Topic: Daniel Sturridge

[JD.]

Sample sizes but also 21% from a much higher xG/shot, yes? Liverpool got in behind more, Sturridge got in behind more and his chances would've been way easier.

Easier than the absolute sitters he has missed for fun in the last week against Spartak and Newcastle?

He isn't as good a finisher now as he used to be. That's crystal clear to everyone who wants to take off the red tinted glasses.

[groove]

Go watch the Arsenal FA Cup game in 13/14 and watch him miss more sitters than those two games combined.

[JD.]

How do they become worse finishers? How do you lose a technical and mental skill like that? You don't. Your legs get tired, injuries catch up with you, you play less and all of a sudden you can't get to the back post to get that tap in or you can't race in behind a defence to get a one-on-one. The easier chances dry up for you, lower xG/shot happens and your shot/goal% will go down.

If you honestly want to try claim strikers can't become worse finishers than when they were in their peaks then there isn't much I can say to you.

Do you really believe Torres is as good in front of goal now as in 2007?

[groove]

In terms of pure finishing, probably. There certainly won't be a big drop off. I'd wager his big chances/game has gone down though. Conversion% 17% and 19% in his last two seasons at Atletico.

It's interesting in the season since 13/14 that Sturridge managed to get 50 shots his conversion% went back up to 17%. He probably is in that elite bracket of 15-20% in a top chance creating team given a good sample size. But he's barely played 1,000 minutes in the league since then. He just needs more football, which I don't think he will or necessarily should get. Bobby's plus point are just too good for the team.

[poopscoop]

I'd be more worried if we were shipping goals and not making chances to balls up. This will resolve itself with a pasteing of gigantosaurus proportions. Just as everything Mo Salah touched in pre season turned into goals so shall it be in a few weeks. And we'll all move on to why Lucas should never have been allowed to leave because we don't have a boring player to focus our wrath on anymore. 

[Too early for flapjacks?]

If you have reduced mobility in your hip area of course your finishing can get worse.

[redtrev]

His problem is games and confidence. If he gets games his finishing will come back. And thus is confidence. Prob is u till were killing teams for fun again he is unlikely to get them. But I think he has enough arrogance or mental strenght to get through this and Co. E back strong again.

[Keith Lard]

Daniel Sturridge is truly a force of nature Such a funny guy ... carpool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_3Dmaa4exA

[rocco]

Daniel Sturridge is truly a force of nature Such a funny guy ... carpool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_3Dmaa4exA

Cheers

[amirani]

Daniel Sturridge is truly a force of nature Such a funny guy ... carpool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_3Dmaa4exA

Dan the man. Been looking forward to these kind of videos. Loved the previous rap/hip hop quiz ones in the previous ones. Seems like a great lad all round.

[CrasherKid79]

Daniel Sturridge is truly a force of nature Such a funny guy ... carpool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_3Dmaa4exA

Ha that’s brilliant. Seems like a top lad.

[johnamiri]

Dan looks like a shadow of the player he was. He was never quick but now he looks like he's running in treacle. The injuries seem to have taken their toll and Klopp doesn't fancy using him at all. If thats the case Lets see what Solanke can do . He has one advantage in that he has a bit of height and is more mobile than Dan

[Ciara (with a capital "C")]

I was praying our first change would be Solanke, because he runs and tries to force players into areas.

I think Sturride is good to bring on when we are in a game, having lots of possession and creating opportunities. He finds space outside the box, he can come deep and get the ball, bringing defenders with him and he can finish.

But away from home, struggling to create chances, against a very good defence, I'm not sure what he can bring to be honest. I would rather have had Solanke come on. And that's not a knee-jerk, I was calling for it when I saw him coming on.

I don't think he is properly match fit - how can he be? So I do feel for him in a way. So much is expected of him when he comes on the pitch. I think we are expecting Sturridge of 13/14 but that's long gone IMO.

[rowan_d]

Dan looks like a shadow of the player he was. He was never quick but now he looks like he's running in treacle. The injuries seem to have taken their toll and Klopp doesn't fancy using him at all. If thats the case Lets see what Solanke can do . He has one advantage in that he has a bit of height and is more mobile than Dan

The strange thing is that he spent years coming back from constant injuries and looking like he'd never been out. Then he has the procedure that was supposed to alleviate his injury issues at the source (whatever that was), and since then his legs have gone and he's seemed physically shot to pieces.

Have to wonder if that's a coincidence, if my memory of the order of events is correct. He's available much more often now than he ever has been for us, but we're worse off imo.

[Jay012345]

Id start to get Solanki involved much more regularly, he could be special if handled correctly. Studge just doesn't look like scoring at all at the moment, he hardly getting into position for chances. Klopp subs very late though so hard for anyone to make an impact in 15 mins here and there.

[killer-heels]

It was almost embarrassing asking him to play up top alone against Sanchez, Alderweirald and Vertonghen. In fact, why did Klopp not just go with two up front?

[GreenLaneRed27]

The strange thing is that he spent years coming back from constant injuries and looking like he'd never been out. Then he has the procedure that was supposed to alleviate his injury issues at the source (whatever that was), and since then his legs have gone and he's seemed physically shot to pieces.

Have to wonder if that's a coincidence, if my memory of the order of events is correct. On the one hand, he's available much more often now than he ever has been for us, but we're worse off imo.

That’s a good point..: he does seem worse despite efforts to cure his injuries and give him rest of etc... my only excuse is down to his age multiplied by rustiness multiplied by the accumulated effects of constant injuries, treatment, surgery and rehab... this has irreparably damaged his body, his mindset and his confidence is shot to pieces...

[Anywhichwayicant]

It's sad to see really. His body just cannot do what his mind wants.

We've been fortunate to have had so many great players, and he would have been right up there, if not for the injuries.

A super talented footballer, who by all account seems like a really lovely fella off the field too.

Not often I get misty eyed about multi-millionaire footballers, but yeah.

[Phil M]

It was almost embarrassing asking him to play up top alone against Sanchez, Alderweirald and Vertonghen. In fact, why did Klopp not just go with two up front?

Or give Solanke a go.

[killer-heels]

Or give Solanke a go.

They probably were both needed. Was unfair expecting either of them to do anything against three centrebacks of the quality and form that Spurs have.

[lionel_messias]

I'd be more worried if we were shipping goals and not making chances to balls up. This will resolve itself with a pasteing of gigantosaurus proportions. Just as everything Mo Salah touched in pre season turned into goals so shall it be in a few weeks. And we'll all move on to why Lucas should never have been allowed to leave because we don't have a boring player to focus our wrath on anymore. 

It didn't, did it?

We smashed Maribor.


Still shit at defending.

[poopscoop]

It didn't, did it?

We smashed Maribor.


Still shit at defending.

Let's just agree we have our moments. Work in progress sign is still up. I still believe Sturridge is the best finisher we've got but he doesn't seem to have the legs anymore.

[Robinred]

Dan looks like a shadow of the player he was. He was never quick but now he looks like he's running in treacle.he injuries seem to have taken their toll and Klopp doesn't fancy using him at all. If thats the case Lets see what Solanke can do . He has one advantage in that he has a bit of height and is more mobile than Dan

Agree with all but the bolded bit. He was rapid in his pomp.

[plura]

Agree with all but the bolded bit. He was rapid in his pomp.

Not quick, yeah that's not what most people would have said if they'd describe Daniel of old. Such a shame.

[jooneyisdagod]

Not quick, yeah that's not what most people would have said if they'd describe Daniel of old. Such a shame.

One can just go through old RAWK posts about Sturridge, particularly when he first signed, and see immediately that he was always talked about for how speedy he was. Yet, few seasons down the line, "he was never THAT quick". Revisionism is a funny thing. What's interesting though is that one might imagine that this notion was put to bed with the speed stats that led to the creation of this thread but apparently people continue peddling myths such as Sturridge was never quick anyway.

[Poet]

One thing that I associated Sturridge with when he signed was his pace and his acceleration. Injuries over the years have most definitely taken their toll.

[groove]

I don't think he was ever rapid, if rapid means as quick as Salah/Mane. But he was definitely in that next group of pretty fucking quick. But it was always coupled with the world class movement. He still has that, of course. I just think it's harder to run in behind as a lone striker vs a flat back 4. It's easier to get your wide forwards in the gaps between full back and centre back, as we're seeing with Mane and Salah. Sturridge had similar problems for Rodgers playing as a lone striker, but when you paired him with someone (Suarez/Sterling/Balotelli/Origi) that's always where things opened up for him.

Anyway, there was no real opportunity for him on Sunday as Spurs had already adjusted into a fairly conservative mode and he found himself surrounded every time he received the ball. Should've been on a lot earlier for me.

[Santiago]

Dont care what anyone says, love this bloke

[groove]

Seems to sniff out a couple of those a season, where he reads a loose back pass or a napping full back.

[groove]

Didn't think he was that good today though. If you're physical with him you've always been able to bully him out the game a bit I think. Get right in his back when he receives the ball and don't let him turn.

[gregorio]

Thank Christ for that decent finish that came at the right time today

[JackWard33]

I love Daniel Sturridge. Even Crocked Daniel is better than whoever you like. Fact.

[Shaved Crossbar]

I don't think he was ever rapid, if rapid means as quick as Salah/Mane.

He was definitely as quick as that duo - we talked about him as one of the quickest players in the league. Watch his goals against Fulham away 2013 and 2014, Arsenal at home 2014, Swansea home 2014, Cardiff away 2014, Everton home 2014. They were just from outright pace. His more valuable trait used to be immense acceleration in and around the box.

[Phil M]

Still see him dropping far too deep at times. When Salah swivels to shoot that one that the keeper turns away from the post Daniel is 20 yards behind Salah. Seems to be energy conserving at times rather than getting into the box in support where we know he can be lethal.
Delighted for him to get his 100th in front of the Kop.

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

Delighted for him to get his 100th in front of the Kop.

Yeah that was really nice to see.

Well in Daniel.

[HardworkDedication]

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/BIiSwxLz2Ok" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/BIiSwxLz2Ok</a>

He sure weren't happy about his pace stats haha

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

He sure weren't happy about his pace stats haha

thanks for that, enjoyable.

[Gus 1855]

That's very funny, not Raheem's biggest fan, but Sturridge is bloody hilarious.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

I love Sturridge, great personality, glad he's around.

[groove]

That's quite interesting though. If Raheem and Daniel are like bemused at it, either no-one's noticed he's got a lot slower or he hasn't got that much slower but just holds back a lot