That article doesn't address the issue but instead digresses to another point. Neville already has said what he's doing isn't right - back when Sterling hadn't even done as much - on MNF. It's on Youtube.
Lineker from what I remember wasn't talking about his actions being OK in getting the move; but that he has a right to choose. I think you're missing the boat on this one again and again. No one is saying he can't have ambition or he can't choose for himself. What he's currently done is just inexcusable, regardless of your motivations.
OK, I'm intrigued, whats he done thats so inexucasble then. He's given an interview which he said he would've signed a contract last summer but the club refused to offer it, now he'll wait until the end of the season to consider it as it was too much to deal with, but it's not about wanting more money (this is two months after Gerrard gave a similar interview).
Then after a few months of fans on his back, and ex-pro's, his agent loses his rag and says he wont sign a new contract (again, stating its not about money) and laid into Carragher for what he'd been saying (which is fair) - I'll grant that one was unprofessional but born of frustration
He's sat at home whilst the press have gone ape**** making this this summers transfer saga, printing whatever the hell they want really.
Now he's saying he doesn't want to join the pre-season tour - Not the first pro to do this in lieu of a move, in fact its rather common.
Yeah, its not exemplary behaviour, but y'know, the club haven't exactly avoided using the press either to say how he's refusing to sign a contract and that they won't sell him etc. It's a bit unfair to say the club can give whatever press statement they want but the player can't have his say either.
I don't care to really argue this point as it is completely irrelevant to what I'm talking about. Whether or not the club has gone backwards he has signed a contract and he should at the least do the bare minimum and not act in such a fashion. His move will come, it's inevitable.
So hang on. I make a comment, you pick up on a point, I clarify that its a bit out of context and expand, and you say it's irrelevant. No offence, but if you want to respond to what I've said, then you can't then say what I've said is irrelevant to the discussion, its what started it in the first place after all. In fact I dare say given you are responding to my views, I decide if what I've said is relevant, not you.
If this was his justification, it's just nonsense. If anything, Liverpool is in a better position now than for most of Sterling's career. Better than when he signed the contract in the first place.
And no, you don't have a right to just up and leave because you don't think the company is going the way you want it to go. Sterling is an employee. As long as Liverpool keep to their side of the contract and paying him for his services, he has to keep to his side of the deal as well. If there was a clause, such as a player being allowed to leave if they have CL and Liverpool don't, then this wouldn't be a discussion as that would already be taken advantage of.
The only reason playing for Liverpool would be unpleasant at this stage is because of his own actions. This is what people mean when they say don't burn your bridges. The bridge burner can't then claim innocence.
How are Liverpool in a better position. When he signed you finished 7th, this year you finished 6th, a massive drop on the 2nd from the year before (which given every other season Sterlings been at Liverpool the clubs finished between 6th and 8th). At best you've stayed stagnant over the years. At worse this year is a massive regression on last, whilst the player has improved dramatically.
Unfortunately, you're so ****ing wrong its untrue. I do have a right to up and leave because I don't think a company is going the way you want to go. 95% of the population do. Most of us have done it. I've walked away from contracts before (both open and fixed term) because I've been unhappy with how the works changed and felt the contract has become unfair. Technically Sterling has the right to do it as well, so long as he doesn't want to seek employment from another football club - that's to do with the player registration staying with Liverpool. Cantona did it to us - decided he didn't want to be a footballer anymore so walked away mid contract. Nothing we could do, and no compensation either.
Its slightly different in that Sterling wants to stay in football so he can't just wash his hands of the club completely, however it doesn't change the fact that he's in a position which any of us would consider untenable within our lines of work, and I think its wrong to expect him to just put up, shut up and be Mr company, when really his only way to get out of this situation is to make his dissatisfaction clear by refusing to co-operate.
I don't care why he wants to leave. For whatever reason, that's his choice. However, his conduct has been disgraceful. This shouldn't be an argument and the only reason it seems to be is because your lack of empathy towards your rival blinds you to seeing it.
Comparing Lallana (who, I still don't think was an angel) to what Sterling does just showcases this clear lack of understanding. Lallana, Suarez, a lot of players that may have forced a move to or from Liverpool have not gone about it in this fashion.
And I just don't see how much different a fashion what's happening with Sterling is with so many other professionals who've wanted to move and have done what they can to make the move happen. It's just getting reported and blown up in the press more because its a slow summer transfer window and Sterling is the hot property of it.
