Raheem Sterling

[The Birdman]

Off the pitch hes a complete ****wit but that has nothing to do with how I view him on the pitch

Neither is bitterness anything to do with it

Even before the rumours of him wanting out escalated I have had doubts about his on field intelligence

Theres been numerous times I have watched him and I've said if only you had a brain....

We have all probably screamed as he missed sitters in areas, or failed to see a better placed player etc.. but I will just highlight another one and that is the United game at home

First few minutes he gets ball out wide and skins Danny Blind and gets byline and opens things up. Ball is cut out or cleared cant remember, I specifically remember the bloke next to me at the game saying Sterling will have Blind chasing his tail but despite getting the ball numerous times from there on in with ample opportunity to take on an isolated Blind he never does he constantly cuts inside where its congested

I've seen him do this tons whilst hes out wide and to me someone with a brain would know that once you beat a man once with such ease you should be doing it again and again until they change their system to stop you. United didnt have to make any changes because Sterling never attempted it again

Lec how do you know that he wasn't asked to drive infield every single time as part of the game plan?
None of us know that, we might surmise that game plan to be the wrong one but it may have been the case.
Sterling may have been lacking in confidence, again nothing to do with 'game intelligence'

Very, very early to write of any player at 20, especially one as gifted as Sterling as not having enough 'game intelligence' to ever make it as a top tier player.

[Lecter]

He's been a teenager the majority of the time he's been in our team. Hardly a surprise to see him make mistakes, Suarez done exactly what you listed plenty of times. You are having a mare here.

Ok Superfan

[Lecter]

Lec how do you know that he wasn't asked to drive infield every single time as part of the game plan?
None of us know that, we might surmise that game plan to be the wrong one but it may have been the case.
Sterling may have been lacking in confidence, again nothing to do with 'game intelligence'

Very, very early to write of any player at 20, especially one as gifted as Sterling as not having enough 'game intelligence' to ever make it as a top tier player.

Because its not just that game in isolation

Thats just one that sticks out amongst a plethora

[Lecter]

He'll improve City by 15 or 20%.

If we don't reinvest the money very wisely Sterling leaving will weaken us by 50%.

This game intelligence/decision making argument is weak, imo. He's 20.
By the time he's 23 he'll be much better than he is now, by the time he's 26-27 if he's stayed free of injuries Sterling has the potential to be one of the best players in the world.

How much 'game intelligence' did Michael Owen have at 20? Owen was quick and he could finish, neither equate to 'game intelligence'
How much does Gareth Bale have now for example? some, not loads. Definitely more than he had at 20 and it hasn't held his career back too much.
How many times did McManaman dribble down blind alleys or into loads of players when he was younger, you could make a very good case that he only really developed game intelligence at Real Madrid.

The term 'game intelligence' is specific to the position and role in the team, if you're 20 and you don't have a settled position you're not going to replicate the actions in either a game or a random practise that enables the muscle memory to build and improve decision making.
Give Sterling 12-18 months in a settled position and he'll improve massive in his decision making, final ball, end product = 'game intelligence'

I'd argue Owens intelligence was pretty decent

For every one of the players that you have listed above there is a Milan Baros, a Djibril Cisse, a Shaun Wright Phillips etc..... who never developed a brain

A lot of you have this ingrained belief that he will develop intelligence I dont share that confidence from what I have seen

I think he will be a good player because of the physical attributes he has I just dont see him having the brains to be a top tier player

[Daniel 7]

He's been plugging gaps all over the team, he's never been settled in a position in one definitive role.

The one example you gave earlier on was when he was being asked to do a job up front as a striker - he's never been a striker, but he did what he was asked to do and the team (during the unbeaten run) benefitted from having him play there, particularly Coutinho.

I'd say he's pretty switched on when he's playing. The reliance the club placed on him last season was no fault of his - he was a kid being asked to play the game changer role and to carry pretty much all of the team's attacking threat.

[Bender]

He's been plugging gaps all over the team, he's never been settled in a position in one definitive role.

The one example you gave earlier on was when he was being asked to do a job up front as a striker - he's never been a striker, but he did what he was asked to do and the team (during the unbeaten run) benefitted from having him play there, particularly Coutinho.

I'd say he's pretty switched on when he's playing. The reliance the club placed on him last season was no fault of his - he was a kid being asked to play the game changer role and to carry pretty much all of the team's attacking threat.

the mofo ain't NO KID...he's not s child...i love his quote it ain't about money,bet your bottom dollar you won't request to stay on £35k a wk at your new club.

[Daniel 7]

19 years old is a kid in career terms. Also, I look back on 19 year old me as a kid, for sure. My decision making wasn't exactly where it is now, 19 years later.

[Bender]

19 years old is a kid in career terms. Also, I look back on 19 year old me as a kid, for sure. My decision making wasn't exactly where it is now, 19 years later.

ok so he's a kid yet he wants out why? what's his hurry he's a kid as you say.Problem for him he isn't the cleverest of kids is he?he's portraying himself as a real jerk/money orientated kid

[Lecter]

the mofo ain't NO KID...he's not s child...i love his quote it ain't about money,bet your bottom dollar you won't request to stay on £35k a wk at your new club.

Hes 20 (21 in December) not 16 or 17

Hes been in the squad for 3 seasons, hes physically progressed theres no doubt about that

I just dont see his game progressing up top

[Bender]

Hes 20 not 16 or 17

Hes been in the squad for 3 seasons, hes physically progressed theres no doubt about that

I just dont see his game progressing up top

[Daniel 7]

ok so he's a kid yet he wants out why?

£££

what's his hurry he's a kid as you say.

£££ and Agent's £££

Problem for him he isn't the cleverest of kids is he?he's portraying himself as a real jerk/money orientated kid

Probably. But that doesn't make him a bad footballer, or someone who isn't making some ill informed decisions without the benefit of experience.

[Exiled_red]

I think that Sterling certainly has the potential to be a world class player, I think some are being harsh on him regarding game intelligence, he is still very young and I think the problems people are identifying are due to a lack of experience. I think we saw a similar thing with Christiano Ronaldo in his early time at Man Utd. I think that Sterling could potentially do something similar, it is mostly his final ball or composure that is the problem, if he works on that he could be scoring 15+ PL goals a season and creating a similar amount for others.

The biggest factors that could limit his ability to achieve his potential are his attitude and ability to handle the large transfer fee - will he continue to work hard or will this move make him think he has made it and he can relax a little? Secondly his ability to avoid and manage injuries, as a player with alot of pace he is prone to certain types of injuries, and for quick players who rely on speed an injury that robs him of pace could be a big problem.

For what it is worth I think that if he signs for City he will start off in the side, the potential problem will come if his form dips and he is dropped from the side, that is something he hasn't had to deal with for us. If he gets a run of games and plays well I think he will be fine. If he isn't playing regularly that is when there is a danger of him "doing a Shaun Wright-Phillips".

[Muddled]

the mofo ain't NO KID....

19 years old is a kid in career terms.

ok so he's a kid

Is this the quickest u-ey in Est's history?

[Daniel 7]

Is this the quickest u-ey in Est's history?

[Maxiedge]