The point which needs to be made is, how come people don't go on about the treatment Milner gets from City fans? He get's the same abuse, yet no one ever mentions that when its Milner in the firing line. I will be honest and say I would prefer people to get behind the team rather than give Sterling abuse. For one thing, it indicates that people are still bothered by him. The truth is we have a great team now let's enjoy them and just forget all about Sterling, he's yesterday's man to me now.
It's hypocrisy on a grand scale for people to be pointing to the abuse Sterling gets at Anfield while wilfully ignoring that ex-players of all clubs get the same treatment up and down the country every week. Look at the dogs abuse our ex-Southampton players get at St. Mary's.
No one likes rejection, be it personal rejection or your club getting rejection. Players leaving in anything but amicable circumstances tend to become the panto villain. That's just the way it is. If I leave my girlfriend for someone else she's going to hope I fall flat on my face further down the line, and she's not going to be complimentary if she sees me. That's fair enough. A mutual spit? Then we are still friends, but a messy divorce? They are rarely pretty.
Sterling made a rod for his own back, and now he's getting lightly hit with it he is squealing like a baby. Sometimes in life you go out of your way to build a rather uncomfortable bed for yourself, and when you do that it's a bit rich to blame everyone else when you eventually have to lie in it.
I don't think it's an either/or when it comes to heckling Sterling / supporting our team. We do both. Personally I don't particularly like Sterling. He's a great footballer, but comes over as a hypocritical little shit. Having said that, I have no real interest in him either. I think the heckling continues now simply because he goes out of his way to make it crystal clear that it affects his game badly. Any opposition will play on the weakness of an opponent if that opponent wears that weakness so obviously on his sleeve.
Personally, I think it up to Sterling to grow up. He needs to sort his own head out and learn to roll with it more. In his place I'd be looking to rise above the heat and stay ice cool, retain focus, then punish the opposition with my quality. Unfortunately for Sterling, far too many people are excusing his petulance and condoning his unwillingness to take personal responsibility. They have their own reasons and agendas for doing so, but it certainly doesn't help Sterling in the longer term.
As far as Liverpool go, Sterling certain is yesterday's man, as are Coutinho and Suarez. But disrespect Liverpool and you are repaid in kind. Respect Liverpool and Liverpool respects you. Anfield is one of the few places around where ex players are usually revered and applauded ... unless they treat us like shit. Do that, and you make a rod for your own back and really shouldn't complain if you later get hit with it.
