Premier League 2022/2023
- Thread starter Andresito
- Start date
ajnotkeith
Senior Member
Tbf Birdy is probably taking a W here with Haaland.
It's hard to ignore how good his individual statistics are, but look at them as a team... Have they improved? They look so much worse.
When he doesn't score, they are useless and regularly struggling with lower table teams now. Sure, it's great that he will probably win a Golden Boot, but what does that mean for them as a team? Whenever he has an off-day most times they are dropping points. Whereas before, they used to be a well-rounded dominant team where everyone could score and were unplayable for teams like Brentford.
Now they are almost wholly reliant on him and aren't playing good football in general, they have lost that dominance and excellence that made them so special in the league at least. They are more like a 'normal' top team now who rely on individual quality.
It's hard to ignore how good his individual statistics are, but look at them as a team... Have they improved? They look so much worse.
When he doesn't score, they are useless and regularly struggling with lower table teams now. Sure, it's great that he will probably win a Golden Boot, but what does that mean for them as a team? Whenever he has an off-day most times they are dropping points. Whereas before, they used to be a well-rounded dominant team where everyone could score and were unplayable for teams like Brentford.
Now they are almost wholly reliant on him and aren't playing good football in general, they have lost that dominance and excellence that made them so special in the league at least. They are more like a 'normal' top team now who rely on individual quality.
Temptation
Well-known member
Both Birdy and me made the point about him making City worse as a team since forever but we got dog's abuse after Haaland scored his goals. W.
Temptation
Well-known member
Thoughts on our new formation with Bobby behind Mo and Nunez?
A narrower front 3.
Elliott, Thiago and Fabinho the mid 3 today.
Love this team!!!
A Win would be sweet.
A narrower front 3.
Elliott, Thiago and Fabinho the mid 3 today.
Love this team!!!
A Win would be sweet.
Birdy
Senior Member
risky formation to play top teams, as it leaves fullbacks open with Salah and Nunez not going to track back all the way
But should be OK to win against Soton
Might work against two Armstrong's, but would never work against three Armstrong's.
Luftstalag14
Culé de Celestial Empire
They haven’t really lost that many key players, both Sterling and Gabriel Jesus were quite marginalized, I’d say, as Pep often chose to play without a striker and in Jesus’ case in particular, he was mostly a sub. However I think folks are right that City has become too dependent on Haaland, always trying to run the attacking game through him and feed him the ball, in a way perhaps similar to how we were relying on Messi, which made them worse as a whole.
Birdy
Senior Member
True both Sterling and Jesus were subs the last two seasons, but Pep would play without striker with Foden Mahrez KdB as the foremost forward players
Luftstalag14
Culé de Celestial Empire
Exactly what I was saying. Not sure why Pepe did so, but now they have Haaland, they obviously don’t do that any more. Perhaps they should bring back elements of that striker-less game before to have more options and outlets, I don’t know.
Birdy
Senior Member
The point is they can't bring that back unless Pep benches Haaland.
They haven't played many big games as well, and I am curious to see them there.
Lost to Liverpool twice and won 6-3 against UTD. The sample is not big
BTW, one rarely sees that xG map in a City game:
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Great to see Firmino back to his best
Shame he did not make the Brazil squad given he is the best replacement for that Neymar role..
Put Stones and Walker with Maguire and Shaw to defend against the worlds best attackers
What could go wrong
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