#7 | Raheem Sterling - 2020/21 Performances

[kevin horlocks wand]

A player relied on instinct and his instincts have gone along with his confidence

if he has a choice he struggled to compute it in his brain and make a decision inevitably it ends up with him running into a defender and falling over .

his decision making and even simple ones, shoot or run past the keeper are far too difficult and muddled.

obviously a talented player but in big games or where he needs to make a decision he tends to dwell and try and muddle through until eventually he runs into a player and falls over.

a shame but at the moment for the good of the team he needs taking out of the team. After Leeds and yesterday he really has done himself no favours and the team comes first. We have trophies to win !

 

[BillyShears]

He needs a break desperately mate. Physically and mentally. It's not an excuse - it's simple sports science. Hitting a wall, running on empty or whatever - his drop-off from not the highest of bars has been extraordinarily.

The same thing has happened to Mane at Liverpool. Best or nearly best player and his performance has fallen off a cliff.

Yesterday was Sterling's 60th appearance (inc England) since last summer. He has more minutes in his legs than any other player (x Dias) and all without a proper break or a pre-season. This all on the back of the most minutes under Pep for the seasons before.

Sterling and Mane aren’t the only ones but they are good examples of players whose form seems to have collapsed without a proper break from playing.

 

[Robanompivenov]

Business end of the season pal,at big clubs fighting on all fronts,players need to step up,and maintain consistency,fucking holidays come when season ends.

So being as you are direct in conversation with me about giving it a rest,it's a discussion on a forum.

You "get" fuck all,as heads are buried in the sand,as he's one of the most decorated player we ever had ? Bollocks,that's shite.

Joe Hart is more decorated,let that sink in.

He's a human not a robot. Just because you and many others demand it from him doesn't mean there aren't mitigating factors in why!

It's gone beyond a discussion though, mate. It's toxic, it's frothing at the mouth irate ramblings.

We all want him to be better, I'm pretty sure that's one thing we agree on. How is it burying head in the sand to defend him from abuse whilst at the same time agreeing he's been rubbish?

And wtf you on about Hart being more decorated? They've won the same amount of Premier League's (at the moment!), an FA Cup each but Sterling has won both more Community Shields and League Cups with potential to add a Premier League, a League Cup and hopefully a Champions League this season.

 

[B\connellblue]

Read somewhere this morning Madrid sniffing around,his heads been turned.

Not a chance.

 

[meeesh]

He's a human not a robot. Just because you and many others demand it from him doesn't mean there aren't mitigating factors in why!

It's gone beyond a discussion though, mate. It's toxic, it's frothing at the mouth irate ramblings.

We all want him to be better, I'm pretty sure that's one thing we agree on. How is it burying head in the sand to defend him from abuse whilst at the same time agreeing he's been rubbish?

And wtf you on about Hart being more decorated? They've won the same amount of Premier League's (at the moment!), an FA Cup each but Sterling had won both more Community Shields and League Cups with potential to add a Premier League, a League Cup and hopefully a Champions League this season.

Yup we both want him to be better,without question.


Forget about it

Don't worry about it

 

[Robanompivenov]

Yup we both want him to be better,without question.


Forget about it

Don't worry about it

I won't worry mate, I'm a glass half full kind of a guy unlike 90% of this thread.

 

[Ribchester]

Nothing highlighted how poor Mendy and Sterling are than on throw ins. Mendy clueless, and his go to man Sterling strangely ensures he is not available, he’s that fucked up I actually think he marks a defender so the option ain’t available.
As for Mendy ....just hurl it down the line and we will probably work our way to the edge of their area. Dane Bank U12s used this to great effect in Debdale Park in 1969/70.

 

[TFC]

Feel bad for the lad to be honest. Glad the supporters arent there at the moment as the way he is playing is prime for some Edgehill style slagging from the terraces.

I'd love to see him turn it around, but whatever mental block he's got going on at the moment is standing firmly in his way. Cant see the logic of sitting down and giving him a pay rise to 300k a week at the moment, would seem counterproductive. Not sure how he gets his mojo back, thought he'd turn a corner mentally with that cracking free kick against Palace, but nothing has really changed.

 

[Tb1981]

I think the club should be asking itself whether it wants to heavily re-invest in any player whose strengths are negated, and weaknesses accentuated, by the current playing methodology (false 9's, inverted full backs, emphasis on caution and control in tight areas and not turning the ball over), let alone one who is probably asking for £300k plus per week. That's £60m in wages over the next 4 years.
Unless we're going to revert to Plan A and buy both a centre forward and a new version of Spanish Dave, personally I don't see the point in keeping Raheem on the payroll, given what he's likely to be asking - or at least not based on how he's playing currently. He's done well for us, extremely well for us, and the way he is performing at the moment in no way reflects his overall contribution to the club, but his greatest strengths have (purely in my opinion) always been without the ball. Great movement, pace, timing of runs, a team ethic, always fit, always available. He has a great record of goals and assists as well, but the overwhelming majority of those were born of a different system and team mates whose attributes dovetailed beautifully with his.
Now that ball retention, patience, control are at a premium, a spotlight is being shone on some of his shortcomings. The endless, stumbling dribbles that end with him colliding with the nearest member of the opposition and losing possession, the simple overlapping passes that are either played directly under the feet of a team mate - with the opportunity for a quick cross lost - or clouted miles too hard out over the deadball line, the times he trips himself up, the dreadful penalties ballooned miles over the bar, the shots he mis-times out of his heel when crosses are played to him, the one on ones where he hesitates, cuts inside, goes outside, cuts inside again and ends up stumbling into the keeper or a (now) covering defender.
Part of the problem may well be rooted in the confirmation bias of supporters, ie. we're aware of what Raheem's shortcomings are and we're now looking for them, whilst forgetting that other players (even Kev and Kun) frequently fluff similar chances, but that he's been 'out of form' for a long time cannot be simply batted away either.
Lest we should be tempted to believe we're talking about a sub-standard player, we're not. We're talking about one who, as an overall package, is a very good footballer and who, at a particular price, could still be a valuable asset for us. I'm just not convinced that he merits the outlay at the moment, particularly given the way the team is now being asked to play

My only issue is I think he is still capable and would not want him at a rival.
Players like Torres and mendy add nothing to our team so I would happily let them go
But sterling on his day can be a match winner

 

[RayCTID]

Torres is still worth keeping seeing it is first season at the club and hasn't yet settled to life in England and at City.