I think he's fine footballing wise. Nothing crazy but his link up play had definitely gone up a notch at Dortmund although it was already better than given credit for at Salzburg. He's even a decent dribbler when he's on a run. But the issue for me is rather how he moves and which spaces he occupies. He only ever goes for goals.he's not dragging defenders out of position for others to attack the free space, he's not coming short to participate in one twos or offer a solution when a team mate is under pressure, etc. Instead he always speculates for the final ball. But you can't play that direct as a top team and it is clear that a Guardiola team in particular is even less direct - and it was usually proven successful in the past.
Nordic Ghost Yeti (Scandi Carroll) | Haaland at City
- Thread starter Samid
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I think he's fine footballing wise. Nothing crazy but his link up play had definitely gone up a notch at Dortmund although it was already better than given credit for at Salzburg. He's even a decent dribbler when he's on a run. But the issue for me is rather how he moves and which spaces he occupies. He only ever goes for goals.he's not dragging defenders out of position for others to attack the free space, he's not coming short to participate in one twos or offer a solution when a team mate is under pressure, etc. Instead he always speculates for the final ball. But you can't play that direct as a top team and it is clear that a Guardiola team in particular is even less direct - and it was usually proven successful in the past.
To be fair Benzema is on completely different level to him, however you look at it.
Not so long ago he was the cheat code for endless domination. Now he's looking down the barrel of a runners-up medal.
All the money in the world, folks.
Remember that.
All the money in the world, folks.
Remember that.
Not his fault but taking all the goals and the spotlight might imo.
Watching his growing frustration last night, I wouldn't think its impossible that he'll want out in the summer. Plenty of other sides would build a team to feed him (as with CR at Real) whereas now he's in a side that mainly play in spite of him.
If Ferguson had him, he'd say the same as when we had Van Persie. "Hit him with every forward pass or you're dropped next game" (True).
City will probably use him more effectively if/when Pep leaves. Any new manager will look at his goal return and make him the focal point of the team.
He isn't a right fit at City. I was crucified for saying this in the summer and was given the reference of Aguero and Lewa playing in Pep's team.Aguero and Lewa is on a different technique than this guy. He would have been a right fit at Liverpool or us under Ole (not now)
Think Real would still take him given Benzema is old.
Think Real would still take him given Benzema is old.
Bernardo and Gundogan have zero issue pinging those balls. Gundo used to do it alot at Dortmund, its a weird one cause its clearly not tactical, every game Pep is like "I told them pass to Haaland more", I'm not expecting prime KDB or Bruno like passes but sometimes much easier straight balls are on and our midfield don't take the risk, yet play the same ball for Foden with ease when he plays.
£20m per year for wearing boots?! These companies earn way too much.
They make products worth buying to people, that's why.
I'm expected to pick crocs for my next boot deal. Not as lucrative though
It also helps that Benzema shows for the ball and wants to solve problems for his team mates.
Probably onto something.
All the truly great forward seasons in the league have produced double-digit assists alongside their goal tally. Haaland sits at 4.
| Suarez | 2013-14 | Liverpool | 33 games, 31 goals, 17 assists | 48 G/A | 1,45 G/A per game |
| Henry | 2002-03 | Arsenal | 37 games, 24 goals, 25 assists | 49 G/A | 1,32 G/A per game |
| Drogba | 2009-10 | Chelsea | 32 games, 29 goals, 13 assists | 42 G/A | 1,31 G/A per game |
| Salah | 2017-18 | Liverpool | 36 games, 32 goals, 11 assists | 43 G/A | 1,19 G/A per game |
| Cole | 1993-94 | Newcastle | 40 games, 34 goals, 13 assists | 47 G/A | 1,18 G/A per game |
| van Persie | 2011-12 | Arsenal | 38 games, 30 goals, 13 assists | 43 G/A | 1,13 G/A per game |
| Shearer | 1994-95 | Blackburn | 42 games, 34 goals, 13 assists | 47 G/A | 1,12 G/A per game |
| van Persie | 2012-13 | Man Utd | 38 games, 26 goals, 15 assists | 41 G/A | 1,08 G/A per game |
| Haaland | 2022-23 | Man City | 24 games, 27 goals, 4 assists | 31 G/A | 1,30 G/A per game |
There could be reluctance to pass if you know he's more interested in attempting a 40% chance instead of making an easy pass for a 100% team goal.
Interesting that his G/A is actually lower than Drogba Henry and Suarez.
I think it is less about attempting the 40% chance over the 100% pass (in such a scenario I reckon he'd go for the pass) and more about how he would rather run the channel where the chance might end up than to offer himself as a passing option for someone who might get a better opening than the channel he is working instead. He doesn't show for the ball unless it's to get on the end of things.
Will say again, it's weird to see someone like Guardiola accept a centre forward that does less good work in the build up than the fecking goalkeeper.
So, he's on 28 goals in the league now, in 27 matches. 5 more in 11 matches to break the EPL record for a season.
It's incredible that back in December it looked a forgone conclusion that he'd absolutely smash it and maybe hit 40. Now, I daresay, it's gonna be a close call if he does it at all.
It's incredible that back in December it looked a forgone conclusion that he'd absolutely smash it and maybe hit 40. Now, I daresay, it's gonna be a close call if he does it at all.
Even this 2nd half season-form should be more than enough to break it.
But yeah, 40+ looks off the table at this rate.
There’s no doubt barring an injury. Even in this ‘lean’ spell, he’s got 3 in 5. Or 6 in 8.
He was never going to keep the pace from earlier in the season.
Nike agreed to pay Sinner $150m for 10 years and Haaland is a much bigger start in a much more popular sport. Doesn't sound outrageous.
He pisses me off so much.
Starting to fall in line with the league after a spectacular start; it would be interesting to see who would emerge as top scorer if the goals from now to the end of the season were the sole tally.
He could obviously pick back up again, but he looks like he's a little fed up of not being found with passes for his runs and isn't making as many (or as dynamic) as he was initially.
You'd think there'd have been growth in the relationships and familiarity he and his team-mates have with each other, but that's simply not happened. They are mostly determined not to slot him through and he's also not really making any compromises in his approach to the game, either.
He could obviously pick back up again, but he looks like he's a little fed up of not being found with passes for his runs and isn't making as many (or as dynamic) as he was initially.
You'd think there'd have been growth in the relationships and familiarity he and his team-mates have with each other, but that's simply not happened. They are mostly determined not to slot him through and he's also not really making any compromises in his approach to the game, either.
One thing to say about him in that respect is that he makes the same runs all the time. I still think he needs to change it up, to come short at times, to keep players guessing.
He constantly comes back, touches the ball to someone and then breaks away at speed. He is still so quick, fast and clinical that it works, but the really top teams will pick up on that predictable side of his game.
He is a phenomenal finisher, but I think he needs to vary his game to make the most of his massive talents.
He constantly comes back, touches the ball to someone and then breaks away at speed. He is still so quick, fast and clinical that it works, but the really top teams will pick up on that predictable side of his game.
He is a phenomenal finisher, but I think he needs to vary his game to make the most of his massive talents.
It's a really weird situation; like oil and water. By now I can't tell who is in the wrong or if they can actually meet in the middle - I bet he'd vary his actions if he had more faith it was worth it, but it really looks like he's lost a lot of the zest to be here or there that he had when everything was new and fresh. If he's asking himself if there's even any point to doing X, Y or Z, half the battle is lost because the conviction of purpose is out the window.
I can only imagine how demoralising it is to have so few of your actions reciprocated by equally enthusiastic actions by teammates. Honestly, outside of De Bruyne, nobody in that team is interested in what he's doing or making any concerted effort to facilitate his game. Is it his responsibility to then get with another program and try to fit in? I don't know. Mainly because if City wanted that kind of player, why bother with Haaland in the first place?
That triple hat trick he scored early doors will always skew his first season numbers slightly.
It will be interesting to watch him next season.
It will be interesting to watch him next season.
Overrated ugly cnut.
Beginning to get the feeling you don’t like him
regardless of how many goals he scores, he still looks like a 65 year old woman who is refusing to grow old gracefully. is his goal scoring record enough to make up for that? i’m not so sure.
It’s a bizarre one really, 5 pens and a triple hat trick. Accounts for more than half his PL goals & gives the impression he’s been significantly better than what he has in reality.
CR7 - 07-08, 31 goals and 7 assists in 34 appearances with a g/a of 1.12 too.
Rooney - 09/10, 26 goals and 3 assists (beat Drogba (3rd on the list) to the award for poty but wasn't a great forward season?)
Michael Owen won the BDO in a season he finished 19g 1a.
Even if you're measuring on g/a per game contribution and not just great seasons, its weird RVP gets in above Ronaldo, when the latter clearly had better stats. Almost like its a list picked and chosen to suit a specific narrative.
I think 38 games will tell a truer tale (well end of season). For what its worth I don't think Haaland gets close to the top 2 as a player nor ever will anyway. Suarez is clearly the best season the league has ever had in the PL era and Henry clearly the best player the league has ever had (probably in all eras).
For sure, he'll fall back into being a 25-30 goal per season striker I think.
Tbf I don’t think I ever heard him claim to do so
It's cherry picked to the degree I cut it off at 40 total contributions.
Ah that makes sense, was wondering why cr7 didn't make the cut, it's interesting no one has contributed 40 g/a with less than 10 assists
That’s the thing though; that element of the team not necessarily playing to his strengths, or vice versa. And it’s impossible to tell.
If Haaland was to be a Pep style striker then why isn’t he doing it? It’s not even as if he’s trying to and failing at it, at no point has that happened. The entire spell he’s played as Haaland does. So that makes me think he isn’t being coached differently or hasn’t been given different instructions otherwise Pep would surely drop him considerably if he ignoring him?
But to that same token if Haaland is just being told to play like Haaland does then why hasn’t Pep got the team to playaround that element? When they do it’s to devastating effect, but they largely don’t.
If I was a City fan it would be absolutely maddening. Either commit to a Pep-Style striker, or allowing the final third instructions to benefit the Haaland-Style striker. This weird plan to use a Haaland-Style striker in a Pep-Style system is just odd and holding them back. Which is good news for everyone else.
It’s not even a case of dismantling the entire system to accommodate Haaland. They have shown at multiple points this season they can have their pie and eat it too with some small changes to their game in the final third - why not build on that? They seem to crack it, and then abandon in the very next game.
Edit: this narrative of “well he hasn’t scored that much really because he got a triple hat trick and five penalties” as if the triple hat trick is in any way comparable to penalties. The triple hat trick is impressive in its own right. It’s not like that Berba season where he put five past Blackburn (fwiw I am a Berba defender and think he was a good player).
Yep. Weird guy. Him, his wanker dad, and his shit affiliation with the worst clubs can all feck off.
Yeah, mirrors my thoughts each time I watch him/them failing to connect with one another; it's a halfway house that isn't beneficial to either party, and I don't think there's any surprise Haaland looks so less effective without De Bruyne in the team, as he was the only one looking to accommodate the player and his runs.
It's hard to see two entrenched styles compromising for one another between Pep and the system and Haaland doing what has reaped immense dividend for him throughout his career, especially so if he doesn't intend to stay there very long (or has his hand forced prematurely via City receiving punishment).
If you take away his pens, hattricks, braces and tap ins, he’s nothing special.
#mental gymnastics
If you ignore all his goals, the lads got basically nothing to be proud of from this season.