Erling Haaland

[xXKonan]

Funny it seems like Pep and City didn't give a shit and just wanted Haaland at all costs and they'll deal with the "Whether he fits in with Pep's ideas later" Scenario.

He's scored buckets this season but it feels like a potential Zlatan situation is brewing. You have this incredible talent/player but a coach who isn't willing to budge on his philosophy to help get the best out of Haaland. Except in this case I can't see Haaland willing to burn down the whole house like Zlatan did.

 

[Porque]

I think City's best chance of a trophy this season is CL.
People blaming Haaland but it's clear many City players are fed up with Pep. Cancelo, Bernardo, Haaland, Grealish and Gundogan for starters.

I don't know about fed up, but Pep has these league drop seasons every 3 or so, where he feels he has to renovate a few parts for various reasons. If history is any sign, then they will be back and better for next season.

This squad build is starting to show it's age, and you could argue that like his time with Bayern, have become too damaged mentally as a group in Europe to win the big one.

Still, compare Pep's drop off seasons throughout his career to Klopp's and you see just how Pep is the best manager since he started managing.

Agreed this team has good chances with Haaland, type of player that in a KO game that they can play bad and get the goals out of nothing. Invaluable.

 

[fergus90]

I genuinely think they could be the shock upset of the CL round to be honest. Leipzig are a good counter attacking team and City are leaving acres of space on the transition.

 

[iniestaGOAT]

finished team

and finished player

RIP city

 

[Deco]

Take over for Lewandowski

 

[Respekt_III]

Guys misused, been obvious for ages but football narratives and shit. City's wingers have been really poor and their midfielders are very poor at spotting multiple runs he makes. It's been poor all round. This coupled with the typical city bozo gene players and this is the result.

Needs to rework the midfield and gdt more direct wingers eg as donak pointed out a leao karadona Dembele vini etc.

 

[Birdy]

Guys misused, been obvious for ages but football narratives and shit. City's wingers have been really poor and their midfielders are very poor at spotting multiple runs he makes. It's been poor all round. This coupled with the typical city bozo gene players and this is the result.

Needs to rework the midfield and gdt more direct wingers eg as donak pointed out a leao karadona Dembele vini etc.

Problem is Pep's City since 2019 have been about even more patience and control and slow tempo, so that an intricate combination would be found to penetrate

That directness you are asking for is against that whole framework.
Pep bought someone who thrives on a totally different kind of football. Haaland would fit Klopp's early Liverpool football until 2018 for instance.
Now he has to change everything to accommodate him.
Not the easiest thing to do

 

[Respekt_III]

Problem is Pep's City since 2019 have been about even more patience and control and slow tempo, so that an intricate combination would be found to penetrate

That directness you are asking for is against that whole framework.
Pep bought someone who thrives on a totally different kind of football. Haaland would fit Klopp's early Liverpool football until 2018 for instance.
Now he has to change everything to accommodate him.
Not the easiest thing to do

Even with the slower tempo and control they were still much better when breaking on the counter than they are now. They're holding on the the ball was too long and playing way too risk averse to be effective imo.

They have a lethal athletic finisher who with the right supporting cast you could literally kill most teams in transition. Just like you pointed out he would of been even more devastating in that Liverpool team. It's actually insane thinking about it.

Honestly though I expected more from city and pep in both recruitment and tactics as both have been poor. Anyway let's see if things change with better recruitment next year if they get past the politically motivated charges trumped up against them.

UK politicians want to impose legislation on football, epl magically charges city with 100 offense related to financials.

Chelsea spend 650m in one season no one bat's an eyelid. Hilarious really.

 

[mc_lovin]

Haaland just bores me to death. There's nothing exciting about his style of play (at least for me).

 

[Blackened]

Haaland just bores me to death. There's nothing exciting about his style of play (at least for me).

I agree 100%. He has pace and is a good finisher. Nothing more. Would suit well for a counter-attacking team like Heynckes' Bayern or (peak) Klopp's Liverpool. For a hyper-technical, methodical team like Guardiolas City (or Barca), he is the absolute shits.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

I agree 100%. He has pace and is a good finisher. Nothing more. Would suit well for a counter-attacking team like Heynckes' Bayern or (peak) Klopp's Liverpool. For a hyper-technical, methodical team like Guardiolas City (or Barca), he is the absolute shits.

True. He is a bit of an odd mix with City.

And good examples where he would fit. It would be very exciting.

 

[te amo barca]

Haaland just bores me to death. There's nothing exciting about his style of play (at least for me).

I agree. I feel the same about Mbappe as well even if he is a bit more flashy. Pedri and Musiala though, now that's exciting to watch.

 

[Blackened]

I agree. I feel the same about Mbappe as well even if he is a bit more flashy. Pedri and Musiala though, now that's exciting to watch.

Mbappe is super-talented. I think his problem is nowadays that he has become too obsessed with scoring and deciding games on his own. In his Monaco break through season he was like Falcao's sidekick. Running and dribbling and passing and being just one of the boys. I believe that fame and money has gone to his head a bit.

 

[vegitot]

Let's see how he will play in UCL (he probably isn't 100% fit though). I feel he is tired of playing in Ligue 1 and only wants to appear in European nights.

 

[raskolnikov]

This guy is so invisible yet he scores. Like some roided lovechild of Majin Buu and Inzaghi.