Raheem Sterling | Joins Chelsea for £50m

[blue oli]

You know fine well what I mean and I know what you mean, there reqlly is no reason for us to do the whole intelectual bulshitting each other bit.

Obviously Haaland improves alus massively. He was brought in with Gaby and Sterling here, that is now changing, and weakens us imo. We can argue whether overall or not, but certainly from how we were going into the season two weeks ago, and from what we could and should be, having fixed one make do situation to replace it with another.

Plenty of time left in the window for lots to change, lets see how it all plays out and we can revisit at the start of the season.

Not sure I fully agree with you here, I don’t think (even with no additions in attacking midfield or up front) we are weaker than last year, I think we have a different shape, a different threat and an unknown quantity for most in alverez. There is also the fact that pep has seen another year of palmer of Mcatee and might see something we havnt in term of quality for back up roles.

Personally I think we are seeing an evolution of how we will play, and a move to the ‘Eddie Jones’ school of thought (using the five subs) of having game finishers in a slight alteration to formation, he has tried this during the season prior to last.

I could be totally wrong but it feels that way for me.

There is more potential of a defence reinforcement but everything seems to felt to be good by city in the rest of the squad to me.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Anyone who thinks selling sterling to an PL title rival is a good move has a shock coming their way.

Well if you’re going to apply zero context to it then sure, it’s not good.

What about when the player:
- Wants to leave
- Can leave for free next summer
- Has only 1 club after him
- Won’t sign new contract

What then? To get up to £55m is fantastic business. And even going to Chelsea is miles better than the alternative.

 

[Oldham Exile]

I really don't understand why some people have to try and make out that there is some campaign of dislike about Sterling - at a personal level

Posters are making out that those that are ok with or even pleased to see Sterling leave are slagging him off for being arrogant or some other personal trait - I think that is generally just made up bollocks

I certainly am glad to see him leave for purely football reasons - and I think that is true for a lot of other posters that some are trying to claim are 'haters'

For a couple of years I would have been glad to see Sterling leave simply because we would be a better team without him - IMO

I mean that even before we were getting Haaland and Alvarez - he just fucks up so many chances - incredibly frustrating to watch

Stop with trying to make it out to be some personal campaign bollocks - it is being a CITY fan and wanting the best for CITY

Yep - I am glad to see him leave - and nobody is going to be able to 'shame' me for holding that view. TBH - I am also quietly pleased to see him join Chelsea - I suspect that there are a lot of Chelsea fans that will have to get used to saying FFS Sterling!!!

But it just football related - he seems like a right nice guy and I wish him and his family well

 

[SWP's back]

People need to stop acting like others are out of their mind if they disagree with what Pep might think. As much as he gets things spot on, this is a guy who thought that Eric Garcia was going to be Franco Baresi with bells on.

And I'm saying that as someone who doesn't think it would be a travesty if we didn't go out and get a replacement for Raheem this summer.

That being said, Haaland has had an iffy time with injuries and it remains to be seen if this will improve, Grealish has never proven that he can score goals with regularity, there is no guarantee Alvarez will settle and Cole Palmer has played four league games.

I think people are right to have questions and wanting a Sterling replacement is a valid viewpoint, regardless of what you think Pep might think.

You can think it’s a valid viewpoint if you want. But yes, I think it very likely that Pep might just have a better idea than you or I as to if we need to replace Sterling.

His sale isn’t remotely unexpected by the management so it’s not like they’ve been caught on the hop.

Also I can act like people are out of their mind if I want. Just like you and others can act like lovesick teenagers at a footballer leaving the club. It’s all dandy.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Looking ar Alvarez quality, I feel completely confident that he will. He seems like an exceptional talent.

The bloke won’t have had a rest in a year by the time the Workd Cup starts. I wonder how much he will play before then whilst he learns our tactics and has a bit of a breather.

 

[Coatigan]

So you think Pep is wrong if Pep thinks they don’t need replacing?

I really don't believe Pep thinks that.

But it wouldn't be the first time I thought Pep was wrong on something, if he did.

 

[SilverFox2]

I would like to think Raheem would do a similar goodbye video to Gabby, certainly after seven years with us?

If it's just a token thanks on Twitter, I would be disappointed, as it would just reinforce by belief he didn't really connect with City in his heart?

Hopeful he will gladly prove me wrong, as I really want to believe he loved his time here and will always have affection.

Does he not have a PA team that deals with his various social media and public image accounts?

 

[SWP's back]

I really don't believe Pep thinks that.

But it wouldn't be the first time I thought Pep was wrong on something, if he did.

Pep gets more or less what he wants in terms of in comings so time will tell.

I’ll still back Pep’s views over yours if that’s ok though.

 

[Cobwebcat]

People need to stop acting like others are out of their mind if they disagree with what Pep might think. As much as he gets things spot on, this is a guy who thought that Eric Garcia was going to be Franco Baresi with bells on.

And I'm saying that as someone who doesn't think it would be a travesty if we didn't go out and get a replacement for Raheem this summer.

That being said, Haaland has had an iffy time with injuries and it remains to be seen if this will improve, Grealish has never proven that he can score goals with regularity, there is no guarantee Alvarez will settle and Cole Palmer has played four league games.

I think people are right to have questions and wanting a Sterling replacement is a valid viewpoint, regardless of what you think Pep might think.

I agree with all that and let’s face it we can’t know what Pep thinks. I am certain Pep has an opinion and it’s the most important aspect of a player being signed, but it’s not the only one and he doesn’t always get his way and rightly in my opinion.

Pep has mentioned a few times that he tries to work with the players that he is given and that Txiki is in charge of that area.

I think sometimes posters think Pep just points at a player and we sign him ignoring scouting analytics personality checks and finances both for now and the future.

Gone are the days where a Manager just fancied a player which is why we are so successful in this area now.

I think we will be fine squad wise but whether we are or not we can’t say it was all Pep’s decision.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

You can think it’s a valid viewpoint if you want. But yes, I think it very likely that Pep might just have a better idea than you or I as to if we need to replace Sterling.

Right but those same things apply.

Pep doesn't know if Haaland's injury issues will continue. He also doesn't know if Grealish will finally start scoring a decent amount of goals. Or if Alvarez will settle. Or if Palmer will make the step up.

Those aren't things that will necessarily show on the training ground so it's not strictly a case of sticking your fingers in your ears and saying "I'm not listening, Pep knows bestest."

Signing a replacement for Sterling would go some way to getting rid of those question marks.