Righteous Steps
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Comparing him to Saka/Palmer comes down to the misconception of him as a player
He's actually closer to Haaland than those two
Interesting point, why you say this?
Comparing him to Saka/Palmer comes down to the misconception of him as a player
He's actually closer to Haaland than those two
last 25 yards type forward vs attacking playmakerInteresting point, why you say this?
Uh? Sterling was never regarded as the best English player in the world? He was highly rated for England - because he carried them on his shoulders to a Euro final - playing nothing like he did at City, I might add (in fact that might be what caused him to ultimately leave City)
At #10, I'd say he should be easily behind Bellingham and Palmer.
On the right, easily behind Saka, Palmer, and arguably Bowen.
On the left, I'd say he should behind all of those players I listed in my previous post: Saka, Palmer, Rashford, Sterling, Grealish, Gordon, Madueke. And arguably behind the likes of Sancho, Bowen, and Gittens too.
Not sure if I forgot anyone.
Compared to the centre or the right, I wouldn't say it's optimal for him. But he has 20 goals and 11 assists from the left wing for City - or a goal or assist every 125 minutes.That sounds mad based on the trophies Foden has won compared to the rest, however you are right - he is anonymous on the left. His style predominantly centres around cutting inside but, because he's so one-footed, playing LW renders his style redundant. We saw it throughout the Euros. Thankfully Pep stuck him on the left in the FA Cup final, and by the time he switched him for a competent LW in Doku, we were already 2-0 up.
I would say comparing Palmer/Saka is a bit wild. Palmer/Foden I think are much more similar, one I think is simply much more confident/arrogant/expressive etc. and has not allowed himself to become a (and I hate this word but I think it applies) system player.Comparing him to Saka/Palmer comes down to the misconception of him as a player
He's actually closer to Haaland than those two
He left City cause he knew his time there would be on the bench going forward. Pep had for whatever reason decided he didn't fancy him anymore as he sometimes randomly does to player. Pep leaving him out of 3 of the last 4 CL game starting XI's and also put him on the bench for the 2 final games in the title push made him realize he was no longer first choice. From the start of April one he played really none of the big game except the draw with Liverpool cause that was 3 days before the Atletico 2nd leg.Uh? Sterling was never regarded as the best English player in the world? He was highly rated for England - because he carried them on his shoulders to a Euro final - playing nothing like he did at City, I might add (in fact that might be what caused him to ultimately leave City)
Compared to the centre or the right, I wouldn't say it's optimal for him. But he has 20 goals and 11 assists from the left wing for City - or a goal or assist every 125 minutes.
Now part of the challenge with international football is being able to overcome the lack of glue that players have at club level so he has to take responsibility for that. Equally however part of the management challenge in international football is getting the best out of your players. And Southgate's hopeless handling of the left flank over the last couple of years does help to explain the difference in output. He has frequently used right-footed left-backs who have little to no experience of playing on the left, have no idea how to overlap, or underlap, or how to open up play on their bad side. . I thought it was quite telling that Carsley spotted this issue straight away and against Finland the left flank was the most cohesive part of the team. And that was with the handicap of a right-footed left-back in Trent, but recognising who would be the right type of flank partner in Grealish to build on Trent's technical strengths and complement his movement and positioning.
So in one part of the team there is a broken left flank and alongside that the attack has felt broken for much of that time as well. Everyone clustered into the 10 space, nobody stretched the lines (until they make the killer subs that, for example, got them over line against the Dutch), with central midfielders who are often too sluggish in punching the ball forwards.
Basically he'd need a good system on the left to operate well, while in the middle or on the right it's more straightforward as he can more easily pull out individual pieces of decisive quality.
He left City cause he knew his time there would be on the bench going forward. Pep had for whatever reason decided he didn't fancy him anymore as he sometimes randomly does to player. Pep leaving him out of 3 of the last 4 CL game starting XI's and also put him on the bench for the 2 final games in the title push made him realize he was no longer first choice. From the start of April one he played really none of the big game except the draw with Liverpool cause that was 3 days before the Atletico 2nd leg.
I always thought Sterling was allowed to leave because of Haaland's arrival. The Norwegian simply requires different types of wingers than what Sterling is.
Doku and Sávio has been added since then, to help against low-blocks and to feed Haaland.
Grealish has been turned into a ball-retention winger and not someone who has to focus on taking risks and scoring goals.
Silva is also one of the best ball-retention players in the world.
Sterling was someone who had different strengths IMO and a winger who also liked to be on the end of chances, make runs behind the defence, etc. I think he was the least suited winger in your squad to be turned into a player that's mostly just focused on creating chances for the striker and to keep the ball more often than previously. You also had Mahrez and still have Foden that offer something different.
I think Pep would've still fancied Sterling if he wasn't given the best poacher and goalscorer in the world, but the team dynamics changed with Haaland's arrival and the main focus for your wingers became providing Haaland with as many chances as possible. He would've taken goals away from Haaland in the same way I think Foden takes goals away from him.
Sterling himself said that his playtime being limited was the biggest reason and he couldn't afford to waste any of his career on the bench. Pep had left his style behind before Erling arrived. He was a sub in 5 of the 6 most important games in the run in. Something in Pep changed towards him and tactically after the 1st Atletico game.I always thought Sterling was allowed to leave because of Haaland's arrival. The Norwegian simply requires different types of wingers than what Sterling is.
Doku and Sávio has been added since then, to help against low-blocks and to feed Haaland.
Grealish has been turned into a ball-retention winger and not someone who has to focus on taking risks and scoring goals.
Silva is also one of the best ball-retention players in the world.
Sterling was someone who had different strengths IMO and a winger who also liked to be on the end of chances, make runs behind the defence, etc. I think he was the least suited winger in your squad to be turned into a player that's mostly just focused on creating chances for the striker and to keep the ball more often than previously. You also had Mahrez and still have Foden that offer something different.
I think Pep would've still fancied Sterling if he wasn't given the best poacher and goalscorer in the world, but the team dynamics changed with Haaland's arrival and the main focus for your wingers became providing Haaland with as many chances as possible. He would've taken goals away from Haaland in the same way I think Foden takes goals away from him.
Anderson was betterI agree - Anderson had 4 more PL titles than Gerrard. That doesn't make him the better player. However, I felt it was necessary to preface the Foden vs Madueke conversation with the trophies they'd won, as I didn't want my comment to come across as too anti-Foden.