Raheem Sterling - 2016/17 performances

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The only thing I see missing from Sterlings game, is his lack of confidence in front of goal, or is it?.

The reason I say this is because when one on one he hits the keeper, and his goal yesterday could've gone horribly wrong. Another reason I say this is because when he's in a goal scoring position, he more often than not will take the option (to good effect I must add), to pick out a fellow player to shoot.

I'm more inclined to say he is very very tactically aware of players around him in better positions, but I do think that he isn't the most confident in a goal scoring position.

I'm one of his biggest fans and have backed him both on here and at matches, and he has been brilliant this season.

Please discuss.
 
Yes by far his finishing is now the weakest part of his game, sometimes looks like a rabbit in headlights with a bit of luck better finishing he could have had 6/7 goals so far this season.

I'm sure the genius that is Pep can sort it out.
 
Some of the skill and close control he's looking like a poor mans messi (which is a huge compliment). If he can learn to pull the trigger then we have another special young talent on our hands
 
I think there's an element of confidence involved. When he has to try and beat several players before creating a small window to pull the trigger, it's a no-brainer. But when he's played in or teed up by someone he doesn't have that 'smash it in the back of the net for a free goal' sort of attitude. However, I'm happy to see him roll it sideways for an easier finish than maybe miss 25% of chances in similar positions by taking it on himself. He's got a great return already this year though and if he keeps it up, there will be no complaints.

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Sterling's improvement under Pep has been extraordinary - Kolarov's has been beyond extraordinary. It's amazing how much of an impact a first class manager can make on a team and on individual players.

Pep seems - to me - to have taken up Stones as his next project. I frequently see Pep advising Stones during games. I think that Pep sees Stones as a potentially brilliant defender who simply need guidance on how to play.

The Pep effect is in full effect - Stones, Kolarov and Sterling.

With regard to Sterling, part of the success is Pep's philosophy - in his recent post-match commentary, Pep said that if a player can dribble, let him dribble. If he cannot dribble, pass the ball.

In other words, Sterling has been given the encouragement and license to attack defenders with his dribbling skill. And he's doing that to deadly effect.
 
mscenterh750 said:
The only thing I see missing from Sterlings game, is his lack of confidence in front of goal, or is it?.

The reason I say this is because when one on one he hits the keeper, and his goal yesterday could've gone horribly wrong. Another reason I say this is because when he's in a goal scoring position, he more often than not will take the option (to good effect I must add), to pick out a fellow player to shoot.

I'm more inclined to say he is very very tactically aware of players around him in better positions, but I do think that he isn't the most confident in a goal scoring position.

I'm one of his biggest fans and have backed him both on here and at matches, and he has been brilliant this season.

Please discuss.
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His finishing is poor. He had three very good chances against Gladbach that run-of-the-mill decent finishers would have buried and he did his best to nearly not put enough power in the shot to not score his goal yesterday.

It might never improve. Some players are always poor finishers throughout their whole career. But if he can keep on improving the other aspects of his game that have been improving of late it might make up for his finishing. I mean, look at that run yesterday, ah, what a run! He hit the post but the confidence he had in himself to take the players on hasn't been there in the past and this season you can see him growing as a player all round.

His workrate, his positional sense, his directness, his decision making, his timing of passes is all starting to become very good and will keep improving. I'm not sure you can coach finishing though. I think it might be something, like a first touch (Raheem has a good first touch), that is a natural ability. One way it might improve is simply through being more confident in himself.
 
Psychedelic Casual said:
His finishing is poor. He had three very good chances against Gladbach that run-of-the-mill decent finishers would have buried and he did his best to nearly not put enough power in the shot to not score his goal yesterday.

It might never improve. Some players are always poor finishers throughout their whole career. But if he can keep on improving the other aspects of his game that have been improving of late it might make up for his finishing. I mean, look at that run yesterday, ah, what a run! He hit the post but the confidence he had in himself to take the players on hasn't been there in the past and this season you can see him growing as a player all round.

His workrate, his positional sense, his directness, his decision making, his timing of passes is all starting to become very good and will keep improving. I'm not sure you can coach finishing though. I think it might be something, like a first touch (Raheem has a good first touch), that is a natural ability. One way it might improve is simply through being more confident in himself.
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+1

Totally agree.

Sterling will be awesome for us, usually getting defenses totally out of position when he takes on defenders one on one. Sometimes he'll score as a result but I think he'll pass it to someone left open more often.

Sterling broke free versus Bournemouth as a result of some amazing dribbling skill. Then he nutmegged their keeper and unfortunately hit the post. A bit of a let-down after fantastic preceding play.

Against Monchengladbach Aguero is one-on-one with their keeper. Kun, calmly keeps the ball, rounds the keeper and slots it in for the score.

The difference is plain to see - Kun is a natural finisher. Sterling struggles in this department.

Nonetheless, Pep is getting the best out of Sterling - a sometimes finisher, but someone who single-handedly break down a set defense with his dribbling skills.

And I think that Sterling knows his limitations - in front of goal he'll pass to someone else who has a better chance of scoring rather than take a shot.
 
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