I agree, it's not outside the realm of possibility that it might actually happen. I think City is the only other club he might choose over us. They're clearly all in on the CL, while hammering all their opponents in a very competitive league, and their dodgy salary schemes must be quite enticing. I would bet on him going there, but won't rule us out.
Erling Haaland
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
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People saying he'll go to where he's guaranteed a league title, so Bayern then? Or PSG, even though they're making a meal of it this season. He's certainly not guaranteed it at Chelsea, he should be at City, they should be winning it every year, but they don't.
I'm afraid it'll be between Chelsea and City
I agree somewhat.
I'd be certain he'll end up in Manchester. And Manchester ONLY... no other club around the world could conceivably afford him.
So his choice isn't a city, His choice is red or blue.
And in this choice I wouldn't trust too much in Ole being with us as a factor. Him and his family don't really seem like the sentimental types. Unless we finish strong and offer what it takes, I doubt it. But who knows.
We can only go on what they say and both Ole and Haaland seem to have a bond. You cant really pretend otherwise because its guessing for the sake of guessing.
No no, I am not saying otherwise. I'm just not confident it's enough, but I really hope I'll look like an idiot when him and Ole are shaking hands and grinning at the contract making him our most expensive and well paid player
It depends on the players motivations. These guys know a lot about how these clubs really operate on the inside, and what the culture is like within the dressing room. Pep and Ole are clearly a very different style of manager, both in personality - Pep seems a lot more intense - and also in the way that they ask their players to approach the game. I think someone like Jose would really struggle to attract these kinds of talents now if the general perception about his work environments being quite toxic are true, but with Ole I think he might be someone that would really appeal to a certain type of player.
I don't see Chelsea or Liverpool being a factor in this. Not sure why. Just doesn't feel right. I think he will come to the PL next, whether it be this summer or next, and I would say its a 55/45% chance between ourselves and City - the edge to United coming from that personal relationship with Ole added to the fact that when it comes to players that we really want, more often than not we tend to get those deals done whatever it takes.
They will need a forward, have endless dosh and given his family history it all seems too obvious.
Why is everyone thinking BVB will sell him this year? They'll sell Sancho first and then Erling next year. They won't sell both in the same window
knowing they have to let him go next season for a relatively low number will make it difficult for them to justify rejecting bids
can you see Dortmund turning down an extra £35m to keep him for one season? Seems unlikely in this climate
How does a player who’s biggest weakness is outside the box, recycling possession when space is compact and biggest strengths are on quick, direct transitions with space to operate in scream Pep Guardiola? I seriously don’t see it. Messi will go to City and play as a false 9.
hmmmm... nah. His old fella played for shit clubs.
He’ll tell the Erl not waste his career and to play for a proper club, so he can tell the grandchildren about sharing a dressing room with Phil Jones, Lindelof etc
Yeah, will be very surprised if City sign him, especially if Pep stays.
Especially if they finish outside the CL places.
Exactly. He's not the sort of striker Pep likes.
There are a few people who have raised very credible points about the lack of influence Haaland has in the build up. The notion is he's very clinical but you can put Haaland in our team and we will still struggle to break down opposition defences.
Much is said about Kane and Lewandowski but they bring a lot to the table when it comes to general play.
The fact some of the top teams are struggling doesn't mean they won't bounce back quickly. A player who is after a move may be thinking slightily more forward than 'who is looking good right now'. Plenty of people are looking at United and aren't that impressed that what we are showing will really take us to the top.
If the clause isn't relevant this summer, I'm not sure anyone will be able to buy him, including us. Covid affected us as well and we have other positions to fill.
Of course a top player would see as a possibile destination. We may not be his number one choice, though, even in England.
I remember Haaland saying he wants to emulate Zlatan’s career. Meaning he respected his ability to win in multiple countries. I can see his next stop being England. Then eventually Spain (Madrid) and Italy. If we get him, don’t see it being prolonged. Perhaps 3-5 years max.
Would be quite happy with that if it's the case though, as long as he performs and we get a decent fee.
The other point to note is that Guardiola hates Raiola and refuses to deal with him. I'm pretty sure that's why he leaked Raiola offering Pogba to City.
We're the top scorers in the league despite only scoring 1 goal in 7 matches against the top 6. That means 52 goals in 19 games against the other 14 teams. Breaking down buses isn't our problem anymore. A clinical striker (especially in fine margin games against top 6) would elevate us to the next level.
You're anyway massively underestimating Haaland's influence. His movement and anticipation is excellent. He never switches off and is always sniffing any kind of half chance. There was a cross in the second half from James which Mendy made a meal out of. That's a likely goal if we have Haaland there. Firstly he'd try everything to get on the end of the cross from James. Failing that he'd immediately switch focus and expect a rebound from Mendy. We piss away so many potential goals because we lack anticipation in the box. Our forwards expect the ball to arrive at their feet in the box and when that doesn't happen they lose interest in that attack.
He's still work in progress. When Kane and Lewandowski were the same age they were playing for Letyton Orient and some second tier Polish club respectively.
Didn't some player say Pep don't like playing with 9?
Looks like he is close to his dream team with 6 midfielders playing.
There's also an added factor that almost everyone in Norway that follows football is expecting him to go to either United or pool. (The 2 biggest clubs in Norway). And most of them lean towards United as well since Ole is our biggest legend, and the general public is quite proud that "one of ours" is managing the biggest club in the world. There's a build-up of emotions coming for when Haaland makes his next move and so many would love for our current biggest star to reunite with our legend at United. It seems like a story made for a movie or something along those lines.
With that said, I of course expect Erling and his team to make a decision based on a promising football project and financial compensation, where on both counts we can go toe-to-toe with pretty much all of the big teams in the world.
But I think what I mentioned above can play a factor in tipping the scales in our favor. The media loves to prod about this and would blow it up hugely in Norway, and I'm guessing all types of family like distant cousins and whatnot will be asking if he's gonna go to United.
Norwegians have an unhealthy obsession about us even being mentioned internationally. Probably because we're such a small country. Even someone mentioning a thing from Norway on reddit will get you droves of people in the comments going "I æm aLso fråm Nørway!!".
So Erling being viewed as possibly the greatest attacking player in the world in the coming decade is the big topic to talk about for anyone that even remotely knows that football is a round ball kicked between some players. Even my mother knows lots about him. And they would all love for him to join up with the other football guy they all know of, Ole.
With that said, I of course expect Erling and his team to make a decision based on a promising football project and financial compensation, where on both counts we can go toe-to-toe with pretty much all of the big teams in the world.
But I think what I mentioned above can play a factor in tipping the scales in our favor. The media loves to prod about this and would blow it up hugely in Norway, and I'm guessing all types of family like distant cousins and whatnot will be asking if he's gonna go to United.
Norwegians have an unhealthy obsession about us even being mentioned internationally. Probably because we're such a small country. Even someone mentioning a thing from Norway on reddit will get you droves of people in the comments going "I æm aLso fråm Nørway!!".
So Erling being viewed as possibly the greatest attacking player in the world in the coming decade is the big topic to talk about for anyone that even remotely knows that football is a round ball kicked between some players. Even my mother knows lots about him. And they would all love for him to join up with the other football guy they all know of, Ole.
Sounds like someone needs to produce a PSA-type feel-good video where all the moms and grandmothers in Norway say 'Go to United, Erling,' along with variations on "It's not about the money. It's about history." etc.
Also someone needs to capture Raiola's face when he sees a four-foot-ten ninety-two year old woman scupper all his plans for a bidding war.
That didn’t come overnight tbh. Kane was average outside the box until a few years ago.
Yeah that definitely needs to happen similar to the one we produced when winning the bid for the 2012 Olympics
Yeah, there's all that.
But then we have Pep and Txiki buying Ibrahimovic (with Raiola as agent) for a whopping 50m € plus Samuel Eto'o in 2009 to remind us that those two are not adverse to doing epically, earth-shatteringly nonsensical and braindead moves, like spending record money on the kind of striker Pep doesn't even like.
Yeah that is a concern
Totally agreed. He will do well in a team like City or Liverpool where they are always attacking and have major share of the possession. At Utd, his reputation will take a hit and people will say his is overrated. We struggle to beat bottom feeders, I don’t believe one striker onboard and we turn overnight to a team scoring for fun. Ole still need 2-3 years to figure out his identity. Nobody knows how his team plays.
We are the top scorers in the league
Cuckcafe.
Sadcafe in a nutshell. Bluemoon will be laughing hysterically at sad sack posts like this.
Which team in the PL do you support?
Sounds like you're not a fan of Manchester United.
For your information we have scored the most goals in the league, produced the 3rd most shots in the league, we are 4th in the league in possession numbers and still have a much bigger name in world football than the oilmoney club playing at Etihad. We also have a much younger squad with many player still far from peaking.
Regarding the bottom feeders:
Record this season vs. teams outside the traditional top 6 (City, L'pool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs):
Us: 14W, 3D, 2L
City: 15W, 3D, 1L
Liverpool: 8W, 5D, 6L
If you can't see how we play, that's on you. We play a more direct style than City and Liverpool, with a mix of high early pressing and deeper pressing after 5 seconds after losing possession. We take opportunities to play fast, direct and vertically on the breaks, but play shorter passes and less direct when circulating the ball against established defences. You may prefer Peps or Klopps approach, but we definitely have an identity and a defined style of play.
Haaland would get a lot more praise in Norway if he signed for us than if he signed for City.
Liverpool have lost to Brighton, Burnley, Southampton, Villa. Drawn with West Brom, Newcastle, Fulham, Brighton.
Pep doesn't play with a CF like Haaland.
We are top scorers and our forwards haven't even been in form. Haaland turns those draws against the top 6 into wins.
I actually think Zlatan was the type of striker Pep like. He was just not the personality. Zlatan in his younger years was almost a type of false 9. A playmaker, heavily involved in buildup, but also a striker.
Zlatan just wasn’t as good as was ever made out. Eto’o was easily a higher calibre forward than him - just without all of that Lion crap.
Someone calling it as it is. Sometimes the Zlatan overhyping on the Caf gets tedious.
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