Raheem Sterling - Done - See main forum

[Dribble]

Phenomenal lack of accurate consistent detailed reporting of this transfer.

As soon as sky sports news broke an agreed fee of 49 million - the picture was painted right there and then for the numpties who don't understand detail or context sadly.

The truth is - a distinction needs to be made with what we have paid Liverpool and what we (via Liverpool) have indirectly paid QPR.

We have paid Liverpool closer to 35 million pounds for this footballer. That is what he is effectively valued at by his club right now. Not 44 million or 49 million. Even Carragher has been at it again in the paper this morning quoting 49 million and saying his true value is closer to 25-30 million (so we have actually paid 5 million more than Carragher's valuation of the player).

The add ons are perfectly logical because if we pay them - it means his value has increased based on success.

The QPR point seems to have been glossed over very quickly by most media commentators. This is an important detail - which I think needs appreciating more. I think it is perfectly acceptable and just that a larger football club compensates a smaller football club when purchasing a talent produced by them at a young age. Which is why I am perfectly content in City paying a specific fee which caters for this additional compensation.

But lets get this right - Liverpool have received 35 million for this player right now. That is the deal. The QPR point is a different context and has no bearing on what Liverpool have received or will receive in add ons for this footballer.

TBF mate irrespective of how our £44m + add-ons is divided up, one way or another it still leaves our bank account and will still circulate around football. We paid the maximum we had to to get a young exciting English prospect and if this is the best deal we could negotiate, then so be it.

I'd rather us pay OTT for a player who was bought with challenging for a first team place in mind, than paying way less for another Sinclair or Rodwell to just sit on the bench in Capital One Cup matches and fill our squads English quota. Yes Liverpool fans and ex players may scoff that we were rinsed by the Dippers, but at the end of the day they know that this deal represents a paradigm shift in English football, namely that Manchester City Football Club purchased Liverpool's best player and most saleable asset and aside from them putting a sky high price on the players head, there was nothing they could do to stop us.

That is what latently worries them and what is driving their hatred of the player and ire towards us. They've haven't been in this position since the very early 70's and it hurts to now know that City, Arsenal, Chelsea and ManUre are now a bigger more enticing prospect to players than Liverpool are, and in reality they are in a battle with Spurs for the accolade of being the best of the rest so no wonder it hurts them.

I spoke to one Dipper yesterday who was honest enough to admit this. This isn't just about Sterling, its about Suarez and Torres too and the realisation that Liverpool can no longer claim to be dining at the top table in European football let alone English football based on their current standing in the game. They have well and truly been surplanted by Manchester City and us buying their best player for a record fee is the final piece of proof of who and what Liverpool are in the modern game where 'istree' will get you knowhere with players who weren't even born the last time you won a domestic title.......

 

[Nixon_The_Bike_Thief]

we have had no historical problem buying from Liverpool based Everton

Lescott ?

 

[stony]

The sight of Sterling in a City shirt will be good for another 50 pages of vitriol on RAWK.

 

[FanchesterCity]

My dad told me many years ago that supporting Man City is character building whereas supporting United was for the sheep.
Seems that today's supporters have the same challenge despite our club now being financially stable and successful on the field.

Dare I say the same advice seems to be necessary for young players who choose our great club above their current employment.

The problem is not that we are buying from either abroad or a PL mid table side the problem is that we are buying from Liverpool who perceive themselves as a rung above their current status.
It suited their ego for JM to choose them above us and we have had no historical problem buying from Liverpool based Everton so what else can this be other than we are now capable of attracting players irrespective of their current or former glories ?.

I've always thought that some of us older fans have something in our psyche that made us choose an underdog (depending on precisely when you chose City), whilst lots of Liverpool and more latterly United fans took the easy option.
However, as much as I love that young kids are wearing City shirts in big numbers these days, I do wonder if we're attracting the same types of fan who WOULD have chosen Liverpool or United in the past, and the 'underdog' fans we previously attracted are now attracted to someone else?

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

If they'd seen pics,they would of posted them.

Hi Spiderboy, I was thinking the same thing mate.....everyone in the world knows its going to be official today!;)

 

[IanBishopsHaircut]

I've always thought that some of us older fans have something in our psyche that made us choose an underdog (depending on precisely when you chose City), whilst lots of Liverpool and more latterly United fans took the easy option.
However, as much as I love that young kids are wearing City shirts in big numbers these days, I do wonder if we're attracting the same types of fan who WOULD have chosen Liverpool or United in the past, and the 'underdog' fans we previously attracted are now attracted to someone else?

I think in part you're right...the next gen of fans will be the glory hunting type

The plucky underdog types will move on to other North West clubs like Liverpool and Nited

 

[FanchesterCity]

Some of the media might have seen pics, but can't release them yet. We own the rights, so can dictate the terms of their use you see.

 

[waspish]

the slaughtering Sterling has had in the media last few weeks will lead to every ground we go to he will be booed, a different example was Baloteli murdered in the media consistently never got a fair crack from referees and booed by opposition, I guarantee sterling will not get fouls he got at Liverpool and be labeled a diver after half dozen games for us...

 

[Stretfordian_Blue]

Hi Spiderboy, I was thinking the same thing mate.....everyone in the world knows its going to be official today!;)

Anonymous ‏@Anonymous0211 1m1 minute ago
@ernestikosonen Post them uncopyrighted losing my job in the process & City thousands of pounds when newspapers rip them off here?no thanks

 

[FanchesterCity]

I can't see Sterling getting booed everywhere. There will be some chants about money and 'what a waster of money' if he messes up, but the only place that has it in for him is Anfield.
They still think the club looks spotless in all this, and yet I don't know a single neutral fan who doesn't think Sterling AND Liverpool let it get out of control.