This is the thing, a player who looks nervous isn't necessarily nervous. A lot of the time it's their build that just makes them look awkward on the ball. Couple of examples, Peter Crouch being the less convincing example, but he's a player who doesn't appear to be comfortable with the ball because of his frame, but you know he is. The other example is Mamadou Sakho from Liverpool, who I'd say is the most underappreciated defender in the prem. For a centre back who people say is awkward on the ball, he dribbles fantastically and his pass success is 87% as well as having played the most passes of any centre back in the league... just realise how impressive that is for a Centre back, very few in the prem are better than him on the ball and those that are will be called calm, composed and comfortable on the ball. And yet, Sakho is called clumsy and dangerous on the ball and I can't blame people for that because he does look it. He looks uncomfortable because that's his body shape, that's his frame and build and his movement.
Raheem Sterling runs like a dinosaur on crack and looks incredibly uncomfortable on a run, and yet he's faster than most in the prem. Looks will always deceive.
Raheem Sterling runs like a dinosaur on crack and looks incredibly uncomfortable on a run, and yet he's faster than most in the prem. Looks will always deceive.

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