Listened to Talk Sport today with Sinclair giving 4 or 5 reasons what the issue is with Sterling ranging from being unloved, contract situation, lack of game time etc.
My take in Sterling is that his decline began when we sold Sane. With Sane and Sterling in the team we played a faster wider game and when Sane didn’t play Sterling did well in the left and found good space to score.
The following season Sane had gone and Sterling became permanent of the left. We were not great this season with the Scoucers running away with it by Xmas.
Steelings goal output was still good but the goals for him were against the poorer team and he missed bad chances like at the RAGS Derby at the Swamp when it was 0-1.
Last season Pep had refined our style to a slower more patient his possession based where players need to keep and recycle the ball. By now Sterling had developed his bad habit of either taking too many touches or simply running into opponents. His goal output was also reduced on previous seasons.
Towards the end of last season it was noticeable that Pep had had enough of Sterling and he was only really getting a game when we were resting players like when we played Leeds and Chelsea twice. Then for some inexplicable reason Pep played Sterling in the CL Final and he performed awfully.
This season has started with Sterling again not 1st choice after a decent Euros. When he has got a chance we are again seeing the same issues as last season and he seems to get worse with each passing game.
Really is time to force a move for him but it will be hard finding a club who will match his wages
