Manchester City: Devaluation of Sterling

Many were at fault for Manchester City’s 3-0 loss to Liverpool, but a worrying trend is developing with Raheem Sterling.

The weather forecast for Manchester today is to be sunny all day, of course, it’s March and the UK so I wouldn’t go out with less than 3 layers. Regardless, a 0% chance of precipitation is always welcomed in a place which has about as many dry days a year as Aston Villa have points in the league. Even so, a trip around the centre of town and you may notice one or two people walking around with bags on their heads. Not to avoid the inclement weather, no, this is England beach weather after all, instead as a badge of shame emblematic of the hammering Manchester City received at Anfield against Liverpool last night.

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What an ugly loss. Ugly because it came only a few days after City outclassed their scouse neighbours in just about every aspect in the Capital One Cup Final. Ugly because other title competitors, if indeed City can still be considered to be in contention, all dropped points. Ugly because it could have been so much more than 3-0.

Knee jerk reactions are a Sky Blue pastime. Manuel Pellegrini must go, they say. Oh, he’s already going? Well, he should go sooner. Like say, three days after winning the Capital One Cup and a week after taking a big step towards the quarter finals of the Champions League. That’ll fix it.

If there’s any logic with this approach, I’m not sure that I’m following it. For sure, Pellegrini may accept some blame for the disastrous result last night and indeed, the local slump City have found themselves mired in. Manchester City found themselves completely overrun in the middle of the park last night and all the strikers in the world couldn’t make up for the lack of possession and assists from those behind. Many will suggest Pellegrini’s lack of focus on the midfield allowed Liverpool to get too much into the game, and they aren’t necessarily wrong.

Let’s face it though, Liverpool seemed the hungrier side. They were out for revenge after the cup final and smelled blood from the first whistle. They came away with City’s scalp and three points to add to their tally, racing ever further into the dark abyss of mediocrity. In the end, the cobwebs continue to proliferate in the barren wasteland that is the Liverpool trophy cabinet, but what a moral victory it was nonetheless.

For Manchester City, a familiar pattern emerged and I’m not just talking about the result. One Raheem Sterling, the 21 year old, £49 million acquisition from the very same Liverpool over the summer, showed his Mr Hyde side and was absolutely woeful. How bad? Bad enough for him to be subbed off at half-time despite the obvious abuse he would, and indeed did, receive at the hands of his former club’s support.

Sterling truly is an enigma, the proverbial Forest Gump box of chocolates. His form wavers from game to game, either brilliant, anonymous or outright dire. Never a happy medium is formed. In the Premier League this year he has managed some 5 goals and 2 (2!) assists in 25 appearances. His 5 goals, let it not be said, did not come off the back of a lack of service, as he attempted some 49 shots only 19 of which actually hit the target.

He’s a faster and younger Jesus Navas who can be either much better, much the same or destructively worse at the drop of the hat. His lack of consistency is his biggest fault, unquestionably.

Now, it’s pretty hard to deny Sterling struggles a bit with his end product. The Capital One Cup final was won not because of him, but in spite of him. Two sitters, one with only the keeper to beat, were handed to the young Englishman and he fluffed them. Like, he didn’t even trouble the keeper in the end, he just fluffed them. That’s been symptomatic of what has been a frustrating year for him and Citizens alike. Still that’s only part of the story.

What Sterling does, he does well. He’s quick, tricky and creative, even if his execution isn’t always the best. Is all that worth £49 million? Well, no, but you can’t blame the kid for that. That was his price and Manchester City ownership clearly has more money than sense, so why not? I maintain that it’s unreasonable to hold his price tag over his head, instead, like all players, he must be judged based on his performances. The money’s been paid, now what can Sterling add to City presently and going forward?

It’s debatable just how much, honestly. He’s tricky, but he’s not as talented as David Silva. He’s creative, but doesn’t get as much out of that creativity as Kevin De Bruyne. He’s a faster and younger Jesus Navas who can be either much better, much the same or destructively worse at the drop of the hat. His lack of consistency is his biggest fault, unquestionably.

Fortunately for Sterling and for City, consistency comes with age. Sterling is still very young and can be expected only to get better. With Pep Guardiola on the way, it’s still not unreasonable to suggest that there will remain a place for Sterling even though a mass clearout, as rumoured, is on the books. Who knows? If he could put it all together, he could be among the best in the league. Just for now Sterling remains less than the sum of his parts.

Next: Manchester City 0 - Liverpool 3 Match Report

And therein lies the rub. It’s unfair to blame the lad for the huge financial undertaking Manchester City made to acquire him, or the expectations that come with it. What’s fair is to judge him based on his performances at this level. If City genuinely want to punch at the weight they do, challenging year-on-year for the title, making strides in the Champions League and picking up other silverware en route, then they need much more than an inconsistent winger starting every game. Until that lesson is learned, the bags will continue to be seen on heads around Manchester, come rain or shine.