Player Topic: Raheem Sterling (2015/16)

[Tugay One Cup]

You could argue he's no more effective than navas.

And you'd be wrong.

 

[ZZmaestro]

He is only 20, do you think Di Maria, Robben and Ribery were that good when at the same age ?
Definitely not. He will learn to become clinical and he will convert the chances he creates.

 

[Deleted member 58678]

We shouldn't play players in the CL who are still developing.

This means we will field four players and one of them will be Richard Wright.

It never fails to surprise me how eager posters on Blue moon are to stick the boot into any young player we have. Disgraceful really.

I didn't actually say that. What i'm saying is that people shouldn't use his age as an excuse, especially if there are older or more experienced players on the bench because if he's good enough to get in ahead of them then it doesn't matter how old he is.

 

[MeatHunterrr]

I didn't actually say that. What i'm saying is that people shouldn't use his age as an excuse, especially if there are older or more experienced players on the bench because if he's good enough to get in ahead of them then it doesn't matter how old he is.

+1

 

[Damocles]

I didn't actually say that. What i'm saying is that people shouldn't use his age as an excuse, especially if there are older or more experienced players on the bench because if he's good enough to get in ahead of them then it doesn't matter how old he is.

But his age is important.

He might be a better all round player than Navas but this doesn't mean that he is better at every single part of the game than Navas. This isn't as black and white as being presented

Sterling needs to learn to compose himself before shooting. We knew this when we bought him. We bought him because even with this weakness he is an exceptional player and our coaching staff can help him in this part of his game.

 

[stablemcfc]

Surprised he's getting some stick. Sure he didn't finish his chances, but they were by no means easy chances.. And against Buffon a great keeper. He hit the target & the keeper made some saves.

He was our only player on the pitch with pace & it showed, he was the one getting in behind & getting the chances. I for one thought we were in trouble the moment he went off - leaving ourselves with 3 great passers but no one making runs thus no one to pass to. Silva/Nasri were far worse than Sterling today. I had him & Dinho as our best players, no one else created as much danger as him.

This was my original worry with KDB coming, with Sterling & Navas we have players who Silva can pick out who stay wide & make runs. With KDB will that happen as often? Only time will tell how effective it is, but the Silva/Nasri combo very rarely works.

If Sterling keeps making these good runs, keeps getting chances, then he will start sticking them away & his finishing will improve.

 

[Always Ali]

He doesn't get the ball out of his feet, and therefore can't open his body up to get the angle/bend on the shot....but he can work on his technique, he plays with the best in the business in Sergio so just needs to watch him imo!

 

[Sergio Picasso Aguero]

His finishing will improve playing with Sergio, everything else is there.

 

[CityFan94]

Sterling was really unlucky with his chance in the first half for two reasons;

1) Fernandinho should have played that pass a lot, lot warmer. The space had closed up by the time Fernandinho finally played the pass. The pass into Sterling should have been played a lot earlier.

2) Unbelievable save by Buffon. Watch it again, it's a top save.

Sterling's workrate and movement was good last night, he gives us an extra dimension in our attacking. Taking him off before Nasri was strange, at 1-0 we needed hardworking wingers who would track back. Pogba's cross for Juventus' first comes from Nasri's area.

 

[ono]

But his age is important.

He might be a better all round player than Navas but this doesn't mean that he is better at every single part of the game than Navas. This isn't as black and white as being presented

Sterling needs to learn to compose himself before shooting. We knew this when we bought him. We bought him because even with this weakness he is an exceptional player and our coaching staff can help him in this part of his game.

It's not composure for me. look at the composure he showed against us at Anfield in what looked like a title decider. He isn't snatching at chances. He is side footing them. He just isn't a technically clean footballer. He's a very dangerous player but on ocassion, he doesn't make clean contact with the ball when he uses his instep. It catches a stud or it comes off his heel a little bit. He sometimes leaves it a bit behind himself when he sets off with it. I'm not slagging him off, I already love him. It adds to his unpredictability but we will have to take the rough with the smooth.

Finishing wise I think he needs to try something different. He's been in that position now about 4 times this season without scoring. Each time he has gone low across the keeper. Keepers watch tapes of players. Even I know what's coming when he gets there and I'm not even a good amatuer keeper. I think he just needs to try something different. Go high or go near post. Or play him on the opposite wing where his finishing can probably be a bit instinctive - laces rather than instep.

The good thing is he getting into those positions as frequently as he is doing. He looks a big goal threat until he shoots. I think something will click with him sooner rather than later and he will turn into a 15-20 goal a season player.