fuss being made of Sterling this season, the likes of Suso, Wisdom and Shelvey have gone largely unnoticed outside of the clubs’ own fan-base but, in my opinion, I believe that Suso is a more promising player than Sterling.

That isn’t to say that he’s better; that’s not what I’m saying. I simply believe that his worth to the club could be a lot more over the next 5+ years than Sterling’s.

For me, Sterling’s strength lies in his speed, dribbling and pace. He’ll more often than not have the beating of most full-backs and (having only just turned 18), he’ll likely not hit his top speed for another couple of years. He’s a very unpredictable player also, perhaps not quite to the same extent (or effect) as a Luis Suarez or Lionel Messi, but he gives defenders nightmares when he’s got the ball at his feet and is running toward them at full pelt.

Like Raheem, Suso is a very composed player, having yet to look at all flustered by the first-team action at a tender age but he’s also a much more mature player. What we’ve seen from Sterling so far is a young lad coming into every game and playing with the abandon of youth; everything is possible, but we’ve also seen this from other, similar young players such as Walcott, Lennon, Johnson and many others with similar skills and that initial burst of speed and creativity doesn’t quite pan out the way it should have.

However, Suso is growing into his role as a creative, intelligent midfielder, with great vision and a sixth-sense like ability to know where his team-mates are going to be. A quick glance across at his homeland and you’ll see that there are a few similar players to him which have become the lynch-pins of their respective teams.
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Having great pace and speed is great but you have to back it up with something more. At such a young age though, those are attributes that always catch our eye and we look at those players and assume that they will become world-class and turn games by themselves.

But, for me, it is the likes of Iniesta and Xavi that come to influence games more and that is why, despite being in a team ripe with attacking talent, both of the Spanish maestros pretty much always comes in the top 3 when the world’s best player awards are handed out. You can’t deny the talent it requires to create and score tons of goals but without players like Xavi and Iniesta, they would never be possible.

It’s a stretch right now to compare such a young, burgeoning talent to such esteemed countrymen, but he has all of the potential required to reach these heights; the club just needs to nurture him properly to ensure he does. Neither Iniesta or Xavi were first-team regulars before the age of 22, so he – nor us – should be too disheartened if he doesn’t even get off the bench every week.

So, while Sterling catches the eye far more at the moment now, with his pacey running and highly-charged approach to every game, he has still only contributed 1 goal and 2 assists in 25 games this season – which is what makes those reported requests for upwards of £40k a week a bit too much to believe in.

And while Suso has played a good 10 games less, he has still only contributed a single assist and he only managed that against Udinese on Thursday night. But both are very promising young players and Reds the world over should be delighted to have both at the club and seeing regular action. In my opinion, though, we should be more excited by the prospect of what Suso may well become.

Which of these two youngsters do you believe has a brighter future at Liverpool Football Club?
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I'm a 32 year old Liverpool fan, living in the heart of the City Centre. I've supported the club since the day I was born and have been writing articles for L4L for over 3 years, writing close over 350 articles in that time. My favorite player of the past generation is Sami Hyypia.

I am the current editor for L4L, with my day job being in R&D for the NHS.

43 comments

  • Llfc fan says:

    I think for Liverpool Suso can be as useful as David Silva is for Man City in the coming years.

  • Mac says:

    Sterling is clearly more talented , Suso unproved

  • Gabriel Darshan says:

    I’ve watched Suso and Sterling regularly through the Academy and Reserves and am made up they’re now in the 1st team picture. Raheem often got the plaudits because his pace and dribbling excites and his 5 goals against Southend was a wonderful marker of his ability. But the player I always looked forward to watching was Suso.

    He has wonderful technique, he controls any ball instantly without thinking, his movement and availability belies his young years, but it is his passing, long or short, that sets him apart for me. The boy has elegance, skill and grit. He’ll strengthen in time, he’s 5’11’ so not that short, and, if he’s played more centrally in the future, will be a key player for us. The player he reminds me of most is David Silva. Silva doesn’t have pace or power but he controls games and makes a decisive impact and I can see Suso doing this for us more and more in the future.

    http://taintlessred.blogspot.co.uk/

  • joel says:

    Does anyone think sterling reminds you of lamar off revenge of the nerds…Both players will be equally great for liverpool hopefully we look after them..

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