Player Focus: Sterling Signing Can Help City Return to Premier League Summit
It was a drawn out affair, but on Tuesday; the long-winded Raheem Sterling saga finally came to a head as Manchester City confirmed his signing. The Citizens held a long-standing interest in the England youngster and his move to the Etihad Stadium was more a case of when, not if, it would be completed. As one might expect, social media was immediately rife with jokes regarding his future at City, some suggesting he will struggle for playing time with the two-time Premier League champions, while others suggested Sterling would be plying his trade for a “lesser” team in the foreseeable future.
Nevertheless, Sterling’s capture marks City’s first major signing of the summer and, for £49m, the 20-year-old is unlikely to see his playing time limited. “Raheem Sterling is one of the best attacking players in world football,” City boss Manuel Pellegrini told the club’s official website after the deal was announced. Such comments hint that Sterling will play a key role at City, and unsurprisingly so. While there is still work to be done on his overall game, the right management would see him realise his potential.
Only Philippe Coutinho (7.34) gained a better WhoScored rating than Sterling (7.27) of all Liverpool players in the Premier League last season. Furthermore, only Steven Gerrard (9) netted more league goals than Sterling (7) for the Reds last term. While Liverpool moved accordingly to strengthen prior to his departure, securing the services of Roberto Firmino from Hoffenheim, it goes without saying that Sterling’s move away from Anfield is a blow to Liverpool’s hopes of returning to the Champions League. Despite his relative inexperience, it’s fair to say that the Reds’ loss is City’s gain.
Sterling may have started in no fewer than 8 different positions for Liverpool in the league and Europe last season, but his best position – and one he is expected to play under Pellegrini – is on the left wing. Here, he can display his statistically calculated WhoScored strength of ‘dribbling’ with aplomb, a stat that, over the last 4 league seasons, was at its highest last term (2.9 successful dribbles per game). In fact, over the last 3 league seasons, only Eden Hazard (374) has completed more successful dribbles than Sterling (241).
Given the wide options utilisied by Pellegrini last season – Jesus Navas, Samir Nasri and new Liverpool signing James Milner – Sterling’s acquisition makes all the more sense. While cheaper options were available on the continent, City’s need to make up the homegrown quota in the wake of Milner’s move to Anfield contributed to the club’s pursuit of Sterling. However, he is not there to ensure City abide by the rules, but to help the club return to the summit of England’s top tier and his ability both on and off the ball will go a long way to making this happen.
Of course, his biggest asset is his ability to run at defenders, but it’s his movement when not in possession that could really help City in the final third. In David Silva, the Citizens have one of the most potent creative talents in England’s top tier. Only Hazard (1165) completed more successful passes in the final third than Silva (915) in the Premier League last season. His 92 key passes were bettered only by Hazard (101) and Cesc Fábregas (95) in England’s top tier.
18 accurate through balls, meanwhile, was the most in the Premier League last term and it’s Silva’s eye for a defence splitting pass that will help bring out the best in Sterling. The Englishman’s pace across the final third has the potential to wreak havoc upon opposition defences. Sterling, while starting on the left, is likely to cut in off the touchline, unlike Navas on the opposite flank. If he can find pockets of space in front of the opposition backline, Silva’s vision, awareness and eye for a defence splitting pass will mean his talents are unlikely to go to waste.
With Sergio Agüero spearheading the attack and creating space off the ball, Sterling’s directness means he has the ability to exploit the areas that will emerge around the 18-yard box. Should Pellegrini opt for a 4-2-3-1 formation – a system he started 17 times in the Premier League last season – then Sterling has the makings of the ideal wideman in the attacking three behind Agüero.
At £49m, City perhaps overspent to secure the services of the young winger, but he’s an upgrade on the options at Pellegrini’s disposal. Given his age, the Citizens have spent big, not only a player who is capable of stepping straight into the starting XI, but one who has the potential to improve a great deal. It’s a big risk to take, of that there is no doubt, but Sterling will inject pace and, importantly, another goal threat from wide positions, unlike Navas. Used properly, the England man could be the player to help bring City Premier League glory next season.
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