In The world of sports, offense is always glorified meanwhile defense is that little hump or extra finger that helps you achieve what you want but nobody ever mentions it as much or even considers it. The best sport athletes for years have been offensive, aggressive " i take what i want type of players". Maradona, michael jordan, joe montana, wayne gretzky, they all have had great players around them that make up for their own flaws, after all we are human, and even them have flaws. The reason as for my analogy is not that we have one of the best or the worst in the world, is that we have a flawed player, an english player, a lefty, a 12 goals scorer.
For those that have criticized Mr. Sturridge left and right, i plead to you that consider the fact that this is his first year as a full-time starter, he was loaned last season because he was deemed as not needed, he carried us through a big stretch in the first half of the season when torres and drogba were nowhere to be found. He has been playing a position that does not take full advantage of his skills, it does not even enhance them.
For me Daniel sturridge is a must to have on this team, he can provide instant offense from the bench as an added winger or extra striker, meanwhile he becomes that special flawed player that one day all chelsea fans will embrace.
This is the scouting report on him by whoscored:
Dribbling | Strong |
Long shots | Strong |
Finishing | Strong |
Headed attempts | Strong |
- Weaknesses
Defensive contribution | Very Weak |
Holding on to the ball | Weak |
Passing | Weak |
Aerial Duels | Weak |
Crossing |
Weak |
What comes to mind is that he has a couple of things he needs to work on, specially passing and holding onto the ball. But overall this is a unique young english player that almost no team in the premier has, Hopefully hell stick cuz i sure as hell want him to stay.