#7 | Raheem Sterling - 2020/21 Performances

[Exeter Blue I am here]

If you don't rate Sterling, I don't have to discuss anything with you as our opinions are so wildly opposed that there's no meeting in the middle. Quite frankly that post is a series of half truths, cliches, and nonsense stitched together to paint one of our best players ever in the worst possible light IMO. Bit like this thread.

I wasn’t inviting you to discuss anything (I’m well aware there’s no point) and you’re wide of the mark if you think my intention is to ‘paint one of our best ever players in the most negative light possible’. That would only make sense if I actively wanted a City player to fail. I wrote numerous KotK articles raging at the media’s one sided, bigoted, campaign of click bait levelled at Raheem during the 3 years leading up to the ‘breaking point’ at Stamford Bridge, and that just isn’t the case. In an ideal world I’d be quite happy if he retired as the greatest City player of all time and stuck two fingers up to everyone. My opinion though, wrongly or rightly, is that he has some obvious footballing shortcomings that will prevent that, and that the way we’re playing now is showcasing the latter and detracting from his attributes.

 

[bbrother1968]

Kippax has just posted a tweet from sam lee in the media thread - Sterling, Gabby and Laporte reported to be unhappy

All 3 can go in my view

Not sure how Sterling can complain he was given the biggest stage and failed, ok the set up was on Pep however he had 2 opportunities 1st half 1st one terrible touch otherwise goa, 2nd poor decision and cross to no one

 

[worsleyweb]

Kippax has just posted a tweet from sam lee in the media thread - Sterling, Gabby and Laporte reported to be unhappy

All 3 can go in my view

agreed, Jesus is ready to step up somewhere else and has been a good asset to us. Sterling worries me hugely. If someone offered 50 million for him I would snap their hand off. Laporte is clearly a sulker. Move him on.

 

[ShaunMCFC]

Kippax has just posted a tweet from sam lee in the media thread - Sterling, Gabby and Laporte reported to be unhappy

All 3 can go in my view

No idea how Sterling can moan. Got gifted a champions league final when he didn’t deserve to be in the line up.

 

[BlueMoonz1977]

agreed, Jesus is ready to step up somewhere else and has been a good asset to us. Sterling worries me hugely. If someone offered 50 million for him I would snap their hand off. Laporte is clearly a sulker. Move him on.

Yep think Sterling's time in our team is at its natural end - tactics we face no longer make him a viable option in the forward line

Gabby been a good asset like you say

Laporte has shown his character, the interview he did etc. Not wanting to challenge Dias and stones.

 

[blueparrot]

agreed, Jesus is ready to step up somewhere else and has been a good asset to us. Sterling worries me hugely. If someone offered 50 million for him I would snap their hand off. Laporte is clearly a sulker. Move him on.

Don't agree with Sterling, think he struggles in a false 9 system, I expect if we buy a striker like Kane we'd see the Sterling we saw when he played with Aguero. I'm sure that's what we'll be telling him to persuade him to sign an extension. Jesus and Laporte I agree, but Laporte might find it more difficult to leave.

 

[BlueMoonz1977]

No idea how Sterling can moan. Got gifted a champions league final when he didn’t deserve to be in the line up.

Agree totally

I honestly dont think it makes sense for him to stay, I honestly think if he did he would find himself behind Phil and Torres next season

Like I have said before, with what we face in terms of opposition tactics he is left useless. Basically a cul-de-sac on the pitch

 

[BlueMoonz1977]

Don't agree with Sterling, think he struggles in a false 9 system, I expect if we buy a striker like Kane we'd see the Sterling we saw when he played with Aguero. I'm sure that's what we'll be telling him to persuade him to sign an extension. Jesus and Laporte I agree, but Laporte might find it more difficult to leave.

You not think with what we face in 90% of our games now with this low-block that it effectively kills the one thing sterling does offer - pace.

The season he flourished was when this low block wasn't so stringently adopted. He utilised his pace to get in behind but we are no longer seeing it because of what the opposition now do. I cant see the false 9 position being the reason he is now so ineffective. I believe it is more down to the setup of the opposite team

We also have Phil and Torres that can play that position and have a natural higher ability to already beat a man. Phil will kick on even further next season and I think we will see a lot more of Torres be it out wide or centrally - but you put Torres centrally the Phil for for plays out wide

Think sterling will find himself in the same position he has experienced in the latter half of this season if not worse if he stayed

 

[ShaunMCFC]

Agree totally

I honestly dont think it makes sense for him to stay, I honestly think if he did he would find himself behind Phil and Torres next season

Like I have said before, with what we face in terms of opposition tactics he is left useless. Basically a cul-de-sac on the pitch

Agreed. He’s already behind Phil and like you say Torres isn’t far behind, unless the plan is to use Torres as a 9.

Like another poster has said above, if Kane/Haaland is brought in then maybe he can rediscover some form, but I’d be tempted to let him go regardless. Seems like he needs a new challenge, looks too comfortable here.

 

[sir baconface]

Sorry to say I'm now in the "sell him if we can camp". I'll always be grateful to him for what he's done over the last 4 years but I think he needs a new challenge.

It would give the forum a new challenge too. No longer just a target at a turkey shoot, he’s now supplying the gravy granules and chestnut stuffing mix.

 

[blueparrot]

You not think with what we face in 90% of our games now with this low-block that it effectively kills the one thing sterling does offer - pace.

The season he flourished was when this low block wasn't so stringently adopted. He utilised his pace to get in behind but we are no longer seeing it because of what the opposition now do. I cant see the false 9 position being the reason he is now so ineffective. I believe it is more down to the setup of the opposite team

We also have Phil and Torres that can play that position and have a natural higher ability to already beat a man. Phil will kick on even further next season and I think we will see a lot more of Torres be it out wide or centrally - but you put Torres centrally the Phil for for plays out wide

Think sterling will find himself in the same position he has experienced in the latter half of this season if not worse if he stayed

Possibly, I just think a centre forward, like Aguero was and Kane is they create a distraction for centre backs that a false 9 doesn't, so take the final Sterling played high and wide to stretch their low block but because there was no centre forward the centre backs could double up on him and Mahrez and Kante and Jorghino could track the midfielders into the box. A centre forward occupies the cebtre backs making it harder to double up on the wingers.
Guess it's all wait and see until August, then we'll see how we set up, looking forward to it.

 

[Tevez City]

on the right he is 50m player

On the left he is 5m player

Thanks Pep for ruining Raheem since the arrival of Riyad

 

[skillman]

Watch this and it's even more annoying to watch him now. Here he was direct with brilliant ability combined with pace, movement and finishing from everywhere.

Now he's laboured, can't finish for shit and hardly ever attacks his full back anymore.

Obviously I know he's been good for us but I'd genuinely forgotten just how good he has been for us less than 2 years ago.

 

[ws01]

Has to move back to the right and rotate with Mahrez. The left has completely shot him, and it takes away so much of his end product.

Unfortunately that means one of Torres or Jesus need to go. Torres we're all seeing as a CF, so Gab will have to make way IMO - especially if a new striker is coming in.

I'd like to see a genuine Leroy replacement come in to complement Phil too as a result.

 

[Txiki Txiki Bang Bang]

Watch this and it's even more annoying to watch him now. Here he was direct with brilliant ability combined with pace, movement and finishing from everywhere.

Now he's laboured, can't finish for shit and hardly ever attacks his full back anymore.

Obviously I know he's been good for us but I'd genuinely forgotten just how good he has been for us less than 2 years ago.

Thats what happens when you let a player play in his natural position.

 

[skillman]

on the right he is 50m player

On the left he is 5m player

Thanks Pep for ruining Raheem since the arrival of Riyad

I'm sure Sterling was on the left for the majority of the 18/19 season while Bernardo was on the right?

That was arguably his best season for us and I’m sure (could be wrong here) that he’s said to prefer playing on the left. Presumably because of the cut in and shoot movement he has/had down to a tee.

 

[BlueMoonz1977]

Possibly, I just think a centre forward, like Aguero was and Kane is they create a distraction for centre backs that a false 9 doesn't, so take the final Sterling played high and wide to stretch their low block but because there was no centre forward the centre backs could double up on him and Mahrez and Kante and Jorghino could track the midfielders into the box. A centre forward occupies the cebtre backs making it harder to double up on the wingers.
Guess it's all wait and see until August, then we'll see how we set up, looking forward to it.

Yep...looking forward to the Euros now. And then lets see who we bring in. Already cannot wait for next season - we go again and we will be stronger for what played out on Saturday evening

I am also interested to see if we change tact in formation, something like a 3-5-2 maybe

 

[skillman]

Has to move back to the right and rotate with Mahrez. The left has completely shot him, and it takes away so much of his end product.

Unfortunately that means one of Torres or Jesus need to go. Torres we're all seeing as a CF, so Gab will have to make way IMO - especially if a new striker is coming in.

I'd like to see a genuine Leroy replacement come in to complement Phil too as a result.

I’d do a lot of unspeakable things to bring Leroy back home. He was just perfect for us and how we play. Pace, finishing ability but was great in tight spaces.

 

[sir baconface]

Sell him now from a position of strength. He’s been a good servant but we need something different now.

Strength? That horse has probably bolted.

Think @Ric will have to lock this thread when his new deal gets announced. Hahahaha. People are smoking strong stuff thinking the guy Pep dropped Rodri and Ferna for is getting sold.

I’ve never set much store by Pep’s public utterances. They are habitually trite. However, I actually believed his recent words about freshening up were implicitly directed at Sterling.

Then he picks him for the final, FFS.

I’m truly confused and just hope you are wrong.

 

[ws01]

I’d do a lot of unspeakable things to bring Leroy back home. He was just perfect for us and how we play. Pace, finishing ability but was great in tight spaces.

We were definitely a better side with Leroy going at it full force, that's for sure.