Callum Ramsey
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 15 Feb 2016
- Messages
- 405
I'm sorry but I'm struggling to understand this post if it's from someone who've been watching sterling the whole season. So what you see as a weakness is that he doesn't use his speed to dribble on the outside of the fullbacks often when there's space behind and as such he struggles or in your words is 'useless' against fullbacks that are quick. Outside of the fact that is not the only way that a player can beat a fullback through a dribble, it's also the one that requires the least technical ability or skill. Basically what you want is your typical head down and dribble player who relies on their acceleration more than anything to beat their fullbacks(see zaha). The type which england have been producing for the past 10 years and require little intelligence in their game but rather sheer athletic ability. Well luckily sterling is a rare breed of an english winger with actual intelligence and technical ability in his game that he doesn't require that to be effective.
If sterling was to come up against a fullback who he can't beat on the outside for pace, he will just use plenty of the other tools he has in his game.
1. He either waits for an underlapping run often made by de bruyne into space created by the fullback being drawn to him and will play a pass to. such runs are very rarely if ever picked up and often leads to either a clear cross or even sight towards the goal for de bruyne. There's been so many examples of this move that there's no point to list
2. He will wait until he is doubled up and then play a pass on the inside which can at times create overloads on the other side of the pitch for an attack to form.
3. He will just easily dribble on the inside of the fullback which takes more skill and is even harder to defend against. This also gives him many more options on what to do which leads to the next point
4. His most favoured move and by far the most effective method of breaking down a stubborn defence. He will dribble inside and play combinations which can either be a quick one-two, a pass and third-man run into the box that draws defenders towards him and creates space for the other attackers or just a plain drive towards the box and goal drawing defenders to him which could either cause a foul/penalty or create a shooting chance.
If he consistently did what you deem his weakness and took defenders on the outside with his pace, the winning goals against southampton, newcastle and huddersfield wouldn't have happened all goals that won the team vital points so to claim he's useless if faced with a quick fullback is frankly false. This is a young player who's game IQ is getting to world class level this season. One playing with more awareness, intelligence and technique than any young winger in the game right now imo. There might be some who may have better technical ability on the ball than him (shooting, crossing, dribbling, passing), but very few if any has the understanding of the game he has and is showing this season. Thankfully he also has a manager who values that part of the game more than any.