Footballers are generally far too busy with the business of playing football matches at this time of year to indulge in too much reflective thinking.
But if Raheem Sterling were to sit back and contemplate his 2021, it would be fascinating to know what he made of it all.
It has been another landmark year for one of the marquee names of this Premier League era.
He was England’s best player as they reached a first major tournament final since 1966, added another Carabao Cup and league title to his ample collection and is presently enjoying a purple patch in front of goal that has propelled him into the Premier League’s 100 goals club.
And yet, Sterling - who was one of the nominees for the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award on Sunday - went from roughly March to November not looking his usual self in City colours. There was also transfer and contract speculation to deal with.
According to former City defender Nedum Onuoha, one thing never wavered.
“It’s his desire,” Onuoha told City Is Ours on Facebook live.
“Even for the goal against Newcastle [on Sunday], as the ball’s wide he’s level with the full-back and then he turns on the jets to get into that six-yard box to be able to have a tap in.
“That’s not normal, not everybody’s doing that. Some people will hang out on the edge of the box and let the game pass them by but he always wants to put himself into a position when he can have a direct impact on the game.
“For people like that, it’s good when they get rewarded. He’s scoring those goals now. His overall play was good anyway, but if you’re playing in City’s frontline you get judged off statistics.
“Some people might level criticism that he misses chances, but everybody misses chances - I’ve yet to find somebody who doesn’t.”
Sterling now has six goals in his past nine appearances for City in all competitions. In the 12 club games prior to that, he failed to find the net.
For most players, you would expect such Jekyll and Hyde returns to seep across other aspects of their performances, but Onuoha insists this is not the case with Raheem.
“Having played against him a couple of times, you notice how direct he is. He just takes it to you,” he said.
“Whether it’s going well or going badly he’ll continue to do that. He won’t shy away from a challenge because of the fact he’s not scored in three or four games.
“When you step out there, your duel with him is going to be exactly the same. The only difference is whether he’s on the scoresheet or not.”
Nedum added: “With other players, if they fall out of confidence it completely changes the way they play. They’re not trying to make the right runs in behind or take people on.
“Games are easier because you know you’re not getting the best version of them, but [Raheem] is always a test. As a defender, it’s just pure hassle for 90 minutes.”
At times, it might have done him some good to avoid the white heat of the penalty area and another missed opportunity or heavy touch.
But Sterling knows no other way and his phenomenal levels of persistence and resilience means he will end the year where he started it - as a first-choice attacker for one of the best teams in world football, irrespective of how winding and uneven the road has been in between those two points.
Do you think Sterling is back to his best? Follow the City Is Ours editor Dom Farrell on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
