Back to back defeats this week may be noted as the key factor to City’s most worrying time of the season thus far, but, the ever-growing injury list we have at the moment is the situation we should fear the most. These injuries have tested the depth of Pellegrini’s squad and have given more City players bigger opportunities to play themselves into the the first team; take a look at Sagna for example.
These same injuries that have given opportunities have, however, caused an attacking dilemma which has seen the blues only net three in the last three games. Aguero and Silva being out of recent action is a huge miss for City of course, but players that we’ve spent so much money on, players like Raheem Sterling, need to step up to the plate.
Watching Raheem for City and I would say that the youngster doesn’t take enough responsibility in the final third and I’m not sure if this is the player or the manager, since we see it every week by Navas, but it needs to change. Instead of shifting possession backwards or sideways to other players, I would love to see him just be selfish once in a while and take a man on or go for the shot. He certainly has the capability of doing this and it’s very frustrating to watch a player with so much potential not utilising it.
This was shown on this weekend’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham where the only attacking player making space and taking the game into his own hands was debutant De Bruyne. Sterling’s touch was off, he lost the ball far too easily and I can’t remember a time in the game when he went forward or took his man on.
Although I agree with the fact that you can’t judge a player by his price-tag nowadays, I do expect more from him. I can only imagine what a world-class winger would have achieved in the 70+ appearances Navas has made for City, and I expect these imaginations to be accommodated for in the form of Raheem Sterling.
David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne find it very easy to create one-on-one opportunities for City wingers and we need to take advantage of this. Rather than becoming an English version of Jesus Navas, Sterling needs to capitalise on this space provided to showcase his pace and dribble talents.
Protecting the ball and getting used to City’s possession-based football will come naturally over time, but, if Raheem can add goals to his game then we will have one hell of a player. Putting this together with a disposal of world-class attackers and City’s front four will truly be feared. In conclusion and without banging on about injuries, NOW is the perfect time for Raheem Sterling to prove his worth at City.
