Raheem Sterling - 2017/18 performances

[OB1]

The lad is such a handful for opponents. He's improved this season and I see no good reasons why he can't improve again next.

He's been absolutely vital to our success this season.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

It’s a difficult one, because the other teams all struggle when Kane, Lukaku, or Salah have a lean spell.

City look faster, and certainly create more chances without Aguero. In fact I’d suggest that the quality and volume of goals from Sterling, Sane, and Jesus, has probably contributed to City dominating the Premier League more than any other factor.

However, in a one-off game, when your whole progress depends on clinical precision, it would be Aguero over Sterling every time.

Whether Sterling can keep improving is debatable. He can develop his technique, but some of it seems to be in his head,

 

[OB1]

If we make him into an Henry type player though, he then would be concentrating much more on his forward role, & we perhaps lose some of his potential improvement actually tracking back & winning the ball back, & taking it forward again, which is something else he is getting better & better at imo.

Pep likes forward players who can play across the line and that is part of the requirement of the way City are trying to build their own way of playing.

I don't think Sterling needs to be moved in to the centre as an out and out striker; although I am sure he could do that. I see no reason though to change him from a wide player. As you point out, his tackling back is a very useful feature - reminding me a bit of SWP in that regard.

 

[Project]

Honestly Pep is going to turn him into a monster of a false 9 / #10. His movement is unreal. Yes he’s missing chances he should put away but no other player in the side has the movement to get into those positions in the first place. For those times we do play 352 to accommodate Mendy and make us more stable, he will be key to ensuring our game isn’t more predictable than the usual 433 (as it was at the start of the season with Aguero and Jesus starting as the front 2)

 

[somethingelse]

never sounds like he lacks confidence doesnt worry about his misses knows the next one isnt far away,some forward players go games without a chance
so why do chances follow Sterling around,so strange

 

[Kinkladze 1]

There's no reason why he cannot replicate figures like Salah has this season.

I feel for Raz because he is often overlooked, even by fans on here, in favour of Sane and Jesus when in fact Sterling is much more valuable than them.

i disagree. There is a reason why he's not scored as many as Salah this season and that's because in front of goal, anyone telling the truth, isn't surprised anymore when he misses. I doubt there's a player out there with a longer blooper reel. Sane and Jesus are twice the player Sterling is.

 

[kaz7]

I think another season doing what he is doing now and see if he can improve his finishing,too much time and he dithers,i'm not sure he can be coached out of that,an impressive season anyway and despite the misses he doesn't let his head drop but he did cost us the derby win i think

 

[ak93city]

Top player; hopefully will only improve more.

But, until he goes through a season or two without bottling many sitters (a few are allowed of course), let's depend on somebody else more clinical as a striker.

 

[Easy]

He misses chances which is frustrating but the important thing is he keeps going and working and doesn’t hide.

You can’t score or miss chances if you’re not getting into those positions.

Raz will only improve. He has the potential to score 40 a season.

 

[bluemoon32]

He's been great for us but his lack of composure in front of goal is a side to his game he needs to improve and he'll know that.
His record this season is good but with the amount of chances he's had he maybe should be having a Salah type season.
I'm more than happy with his contribution and the fact he's only going to get better though