MyOnlySolskjaer
Creator of Player Performance threads
I know injuries was a big problem but surprising to see him clubless for around a year at age 31. Much worse players than him in Premier League squads.
I think him being a PL product, on high wages and lost his main weapon, which is his pace.I know injuries was a big problem but surprising to see him clubless for around a year at age 31. Much worse players than him in Premier League squads.
He’s already played for West Brom believe it or not.That one year for Liverpool I thought he was great. From just what I’ve read, it seems the injuries have made him extremely cautious about his football.
When do we think he will join West Ham or West Brom?
Yes, he was. The pro football is cruel.For a small window, I think he was England’s best striker.
He was.For a small window, I think he was England’s best striker.
Absolutely. He deserved everything negative that ever happened to him in his career due to that celebration. Deserved even worse, in fact.I couldn’t stand his celebration. Pissed me off every time watching him do the routine near the corner flag.
Real shame about his career though. I hope he is able to sustain himself for the rest of his life. These footballers have very short careers.
Agreed! On both counts...I couldn’t stand his celebration. Pissed me off every time watching him do the routine near the corner flag.
Real shame about his career though. I hope he is able to sustain himself for the rest of his life. These footballers have very short careers.
Definitely agree!For a small window, I think he was England’s best striker.
I hated those “wavy” arms flapping about and the shit grin on his face after every goal! Even worse, my youngest boy starting imitating his celebration when he played back then, but I was his coach so I put a stop to that real quick!Absolutely. He deserved everything negative that ever happened to him in his career due to that celebration. Deserved even worse, in fact.
Really?!? Who’d you play for? I played for the Chargers in the late 80s/early 90s. I was there playing for Steve Heighway during his heyday in Clearwater.Agreed! On both counts...
Definitely agree!
I hated those “wavy” arms flapping about and the shit grin on his face after every goal! Even worse, my youngest boy starting imitating his celebration when he played back then, but I was his coach so I put a stop to that real quick!
By the way, Calodo, we probably played against each other growing up in Florida!! I know you were a GK for Clearwater, and I played many times against the Chargers growing up!!
I originally played for the Brevard Challengers (team named after the shuttle disaster) then switched to an Orlando club in ‘89Really?!? Who’d you play for? I played for the Chargers in the late 80s/early 90s.
That was a bit before my time, but I would have definitely played with some of the Chargers players you played against, they would have been just a couple of years older than me. Our club was pretty good, especially my team & three teams immediately older than mine.I originally played for the Brevard Challengers (team named after the shuttle disaster) then switched to an Orlando club in ‘89
The Challengers played against Clearwater in the State Cup QF in ‘87 and you beat us 3-0
are there though?I know injuries was a big problem but surprising to see him clubless for around a year at age 31. Much worse players than him in Premier League squads.
Yes. Klopp was questioning whether Sturridge could play with the pain at the time and so did Fergie with Saha. Footballers are never always 100% going into games especially in a long gruelling season.are there though?
If prefer a player of half his talent who can actually get on the football pitch.
is Saha a good comparison?
All good mate! Interesting stuff.Didn’t mean to sidetrack the thread @MyOnlySolskjaer
Calodo and I will continue in a private chat.
Back to Sturridge...
This what I believe too, but people are making it some kind of Mario Balotelli type of situation.I think a major problem was he could never string enough games together to actually adapt his game for a loss of pace. I'm convinced that if he could have put a full season together at some point after 2016 he would still have been world class even playing in a different style to his 2013-2014 hype. It was never a case of him being a liability when he played, it was always a case of availability.
You saw it for Liverpool, even in the most tiny windows of fitness in those last few years he scored some massive clutch goals. That last minute equaliser against Chelsea, that ridiculous opening goal against Sevilla in the Europa League final, scored a great opener against PSG in a game that had we not won there wouldn't have been any CL trophy. He even scored a cold blooded opener against West Ham away which is one of the most overlooked goals in Klopp's tenure because it basically secured top 4 for the first time.
Even in these waning seasons his technique, touch and vision was still fantastic. Even up until about 2018 he was still potentially world class if he ever could get 25 games in in a season, but his body was too fragile for that.
That’s a bit harsh. He scored 8 in 12 for Bolton while on loan there in 2011, and then had a 1 in 3 record at Chelsea from the wing the following season under AVB. Di Matteo dropped him to play a more defensive style and then he got injured just before Benítez arrived and by the time he was fit again he’d been sold to Liverpool.He was one of the best striker in the league during 13-14. Then he was out injured for couple of times, and never return to the same form.
Well he is kind of one season wonder (or one and a half).
Speaking of this side of Florida, do you recall this talent from Tarpon Springs area?Really?!? Who’d you play for? I played for the Chargers in the late 80s/early 90s. I was there playing for Steve Heighway during his heyday in Clearwater.
What's race go to do with it? He did play selfishly, especially in his early days. You just pulled the race card out of your arse there.I should also say, he got unfairly characterised as a primadonna and a selfish player early in his career when everything I saw of him pointed to the opposite: he seemed a genuinely humble self aware fella. No doubt being a young black English striker who spent his summers in LA and liked his fashion did him no favours with the British press and the average fan.
Vaguely, a little younger than me. I was finishing up college & moving west when all the hoopla over him happened during his move to Greece.Speaking of this side of Florida, do you recall this talent from Tarpon Springs area?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gus_Kartes