Player Topic: Raheem Sterling (2015/16)

[SebastianBlue]

Blame Silva and KDB for setting a high bar! :-)

I'm all for having epectations for the young lads to ensure they are pushed on to their greatest potential (kids without any expectation rarely go far) but I think it is entirely unfair to hold him to the standard set by probably one of the best players to ever wear a sky blue shirt (or grace English soil, for that matter) or a player reaching is prime with more years of high-level experience under his belt. He is young and learning—we paid the amount we did because we know he is already a premier league first team player at 20 years old and has the potential to become a world class player in the next three or four years.

 

[TonyM]

When we have him, Silva & DeBruyne all playing together & fully fit, you will see how good he is.

Navas is fast. Sterling is not as fast.

 

[Plays By Sense Of Smell]

I bet there are some out there who agree but are too shy to yet admit it.

Anyway I hope he becomes good too. Just surprised to see precious little sign of the basic raw materials.

Fair enough. :) Like what I've seen so far when he's gone for or been allowed to go for it. Doesn't seem to happen enough though. Whether that's because of tactics or genuinely down to him, I believe he will be a big factor in helping the team realise its potential once we get our fully functioning death star operational - lively engine room of Delph and Dino with him hitting the flank will stretch opposition formations all over the place creating lots of space for Kun, El Mago and the Ginger Prince to wreak havoc.

 

[FlemishDuck]

I like Raheem, he is indeed a bit of a uncut diamond still but he has the talent, He did well today with that cross to Kelechi, did quite well last game too. He can play either flank and has an atacking mentallity that imho fits well with city.

Whats more important for me concerning Raheem is that he seems to have the drive to improve and impress and learn from teammate's like Silva and KDB, and it gives me the sense that the lad will work hard enough to be world class in a few years.
One has to give the youth the chance to improve and reach the level of more seasoned player providing they are willing to work for it and contribute, we should be concerned when he would be wasting his talent but so far he seems to have the right mentallity.

The pricetag makes him a long term investment though, and something of a commitment. Either you bank on his talent to develop and consequently allow him the playtime or you come to the conclusion that he might never reach that level and then the pricetag would seem to high. I do like his style and talent though and hope he does keep improving on track as he seems to be doing now.

 

[TonyM]

I'm all for having epectations for the young lads to ensure they are pushed on to their greatest potential (kids without any expectation rarely go far) but I think it is entirely unfair to hold him to the standard set by probably one of the best players to ever wear a sky blue shirt (or grace English soil, for that matter) or a player reaching is prime with more years of high-level experience under his belt. He is young and learning—we paid the amount we did because we know he is already a premier league first team player at 20 years old and has the potential to become a world class player in the next three or four years.

I am holding him to 2 standards...
1. Is he showing signs that he is better for us long term than us spending similar money on someone else. It's hard to see that the money was well spent from that perspective.
2. Does he add to the team or hamper the team today (and does he lok like being better from this perspective in the future). Again imo he is not doing well now and not likely to become truely world class.

But I hope I'm wrong and I think he's got some great teachers to help him (like Silva). Also the lad seems genuinely eager to improve. So lets wait and see. Fernando to be fair looked a different player after a year.

 

[alphonse groenendijk]

... we hope. Now that I see him week in week out I realize he has no first touch, has no strength, isn't all that fast, isn't all that tricky, isn't very intelligent with or without the ball and his timing is off 90% of the time (why he can't get a break in a 50/50 challenge). All that said if he trains and studies hard he could be useful. Personally I wish we'd not signed him but that's neither here nor there now.

So, young Mr Martial, trying to slag off all competitors to get the young player of the year award. You need to get on a lot more forums (especially southern ones) to get them to vote for you.

 

[stablemcfc]

Always looks a threat when he plays, and contributes with goals & assists. Navas is tidy but just doesn't bring the same threat from the right.

Was a strange cameo for me though today, 95% of the time when he had the ball & space to run into against tired legs he held up the play, turned around & passed sideways/backwards.

Fortunately the one time he did bother running & going forward he put in a great ball.

 

[Marvin]

I am holding him to 2 standards...
1. Is he showing signs that he is better for us long term than us spending similar money on someone else. It's hard to see that the money was well spent from that perspective.
2. Does he add to the team or hamper the team today (and does he lok like being better from this perspective in the future). Again imo he is not doing well now and not likely to become truely world class.

But I hope I'm wrong and I think he's got some great teachers to help him (like Silva). Also the lad seems genuinely eager to improve. So lets wait and see. Fernando to be fair looked a different player after a year.

I take it you missed his contribution for the vital 2nd goal?

 

[Marvin]

Always looks a threat when he plays, and contributes with goals & assists. Navas is tidy but just doesn't bring the same threat from the right.

Was a strange cameo for me though today, 95% of the time when he had the ball & space to run into against tired legs he held up the play, turned around & passed sideways/backwards.

Fortunately the one time he did bother running & going forward he put in a great ball.

Not his best position. Always coming inside. Bit predictable. I think in time he will play through the middle or behind the front man.

 

[Proelia]

Loses the ball most of the time