Absolutely agree mate - has been absolutely central to the titles and success. Difficult to understand
and also give a signal to every other player in world football, it may make them think twice before joining.I’m pretty sure telling him you ain’t gunna play will get him out pretty quick specially in World Cup year.
What's even weirder is that Sterling isn't respected the way other players with his number of appearances, trophies, and goals/assists are. If he stays next season and leaves on a free he will have played more games for us than Vinny and Kun. Ferna too I think.
Yet people talk about him like he's some mercenary who turned up three years ago, not one of our greatest ever players and one of our most decorated ever players and English to boot.
My working theory to try understand the odd place he's in is that it's because he's possibly a bit culpable to the two things that frustrates fans more than anything. A missed sitter, and the odd dead end dribble. The dribble thing feels particularly unfair, as that's just part of his high risk, high reward game. I don't even agree with the over the top frustration re the missed sitters either, but I can see why it happens. I don't think there's anything that gets more annoyance out of football fans than a clear chance missed. The deflated groan is noisier for that more than anything. He can be a bit clumsy in front of goal, but it does feel OTT. I reckon there's more focus on it due to not having a striker, and people are taking their frustrations out on him.
Mad really, given he clearly brings so much. Football is so emotional though and people lose sight of past accomplishments and focus far too much on the tiny minor bits. As you said, he should be loved a whole lot more. Doesn't feel like he is by a lot. Shame. He's our best ever winger and a City legend.
Surely it’s pretty obvious isn’t it? This is a lad who was quite rightly lauded at LiVARpool yet once he thinks of and moves to City he has been the butt of an incredible amount of abuse. At first it was orchestrated by Liverpool but the national media has heaped it on him. I greatly admire his mental strength.Those missed chances have ruined his reputation. I respect what sterling has done for us the goals the assists and to me he's one of the best players of peps man city squad. But I was shocked to see the teams he is linked with and the response from their fans. The amount of goals and assists he's scored for us you'd expect them to be excited at the prospect of Sterling in their team.
But it's the opposite. You got Madrid fans calling him a bottle merchant that can't be counted on in the big moments and they would rather have Gnabry. Arsenal fans not fussed saying he doesn't start over Saka, Tottenham saying he'd be a back up to Son. It's weird also Chelsea fans saying money could be spent elsewhere on a better player that can improve them. It's weird.
When Sterling's numbers are brilliant
Its as simple as he goes missing in big games and big moments; along with how he comes across. His inclusion cost us a chumps league. He shows little love for the club like vinnie zaba did etc; and hes spoken about leaving in the past.
He also quite clearly wants to be a top earner when he isnt in our best 11.