9 | Erling Haaland - 2024/25

[Johnny Mars Bar]

I think we need few games without striker. To retain the confidence and to secure passing system. Erling is more or less one less player on the pitch when left without service. He is not Dzeko to keep the ball and pass it to the wings. As target man, Erling can’t be played.

There’s no way this team can play false 9 though. We are in a big pickle.

Foden is the obvious option but he doesn’t look mentally with it.

 

[mancityscot]

Who for?

We definitely need another striker. Ideally one who is a different kind of player.

Remember when we had Dzeko and Aguero, could make impactful changes depending on the setup and vibe of the game.

We need a second striker who’s more of a terrier type. We never bothered to replace Alvarez.

remember when we had tevez, balotelli, dzeko AND aguero? Now we rely on one guy who cant be arsed to run, nor make an effort when the chips are down.

 

[robbieh]

I like him. Think he is a great striker. But from the off didn't think he was a Pep player.

Due to his stratospheric scoring record and general superstar status he'll always get picked.

But sometimes it's like playing with 10 which would be ok but due to several other non performers at the moment it seems we are playing with 9.

 

[handsofstone]

Looks absolutely fed up and needs to do more. I’d love to know what players we are saying is going to replace KDB in his contract negotiations. Baena/Simmons probably wont inspire him.

Thing is I don't know why

Yes I know hes often isolated but he also gets about 2 or 3 massive chances per game, he can't be THAT isolated

Think he's showing his mentality, he's not looking arsed

Doesn't show any effort at the moment

 

[argyle]

remember when we had tevez, balotelli, dzeko AND aguero? Now we rely on one guy who cant be arsed to run, nor make an effort when the chips are down.

Tbf Balotelli didn't exactly run at the best of times, Dzeko looked disinterested at times and Tevez was a hothead who refused to carry on warming up, leading to a ban. He also once punched Kompany in the changing room.

 

[SamBlue]

Tbf Balotelli didn't exactly run at the best of times, Dzeko looked disinterested at times and Tevez was a hothead who refused to carry on warming up, leading to a ban. He also once punched Kompany in the changing room.

Was that the season we were relegated?

 

[Paul1970]

We have the most potent striker in the world so just a thought but why don’t we build our strength around him and if we play more direct hen let’s go for it because pass pass pass is not working for him .

 

[Blue Maverick]

We have the most potent striker in the world so just a thought but why don’t we build our strength around him and if we play more direct hen let’s go for it because pass pass pass is not working for him .

Play on the fucking counter, that would screw up every teams tactics against us let them try and break us down, then get two wingers on hit the channels or play over the top to the big lump. Might nit be pretty but shoukd be more efffctive than the shite of the last two months.

 

[Charlesfarsbar]

Great goal scorer , average footballer

Anonymous when he doesn’t get the service he thrives on

Isn’t agile enough to be effective in pressing the opposition centre backs

Doesn’t have any relationship with any of our attackers except De Bruyne

Face like a slapped arse when things aren’t going his way

We should cash in on him in the summer if Madrid are still interested

 

[Brewster's millions]

Play on the fucking counter, that would screw up every teams tactics against us let them try and break us down, then get two wingers on hit the channels or play over the top to the big lump. Might nit be pretty but shoukd be more efffctive than the shite of the last two months.

It’s a nice thought and I would certainly welcome more variation in our play, which is chronically lacking right now, but the team isn’t fit enough to play on the counter.

How many of our players are capable of breaking at pace? Haaland can, Doku scored a good goal against Forest on the break, Bobb when he’s back. That’s pretty much it.

The beauty of the 17/18 team was that we did have that pace and we could vary our play, which made us more potent and exciting to watch. Napoli away for instance was one of my favourite ever games.

Now we’re slow and ponderous going forward, even slower when running backwards and teams can beat our press with ease and get straight through us.

We undoubtedly need new players but above all we need a different type of player so that we can mix our play up.

 

[Blue Maverick]

It’s a nice thought and I would certainly welcome more variation in our play, which is chronically lacking right now, but the team isn’t fit enough to play on the counter.

How many of our players are capable of breaking at pace? Haaland can, Doku scored a good goal against Forest on the break, Bobb when he’s back. That’s pretty much it.

The beauty of the 17/18 team was that we did have that pace and we could vary our play, which made us more potent and exciting to watch. Napoli away for instance was one of my favourite ever games.

Now we’re slow and ponderous going forward, even slower when running backwards and teams can beat our press with ease and get straight through us.

We undoubtedly need new players but above all we need a different type of player so that we can mix our play up.

I’d say Doku, Foden, Haaland and Savinho have a turn of pace, we don’t need loads of energy if you commit those guys forward the others can catch up, it’s the back line that needs to stop going so far forward, it’s plainly obvious what’s happening every match but the beautiful bald bastard in charge is doing nothing about it.

 

[Brewster's millions]

I’d say Doku, Foden, Haaland and Savinho have a turn of pace, we don’t need loads of energy if you commit those guys forward the others can catch up, it’s the back line that needs to stop going so far forward, it’s plainly obvious what’s happening every match but the beautiful bald bastard in charge is doing nothing about it.

The high line at the back is a symptom of the lack of mobility in midfield though - it has to push forward otherwise they’d be too much space in the middle of the park.

Or at least that’s the logic behind it, if you can say that given our current predicament.

Either way we need far more pace and mobility in the team but I’m not convinced Guardiola will go down route in terms of recruitment.

 

[wolfie1988]

I’d say Doku, Foden, Haaland and Savinho have a turn of pace, we don’t need loads of energy if you commit those guys forward the others can catch up, it’s the back line that needs to stop going so far forward, it’s plainly obvious what’s happening every match but the beautiful bald bastard in charge is doing nothing about it.

I've spoken about how many players we have above the ball a lot at matches in recent times. Teams are not scared to leave men high against us now knowing the transition chance is so big because we are a lot more careless on the ball than we used to be.

 

[Sk@mcfc]

Bullied by Maguire and Martinez, laughing with Hojlund on corners, unbelievable effort

That’s what really pissed me off on Sunday to get bullied by slab head is a joke he’s fucking rubbish

 

[Blue Maverick]

I've spoken about how many players we have above the ball a lot at matches in recent times. Teams are not scared to leave men high against us now knowing the transition chance is so big because we are a lot more careless on the ball than we used to be.

Just stick it down the left hand side it’s inevitably that wing where the full back has gone forward into midfield, far to predictable if Walker is on the right as he doesn’t do the midfield thing, if he’s nit playing Lewis will be there so just hit the ball there as Lewis will be pissing about falling over near their 18 yard box

 

[Worsleyweb]

I think he will also be gone!

 

[jacko74]

We have the most potent striker in the world so just a thought but why don’t we build our strength around him and if we play more direct hen let’s go for it because pass pass pass is not working for him .

I thought that's exactly what we were supposed to be doing with the acquisition of Doku and Savhino, adopt a more direct style of play with two pacey and tricky wingers to supply him.

Instead we're still playing a very much possession based game but at a turgid pedestrian pace and with zero flair or creativity.

 

[SamBlue]

I thought that's exactly what we were supposed to be doing with the acquisition of Doku and Savhino, adopt a more direct style of play with two pacey and tricky wingers to supply him.

Instead we're still playing a very much possession based game but at a turgid pedestrian pace and with zero flair or creativity.

How do you play more direct if the default game-plan by 99% of any opposition is do defend deep?

 

[citytill1die84]

I think he will also be gone!

Who's seriously got the cash to sign Haaland?

 

[BlueMoonz1977]

Be interesting to see what alternative striker we bring in...i personally hope its Isak fgom Newcastle

Haaland needs actual elite competition for his place, and so does the squad