QPR Must Convince Raheem Sterling to Stay

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Mail Leo Spall - /Leo's London November 11, 2009
- Forget breaking records, QPR must convince teenage sensation Raheem Sterling to snub Chelsea and Co
- Leo's London is a new hard-hitting column on the big issues around the capital's football clubs. Every Wednesday, Leo Spall will cast his eye over the major talking points in every corner of the city, analysing the Premier League big boys and shining a light on the lower-league sides. So, whether your loyalties lie in the north, west, south or east of London, stick with Sportsmail for the latest views..
- If QPR's best attempt to keep teenage wonderkid Raheem Sterling is the promise to throw him in at the deep end in the Championship, they really must try harder.
Reports suggest that manager Jim Magilton is preparing to make the forward the Football League's youngest player by blooding him soon after his 15th birthday next month.
- They are so desperate to keep Sterling out of the clutches of the Premier League clubs who are tracking him they are resorting to a shallow gimmick.
- Golden boy: Raheem Sterling in action for England under 16s
Reuben Noble-Lazarus currently holds the record as the Football League's youngest player after making his Barnsley debut aged 15 years and 45 days near the beginning of last season. But he has made only one additional substitute appearance since and not been seen at all this term.
- The previous record was set in 1929 and there is a reason it has not been broken frequently - high-level professional football is played by men, not boys. Sterling, by all accounts, is already an excellent player: quick and skilful.
He has made an impressive debut for England's under 16s and volleyed a stunning winner for Rangers under 18s last Saturday. But he is small, still has some growing to do and plays in the hole, a position where he would be a prime target for a less-than-sophisticated defender.
- For a club with lofty ambitions and some of the richest owners in the game, QPR should be able to offer so much more that a meaningless gesture which risks a talented player's health.
- And I am not talking about the ultimately lucrative contract which Sterling looks set to attract.
- If QPR invested in an academy rather than a lower-quality centre of excellence, maybe they would have a better chance of holding on to the forward.
Maybe then they could convince him he was getting the best chance to develop his talent with the best facilities and highest standards.
- QPR are way behind many of their London rivals with their youth set-up. They have good people in Steve Gallen and Marc Bircham but they need to put in greater resources, to invest in the future if they are serious about becoming a top club.
- QPR lost Dean Parrett to Tottenham in similar circumstances a couple of years ago and a youngster's attention is easily grabbed. But Sterling is said to be very level-headed, a result of losing his dad before he was 10.
He has been at QPR for five years and has said he would only ever leave for his beloved Chelsea. It is the club's job to convince him he will have a brighter future if he stays with them…and a one-off appearance in the record books just isn't good enough. Mail

- See Also: "Jamaican takes UK youth football by storm"

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- Past re QPR Academy/QPR Youth Development


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Magilton Hoping for Heaton Return - QPR OFficial Site - JIM: 'THE HEAT IS OFF - FOR NOW!'
- Jim Magilton has revealed he is 'hopeful' Tom Heaton will return to the Club in January following the completion of his loan spell at Loftus Road.
- The 23 year-old's loan deal from Manchester United officially concludes on Saturday, but the R's gaffer has been so impressed with the young shot-stopper, that he will be doing 'everything within his power' to get the keeper back to W12 in the New Year.
- "Tom has been outstanding for us from the day he walked into the Club," Magilton told www.qpr.co.uk.
- "He's a first class pro and sets the standards by which the others follow.
- "We're quite hopeful that we will be able to do something in January and I'll be doing everything within my power to push it through."
- Heaton only featured in the R's Carling Cup ties against Accrington Stanley and Chelsea, but he leaves with the praise of Magilton ringing in his ears.
- "He's left an unbelievable impression with both myself, the staff and the players and we'd love to have him back here," he said.
- "There have been occasions where we've been very close to giving him a start. He was outstanding against Chelsea - undoubtedly our best player on the park that night.
- "Being a number two is tough, but he's never moaned or groaned and has applied himself superbly.
- "If we can get him back in January, we'll have two of the best keepers in the division on our books and we'll have no hesitation in throwing him in." QPR


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- QPR's League Position/Points in Perspective (Since Promoted)
- 2009-2010 (Currently) - 16 games, QPR 27 points (4th)
- 2008-2009 (Nov 9, 2008) - 16 games QPR 25 points (7th)
- 2007-2008 (Nov 9, 2007) - 15 games, QPR 15 points (2 off bottom)
- 2006-2007: .............- 18 games, QPR 24 points
- 2005-2006: .............- 18 games, QPR 24 points
- 2004-2005...............- 18 games, QPR 30 points

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