#7 | Raheem Sterling - 2020/21 Performances

[Mike N]

I heard a lengthy interview with Jermaine Defoe and he spoke about being obsessed with the contract he made on the ball. He used to train for hours improving his touch and finishing. His game showed this as he was lethal. As he got older he trained more because he was coming off the bench and might only get a single chance and he wanted to make it count.

I remember wishing that Sterling could get like this as his touch is often so poor and one-on-one he probably won’t score. The number of times he makes contact with the underneath of his foot!

What a shame because he is near to being one of the best.

 

[Airbags Optional]

He looks at the moment that he can’t be arsed, which is worrying as any player can lose form for a bit but if they lose desire as well that’s a major problem. I hope I am wrong as he was on the cusp of being one of the world’s best forwards.

 

[Ric]

He's been a bit out of sorts recently, but is still our joint leading scorer this season. Am certain it's only a temporary blip.

 

[kaz7]

Form is temporary.

Is the correct answer , people never ever learn

 

[Craig]

He's been a bit out of sorts recently, but is still our joint leading scorer this season. Am certain it's only a temporary blip.

To be fair his actual performances in the majority of games have been poor for over 12 months but he still scored plenty, especially against cannon fodder. It's getting picked up on more now because the tap ins have recently dried up. His all round game now to 2/3 years ago is way off and has been for ages. Couple of tap ins against Fulham and he'll be er, world class again in the media.

 

[mccity]

To be fair his actual performances in the majority of games have been poor for over 12 months but he still scored plenty, especially against cannon fodder. It's getting picked up on more now because the tap ins have recently dried up. His all round game now to 2/3 years ago is way off and has been for ages. Couple of tap ins against Fulham and he'll be er, world class again in the media.

I don't think his overall game last season was any worse than in 17/18. In fact it was better I'd argue. 17/18 was the season where his strength was in goalscoring and not much more.

18/19 was his peak year though, but I could make that argument for many of our players under Pep.

 

[DATOIA]

Problem isn't form but difference between the perceptions about his role in a team.

In 2017 / 2018 pre-season if there was ranking, he would definitely come after -> Aguero, Debruyne, Sane and even Jesus. There also was Bernardo Silva who had fantastic performance against City in CL..
It wouldn't be a lie to say that Sterling started that season as an underdog. Because on the Left wing he had Sane and on the Right wing he had Bernardo. And Gabriel Jesus was playing everywhere he could. If you remember number of last matches in 2016 / 2017, Pep played with Sane - Aguero - Jesus trio and GJ was Right winger.

And also 2016 / 2017 season Pep started with 3-5-2 formation, during pre-season he was using that tactics as well..

So Sterling was far from being the main star boy or player 3 years ago.

In 2020 / 2021 he is regarded as the second best player of the team after Debruyne and that's the problem - because he can't handle such pressure and role..

If Messi arrives (like it's said) for free and maybe another star Striker if Aguero leaves - maybe once again we will see his real value.. But right now when he has to deliver like Debruyne for example - he has problems. Because unlike debruyne, he isn't the best winger in the world football and never will be..

Debruyne is the best playmaker..

That's all - we should lower expectations and he will be as valuable as he was in 2017 / 2018 and 2018 / 2019..

 

[cityboy1]

I forgot who wrote but remember that he / she said -> "He is the best player in the team off the ball" and I think that sums up everything about him and that has its reasons:

1) Even though Pep was tough about it - Sterling & Sane couldn't improve their "Rondo Skills" like -> first touch, balanced dribbling and etc.
2) His finish still needs to be improved and Lyon game (not mentioning other ones, like yesterday`s one for example - when had number of good chances) proved that.

So these are fundamental issues that can't be improved when player is 26 years old.

But here are skills which are very important as well:

1) Pace and physical strength -> AKA wide winger skills which are very important and rare
2) Intellect -> Of course he is not Bobby Fischer (Chess GrandMaster) but is a quite experienced player and has played a lot of important matches. Look at an assist he gave to Foden against Olimpiacos - he knows the game well and Pep`s lectures haven't gone wasted

If we combine above mentioned two sills - we get a player who can be used as a wide winger -> knowing when to accelerate and etc, the player we were watching in 2017 / 2018..

But if we are talking about inverted winger - capable to dribble, create goals individually and like Neymar type player - that's impossible and will never happen and I think what we have been seeing during the last 2 years - is enough time to understand that..

The main problem with Sterling is the reality vs dream..

Reality -> Great Wide Winger / Runner

Dream -> Great "Neymar Type" Inverted Winger

As soon as everyone at the club admits this - problem will be solved.

I think his goals and assists and some individual performances made management believe that he could do that and we all wished as well, but now it's time to think about other options..

Like try and use Ferran Torres like that and let's see if he can do, what Sterling couldn't...

i actually agree with this everyone wants to be an inverted winger nowadays even if their not suited to it. If we moved him back over on the right we would see the real sterling. He would get goals and assists and overall play better. On the left he just gets goals.

 

[mccity]

i actually agree with this everyone wants to be an inverted winger nowadays even if their not suited to it. If we moved him back over on the right we would see the real sterling. He would get goals and assists and overall play better. On the left he just gets goals.

Statistically I'm pretty sure on the right is where he just gets goals. He did more in 18/19 and arguably in 19/20 than in 17/18, and in both seasons he maintained his goal output.

 

[cityboy1]

Statistically I'm pretty sure on the right is where he just gets goals. He did more in 18/19 and arguably in 19/20 than in 17/18, and in both seasons he maintained his goal output.

last season didn't he literally only get 1 assist in the league but got 20 goals? Season before that he did play on the left and got similar numbers to the season he played on the right but he did move over to the right when ever sane came of the bench. My main gripe with him on the left is he never uses his pace and takes players on hes also weak with his left foot on the right you get a better all round player in my opinion.