If your job is high profile then getting criticism does come with the territory and developing a thick skin is probably a good strategy for survival. However, the abuse that Sterling has had to put up with has been sustained, excessive and disproportionate. I could expect it from Liverpool fans whose over weening sense of self importance and entitlement meant that they faced the loss of key player to 'upstart' rivals who had 'stolen' the Premier League title from them very recently. That they would vent their spleen when the club's played each other might be expected - that is nothing unusual and has happened many, many times (although I note with pride that City fans almost over whelmingly greet ex-MCFC players with courtesy and applause rather than a barrage of whistles, vitriol and bile).
But......the campaign against Sterling went further than this, it went deeper and has been prolonged for nearly twelve months. Extending to pretty much every single Premier League ground where morons with zero connection to this transfer decided that they too hated Sterling and felt empowered to boo and whistle the young man. It spilled over into social media and even encompassed his baby daughter, his family. Disgraceful.
The media played it's role and has consistently continued to do so by constantly referring to the mis-quoted cost of his transfer and generally banging on about the lad in a negative sense at almost every opportunity. Angel di Maria endured a poor season at the rags after a record transfer but I do not remember him being abused at every ground across the land every time he touched the ball. No. That treatment was reserved for a player who left the beloved Liverpool to join the team that is roundly regarded as the one ruining football.
The lad is 21 years old. I am sure he is capable of enduring a 'bit of stick' for a poor pass or poor performance......but I would defy any of us to admit that as a young man we would not have been affected by the relentless nature of what he has endured. I can recall periods of my previous career when the effects of workplace bullying had a detrimental effect on me and my family life and I was considerably older than 21.
What has gone on with this guy has been out of order, it has affected him deeply (IMO) and IMO has eroded his confidence and self belief. It has exposed him to ridicule which has been unwarranted and I also think influenced others - players and officials alike. I recall early in the season that several of us on VMC noted that he couldn't seem to buy a decision - he was fouled a number of times but officials turned away. The definition of madness is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. I suggest that after a while when you try and go past opponents, get flattened, fouled or obstructed and get NO decision in your favour, then it is not a surprise that you start to think "I am not going to bother, if I get clocked I will not get a free kick or any protection'. Opponents, emboldened by this, could see that they could away with a bit more than an inch and they took a mile. John Stones catching him in the penalty area is a classic example - anyone want to bet Vardy would have been awarded that as a penalty?
Anyway.......
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Apologies for the length of this tirade but I just feel the lad has been getting a raw deal. The problem is complex and needs fixing - if he does improve his performances on the field then the criticism might - might - abate but it isn't as simple as 'just playing better'. Everyone knows how important your mental state is when playing football - difficult to put your worries into the changing room locker and leave them there - the effects run deeper than that. It just grinds my gears that he seems to have been singled out more than any other player in the Premier League for such a prolonged period and he could do with more senior figures coming out and calling out those who have chosen to make him their figure of hate. It has gone beyond it being 'just a bit of fun' - bullying is insidious and often perceived by those outside as 'trivial'.
I hope he continues to get the support he needs from the club and with better coaching and the belief of his manager he can return back to the player and talent that everyone saw when he was at Liverpool.
Sorry
Went off the rails again there....
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