Raheem Sterling - 2017/18 performances

[SebastianBlue]

I'm sure he will improve.

But then thinking about it, re this thread, if he does improve & is getting 30 goals from out wide, it's a pretty good argument for leaving him there.

I actually think he will eventually be considered a CF in the vein of Henry, playing out wide or centrally depending on the current opposition and tactics.

And, for what it’s worth, as long as he stays with us, I think he’ll get 75 goals in all compitetions over the next three years, before he reaches his peak.

 

[Esteban de la Sexface]

He is a tough little bastard too and will be able for the punishment that comes with back to goal. He rarely goes hiding either. Scouse aside

 

[SebastianBlue]

He has composure in spades almost too much. It's his finishing when composed is the issue. Can't be coached. You either have the ability to slot it or not. The more you are coached the more you have to think about.

Seems we disagree about both the fundamental definition of composure, the types of finishing involved in the analysis, and the coachability of those finishing types, so there’s probably no use in debating further.

I think we can both agree, though, that despite the bias (often racist) media and idiotic naysayers, we are lucky to have Raheem in our ranks to explore this option.

 

[urban genie]

It is possible, hopefully he will be mor clinical as he ages, if he finished the sitters he has missed this year he would be contending for the golden boot.

 

[Neville Kneville]

I actually think he will eventually be considered a CF in the vein of Henry, playing out wide or centrally depending on the current opposition and tactics.

And, for what it’s worth, as long as he stays with us, I think he’ll get 75 goals in all compitetions over the next three years, before he reaches his peak.

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.

 

[KingCarlito]

He's excellent through the middle, his runs and positioning have improved so much. He just can't hit a cow's arse with a banjo when it really matters. If he improved that side of his game he'd be a top top player.

 

[simon23]

Sterling has been amazing this season both from an attacking point of view and the defensive side of his game.....

Played centrally he is extremely dangerous and causes all sorts of problems for any team. However, his finishing is terrible and Im not sure its something he is going to get better at...some players just don't ever have that composure (Darius Vassal springs to mind as one who just never could do it) whereas players like Kun and others just have that instinctive finish (you hear Pep and other managers talk about it all the time....they are just born goal scorers) - Sterling isn't. His goals have increased this season cause Pep has clearly improved his positional awareness in the box so he has scored a huge number of goals from within 5-10 yds of the goal line -----lots of tap ins etc. I jut don't think he is ever going to be anything else other than that however.....That doesn't mean i don't think he should be in the team - he absolutely deserves his place in the squad and the starting 11 in games. But he is not someone we can for instance replace aguero with.....

We need a wide scoring forward....now Sane may be that player. He reminds me so much of fake ronaldo and i do wonder if he could be converted as he gets a bit older and into his prime. (Not sure Sane has the same aerial ability as fake ronaldo however) but he has the rest....the way he can hit a volley for instance is pure calmness and beautiful technique. He has the pace, dribbling ability and in a one on one situation i would back him more than sterling.

 

[simon23]

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.

and i don't think he his work rate, tackling back as you put it is something we can afford to lose..his work rate and the way he wins the ball back is tremendous and as good as anyones. He gives it away a bit more than others granted but he often gets it straight back. He is a very brave player (in the words of Pep)

 

[SebastianBlue]

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.

You are right, if we make him into a direct facsimile we will lose those attributes. But Pep isn’t doing that. He’s working to make him into Henry Mk II, with pressing and tracking responsibilities (something he could never do with Ibrahimovic, Eto’o, Lewandowski, etc.).

That’s what I meant by “in the vein of”—I didn’t mean exactly like Henry but more alluding to his development over time and his eventual prime role.

 

[Esteban de la Sexface]

Seems we disagree about both the fundamental definition of composure, the types of finishing involved in the analysis, and the coachability of those finishing types, so there’s probably no use in debating further.

I think we can both agree, though, that despite the bias (often racist) media and idiotic naysayers, we are lucky to have Raheem in our ranks to explore this option.

Yeah agree on that. I've been harsh on him before but I've to admit I was 100% in the wrong

 

[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