A fit and healthy Walcott is a potent weapon and a quality footballer.

Claudius wrote:

Theo is not a big game player. This is a guy who had fewer than 10 touches of the ball before being subbed out towards the end of the game recently.

Please tell me you're not dismissing Theo as a big game player because of how he did against Leicester City.
EDIT: Serious question. I'm pretty sure that was his last start but I could be wrong.

Claudius wrote:

We point to one or two instance of his big game (like the Milan run to set up Ade) and turn into a generalisation. 

Ignoring the fact that he has scored at Old Trafford, The Etihad, Stamford Bridge and White Hart Lane. As well as against Barcelona.

I'm not a Theo fan and I'd drive him to Anfield myself if I could bring Sterling back with me, but your post was filled with some top, top quality revisionism.

Captain wrote:

A fit and healthy Walcott is a potent weapon and a quality footballer.

I agree. But a fit and healthy Theo is a rare thing.

We can't carry Theodore anymore. We could live with his shortcomings when we were shit, and barely made the top 4, but we're now gunning for the title and hopefully the CL soon. Fuck his stats, they're useless when he can't pass and move or dribble - which top team has such a player? None. We have to play as an unit, and the first criteria should be that you're a clever footballer with top class technique, then the goals will follow suit around the team.

Sterling is overrated, but he's already a much better footballer than Theo at the age of just 20. He'll become world class soon enough, and if we could get him then we shouldn't hesitate for a second. Although it's a joke how much money he's demanding, so we'll stay away most probably.

The thing is, he can pass and move and dribble. He has phenomenal pace, balance and agility and he bangs goals. Walcott is a long way from the kid we bought from Southampton.

But anyway, we have a Walcott bashing thread, so the conversation can stay there.

How can you say Sterling is overrated and then seconds later say he's on his way to world class?

I don't remember anyone saying he was world class yet. Just he's got potential to be.

Bosscielny wrote:

How can you say Sterling is overrated and then seconds later say he's on his way to world class?

I don't remember anyone saying he was world class yet. Just he's got potential to be.

What's wrong with that? He's on his way to become world class, that doesn't change the fact that he's overrated atm.

Pool fans rate him as one of the best or even as the best player in the league. That's overrating him.

Captain wrote:

The thing is, he can pass and move and dribble. He has phenomenal pace, balance and agility and he bangs goals. Walcott is a long way from the kid we bought from Southampton.

But anyway, we have a Walcott bashing thread, so the conversation can stay there.

He can move, but pass and dribble in tight spaces? Not so much. He wouldn't stand a second at Real, Barca, Bayern, etc for that reason alone.

Why not keep Theo and sign Sterling?!

why would you have Welbeck, Sanchez, Ox, Walcott and Sterling for the wide berths? It's overkill when we still need to invest in another central midfielder and an alterantive to Giroud at 9. That's why one would let Theo go. Keeping Theo and Ox at the same time with their history of injury just seems a bit mad to me. All the players are also very fast which negates Walcott's one true strength.

I'd be livid if we replaced Theo with Sterling. If we're replacing the former then it needs to be with proven quality like Reus not another project, might as well give Gnabry some minutes in that case.

Sterling is a decent talent but extremely overrated imo, he started and finished virtually every Liverpool game this season and has something like 5 goals and 5 assists. Dodgy character to boot and I'm pretty sure he'll break down soon seeing how Liverpool run him into the ground. I'm almost certain Gnabry would provide a similar return given the playing time, especially playing a lot of those games centrally.

Sterling is an absolutely phenomenal talent and more to the point, however little the stats say he is contributing, he is contributing a lot more than our supposed top young talents. As far as I can see, he is absolutely running the show there. And while it's natural to go through quieter spells as a young player, he's always still a massive threat. 

I'm mostly skipping over the comparisons between Walcott and Sterling, and that's because there aren't any worth discussing. Sterling's completely different class. We know Liverpool will never sell to us (probably unless it's a near world record fee). But since we're talking about hypothetical trades, obviously the Walcott+cash for Sterling swap would be a hell of a result for us. To be honest, the only thing that would stop me making an Ox for Sterling or Wilshere for Sterling swap is blind faith and my Arsenal biased view. If we paid £60m+ for Sterling and he was the only signing we made for 2 years, I'd be ecstatic about it. This is going to be one of the best players in the world for the next 10 years. But as I said Liverpool don't like us, they want to catch us and I think they'd rather sell to Chelsea, Man City or abroad. 

jones wrote:

I'd be livid if we replaced Theo with Sterling. If we're replacing the former then it needs to be with proven quality like Reus not another project, might as well give Gnabry some minutes in that case.

Project?

I'd say Sterling is more of a guaranteed success for us in the league here than Reus.

Gnabry has shown nothing to suggest he's even close to Sterling.

Just another youngster that fans want to hype for later 'told you so's'.

Theo a big player player? Sorry but i doubt what football you watch est?

He is almost the first one to disappear when the going gets tough. Look at how much he gets subbed!

Anyway i doubt we are gonna get Sterling or even that he wants to come. He just wants a bigger paycheck and we are happy to oblige like Rooney, Milner etc in past

I'm in Theo's camp, and off the top of my head can remember big matches vs Chelsea (5-2 win), Barcelona (who were afraid of him), Shaktar (a personal favorite when he took it early) and vs Udinese.

jones wrote:

I'd be livid if we replaced Theo with Sterling. If we're replacing the former then it needs to be with proven quality like Reus not another project, might as well give Gnabry some minutes in that case.

Sterling is a decent talent but extremely overrated imo, he started and finished virtually every Liverpool game this season and has something like 5 goals and 5 assists. Dodgy character to boot and I'm pretty sure he'll break down soon seeing how Liverpool run him into the ground. I'm almost certain Gnabry would provide a similar return given the playing time, especially playing a lot of those games centrally.

You claim Sterling is overrated whilst massively underrating him in your post. Sterling is brilliant. Comparisons to Gnabry are absurd.

I agree with Jonesy tbf I think Sterling is over rated, like every English youngster who is half decent.

Indeed. Harry Kane will never hit 20 goals a season in his life again and Sterling will fade into background soon enough and we'll call him Raheem Wright-Phillips.

Only Adama traore seems such an exciting prospect in Europe

Oh and that Madrid scando

He has two years left though, don't think Liverpool would be willing to sell unless a 50m+ bid goes in.

Clrnc wrote:

jones wrote:

I'd be livid if we replaced Theo with Sterling. If we're replacing the former then it needs to be with proven quality like Reus not another project, might as well give Gnabry some minutes in that case.

Project?

I'd say Sterling is more of a guaranteed success for us in the league here than Reus.

Come on mate, that's exactly what people mean when they talk about ridiculously overrated. "One of Liverpool's main players" people use that term as if Liverpool were on Real or Barça level when they were knocked out of Europa by Besiktas ffs.

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

Only Adama traore seems such an exciting prospect in Europe

In La Masia alone El Haddadi is a much bigger prospect than both. That kid has insane close control, first youngster that genuinely reminds me of Messi in the way he touches the ball about a dozen times a second while dribbling, and the kid can't buy a game (obviously) at Barcelona right now.

There are a lot of youngsters in Spain, Italy and Germany that look to have as much or more to their game than Sterling in my opinion. His strongest attributes are characteristics that you'll find in dozens of talented youngsters which is why talk of "guaranteed world class" seems like extreme hyperbole to me.

I'm not totally over the moon at the prospect of Sterling but people who think that players that have barely featured at all on the first team level are better bets than Sterling need to lay off the pipe. Sterling is an incredibly accomplished player for his age.

Exactly. He also has great determination and willingness which sets him apart from a lit of those technical players you'll see at barca for example.

The guy gets people on the back foot and does it no matter the opponent. I'd rather him than Hazard

Do what now?

Immense

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

Exactly. He also has great determination and willingness which sets him apart from a lit of those technical players you'll see at barca for example.

You forgot to add that English grit and pace and power

Sterling is a highly experienced player for his age if anything. And the number of games you see a player play in matters little if you can tell a talent to be honest, I would have picked Messi after his first five games ahead of this season's Sterling too.

Sterling is really skilful and has great pace.

It's true that there are many players like him on the continent, albeit without the pace but there are also many players like Jack and Oxlade on the continent, aswell.

I would so love for us to have a great all-star British Champions League winning team.

-----------Welbeck
Sterling---Oxlade----Walcott
-------Wilshere-Ramsey

Obviously, after Ozil and Sanchez leave, haha.

Well Messi is a freak - Ofcourse you would choose him as would everyone else.

It's not about Messi, my point was you don't have to see a player play lots of times to recognise his talent. I remember Isco playing for Valencia's reserves and looking as certain a prospect as you get on that level, Málaga decided to pay 6m for him having no first team experience at all and it was probably their best purchase ever.

Sterling is very similar to Hazard.

He's a fair bit more explosive than Hazard, but Hazard is better in just about every single other aspect. And by some distance too.

Hazard is four years older, it's only natural that he's better in most aspects.

Sterling will never be able to learn how to dribble like Hazard and he'll never have the same touch, close control and balance, I also doubt very much he'll learn to be as aware in the final third either. He might learn to become a better goal scorer in time, though. That incredible pace he has could be a very dangerous weapon if he learns how to make the right runs and works hard on his finishing.

Hazard is also 4 years older than Sterling.

Getting Sterling off Liverpool would be an amazing coup. It won't happen though. He's still got two years on his contract so if they have to they can still hold onto him for another season.

jones wrote:

I'd be livid if we replaced Theo with Sterling. If we're replacing the former then it needs to be with proven quality like Reus not another project, might as well give Gnabry some minutes in that case.

Sterling is a decent talent but extremely overrated imo, he started and finished virtually every Liverpool game this season and has something like 5 goals and 5 assists. Dodgy character to boot and I'm pretty sure he'll break down soon seeing how Liverpool run him into the ground. I'm almost certain Gnabry would provide a similar return given the playing time, especially playing a lot of those games centrally.

You went on to mention Isco later, and he has 5 goals and 8 assists having played 33 games for Real with Ronaldo and co., not much better is it? Sterling is playing for a non-scoring Pool side with gobshite such as Lambert, and Lallana, and has 7 goals and 8 assists, it's ok for a 20 years old' I'd say. Point is, let's just keep stats out, they're to no use.

Raheem is overrated atm, no doubt, he's not one of the best players in the league as some potrait him as, but he's undeniably hugely gifted. He can do just about everything already, if he adds some consistency(Brenda isn't allowing him that playing him anywhere from GK to striker literally), and be more efficient, he'll be a brilliant player.

There are a few players I'd rather have, but I'd have no problem if we replaced 6-touches per game Theodore with him.