9 | Erling Haaland - 2024/25

[Saddleworth2]

If a player continues to run to the far post, wouldn't it make sense for another player to make his way to the near post? Gundogan and Sterling used to do it.

This and this. O'Reilly did is a couple of games ago and scored. It was crying out for it yesterday.

 

[ProofMCFC]

Makes you wonder what the hell they said to him to sign that extension. Did they mention that KDBs going and Doku and Savinho will be creating for him…

 

[Blue2112]

I thought it was quite startling that after being out injured for so long he played the whole 97 minutes. I can't imagine any other manager would have done that. I do wonder what goes on in Peps head at times

 

[madloaf]

I thought it was quite startling that after being out injured for so long he played the whole 97 minutes. I can't imagine any other manager would have done that. I do wonder what goes on in Peps head at times

Let me help you with that

Peps head: 2016-2023:



Peps Head 2024-2025 (and the first UCL Final):

 

[MillisleBlue]

I thought it was quite startling that after being out injured for so long he played the whole 97 minutes. I can't imagine any other manager would have done that. I do wonder what goes on in Peps head at times

I'm guessing summat like this:

 

[kippaxchris]

Would swap him for Isak in a heartbeat for this current team. Only way Haaland can flourish under a pep system is if he has a chance creating machine behind him aka Prime KDB (as proven) or Wirtz, with the likes of Foden or Gibbs white playing as CAM next season, there’s no way we get 88-95 points next season with Haaland in the team. I remember thinking we have the potential best player in the world in Haaland, now he’s probably not ever going to be in the top 10 again. Once again, Haaland playing with a Wirtz or Yamal type player would look truly world class again. Without that type of player and Pep as manager, get ready for a lot more 4/10 performances

Isak would have the exact same struggles in our team as Haaland currently does. Swapping Haaland out for Isak won't change the fact that Pep refuses to use wingers, refuses to play with any sort of width & refuses to allow his players to put crosses in to the striker.

Are you suggesting Isak has some better attributes than Haaland? Because he doesn't. If Haaland isnt creating goals for himself in this current set up then Isak won't either. Haaland is bigger, stronger, faster & has better hold up play.

Instead of thinking about Iask in our team just take a second & imagine Haaland in Newcastles team with the constant width they use & balls in over the top for him to chase, crosses constantly coming into the box. Haaland would bury Isaks numbers if he was in that team.

 

[Jonas.shaffer]

Are you suggesting Isak has some better attributes than Haaland? Because he doesn't. If Haaland isnt creating goals for himself in this current set up then Isak won't either. Haaland is bigger, stronger, faster & has better hold up play.

If you think Haaland is better technically, as in on the ball in small spaces, than Isak, then you're even dumber than I thought.

Not to mention in the air, but I reckon you or I may even be a better header of the ball than Erling. He's big and can jump high for nothing in that regard.

 

[KDBPLGOAT]

If you think Haaland is better technically, as in on the ball in small spaces, than Isak, then you're even dumber than I thought.

Not to mention in the air, but I reckon you or I may even be a better header of the ball than Erling. He's big and can jump high for nothing in that regard.

He genuinely thinks Haaland has a better touch, close control and dribbling than Isak? Fucking heck some people are lost. Haaland has incredible movement, speed and finishing but Isak is like a Tesco Thierry Henry (Thierry was another level), isak is pretty complete as a forward, he’s pretty good at everything, Haaland is more like A faster Van Nistlerooy. Haaland is not a complete forward, he’s a world class goal scorer but outside that his all round game is ok at best.

 

[Damanino]

sadly our play deteriorated a lot even since 22-23 when Haaland looked great. in this version of tactical set up and speed we try to sleepwalk to wins is not really great for anyone and certainly doesnt bring the best out of Haaland but asks big questions about his weaknesses.

we looked tiny bit better recent week with false 9 or even double false 9 system but that was never gonna stick once Erling is back.

I hope in a serious summer window with some signings that will make rivals to sit up and take notice otherwise it could be more of the same even with Rodri back.

 

[mccity]

Not sure it's entirely a Haaland issue. He was scoring for fun early on in the season, and not by accident, too!

We gave him one chance yesterday and he put it on a plate for O'Reilly, who was unlucky not to get a good connection on it. He made excellent use of those overhit crosses, at least twice knocking them back into useful areas

Besides, he can't do much against a massively packed defence. We've struggled with those since day 1 of Pep. Even Aguero has had difficulties being too much use in them

But for Haaland, just like with Aguero, it's not fair to focus on only the quiet days and ignore all the times he got the goal that bailed us out

 

[Blue_Lightsaber]

We have a 6 foot 5 striker and yet no crosses near his head??

Maybe the problem isn't the striker but that no one passes/ crosses to him!

 

[Lavinda Past]

We have a 6 foot 5 striker and yet no crosses near his head??

Maybe the problem isn't the striker but that no one passes/ crosses to him!

The problem is Pep's reluctance to vary his system. Haaland is at the wrong club for his style of play / natural ability. He'd be better at Real Madrid or Liverpool imo.

 

[Blue_Lightsaber]

The problem is Pep's reluctance to vary his system. Haaland is at the wrong club for his style of play / natural ability. He'd be better at Real Madrid or Liverpool imo.

It's funny that the most effective players on our team aren't really Pep system players..

And the Pep system players just do sideways, backwards.

 

[Craig]

For such a big unite his aerial ability is poor, his runs to the far post are not aggressive enough for me, almost an afterthought.

He is a player that likes to get in behind defenders and play off their shoulder but in most games that is not going to happen and that applies to most elite sides, so he has to adapt and improve his general game, he is still young and has so much to improve on.

He like 99% of his teammates has regressed this season.

Agree with most of your points apart from that he’s regressed. Our play has undoubtedly. Erling is what he is. An absolute goal scoring machine. He’s never going to become a great natural footballer at 24 or 34.

 

[Craig]

We have a 6 foot 5 striker and yet no crosses near his head??

Maybe the problem isn't the striker but that no one passes/ crosses to him!

How many crosses do you want a game? He’s marked by 2 or 3 every game. We cross it eventually after passsiing sideways for ages. He’s far from great though at attacking crosses or bullying defenders when balls come into the box

 

[Blue_Lightsaber]

How many crosses do you want a game? He’s marked by 2 or 3 every game. We cross it eventually after passsiing sideways for ages. He’s far from great though at attacking crosses or bullying defenders when balls come into the box

Nunes has found him for a few goals with his crosses hasn't he?

Better than the rest who either don't cross or put it high and wide of where he can't get to.

 

[waspish]

Funny pep said in his after match press conference the players will have to find him sorry why don't you instruct the players to cross the fucking ball from the wing of coach them make them practice getting half yard then cross or and let Haaland know the ball coming in so he can make a run! Fcuk me that Southampton game no fcuked wanted to cross the ball first half WHY. Scared of giving the ball away to the worse side in the league!?

 

[clarion]

There is an elephant on this forum:
With Pep and all his overthinking farts,

we play better as a team without Erling.

 

[Keeper!]

How many crosses do you want a game? He’s marked by 2 or 3 every game. We cross it eventually after passsiing sideways for ages. He’s far from great though at attacking crosses or bullying defenders when balls come into the box

Then use the fact that he has "2 or 3" players on him as a distraction for other players to get in the box.

When we do eventually get the ball in we have very few players in there, weird and worrying.

The same situation with Doku second half, ball goes out to him and they have at least two on him but the rest of our players stood watching expecting him to do some sort of magic, our tactics on Saturday were pathetic.

 

[Craig]

Then use the fact that he has "2 or 3" players on him as a distraction for other players to get in the box.

When we do eventually get the ball in we have very few players in there, weird and worrying.

The same situation with Doku second half, ball goes out to him and they have at least two on him but the rest of our players stood watching expecting him to do some sort of magic, are tactics on Saturday were pathetic.

Yeah, i totally agree about the lack of movement, it’s like we’ve become risk averse. Sometimes Doku who had 2/3 on him and passed it inside quickly and whoever he passed it to then took a few touches and allowed them to shuffle back across. The odd time Doku was one on one we played 2/3 passes before getting it to him where one would have done. By which point again they had at least 2 on him.