English fans are very easy to ride cliches. Both about certain players and football in general

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Oh and don't forget that Sterling is an average player despite being good enough to play regularly for Guardiola's City, as well as having the most career goals and assist of any u23 bar Berardi in Europe

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So why don't we see another Campbell, Ferdinand, Thuram, Romario, Rivaldo, Henry, etc, on a regular like we used to?
In particular cbs. The level of defenders has gone downhill for one. Ffs Ramos who is a good player is probably considered the best one right now along with other decent ones. Same with strikers and players in other positions.

It's only nostalgia that tells you that

If the strikers you mentioned had better strike rates than the likes of Suarez, Lewa, Cavani, Benzema, etc you would say that is a case that they are better

However if the modern strikers had better strike rates you would just say the level of defending nowadays is lower

You grew up idolising those players so the current crop will never live up to them in your eyes. Just like every generation has their idols who they claim were the best

You're right that I don't watch Walker as much as a Tottenham fan did or a City fan will. But we are just stating opinions here. I don't think he would be first choice for England when Gary Neville was in his prime. You don't play at the highest level for 10 years if you're not a top player. We've had many players who could fill in but never truly replaced him on the right. And one just has to look at Valencia at United to see what moder day full backs are. Valencia is one of the top RBs in the league. What you said about Walker I could say pretty much the same for him (though I do think Walker is better).

Onto Luiz and Always comments. I actually think that if he wasn't Brazilian with his trademark afro, he'd have it much harder than he has. I don't rate him as a defender. My opinion. No need to be upset about it. Hes average defender who is good with the ball at his feet. He's playing in a system that utilises him well. Even Lee Grant put in a world class performance last year against us has had a few blinders but that doesn't make him a world class keeper. Accept that people will disagree with you and move on.

Football these days is all Hollywood hype with popstar players and groupie fans.
I think the game as a whole these days is far less attractive, too many nullifying rules, overpriced players offering poor value for money.
Not enough top quality English players coming through, our national team is ridiculously lacking any quality in depth. So for me, yes the quality on offer in the prem these days is definitely on the wain. Ant top four that includes spurs and Liverpool is a true indicator that the premier league is waining.

We've (United*) had many players who could fill in but never truly replaced him on the right.

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I was talking about United here rather than England.

comment by Always NPE - 1,000,002 (U20804)
posted 12 hours, 22 minutes ago
I think we are technically more adept than before.

In the 90s it was largely 4-4-2, with a football based on set plays, with a level of physicality no longer allowed, and where defending was essential to securing titles.

The reason we are falling behind Europe's best is nothing to do with technique, which was never the PL's forte (a league renowned for pace and aggressiveness). Instead it is because the best clubs have forgotten how to defend, and how organise themselves into shape.

Part of that is due to how football has shifted priorities of goalkeepers and defenders, especially full backs, but mostly it's because the strength and speed that made the PL so successful in Europe between 2004-2012 has gone.

It also doesn't help that Messi and Ronaldo exist.

From a ball-playing, technique point of view however, this is possibly the best the PL has ever been. So many wonderful technical players.
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Don't think I could disagree with a post anymore than this. Terrible

Also those who rate sterling,
Scored a defected goal and a ball fell to him 10 yards out. If not for that he would easily be one of the worst performing players this season. City were much better at the weekend with sterling out the team.

comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 52 minutes ago
Also those who rate sterling,
Scored a defected goal and a ball fell to him 10 yards out. If not for that he would easily be one of the worst performing players this season. City were much better at the weekend with sterling out the team.
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Nowadays the hipsters rate players on their social media antics, haircuts and their fifa rating instead of using their eyes.

Mr.C

How often does Sterling turn up against big teams as well? Half of his league goals in his first season at City came against Bournemouth.

also 2 goals in 34 games for England...

Sterling is only 22 to be fair.

Lampard at that age was still seen a fat kid only in the West Ham side because of his uncle, for a bit of context.

Lampard until just turned 23 at West Ham in 2001
148 PL games
24 PL goals
Tad under 1 in 6

Sterling at (almost) 23.
162 PL games
33 PL games
Tad over 1 in 5

Can only judge it as I see it. Lampard was not playing with silva, KDB and aguero every week teeing him up. The amount of times silva puts sterling through is madness.

Lampard also didn't have gerrard and suarez at west ham either.

I think the quality of player is on the decrease overall (English players especially).

But I think the tactical side of things had improved.

Sterling's game is not really about goals though, whereas Lampard has built his career off it.

If we are to highlight the former's lack of goals at under 23, referencing against the 2nd best PL goalscoring midfielder ever at the same age is a good gauge

Also...

Lampard only got 34 in his first 151 games for Chelsea

comment by HRH King Ledley (U20095)
posted 6 minutes ago
Sterling's game is not really about goals though, whereas Lampard has built his career off it.

If we are to highlight the former's lack of goals at under 23, referencing against the 2nd best PL goalscoring midfielder ever at the same age is a good gauge
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The amount of times Sterling gets into positions to score means it should also be about goals for him. As we know he is pretty rubbish when it comes to taking chances and should have about twice as many goals as he has.

While he is young, I've so far not seen any dramatic improvement in his game. If he goes on to be as good and influential as Lampard was I'll eat my mouth.

There is far greater pressure on managers not to lose. So there is far more formulaic type of football rather than the attacking stuff we used to see.

Just giving the facts.

Lampard scored less goals-per-game than Sterling at the same age, and barely more in the 150 games after.

Sterling may improve his finishing, he may not. It should not be the sole criteria to judge him by though, especially at his age when the 2nd best PL goalscoring non-striker had a worse record at the same age

Most top teams defending has decreased due to the fact formations have changed to a 3-5-2 and fans want to be entertained

How is 3-5-2 more attacking than 4-4-2?

Teams are trying to suffocate the opposition by playing an extra defender. Its no surprise that an Italian started this fashion. We are now all trying to play the awful Italian system. Only one step from from the truly boring catenaccio that destroyed Italian football.