Raheem Sterling

Steve-Harpers-perm · Post by **Steve-Harpers-perm** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 9:31 am

martin_p wrote:Whatever people think of him he’ll be starting on Wednesday night. So not much point in whining about him to be honest.

True but always good to read the comments by our resident expert football coaches on him.

BabylonClaret · Post by **BabylonClaret** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 12:36 pm

Of course he will start. The team is winning and gett9ng better. And as others have pp9nted out Stwrl8ng is playing well

Yes I shouted at him yesterday when he fluffed the best chance of the game and at second bite didnt look up t9 see Kane. But - other than rhat he had a good game

dandeclaret · Post by **dandeclaret** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 1:53 pm

This is worth a watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcHslKK ... e=youtu.be" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

chekhov · Post by **chekhov** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 3:27 pm

Wile E Coyote wrote:useless player, misses sitter after sitter, looks like a bloke that has just found some football kit and tried it on for size.

I enjoy a lot of your posts. Opinionated and provocative but enjoyable reading.What you wrote here however is just factually incorrect.

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 3:43 pm

Refusing to sign a new deal at City, wants more money apparently.

Socrates · Post by **Socrates** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 5:33 pm

Diesel wrote:Refusing to sign a new deal at City, wants more money apparently.

Or maybe he’s just focusing on playing at the World Cup?

But let’s not let common sense get in the way of a good narrative.

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 7:00 pm

Socrates wrote:Or maybe he’s just focusing on playing at the World Cup?

But let’s not let common sense get in the way of a good narrative.

Or he's greedy? Have you seen his gun tattoo?

Imploding Turtle · Post by **Imploding Turtle** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 7:05 pm

Diesel wrote:Or he's greedy? Have you seen his gun tattoo?

So you're telling me you wouldn't negotiate a higher wage if you could? Your employers must love you.

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 7:09 pm

Imploding Turtle wrote:So you're telling me you wouldn't negotiate a higher wage if you could? Your employers must love you.

Oh shut up.

Millertime v1.7 · Post by **Millertime v1.7** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 7:12 pm

Diesel mate, how was the break?

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 7:15 pm

Good, I'm recharged and ready to cyber tw@t anyone.

How are you, you massive Scottish bell end?

Millertime v1.7 · Post by **Millertime v1.7** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 7:18 pm

Bud, I was having some fun with Petrol in your absence

He really REALLY likes you. He'd defend you till the ends of the earth. Won't hear a bad word said about you...and there were a few

Imploding Turtle · Post by **Imploding Turtle** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 7:22 pm

Millertime v1.7 wrote:Bud, I was having some fun with Petrol in your absence
He really REALLY likes you. He'd defend you till the ends of the earth. Won't hear a bad word said about you...and there were a few

They're both destroying the environment for the rest of us.

Millertime v1.7 · Post by **Millertime v1.7** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 7:26 pm

Bud, you sound like Parkie

Did you hear about Rumpy's latest meltdown?
EPIC

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 7:33 pm

Millertime v1.7 wrote:Bud, I was having some fun with Petrol in your absence
He really REALLY likes you. He'd defend you till the ends of the earth. Won't hear a bad word said about you...and there were a few

Typical Wildling trying to cause trouble, I've happily sat side by side wide Petrol at the pump for years now, never any bother.

Petrol · Post by **Petrol** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 7:34 pm

Yeah, fnck off Wildling.

Millertime v1.7 · Post by **Millertime v1.7** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 8:12 pm

Petrol, your one true love is back to steal your heart

Gnulty · Post by **Gnulty** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 8:49 pm

Maybe he runs like a chicken and sometimes lays the "eggs outside the basket".... Still, he's got the eyes of an eagle, the speed of a falcon and stamina
like a frigate... all packed inside a forceful little starling...

COBBLE · Post by **COBBLE** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 11:33 pm

Much as I enjoyed his miss on the Turf I have appreciated his performances in the World Cup. He is the one player with pace
who the opposition don't know where he is going. Neither does he, but so what. I really would love him to score at the end
of one of those runs.

Long Time Lurker · Post by **Long Time Lurker** » Mon Jul 09, 2018 4:54 pm

I have to admit to being extremely frustrated with Sterling in the first half against Sweden. He was a lot better in the second half. It wasn't his failure to net that annoyed me, it was the way he seemed to be operating with a tunnel vision when it came to any scoring opportunities. I suspect he received a valuable talk in his shell like during the half time interval.

Something along the lines of

"I'm happy with what you are doing, but you need to reign in that overwhelming NEED to score and relax a bit. Play your game and if it happens it happens, if it doesn't it doesn't. As long as someone scores as a product of what you are doing the team have a good chance of going through and that will make everyone a hero."

I can empathise with the pressure that he must be under to score. You could almost see the weight on his shoulders when he fluffed his offside opportunity, even though it wouldn't have counted. The ongoing media expectation is obviously having an impact on him, making it difficult for him to play with the natural freedom that accompanies the scoring success he has had in the EPL.

It's one of those little psychological bumps that can affect strikers more than others. His current lack of international goals is obviously a burden that has grown over time, creating a catch 22 situation. I need to play with freedom and confidence to score, not scoring is having an increasingly negative impact on my confidence making it even harder for me to score. Like to score becomes wanting to score which becomes needing to score which becomes a problem.

I think when he does score the weight will be released and he will start to replicate the scoring form he has shown for Man City. Unfortunately this is the World Cup we are talking about and we don't have the luxury of drawing games for a point in the final sixteen or getting them next time. It's a cruel one and done set up, you either go through or you go home. The team needs to score.

It's a tough one for Southgate when you take into account the boost that more goals from open play would bring to our chances. Does he stick with Sterling or twist and replace him with Rashford or Vardy. Rashford could offer something similar in terms of opening up space, but he hasn't been very prolific either. Vardy appears to be more confident in front of goal at the moment, but playing him would reduce the dynamism that is currently benefiting the team as a whole.

Taking everything into account I would stick with Sterling. The only change I would make would be to give him that half time talk 45 minutes earlier.

tiger76 · Post by **tiger76** » Mon Jul 09, 2018 5:02 pm

Long Time Lurker wrote:I have to admit to being extremely frustrated with Sterling in the first half against Sweden. He was a lot better in the second half. It wasn't his failure to net that annoyed me, it was the way he seemed to be operating with a tunnel vision when it came to any scoring opportunities. I suspect he received a valuable talk in his shell like during the half time interval.

Something along the lines of

"I'm happy with what you are doing, but you need to reign in that overwhelming NEED to score and relax a bit. Play your game and if it happens it happens, if it doesn't it doesn't. As long as someone scores as a product of what you are doing the team have a good chance of going through and that will make everyone a hero."

I can empathise with the pressure that he must be under to score. You could almost see the weight on his shoulders when he fluffed his offside opportunity, even though it wouldn't have counted. The ongoing media expectation is obviously having an impact on him, making it difficult for him to play with the natural freedom that accompanies the scoring success he has had in the EPL.

It's one of those little psychological bumps that can affect strikers more than others. His current lack of international goals is obviously a burden that has grown over time, creating a catch 22 situation. I need to play with freedom and confidence to score, not scoring is having an increasingly negative impact on my confidence making it even harder for me to score. Like to score becomes wanting to score which becomes needing to score which becomes a problem.

I think when he does score the weight will be released and he will start to replicate the scoring form he has shown for Man City. Unfortunately this is the World Cup we are talking about and we don't have the luxury of drawing games for a point in the final sixteen or getting them next time. It's a cruel one and done set up, you either go through or you go home. The team needs to score.

It's a tough one for Southgate when you take into account the boost that more goals from open play would bring to our chances. Does he stick with Sterling or twist and replace him with Rashford or Vardy. Rashford could offer something similar in terms of opening up space, but he hasn't been very prolific either. Vardy appears to be more confident in front of goal at the moment, but playing him would reduce the dynamism that is currently benefiting the team as a whole.

Taking everything into account I would stick with Sterling. The only change I would make would be to give him that half time talk 45 minutes earlier.

Sterling's doing everything right except putting the ball in the onion bag,his runs caused Sweden all sorts of problems on Saturday,he just needs a goal whether it's through good fortune or a defensive mistake,something falling right for him in the box,and his confidence would soar,i'd still start with him on Wednesday,Vardy and Rashford are both good options to have in reserve if needed.

Before the Sweden game many were critical of Dele myself included,yet he pops up with a crucial goal.And suddenly he is a hero.

Right_winger · Post by **Right_winger** » Mon Jul 09, 2018 5:18 pm

Imploding Turtle wrote:They're both destroying the environment for the rest of us.

Clearly they aren’t.

Socrates · Post by **Socrates** » Wed Jul 11, 2018 7:49 pm

Best player on the park first half. Croatia terrified of him.

TsarBomba · Post by **TsarBomba** » Wed Jul 11, 2018 7:54 pm

Socrates wrote:Best player on the park first half. Croatia terrified of him.

Absolutely. Vida and Lovren are rattled, and they’re not the most composed defenders anyway.

Credit to Southgate. Kept Sterling in, and is employing him exactly where he should be, on the shoulder.

Tall Paul · Post by **Tall Paul** » Wed Jul 11, 2018 7:58 pm

He's been excellent.

If he'd have missed the chance that Kane did, he'd have been getting slaughtered.

DCWat · Post by **DCWat** » Wed Jul 11, 2018 9:18 pm

Surprised he was taken off.

ClaretFelix · Post by **ClaretFelix** » Wed Jul 11, 2018 9:59 pm

Tall Paul wrote:He's been excellent.

If he'd have missed the chance that Kane did, he'd have been getting slaughtered.

Who? He's been anonymous since the Colombia game. Wouldn't surprise me if it was revealed he's been carrying an injury as he just hasn't looked right.

Sterling played well again

bobinho · Post by **bobinho** » Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:07 pm

Played well tonite, certainly better than Kane, who was England captain, and failed to show up either as a player OR as captain. Will he get the pain sterling has? Not a chance....

bfcjg · Post by **bfcjg** » Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:09 pm

Kane should have gone off for Rashford and kept Sterling on. Saint Gareth messed up IMHO.

Aclaret · Post by **Aclaret** » Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:21 pm

Havn't read any of this thread, dont care what anybody says he should never wear the England shirt again.
All he offers is speed and naff all else.

Spijed · Post by **Spijed** » Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:22 pm

Funny how he gets picked week in, week out by a manager whose team won the league by a mile!

Imploding Turtle · Post by **Imploding Turtle** » Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:23 pm

Spijed wrote:Funny how he gets picked week in, week out by a manager whose team won the league by a mile!

He clearly hasn't got a clue, that Pep guy.

Bordeauxclaret · Post by **Bordeauxclaret** » Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:34 pm

Not gone either way with this Sterling debate, he panicked then with his pace tonight but did it create anything?

Steve-Harpers-perm · Post by **Steve-Harpers-perm** » Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:36 pm

Lots of pace but not sure he’s much of a footballing brain maybe in 2 or 4 years we’ll see an improvement like the rest of the team.

ecc · Post by **ecc** » Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:40 pm

At least he's now learnt how to stay on his feet for longer than Dele Alli.

jedi_master · Post by **jedi_master** » Wed Jul 11, 2018 11:17 pm

I felt that Sterling going off hugely negatively impacted our style. We started to just hit the long ball/channels with Rashford and Kane as opposed to trying to build through the middle with Henderson, Lingard and Alli trying to feed Sterling.

Shame that he has been made out to be a scapegoat in this tournament, whatever makes people feel better about it I guess.

Paul Waine · Post by **Paul Waine** » Thu Jul 12, 2018 12:08 am

Raheem Sterling was one of England's strongest contributors through the 6 games. Agree, always room for improvement, but his pace had all the defenders running scared and I was impressed by his work-rate.

Harry Kane will mostly likely get the golden boot, but 3 pens, one goal from a ball bouncing off his heel and two close range headers probably flatters him (though 2 of the 3 pens were excellent).

Really impressed with Tripps free kick this evening. Just as good as Ronaldo's 3rd v Spain.

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Thu Jul 12, 2018 7:30 am

Spijed wrote:Funny how he gets picked week in, week out by a manager whose team won the league by a mile!

Why is it funny?

He won't play for City again by the way.

Funny?

Grumps · Post by **Grumps** » Thu Jul 12, 2018 7:50 am

Pace is great, but you have to create something with it, how many goals have we scored from open play?

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:20 am

The 'Great' Guardiola has been trying to replace him since the last January transfer window, now he finally has (Mahrez).

Rick_Muller · Post by **Rick_Muller** » Thu Jul 12, 2018 9:04 am

dandeclaret wrote:This is worth a watch.

https://youtu.be/kcHslKK0VMQ?t=144" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

at 2:24 of this video it draws Kane's contribution as a penis

quoonbeatz · Post by **quoonbeatz** » Thu Jul 12, 2018 9:13 am

excellent again last night and england were badly affected when he went off

9thMay1987 · Post by **9thMay1987** » Thu Jul 12, 2018 9:21 am

A simple pass from Kane and its 2 goals up. How much stick would he have got if it had been role reversal?

Hibsclaret · Post by **Hibsclaret** » Thu Jul 12, 2018 11:24 am

It’s not like Sterling would have been guaranteed to score though. I assume you saw the miss against city last season along with the Tunisia game. Perhaps Harry didn’t want to risk it.

Bordeauxclaret · Post by **Bordeauxclaret** » Thu Jul 12, 2018 11:31 am

Kane made the right decision both times. He just missed two sitters. No striker is going to pass from there.

England were on the back foot along time before Sterling was subbed.
Sterling’s been ok in this tournament for me but it just seems people are desperate to label him from one extreme to the other for some reason.