#7 | Raheem Sterling - 2020/21 Performances

[Akira]

With the Sterling selection debate not sure whether it's been mentioned but their is a good chance he is going to be playing in 3 internationals in a week, maybe this is playing into Pep's mind and leaving him out now will benefit the team later in the season

Highly likely Pep's decided to give him some rest. Admittedly his overall game hasn't been great for awhile, and has been one of our more regular starters. Maybe a break off the first team can refresh him a little, like what it did for Bernardo.

 

[penalty spot]

When your on the wages that he's allegedly earning then he needs to earn it by performing a lot better than recent months.

 

[mosssideblue]

When your on the wages that he's allegedly earning then he needs to earn it by performing a lot better than recent months.

Dont know if true, but read on here yesterday he is on £300k/week.

Absolute insane if true

 

[MarsLlama]

When your on the wages that he's allegedly earning then he needs to earn it by performing a lot better than recent months.

Before the Gladbach game Sterling had six goals and two assists in his last nine games. Bernardo, Foden, Mahrez, Jesus, Agüero (of the last year)... not capable of those numbers except for very occasional good runs.

 

[DAGW]

Have you ever noticed how no one else does score those goals?

You and a few others like to think anyone could score 30+ in this side because Sterling does, but Sane never did, Nolito couldn't, Mahrez doesn't, Jesus doesn't, Torres doesn't, Bernardo doesn't, Foden doesn't.

Same goes with England. Since Sterling had his breakthrough in 2018, he's got 11 in 13 for England. Sancho can't do that, Rashford can't, even Kane can't.

It's just another one of those bullshit arguments that doesn't stand up to a single moment of scrutiny, but people like to parrot non-stop.

When you really look into it - neither argument really stands up. One arguments being; that if he wasn't here other players wouldn't be able to step up and replace his goal scoring output. The other argument being that he only scores tap-ins, and that it's sheer luck that he gets on the end of those chances.

His movement is fantastic off the ball. That movement leads to him getting into the box for his "tap-in" goals. That surely can't be disputed - he doesn't aimlessly find himself in those spots, through sheer luck, so he will score his fair share of goals as a product. He will also miss just as many as he scores, however; and a baffling amount of those misses will inexplicably be from inside 5 yards out.

Equally you have to accept that whilst he's on the pitch, which he is most of the time - the opportunity, for a replacement, to get themselves into those positions, in Sterling's place, equals exactly zero (again by virtue of replacements not playing). Over the last 2 premier league seasons, in the 14 games that he's missed, has been dropped or has played less than 45 minutes - the team have scored exactly 48 premier league goals.

It's worth noting that whilst he was on the pitch in those 14 matches - where his game time totalled less than 45 in a match - he didn't score any of those 48 goals.

Stats can paint almost any picture you want - I get that - but it's really hard to paint either picture that:

a, Sterling's goals make him irreplaceable, and detractors shouldn't question whether he could be replaced with someone more clinical. The premise being that although he's wasteful his goals are irreplaceably valuable and make up for his both deficiencies, and the high profile clangers.

b, Sterling is terminally deficient, doesn't bring anything more than a few tap-ins here and there, and replacements, whom share his good qualities, are ready and waiting to be signed.

I bring it to you that both of those statements are off the mark. There probably is a player out there that brings the same qualities, with an added propensity to tuck away easy chances - particularly when it really matters.

Right now though; they aren't at the club, haven't necessarily been identified and Sterling brings qualities that should be acknowledged and valued for particular fixtures. He should also be just as droppable and open for critique as anyone else - and at this point in time, Pep seems to be of that same opinion, for once.

Fingers crossed 2 or 3 games out of the team will give him a break, or a kick up the backside. It's something I advocated for earlier on in the season.

 

[Craig]

Highly likely Pep's decided to give him some rest. Admittedly his overall game hasn't been great for awhile, and has been one of our more regular starters. Maybe a break off the first team can refresh him a little, like what it did for Bernardo.

He won’t play 3 international’s in a week though as Southgate has already said nobody will and England are playing San Marino in one so that’s barely a decent training session. The rest of our squad will have games too

 

[Ribchester]

Get rid

 

[Tugay One Cup]

Drain his blood.

 

[EL APACHE TEVEZ]

Get off is fuckin back

 

[grim up north]

Dont know if true, but read on here yesterday he is on £300k/week.

Absolute insane if true

You read it on here says it all