World class movement, very erratic shooting
Is Sterling the best english player at the moment?
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
Erratic is being kind, he's a terrible shooter.
Yes, a terrible 20+ goal a season shooter, who just about performs according to his xG.
Zaha could probably score 20+ goal a season in that team, in that setup. He had like what, 6 clear chances today?
It is true what people say about how easy it is to score goals in this Manchester City team. Having said that, he is still a quality player. He does have world class movement, a others have said on this thread. It is good to see how much chemistry there is between him and Kane when they play for England.
In my opinion, him and Kane are both world class forwards. Shame we (England) have such an average midfield otherwise I would really fancy us for Euro 2020.
In my opinion, him and Kane are both world class forwards. Shame we (England) have such an average midfield otherwise I would really fancy us for Euro 2020.
How often do you watch City? Because his conversion today was truly an anamoly.
Sterling is still the player who probably inspires the most awful opinions in football. Zaha couldn't score 20+ goals in our team because he couldn't even earn himself a place on the bench in it, let alone be the first pick ahead of Sane/Bernardo/Mahrez like Sterling is. Forget Zaha in City's set-up, Sterling would comfortably outperform Zaha in Palace's side.
You don't have to be a great shooter to score 1 on 1's and tap ins.
This is so true.
Another assist tonight. Great player.
Are City fans so insecure that even criticising his shooting (which is clearly an area he needs to improve) sets them off? 
Lovely assist.
Lovely assist.
They'll always be insecure. Look at where they've come from to where they are now.Are City fans so insecure that even criticising his shooting (which is clearly an area he needs to improve) sets them off?
Lovely assist.
Not exactly earned their status...
I'm not even a City fan, but while Sterling is not a great shooter what's been said here is pretty much ridiculous -- e.g. that Zaha would have scored the same number goals, tap-in merchant criticisms etc. In the previous two seasons he had one of the best chance conversion rates in the league, and he keeps out players that are simply levels above Zaha.Are City fans so insecure that even criticising his shooting (which is clearly an area he needs to improve) sets them off?
Lovely assist.
Exactly. Sterling is still prone to missing easy chances and he can be erratic in his efforts. Nevertheless, he continues to attract way more attention than is merited for his poorer moments like he had today. For a winger, his overall finishing is good. The idea that players like Zaha would replicate Sterling's numbers is laughable. Mahrez is far better than Zaha and he's yet to come close to outperforming Sterling in a City shirt.
He misses a ridiculous amount of easy chances tbf. I can't remember many goals he's scored for you that you would say were good finishes. The vast majority have been chances you would expect any Premier League forward to take. Zaha would be a monster in this City team whereas Sterling would sink without trace in the current Palace side.
So wrong it's painful. Zaha wouldn't get on our bench mate. Sterling would be Palace's best player by miles and earn a big move after his first season, probably to City.
And you think Zaha would just magically end up in the same situations as Sterling?
Sterling's off the ball movement is excellent. There's a reason Mahrez and Sane don't even come close to his goal stats. Guardiola really helped him climb on another level. He was always exceptional in many areas like dribbling, speed and agility - he's far better in those areas than Zaha, too - but now he's also an incredibly intelligent player.
It's also not uncommon that the best goal scorers miss many chances. Many top strikers actually underperform in terms of xG, even guys like Cristiano, Lewandowski or Suarez. Their stand out characteristic is that they end up with so many chances that they still score more than enough. There aren't many wingers who'll get you 15+ goals a season from open play in the league.
Sterling is only putting up the numbers he is due to being surrounded by marque players. He earned his move to City on the back of the Suarez, Sturridge season. He was poor for the season after when Suarez left & Sturridge was crocked. Sterling would be feeding off scraps in this Palace side with chances at a premium. His propensity to miss easy chances would also heap an immense amount of pressure on him.
If Pep can coach Sterling then why couldn't he too coach Zaha?
Mahrez hasn't had anywhere near the game time sterling's had so it's a skewed comparison. Sane is actually the best of them all but due to his strained relationship with Pep we're unlikely to see the best of him at City.
That's false. Since January 2018, he has the third best conversion rate in the league (28.7%) only behind Aubameyang (32.1%) and Chicharito (29.7%). To say that he misses "ridiculous amount of easy chances" couldn't actually be farther from the truth. It's just that one of those falsehoods that sound true, like Mane being selfish and Cavani missing crazy amount of chances. It's just that a lot of people have unrevised remnant misconceptions from when Sterling was 18/19 year old inconsistent winger (even then the criticisms tended to be over the top).
There's a reason why Mahrez doesn't have as much game time as Sterling: Sterling. Guardiola seems to find that he's actually the best winger City has. And Sane doesn't produce the number Sterling produces, either. Why is that? He's playing with the same players Sterling does but he doesn't get into the same amount of goal scoring chances.
Sterling is also a player that can make things happen and he definitely would show it for Palace. After Hazard left he is probably the best dribbler in the whole Premier League. One of the very few who can dribble whole defenses and who regularly dribbles his way into the box starting out wide or around the half way line. Sane is probably the only other player to be capable of that right now apart from maybe Salah and Mane.
You criminally underrate Sterling. He's world class.
Not even worth countering such a view. If you believe Zaha is better than Sterling then I truly pity you.
Yes. City went down 1 and he creates 2 goals for Aguero in 4 minutes. Amazing player.
Yes.
Already 10 goals for City this season.
Did I get my stats right.
Did I get my stats right.
Yes. Kane's gone off the boil.
Gem of a player
Umm.. yes you do.
Made 2 scored 3
I don’t remember anyone who didn’t think that 50m was a ridiculous fee at the time.
It was ridiculous. Ridiculously low. Unbelievable player since 2017/18.
It was ridiculous. Ridiculously low. Unbelievable player since 2017/18.
Where do people now rank him in terms of TBITW? How far off 3rd best is he now?
However much Liverpool paid Watford for him, Watford got rinsed.
I dont know as I might need to know what the feck that means first.
Wasn't it QPR?
The best in the world.
Crap at shooting isn’t he
What an unbelievable player and potential future Ballon d’Or winner. No wonder there’s chat about City making him the highest paid player in the league.
What an unbelievable player and potential future Ballon d’Or winner. No wonder there’s chat about City making him the highest paid player in the league.
In fairness Liverpool themselves got rinsed too. QPR only got £600k off Liverpool or something.
Indeed it was! Not sure where I got Watford from!
Fantastic player. He is absolute world class in the last 2 and a half years.
I think there's a cluster of world class players who you can argue for being second currently on any given week & Sterling is definitely in that conversation.
England have such a good front line with Sterling/Kane/Sancho - If only they had a midfield.