#7 | Raheem Sterling - 2020/21 Performances

[FantasyIreland]

Sterling has had a crisis of confidence and Foden is part of the reason.

Doesn't say much about his character if that was the case and he crumbles at the first hurdle,which BTW i dont think he has.
More probable we arent playing to his strengths and his limitations/weaknesses are now very apparent.

 

[Rascal]

What this season has shown is how technically weak Sterling is compared to others and Pep was forced to drop him after quite a few consecutive poor games. He may have wanted to drop him sooner, we will never know.

Sterling can improve on his stats for sure, but I'm not convinced at his age he can improve further his technical skills, and that I believe is where he will struggle to become one of the first names on the sheet again. I also think Sterling knows this too.

Technically, Grealish is ahead of Sterling imo, and whilst he cannot boast the same stats for Goals and Assists that Sterling has done over a period of seasons, there is an argument to suggest given an opportunity similar to what Sterling has been afforded, he could equal or better them and this may be the reason the club seem to have a strong interest in his services.

Sterling is at a crossroads I feel and needs to decide does he want to stay and know he may struggle for meaningful gametime, or seek pastures new in order for such opportunities.

As always, only time will tell

Which is a fair and balanced post.

Players who rely on pace in general do not develop the same technical ability when they are growing up because they do not need to, they use pace, a player with both is a rare breed.

Look at Sterling and Mahrez, Mahrez is technically brilliant, but he has not got Sterling's pace, so it becomes horses for courses. If Mahrez comes up against a defender who he cannot beat with his technical brilliance, Sterling may beat the defender with his pace and vice versa.

Walker and Cancelo are the same, Walker does not have the same technical ability as Cancelo, but he has pace and it is horses for courses for them if needed at RB.

Thats why i think the squad over the team is so important. You play the player who gives you most for that game.

Whatever happens Sterling will play 30 games, Mahrez will play 30 games, it is only a few who play almost every game.

 

[Rascal]

Foden playing great should have no impact on the form of Sterling,and no one is dismissing him because of such.The simple fact that you and others are refusing to accept is that Sterling isn't playing to the level that is required,or expected,on anything close to a consistent basis,and its been that way for a period that can now be described as chronic.
There are other players in our league that could have come in and contributed more IMO,players that have a better first touch,better ball control and make better decisions with it at their feet.All that has fuck all to do with Foden.

In regards Laporte......thats another baffler.....their is no comparison,despite his place being pinched.Whenever he is called upon he comes in and does the job to a level needed.He could never be described as shit,because his form hasn't fell off a cliff.

People are suggesting we sell him because he is currently still a player that can bring in a great transfer fee,and given the way we play football now....that money can go towards a player that will suit us much better and contribute more.Sterling finding a new club may even be the spark that helps him rediscover what has deserted him.

Progression is what keeps us Champions.

I am saying the stats say different. Are you saying the stats are wrong.

The stats again

He has a shot accuracy just short of Kane
He has a better chance conversion rate than Rashford
He has more goals and assists combined than Mahrez.

So you are either judging him by an incredibly high bar or you just do not like him.

If you do not like him, that is fair enough, there has been City players over the years I never took too but if you are judging him by an incredibly high bar, then why are you not judging others the same way?

 

[mosssideblue]

Which is a fair and balanced post.

Players who rely on pace in general do not develop the same technical ability when they are growing up because they do not need to, they use pace, a player with both is a rare breed.

Look at Sterling and Mahrez, Mahrez is technically brilliant, but he has not got Sterling's pace, so it becomes horses for courses. If Mahrez comes up against a defender who he cannot beat with his technical brilliance, Sterling may beat the defender with his pace and vice versa.

Walker and Cancelo are the same, Walker does not have the same technical ability as Cancelo, but he has pace and it is horses for courses for them if needed at RB.

Thats why i think the squad over the team is so important. You play the player who gives you most for that game.

Whatever happens Sterling will play 30 games, Mahrez will play 30 games, it is only a few who play almost every game.

A fair reply. The concern would then be, what Sterling is able to do once he has passed his man, which he has done a few times recently, but still not shown sufficient technical ability to make it count as often as it should.

I guess the trade off is then pace with reduced ability/control v better ability/control and slower pace.

With the number of parked buses we face, I would always take the latter.
as I said previously, Sterling has a decision to make in assessing his abilities and likelihood of being a regular starter

 

[madloaf]

He has a better chance conversion rate than Rashford

This is not a statistic that should be used as a measuring stick for quality.

 

[CWMCFC]

Sterling has had a crisis of confidence and Foden is part of the reason.

A £300k p/w week player shouldn't be having a confidence crisis because he's been cast out of the team by team mates offering more than him.

Needs to be grabbing his opportunities by the scruff and forcing his way back in, which he's failed to do this season. It's on Sterling failing living up to the standards he has set the past couple of seasons, not because Foden has emerged as a world class talent.

I just don't think we should still be having this confidence discussion with Sterling after 6 years at the club and him being one of our top earners/senior players (and in line for an extension). We can't afford to continue to have these cycles with Sterling where he forgets the ability to shoot a ball into the net because he's short on confidence.

 

[Cobra]

I am saying the stats say different. Are you saying the stats are wrong.

The stats again

He has a shot accuracy just short of Kane
He has a better chance conversion rate than Rashford
He has more goals and assists combined than Mahrez.

So you are either judging him by an incredibly high bar or you just do not like him.

If you do not like him, that is fair enough, there has been City players over the years I never took too but if you are judging him by an incredibly high bar, then why are you not judging others the same way?

The Rashford comparison is pointless as most Utd fans are in agreement that he’s been absolutely awful this season.

Fyi, Sterling has a worse goals per minute ratio than Foden, Mahrez, Jesus, Torres, Aguero and Gundogan this season.

He’s also scored less goals than Gareth Bale despite playing 2000 more minutes (if we’re comparing him to a Spurs player).

 

[FantasyIreland]

I am saying the stats say different. Are you saying the stats are wrong.

The stats again

He has a shot accuracy just short of Kane
He has a better chance conversion rate than Rashford
He has more goals and assists combined than Mahrez.

So you are either judging him by an incredibly high bar or you just do not like him.

If you do not like him, that is fair enough, there has been City players over the years I never took too but if you are judging him by an incredibly high bar, then why are you not judging others the same way?

You keep overlooking the one thing that's conclusive.....his overall performances,what we see when he takes to the field.....he isn't playing well,sometimes hes a liability with his lack of control of the ball and inability to keep possession,kid yourself different by keep referring to stats that only tell part of the story.

As for not liking him......go back and read my comments a couple of seasons back.Also,of course i'm also judging him by incredibly high standards as that is what we expect,and his contract demands.

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

Shot accuracy just measures if the shot was on target. Tame shots straight at the goalkeeper are accurate, powerful strikes that beat the goalkeeper but come back off the inside of the post are not. It's not entirely worthless, but it doesn't tell you a whole lot without further context.

The standard we need to hold Sterling to is his own peak performance. Here's Sterling's goals+assists per minute in the Premier League over the last few seasons:

17/18 - goal or assist every 89 minutes
18/19 - goal or assist every 103 minutes
19/20 - goal or assist every 127 minutes
20/21 - goal or assist every 149 minutes

 

[OB1]

Doesn't say much about his character if that was the case and he crumbles at the first hurdle,which BTW i dont think he has.
More probable we arent playing to his strengths and his limitations/weaknesses are now very apparent.

Clearly he doesn't crumble at the first hurdle and he alluded in an interview the other day that there are things people don't know or understand. However, he definitely has been struggling with confidence issues and losing his place to Phil has exacerbated them.