FA cup winners 2006 wrote:The thing about it is, just because someone doesn't think Sterling is World Class doesn't mean they are going to go slagging him off. It is merely pointing out areas of play he needs to improve or maybe they have formed the opinion that he will never improve, fair enough - their opinion.
He frustrates me hugely in games because he misses some simple chances - even his goal on Tuesday night went in off the bar. A goal where he had stopped and set himself, the ball rolled back to him perfectly, 12 yards out, open goal and he thumps it off the underside of the bar. When he breaks through on goal or if he is free inside the box with the ball coming in towards him, i am genuinely more surprised if he scores. With Aguero (except last season), Jesus, Sane, KDB, Gundogan in the same position i am expecting them to score but for whatever reason i don't have the same confidence with Sterling.
The one thing about Sterling though is, he always seems to get clear cut chances in a game that our other forwards just don't seem to get. Whether that is because of his movement or what i don't know but it is something that he should be credited for.
Its alright in the games where we are winning 4-0, 5-0 but in the tight games against title rivals (like this weekend), we need our strikers to put away the one chance they get. I don't think Sterling can be that go to guy.
I get the frustration, it seems to me when he's too much time to think he tends to mess up but many fail to acknowledge the positives, which for me far outweigh the negatives.
In regards your last paragraph, he has won us four points with crucial goals so far this season. As for doing it against title rivals, he was denied two stonewall penalties against Liverpool and Spurs last season and not a title rival but scored the winner against Arsenal at home too.