M23 Citizen
Well-Known Member
I think that’s a fair assessment on Sterling.I have just never thought he's a top player, and he's proving that outside of City. Even at his best he wasn't my type of player - lauded for his stats rather than his all-round game in general play. His technique is too scrappy for me. I like natural technically gifted footballers.
Good workrate, good off-the-ball movement and understanding of when and where to make runs, quick, good stats between 2017-18 to 2019-20, including many important goals and assists… but erratic and inconsistent with the execution of anything he did with the ball, which saw many howling mess-ups for goals or assists.
He’d be as likely to trip over a bit and dribble the ball out of play as he would be to turn a defender inside out and put a decent cross in, and he’d be more likely to mess up a 1v1 with the ’keeper than slot it home. But then he’d score a brace in a big win or a last minute winner.
Highs and lows (more highs than lows), often little in the middle.
Of the 31 players to have scored 50 or more Premier League goals since Sterling’s debut, Sterling ranks 15th overall in conversion (15.5%).
In terms of those defined by Opta as ‘big chances’, Sterling falls into the bottom third of the group in 22nd, having netted 66 and missed 83 over the course of his top-flight career (44.3%).
[Stats from Opta up to 2021-22]
Good overall contribution, I’m very appreciative of all he did here. With the chances he had should actually have scored more, and he’s a bit of a scrappy player who when he wasn’t scoring was frustrating (and in his final season with us his defensive workrate dropped a lot). Nobody should dismiss the contribution he made to the club ((I don’t think anyone actually does that anyway), but his contribution and his overall ability/skill set can be separated and critiqued on their own merits.
I don’t want to see his career tail off to nothing. I hope Newcastle or Brighton can find a good home for him. He’s definitely still a top hakf of the league player.