01 Mar 2015 20:02:55
People really need to get off Sterling's back. It needs to be remembered that he is 20 and the media are all over him - Woy hasn't helped that at all. He was the shining light at the dreadful start to the season. Obviously there is the contract situation but if you were in his position surely would want as much money as possible. Just because his form has dipped recently doesn't mean fans should jump straight on his back and call him everything under the sun. Just let him play football. The only thing lacking in his game is the final ball/finish. But he has years to improve that and he seems to be keen to do that as well. My highlight of the match had to be when Raheem completely outstrengthed Kompany.
He needs time to improve and it's not helpful when fans call him greedy and lazy because as far as I'm concerned fans are supposed to get behind players and support them rather than just slag them off :)
01 Mar 2015 21:11:52
To be honest mate, regarding his greed; all PL players get stupid wages anyway, so sterling is no worse than many others in that respect. He wants the normal wages for a top four premiership winger, and that's fair enough.
But what I think any club needs to ensure in a world of ffp is that they get value for money from their players.
And that's where my problem is with sterling. He makes lots of mazy dribbles and looks good, but what gets you into the champions league places is a winger who gets goals and assists. that's the bottom lin, and that's what he lacks in his career so far.
I think sterling has 5 assists this season, and he doesn't even feature in the top 20 goal scorers in the PL. Stuart Downing has 8 assists so far, and there are 18 other players who have more assists than raheem this season.
My worry is that in the area that really counts- goals and assists, he simply does not deliver at the level of hazard, di maria, oscar, chadli, sanchez, baines, and sigurdsson- and many others.
I honestly think the time has come for raheem to start delivering the end product that he is capable of, and that is needed from an attacking midfielder of champions league standard.
01 Mar 2015 22:04:17
As we saw today, he is still learning hence, asteful when in good positions and his decision-aking in the final third needs A LOT of work.
01 Mar 2015 23:25:06
I think because of how young he came into the first team, people are far too quick to criticise him. He has not looked as energetic as he has been but then he's been playing upfront on his own a lot recently. He's 20, as far as money goes it doesn't bother me, a lot of people would want to earn more money if they could. I know he gets paid plenty but for me as long as he performs well, which against city today he looked better i'm happy!
02 Mar 2015 00:44:33
Sterling has plenty of potential and has done a cracking job this season. No one outside of the club really knows what goes on with transfer negotiations but it certainly gives a much better impression to the fans when it's all done nice and quickly like IBE and coutinho. I remember reading Gods autobiography and him saying that he would just sign whatever was put in front of him. That's what fans want to see from players but unfortunately we're living in a different age now. What I will say is that sterling has been offered close to what coutinho has just signed and is still haggling then he needs to move on
02 Mar 2015 01:11:33
Baines in that list?! He's not a winger and he takes pens.
02 Mar 2015 07:25:58
Chadli hahahaha seriously man Sterling is better then half the players listed di maria isn't having a good season with his 250 a week
{Ed001's Note - Di Maria is being paid a lot more than 250 grand a week.}
02 Mar 2015 08:13:46
Fencey, fair comment if you are comparing goals, but baines has 8 assists as a full back, so he doesn't even get into the final third as often as sterling, but he regularly gets more assists.
I'm not bashing the kid, he's been developing as a player and a young man and you have to remember that.
But eventually, the bottom line with wingers or attacking players in champions league clubs has to be goals and assists, surely? How else will our club make the CL if the wingers aren't creating chances for the strikers?
With strikers in patchy form the assists are not easy, I realise that.
But I think now is the time his end product has to start getting more consistent.
{Ed001's Note - Baines does get into a position to provide an assist more often than Sterling, as he takes all the set pieces at Everton. So your point is moot. Perhaps if Raheem had options in the box to play the ball to, instead of usually being on his own when he gets there, he might get an assist or two more.}
02 Mar 2015 09:06:52
Fair point Ed, sterling doesn't take the set pieces- and if there are no strikers waiting in the box then no-one will get assists anyway.
{Ed001's Note - exactly, it was the same for Downing a few year's back (though he wasn't good enough but that is another story), people got on his back for no assists, yet he created the most chances in the league, so it was hardly his fault he had no assists! Baines takes all the set pieces, whether it be a corner, free kick or penalty (unless Mirallas fights him for it!), so he should have a lot of assists. That's not forgetting that he is usually in a position to provide a cross on every attack as the wing back, rather than actually in the middle trying to score as the striker. It is not a worthwhile comparison.}
02 Mar 2015 11:36:44
6 goals and 7 Assists this season.
On for 10 goals and at least 10 assists this season.
For a 20 year old that is not bad in my book.
{Ed001's Note - I totally agree with you on this one, for a change! I think people are just on his back because of the contract, when it is a big decision for a young lad. He should take his time and make the right one, and not have his manager constantly putting pressure on him to sign through the media. The lad is in the right place to develop for the future, let's just show him that instead of looking for reasons to get rid just in case he does go.}
02 Mar 2015 18:49:24
It's only taken 5 years Ed.
I can retire from the site now.
Made up.
{Ed001's Note - if I had known it was that easy to get rid of you I would have agreed years ago!!}