"Raheem Sterling - The Greatest Misunderstood Player Of This Generation"

Words from a diehard lifelong Manchester City fan

With Chelsea working on a deal to sign Raheem Sterling this summer, I wanted to get some words from someone who knows him better than anyone else, or at least how he plays week-in-week out.

We’ve all seen Sterling play, we all have our views. But I think when it comes to being able to give a perfect and most accurate view on the player, you want to speak to someone who watches every single game that he’s played over the last seven years.

My best friend happens to be a lifelong diehard Manchester City fan, he was there way before the money came in and he remembers the hard times at the club. He’s also very knowledgeable on football so I wanted to get his thoughts on Sterling.

He tells me that the player will be missed by City fans, and he is adored by them. Which says a lot. If a player can win over the fans and become a cult hero, they’re already in a perfect position.

“Sterling is mustard, City fan Dean Hunt tells me. “But he can be quite frustrating too. He’ll score when you least expect him too, and won’t score when you expect him too.”

Hmmmm, we’ve heard and seen this before, right? Although the players who have been frustrating us with their poor finishing all season perhaps don’t exactly ‘score when you least expect them to’ either.

But I think what makes Sterling so adored is his immense work rate and intensity. But an Olympic sprinter could get on a football pitch and run all day at pace, you need a bit more than that to be a good footballer, and that’s where Sterling shines. He doesn’t just have the energy and mentality to fight, he has the quality, skill, and directness on the ball to make him standout.

When I asked my mate Dean for some more extensive words on Sterling, what he loves and what he dislikes, he started the reply with: “Raheem Sterling - the greatest misunderstood player of this generation.”

And I think that response to start off his thoughts was very apt, because Sterling is under rated by many and he’s been fighting adversity his whole career. He’s been written off by many, and scapegoated by England fans at times.

“If he plays for your team, you understand his value to the team that other supporters won’t get,” Dean continues.

“It’s a bit like when Gareth Barry and James Milner were at City, they were loved by the fans, they were a critical part of the team, but other fans didn’t get it at the time.”

Admittedly, I’ve been pretty vocal in saying that Sterling wouldn’t be my first choice, and I think that is purely down to the frustrating side of him, the missed chances, and the waste of opportunities. That’s why he isn’t my first choice, and that still very much concerns me.

But I can also see why Thomas Tuchel would want to sign him, because he is certainly a ‘Tuchel-type’ of player, there’s no doubt.

“His work rate is phenomenal,” Dean says. “He scores goals, creates goals and runs all game until the 90th minute.”

This is great, but the pressing feeling of him being a frustrating player especially in front of goal, I can’t get that out of my head.

“He has a frustrating side to his game,” Dean says. “He nearly always misses sitters, he’s terrible at one-on-one vs the keeper too, quite hesitant in front of goal. I know it sounds like a contradiction, but it’s like having two players. The amazing Raheem, and the frustrating Raheem.”

I can relate those comments to many Chelsea players of the past few years, and this is why I have my real doubts.

Of course, when/if he arrives, he will have be total backing and my trust is in Thomas Tuchel. If Tuchel wants him, then that’s fine with me. We will need to afford a bit of patience as well, which many Chelsea fans find impossible.

“He needs time in the team, and fans will need to be patient,” Dean says. “He should be at his peek now, but still needs to improve on things, mainly his finishing.

“His stats are good though, but her certainly could be better, especially in a team like City’s that create chances left right and center.”

What about at Chelsea? Well, he knows the English boys very well of course, and this is where he could thrive.

“He’ll link up well with Reece James or Ben Chilwell as he can play on both sides in a front three,” believes Dean.

But the bottom line is City fans will miss him, and that says a lot. Dean also believes Sterling will do well at Chelsea and we will be lucky to have him. So again, despite the frustrations, this also speaks volumes.

“He’ll do well at Chelsea in my opinion and they’ll be lucky to have him,” Dean concludes.

As I’ve said, I’m split. I absolutely LOVE Sterling’s strengths, but he has clear weaknesses as well, weaknesses that I’ve grown far too used to watching at Chelsea every week! But he will certainly improve our squad, and I believe he will have a good impact IF he arrives this summer. His pace, direct style of play, and ability to make something happen from nothing, is the exact thing I’ve been vocal about us missing from our squad ever since Eden Hazard left. And no, I’m not comparing Sterling to Hazard, but he would certainly bring a bit more X-factor’ than we currently have.

For the right price, it could be a smart buy. But I have definite concerns.

Simon Phillips