Raheem Sterling - 2016/17 performances

[kaz7]

Yaya: "If Sterling had dived everyone would have been saying, ‘it’s a dive'. If you have a bit of experience like me, you’d maybe dive."

Yaya: "He's too honest. He wants to be proper in these games. If he’s like that, you can’t say he’s wrong if that’s what he tries to do."

Yaya: "Something has to be done. When you see the highlights of the game, I think you’ll see it was harsh."

 

[1894southstander]

Finishing let him down yesterday but I'm on he played well. Got himself into good positions and was good to have two proper wingers on each side of the pitch. Gives us something different.

 

[domalino]

perhaps someone like the young lad at Celtic, think he's caller Patrick Roberts ......

Roberts makes sense if you view Jesus as a striker, then you've got Sané and Nolito on the left, Sergio, Jesus, Kelechi in the middle, Roberts and Sterling on the right.

If you think of Jesus as a winger primarily, then someone like Enes Unal, who could bring height into the attack and more of a focal point for play to move around, then Roberts would seem unnecessary.

 

[FJRMCFC]

Thank God Pep is the manager because if some fans were to have their way then de bruyne would be out of the team after his misses against chelsea and silva for some of his wastefulness in front of goal as well. Im surprised there's still many who seem to doubt his ability even after this season. A player who's joint second in the team for most goals scored and second in assists only to de-bruyne (not to include the countless of penalties he should've won that hasnt been given off the top of my head against barcelona, everton and yesterday) is still somehow not good enough and some even questioning if he can improve is beyond me. There's a reason why pep trusts him and why only kolarov has played more minutes than him through the season.

Now does he have weaknesses to improve on of course, and I'm sure pep and the coaching staff knows it. Its pretty clear he doesn't have a finishers instinct and most importantly composure and confidence when in front of goal. He also tends to at times either rushes or miss-hit some passes but the same goes for sane and almost every other young player around the world. But all these pale when weighed against the many positives that he brings to the team. As frustrating as he can be like he was yesterday, there is also times like against arsenal where he shoots with his weaker foot and gets the game winner in an important game so clearly he has it him. But more important than that and the reason why pep seems to love him, he seems very unselfish in his play. 9 times out of ten he will find a player in a better position for a clear chance at goal when the opportunity is presented like he did for gundogan agaisnt barcelona.

With a player like that you simply have to weigh the good with the bad and its quite clear he offers far more to the team that you can look over his at times wastefulness in front of goal It would be great if he had even a slight bit of confidence and composure in front of goal as he would easily be a 20 goals a season player but thankfully he still has age and time on his side as well as the coaching staff with him to improve that area which I have confidence he will. Everything else is there already in his game, technique, touch, two-footed, he can see a pass and play it, intelligence on and off the ball, tactical awareness are all there. In fact in Sane, Jesus and him you have three of the best young players on the same team whom will all play a big part of the future of the club. As for anyone who doubts his character or mentality you only need to look at his highlights against barcelona this season to see he has that in spades.

Good post

 

[shemnel]

He definitely had a good game against Spurs, dont get me wrong, but his decision making in and around the box still has a lot of room for improvement, especially knowing when to put his foot through it.

 

[domalino]

He definitely had a good game against Spurs, dont get me wrong, but his decision making in and around the box still has a lot of room for improvement, especially knowing when to put his foot through it.

I don't think anyone would disagree with that, people are just annoyed that he's getting slagged off for a good performance, and that people are calling to drop him, arguably our best player over the course of the season, just because Gabriel Jesus has arrived.

A lot of "shiny new toy" syndrome, Sané is fit and Jesus is here, lets fuck off the kid from last year because, just like the rest of the team, he didn't take his chances.

 

[01cravend]

Doesn't even have to work on his finishing just had to shoot earlier and with either foot, law of averages suggest he could comfortably get 15+ goals(in the league alone) if he does this. He gets in the right positions, he has a decent conversion rate anyway, his tendency to dally is what's holding him back in front of goal/trying to make the chance easier by taking those unnecessary touches.

 

[cibaman]

Yaya: "If Sterling had dived everyone would have been saying, ‘it’s a dive'. If you have a bit of experience like me, you’d maybe dive."

Yaya: "He's too honest. He wants to be proper in these games. If he’s like that, you can’t say he’s wrong if that’s what he tries to do."

Yaya: "Something has to be done. When you see the highlights of the game, I think you’ll see it was harsh."

Howard Webb also said that Sterling should have gone down. "it complicates matters for the referee when a foul doesn't cause a player to fall"

I think thats complete baloney. Its one thing for a player to go to ground if they've had their legs clipped, however minimal the contact. But for a push in the back? Clipping your legs at pace makes you fall, a moderate push in the back doesnt. It would have looked completely unnatural if Sterling had fallen to the ground when pushed like that. He'd have received dogs abuse for doing it.

 

[shemnel]

Doesn't even have to work on his finishing just had to shoot earlier and with either foot, law of averages suggest he could comfortably get 15+ goals(in the league alone) if he does this. He gets in the right positions, he has a decent conversion rate anyway, his tendency to dally is what's holding him back in front of goal/trying to make the chance easier by taking those unnecessary touches.

important one that, he HAS been guilty a few times of dithering or making the wrong decision but he is over-represented bcos he is repeatedly getting in good and dangerous positions, and decent runs

 

[g180aj]

Roberts makes sense if you view Jesus as a striker, then you've got Sané and Nolito on the left, Sergio, Jesus, Kelechi in the middle, Roberts and Sterling on the right.

If you think of Jesus as a winger primarily, then someone like Enes Unal, who could bring height into the attack and more of a focal point for play to move around, then Roberts would seem unnecessary.

I think the way we played against spurs with the False 9 of you like and wide forwards running off is how Pep wants us to work which Roberts could be perfect as the false 9 or a wide forward running in at goal.