Quantcast
Featured

Oh Captain, oh Captain: on Sterling, hope & Skrtel

|
Image for Oh Captain, oh Captain: on Sterling, hope & Skrtel
A very young Steven Gerrard in his first full season for Liverpool

A very young Steven Gerrard in his first full season for Liverpool

When I think of a captain I think ‘leader’, ‘heart’, ‘motivator’, ‘represents the club’. Yes, Mr Rodgers I do think ‘character’. James Milner fills all those roles but one: he is not LFC through and through.

I doubt he knows where the toilets are at Melwood. He does, however, have a winning mentality, character and experience. Our squad lacks all three.

Knowing where the toilets are does not get on the deal breaker criteria. I am sure they are adequately sign-posted, if I had it my way the sign would read ‘Ian Ayre’s office’.

I know it’s far too early but I see Jon Flanagan as a future captain. He’s got the skill and the heart. If he can stay injury-free and keep improving he could be a long term captain for LFC. He’s got the determination of a young Steven Gerard. I hope he has a brilliant career with us.

In my opinion, Jordan Henderson is not captain material. In the same way I couldn’t see Ed Miliband as Prime Minister, unlike Henderson he did get my vote, but he didn’t stand against Milner. I’d vote for Hitler ahead of Cameron.. well, almost. Henderson does not have the personality on the pitch, and he did a terrible shampoo advert on top of that!

Henderson’s comments regarding Sterling, once Sterling had done all he could to burn his LFC bridges, were a concern. Saying: ‘I can’t fault him as a person or player’ was hardly impressive. I have two words that Henderson could say about Sterling: try harder! Henderson went on to say ‘For such a young lad he is so mature and does not let the outside world affect him.’

I don’t agree. I’d rather he said nothing or joined the chorus of Liverpool staff and ex-staff who laid the blame for Sterling’s actions at the door of his advisers. No man I could respect as a captain would make such statements so soon. I know Gerard did have a few positive words for Sterling however, they were more measured and they were more peace maker in tone. (Maybe I’m just biased and struggle to criticise Steven Gerrard.)

Milner makes me think of Joe Cole: a surprise coup; hailed as great business on a free, wanted by all according to media sources. British, hoping his England career will be helped by the move. Wanting to get more minutes on the pitch having arrived on the back sustained success at another Premiership club. Liverpool FC have not had the best luck with free agents. Nor with really expensive English signings or injury/chaos prone foreign ones. So the jury is out.

For the record, in my opinion, Milner will not be a new ‘Joe Cole’. I, for one, didn’t think Joe’s time at Anfield would be the disaster it was. I didn’t think Joe Cole would the ‘Joe Cole’ he turned out to be. In Milner’s case Manchester City offered much more money and Champions League football. Milner, by choosing LFC – I hope – will in time show to be a very wise move; a rare example of someone in football doing something for ‘footballing reasons’. Doesn’t happen often. Hyppia chose Liverpool ahead of Champions League teams and more money, we can only hope Milner is as successful with us and proves as loyal and loved by fans.

So who should be Captain?

For me, our next captain should be Martin Skrtel.

Skrtel may have what it takes to become the next Reds' captain

Skrtel may have what it takes to become the next Reds’ captain I

When I first saw Martin Skrtel I thought: ‘here is a scary looking man’. A man who, to my immature mind, looked like his past-time would involve cutting flesh off the living for amusement. I just imagined he would have severed body parts lying about his home, much like people have old magazines, as if it was a normal thing to have on the bottom shelf of your coffee table (I’ve always had an imagination crying out for professional help!) When I was younger still I had a vivid imagination, as any teacher at my school would have testified.

In my opinion Skrtel is one of our best three centre backs. I believe we will not find anyone better, so he deserves a new contract. If, somehow, we don’t need him next season he can move on. If, at the time, he’s under contract we will be able to sell him. He is good enough. He has had shaky spells and outstanding spells. He remains one of our best and our defence is not rock solid without him. Well, it’s not exactly been rock solid with him either but unlike Lovren, he’s one of us and has shown he can be outstanding in a Liverpool Shirt.

I would like to see him as Captain of Liverpool FC. He has experience and I, for one, believe the responsibility of captaincy, the honour of replacing Steven Gerard, would sit well on his shoulders. My second choice and therefore, first for vice captain, would be James Milner.

The future for the optimist is bright-ish

Mr Rodgers could get it right. He does get us ticking over nicely when we go on a winning run. He must learn from his big errors, though. He must have figured out going for a draw and getting it against Chelsea would have won us a league. He must understand he’s not won anything and until he does win something he’s a nobody. Winning manager of the season doesn’t make you Jose Mourinho. Winning everything makes you Mourinho, and insulting everyone along the way helps, if you are.

Mr Rodgers has, in many ways, just been blowing hot air and we’re tired of it. I don’t have as much faith, but I do have hope and I hope he does turn things round. Since the club announced Rodgers was staying I have not uttered a single word asking for him to go. I am firmly behind the team, the club and manager. However, should our signings be second rate again, if we sign anymore bargain bucket purchases, then I shall be a fierce campaigner in the #FSG_OUT camp.

With regards Sterling, he can go. He has no loyalty or respect for the club. Liverpool is bigger then any owner, manager and definitely any player. I would not want him to rot in reserves; I would want the poisonous influences of his agent and his corrupt little mind off our property. I would like a foreign club like Real Madrid to buy him but in essence I want the best for us and that means getting as much money as possible and spending it wisely!

The 20 year old has no future at Anfield and should be shown the door

The 20 year old has no future at Anfield and should be shown the door

However, if Manchester United want him then it’s a firm no! (… not even a virus). If City or Chelsea, or one of our competitors for the top-4 want him it’s £50million, £60million, £70million and or more. They must pay through the nose.

Unlike Suarez, Sterling will not bring the title, almost single-handed, to a top four club. Sorry Stevie, I do not want to see the bridge mended, I do not want to see Sterling play for us again. He’s too big for his boots and needs to be shown the door before he pollutes the squad with his misguided selfishness.

There are too many young players and minds at the club to risk his agent (or him) being left unchaperoned to wander the grounds. Also, I say ‘misguided’ because doing his talking on the pitch will get him all the trophies and money anyone would want.. if they are good enough.

Jamie Carragher  said it best: ‘For a 20-year-old kid to be taking on Liverpool Football Club over a contract. To the pit of my stomach that just winds me up, it angers me.

‘The lad is from London and he obviously wants to go back home. It might not be about money. It may be about trophies or playing in the Champions League. If it’s about trophies, Liverpool had a chance for a trophy this year, in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley against Aston Villa. Where was Sterling? If you want trophies, they don’t get given to you, you have to earn them, you have to play well in big games. What did Liverpool do in the Champions League? Nothing. What did Sterling do? Nothing.

“To do what he’s done now. There’s nothing worse than that. You keep your mouth shut – get on with playing football.”

If he wanted trophies then he should have scored a few goals against Villa and then help beat Arsenal but he wasn’t good enough. And now, with the season over, he has to do his talking off the pitch.. much like us columnists!

I read all comments so feel free to share your opinions.

You can follow me on twitter @LFCVee

By Vikas Dhingra

Share this article

An armchair fan who loves the stadium experience but likes the bread and butter of replays, moronic pundits, a drink in a pub atmosphere. LFC is my religion.

Common sense is missing from football but the situation is always complicated so I endeavour to give opinion and encourage discussion and thought about LFC.

10 comments

  • tim says:

    i strongly agree with you,sterling can go .

  • jack says:

    the beauty of euro2016 is that it presents competition for places for the national team and as such paying sterling current wages if his not sold@ 50mil wont hurt lfc….

  • ghred says:

    I agree with most of it but i think u are being a tad harsh on hendo.he has more years ahead of him to grow into that role of iconic captain,handing him d captaincy will elevate his game to a whole new level.he has overcome a lot in his liverpool career so far that goes to show his mentality + he’s rly influential(7goals,14assists last season).hendo will make a great lfc captain imho

    • Vikas Dhingra says:

      Fair point. He’s had a lot of criticism and has come out fighting. Maybe he’ll grow to be a better captain then I give him credit for. However, I think Skrtel still my preferred option.

  • favour says:

    DAT is a right choice for sketel to be our captain, I am agree DAT,Mr boss take record or note,I love LFC.

  • abd ghani amat says:

    Keep captain sketel pay why ever prize its very important to liverpool and me without sketel at back liverpool problem belive me! And for sterling sell as soon as posible its a problem to me and liverpool i love. Fan from malaysian

  • Gama says:

    if reports from today’s daily is true; 45£ for Raheem is daylight robbery. we need a steel in the middle-Krychowiak, lars Bender, pace on the width; konaplyenka, Clyne. out kolo, Lucas, borini, Enrique, lambert. with Origi, Sturidge, Ings, mario….we will see how it goes.
    THE COACH:
    let support the young man, it’s not his fault look at the owner. the hire him. the are getting what the wish for. the deserve the blame too. But by October, if we’re not in top4, Klop for Kop. or Anceloti. that for was suppose to be after the stoke debacle.
    THE FANS
    From Torres to Chelsea, Carrol, to Lovren. the have seen worst. I hope the best is on its way!

  • alan says:

    agree with you but I think sterling believe rodger have nothing to offer and he expect the club owner to hire a new experience coach that the young lad can learn form so I will not blame sterling now until rodger get it right by winning trophy and getting it right in a big match because I believe coach dont have to think of winning in a big match alone the best resuit of such is a draw the if you win is a plus.finally mignolet dont need a back up but a big challenge goalkeeper not a jones type we sign from bolton please keep to challenge for a start
    thank you

  • Carina says:

    Sterling should be sold. Keeping him at an field won’t make him play with all his heart. I though Skrtel should have been vice captain last season. He should be given the title. He’s a leader and still a very good defender. In fact the best we have.

  • alan says:

    player I love to see that I believe can win trophy for liverpool my club are sissoko newcastle,roberto gago olympiakos,milner man city,danny ings,clyne southampton,tevez juventus or salomon rondon south american striker,kovacic inter and firmino.
    out balotelli,boroni,lambert,sterling,allen,johnson,jones,enrique,marquillo
    loan return wisdom,origi and ilori
    loan out lovren markovic
    line up 2015/16 will look like roberto gago,sktel,sahko,clyne,flano,henderson,sissoko,can,tevez,coutinho,sturridge and milner
    bench firmino,kovacic,salomon rondon,moreno,wisdom,kolo,origi,ings,lallana,ibe,mignolet,bogdan.

Comments are closed.