Sterling was only let go because they didn’t want to sign him on a new super-max - therefore sell him while his stock is still high.

He is very technically competent and has some of the best movement against a settled defence I’ve ever seen. His finishing is about average, his dribbling is exceptional and his passing is decent too

It’s only really the last two seasons his finishing has been below average, before that it was around par. ‘More likely to miss an open goal from 5 yards out than score’ is an outrageous comment.

https://understat.com/player/618

Peks basically described Werner.

I don't know what a normal breakdown would be for all the stats Edin posted, but it wouldn't make any sense at all to move him on at his age just for the sake of refreshing the side. It's more likely because he's had plenty of time to develop a more lethal edge to his game and he hasn't.

Then why sign Jack Grealish? He’s legitimately terrible at finishing. I think Sterling’s just run his course at City, he’s been there for seven years. He’s played under Pep for six, I’d wage few players have played more games for Pep than him and only Messi and Aguero have scored more for him.

There’s always been this assumption that Pep doesn’t like him, yet evidence shows the contrary. If after six years the player is now leaving it does suggest to me that he’s just given up on him because of his finishing - Sterling’s ability to miss sitters has been well established by now.

comment by it'sonlyagame (U6426)
posted 33 minutes ago
I don't know what a normal breakdown would be for all the stats Edin posted, but it wouldn't make any sense at all to move him on at his age just for the sake of refreshing the side. It's more likely because he's had plenty of time to develop a more lethal edge to his game and he hasn't.


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xG should equal Goals is basically how it should be read. So the last two seasons he has had two fewer goals than he should have based on the statistical average of the chances presented.

I think City are moving him on due to the contract situation more than anything. Sterling is running it down, they don’t want to spend more on wages on him when they can refresh the side.

I also imagine there is a doubt in the back of their mind that he has played a hell of a lot of games already, and despite the fact that players career longevity seems to be improving, I think there is a risk of him tailing off quickly (or being permanently injured).

Edin

comment by Darren The King Fletcher (U10026)
posted 2 hours, 9 minutes ago
Then why sign Jack Grealish? He’s legitimately terrible.
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This

Monza tryin too sign Cavani

Monza tryin too sign Icardi

Platini and Blatter found not guilty of fraud in a Swiss court, JUST HOW??

Marvellous stuff.

I recall years ago Pep saying Sterling could go on to be as good as Messi. The narcissist in him probably thought he’d “made” Messi, and it’s taken him this long to accept he was badly wrong.

Edin, does xG factor in positions in which you may have made better choices or just shooting outcomes?

Also, I’ve no idea how other players’ stats would break down, and I haven’t revisited the page to try to break down the numbers in greater detail, but there’s a massive difference in Sterling’s stats between goals inside and outside the 6-yard box.

I don’t think Sterling’s had a bad career at City, but he definitely hasn’t turned out to be the human cheat code his manager seemed to expect.

Pep talks a lot of shiiiiiit as well, don’t forget.

But for all his faux humility, he’s also an extreme narcissist.

Maybe, but it doesn’t mean his over the top praise for players isn’t complete bullshiiiiit.

It doesn’t, but you two here have also been pretty emphatic about Sterling’s attributes. What do you think he’d achieve if he wasn’t a below-average finisher, and without the benefit of hindsight would you also have agreed it was Pep’s time trying to find out if he could polish his finishing?

I don’t think he’s a below average finisher, though. He just wouldn’t score as many goals as he does if he was. The issue is that when he misses they are usually absolute sitters, so it sticks in people’s mind. He generally puts away good chances at a similar rate to most of the best forwards.

Do how would you define a player who scores less/misses more than is statistically expected?

I have a problem with what is statistically expected. It’s not average finishers that match it consistently, it’s world class ones usually.

comment by Ignacio Varga (U11781)
posted 4 hours, 13 minutes ago
Platini and Blatter found not guilty of fraud in a Swiss court, JUST HOW??
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Becuse jussediss has pre-valed

A witch-hunt by English n US butt-hurt over Rusher n Guitar getting chozed instedda em

comment by it'sonlyagame (U6426)
posted 3 hours, 33 minutes ago
I recall years ago Pep saying Sterling could go on to be as good as Messi. The narcissist in him probably thought he’d “made” Messi, and it’s taken him this long to accept he was badly wrong.

Edin, does xG factor in positions in which you may have made better choices or just shooting outcomes?

Also, I’ve no idea how other players’ stats would break down, and I haven’t revisited the page to try to break down the numbers in greater detail, but there’s a massive difference in Sterling’s stats between goals inside and outside the 6-yard box.

I don’t think Sterling’s had a bad career at City, but he definitely hasn’t turned out to be the human cheat code his manager seemed to expect.
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All xG does is take historical data for a certain shot and work out statistically what percentage that shot is scored.

For example - a weak footed shot from outside of the box may only be scored 2% of the time, a strong footed shot from the 6 yard box is scored 62% of the time. These values are then combined to figure out a players xG in a game - or in the case of what I linked in a season.

What is interesting about xG is when you extrapolate it - it has a lot of value. Before this season the only statistical anomalies to never underperform xG where Messi & Kane - and both had a rare underperformance vs the xG they generated.

Continuing with Sterling - what Darren said is mostly true - the high profile misses of his is why people think he is a worse finisher than he is when he is realistically statistically average. Had he, however, been an absolute finishing freak like Messi (or even Kane to that matter) - he'd have an additional 5 goals a season and we'd be talking about him as potentially the third best player in the world.

"ad he, however, been an absolute finishing freak like Messi (or even Kane to that matter) - he'd have an additional 5 goals a season and we'd be talking about him as potentially the third best player in the world."



just shows me how much bollox football stats can be

Why?