‘I am one of those guilty of writing him off’
@Thomas Forrest:
“Agreed on this. He hasn’t been at his very best this tournament but is our only scorer and the only one up top trying relentlessly to get in behind. I am one of those guilty of writing him off, but would put him near the top of the team sheet.”
‘Sterling can be frustrating’
@Anthony Sutcliffe:
“Sterling gets into great positions – look at his runs for both his goals. But too often in between, it’s a mish-mash of poor ball control and misplaced passes. That’s why fans are frustrated because Sterling can be frustrating.
“That said, his confidence must now be sky high so hopefully his touch will improve so he can make even more of the positions he gets himself into. Because from now, those opportunities will be fewer and farther between.”
‘He’s an automatic starter in my book’
@Chris Goater:
“I agree with this article 100 per cent. Whenever I defend Sterling, the line of argument I often get is that he doesn’t score as much as he should or that he picks the wrong pass. But this misses the point.
“Yes, he makes mistakes. He is not perfect. But his record is very good (almost as many England goals as John Barnes and Chris Waddle combined) and he always keeps running, he never tries to hide. Also, he offers something no one else in this England team offers, with the possible and unproven exception of Sancho. He’s an automatic starter in my book.”
Alan Davies: ‘I only realised in adult life how much I suffered at the hands of my father
Actor and comedian Alan Davies opened up about his unhappy childhood and the abuse he endured at the hands of his father. Readers appreciated Davies’ honesty and were inspired to share their own personal stories.
‘I too have learnt from my parents’ mistakes’
@Jane Davies:
“It’s all too easy to bury these terrible childhood experiences and they then become a heavy weight to carry around. So many use comedy as a mental shield and to discuss the trauma is a very brave thing to do.
“Well done Alan in coming to terms with what happened to you, instead of making up for the loss of your mother with nurturing and love, your father chose a different route and it could so easily have destroyed you. I feel so sad for that little boy.
“I’m sure having a wonderful partner, and now your children, has helped to ground you. I too have learnt from my parents’ mistakes, which were nothing like yours in comparison, and I hope that knowledge has made me a better parent.”‘
‘There are things that hardly any of us can address ourselves’
@Richard Lindsay:
“There’s a horrible tendency to dismiss therapy as something for the weak or the foolish, something inherently selfish and self-indulgent. The truth is that there are things that hardly any of us can address ourselves, any more than we could cure our own cancers.
“Thank you, Alan, for a brave account of your past and an honest view of therapy.”
‘Gosh I relate to these words’
@Mark Daugherty:
“Gosh I relate to these words. The abuse from my parent was not sexual, but savagely violent to my body, unending emotional invalidation and belittlement to my soul. I think I was in my 40s when I really worked it out.
“My siblings and aunts tell me I am not admitting half of what happened even now, but I think I have got my neurosis pushed around into an arrangement I can live with.
“The important thing is to get your life onto a paying basis where you know your days contribute to others, and add to the stream of their life. I don’t look for happiness so much. I aim for that sense of emotional cleanliness and inner peace.”
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