Sané is actually better at those 2 things, and he's also just as good in front of the goal as Sterling and his first touch (ball control) is also much better. As wingers, he's also a better crosser and set piece taker. With all that been said, Sterling is progressing a lot under Pep though, especially this season
Raheem Sterling
- Thread starter MyOnlySolskjaer
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Sané is actually better at those 2 things, and he's also just as good in front of the goal as Sterling and his first touch (ball control) is also much better. As wingers, he's also a better crosser and set piece taker. With all that been said, Sterling is progressing a lot under Pep though, especially this season
I would argue that Sane has a higher ceiling in terms of potential but other than that, people's opinions of Sterling is probably influenced by the type of "hate" he gets and also being English doesn't help -- had he been French, then definitely would have been highly rated.
He certainly isn't in my opinion. In regards to the scoring its either this, he gets less chances than Sterling due to lesser movement, or he simply isn't a better finisher really, why i say this? Sane is still yet to score more up to 10 goals in a season, while Sterling has had that figure or more for the last 4 seasons running, and this season gone up another level entirely, all evidence in his career points to him either being a better finisher or making better movements, in my opinion its probably the latter, but at the same token, the best strikers are the ones who get into the positions to get off as many shots from decent areas as possible, regardless of their actual conversion rates.
As a dribbler and passer the reason why i say he is better is probably for similar reasons, in regards to his passing i simply feel Sterling has more variety and creativity, like the pass for the goal Silva goal the other week when he came centrally and got involved with the play, the best passes i've seen from Sane mostly have been cut backs and crosses, i've seen more of Sterling though going all the way back from his Liverpool days, but this is the opinion i get from seeing the both of them, for me its the same for dribbling, Sane relies more on his speed and acceleration, his dribbling style is a lot more old fashioned in the sense he seems to run in straight lines, one touch on his instep one touch on the outside, like Giggs used to dribble but even less mazy and with less flair than the aforementioned.
Sterling's had 12 goals from 36 shots so far this season in league and CL. Sane's had 6 goals from 31 shots. Sane's been dispossessed more (26 times compared to Sterling's 20) and in terms of control, Sane's had 47 occasions of bad control to Sterling's 29 this season. Sterling's had 35/51 successful dribbles (68.6%) compared to Sane's 41/69 (59.4%). Passing records are pretty similar with both having same success with short passes (388/465), though Sane has the better record with long passes (9/13 compared to Sterling's 6/12) (source: Whoscored).
Both are great players though.
Both are great players though.
I think Kane and Sterling are a must. Alli and Rashford should be alternating, with Alli gets priority; if England go with back 3 and attacking wing backs.
In fairness to Sane, Sterling is benefiting with having Walker on his side where's as Sane has to wait till Mendy returns and he's forced to stay out wider like both Sane and Sterling were last season, this is why Sterling gets into better goal-scoring positions as Walker occupies his position.
Strange as watching the two I still think Sane is more talented, he’s over a year younger than Sterling still too which might play its part. It’s nice to have two wingers really threatening though. When one is off the other is normally on, when both are on we are seeing big scores.
I think Sterling just looks more awkward than Sane tbh. He runs like a Phoebe from friends while Sane looks like Usain Bolt. Sane looks smoother and for me will be the better player, even marginally is at this stage but Raheem has an amazing sense of where to be and being in the right place at the right time. I would say atm Sane is technically a better footballer but Raheem has better awareness of whats going on, plays with his head up more.
For Sane he seems to play in a set pattern, stand on the fullbacks should or nearby sprint past him and either cut back or roll into the goal depending on where he picks up the ball. Raheem while pacy isn't blessed with that so has to be cleverer in his movement (which he is).
For Sane he seems to play in a set pattern, stand on the fullbacks should or nearby sprint past him and either cut back or roll into the goal depending on where he picks up the ball. Raheem while pacy isn't blessed with that so has to be cleverer in his movement (which he is).
Sane has comfortably the higher ceiling in my mind but that's no slight on Sterling at all. The City machine wouldn't function nearly as well without his movement and ability to get out of tight areas, not to mention his finishing is improving every week.
This and also the fact that while Sterling irrespective of where he plays, loves or has to cut inside more and even if he beats one opponent, it's still 'just' one whereas Sane finds himself sometimes with only the fullback and just eases past him and there you go, he has a chance to have an assist or a shot on goal. I guess this contributes to as well in Sane looking the better dribbler / more effective player, even though the numbers suggest otherwise.
That being said, Sterling gets the better on left backs on the outside oftentimes this season, so even this might not apply that much lately.
City's most important player.
He's not.
It was a good goal too. Feck.
Good god I despise him 
UGH...Just when I was ready to celebrate. I hate that guy....He always looks like he's gonna either fall in the penalty box or score. Such a transition from the whimp he was at Liverpool.
Player of the season so far?
World class talent
Really becoming the go to man for City.
Having a stunning season.
Having a stunning season.
Probably between him, De Bruyne, Silva, Azpi, and Salah
Fair play to the lad, I was never a fan of his.
Really stepped up this season.
Probably be shite in the World Cup.
Really stepped up this season.
Probably be shite in the World Cup.
More PL and CL goals this season than Lukaku 
agreed. Hes taking responsibility and not content being an extra. Will deffo be shite for England
He was quality for Liverpool to be fair. Always hated the sight of him though.
Definately up there. De Bruyne, Salah also.
He's stepped up as KDB and Sane have started to slip a little.
He and Salah are the best players in the league at the minute.
He and Salah are the best players in the league at the minute.
Genuine Ballon D'or contender if he maintains this form? He's been phenomenal.
He's class, to be fair. Practically forgot about him in the last year due to their other young talent (Jesus, Sane) but he's really showing his quality now.
Still runs like a fanny though.
Still runs like a fanny though.
CL (2 points earned):
(2 pts) winning goal v Feyenoord (88')
PL (10 points earned):
(1 pt) equaliser v Everton (82')
(2 pts) winner v Bournemouth (90'+7)
(2 pts) decisive goal v West Brom (64')
(3 pts) assist v Huddersfield to equalise (47') and winner (84')
(2 pts) winning goal v Southampton (90'+6)
As good as De Bruyne has been, he's had a bit of a lull in form of late and in the league his goals and assists were 'only' decisive vs Chelsea and Southampton.
Take Sterling's goals and assists out and we'd be 2 points clear in the league. I shouldn't have said it so definitively but in my opinion this season he's been their most important player.
Relax. He's been great but saying the ballon d'or in the same phrase as Sterling is laughable
I'm relaxed but he's single handedly winning games for City now. If they have a proper run in the CL and win the League, he'll certainly be up there if he maintains this form.
KDB can't be judged solely on assists and goals though. He does a lot of work in the middle of the park. Assisted the first 2 goals vs Liverpool, scored the winner vs Chelsea, scored the first vs Arsenal. Even today he made room for Sterling for the goal. Sterling has been sensational too.
Nah, there are better players in City's team alone.
He won't be anywhere close to it, considering there's players like Messi, Neymar, Lewandowski, Ronaldo (champions league form), De Bruyne, Hazard, Sanchez, Pogba, and so on all playing. Form plays a part but he doesn't have the base level of talent good enough to ever get ahead of those for a ballon d'or award. Even at City alone he'll be behind De Bruyne, Aguero, Jesus and Sane for the main plaudits, irrespective of the last minute winners he gets. He can score last minute winners in 50% of the games this season, but one hat trick from Ronaldo in the quarter finals of the champions league will put him way ahead of Sterling. Or a goal in an important game from Mbappe or Dybala or any random big name player like that. Sterling has been in great form but is not a big name player. He'll need to keep this up all season to be viewed as such next season, and even then, a way off from Ballon D'Or quality.
Football isn't as simple as that because no ones for sure if City wouldn't have gotten the same points if Sterling missed all those games. The only sure thing is that he's been the key to them gaining many points but without him ? We can never know for sure if somebody wouldn't have stepped up.
Celebrate what ? City drawing a game ? You'd really celebratez that ???
Yeah I know and don't get me wrong, for me De Bruyne's been their best player but the number of times Sterling's scored a late goal to get the points has been arguably as important. Dropping points to any of Bournemouth, West Brom, Huddersfield or Southampton could have been a knock to their confidence and resulted in some criticism of the team but after each game the only thing that is remembered is that they won them.
Yes, of course! I celebrated like crazy when Huddersfield were up a goal at halftime. And then again today when Southampton scored.
City have to drop points for us to catch them up. And it is games like these that end up deciding the title more often than not.
Still think he's not a great player and lacking basics but he's on fire since the start of the season.
Hes been fantastic, but whats also helping him is the quality of players around him.