9 | Erling Haaland - 2025/26

Football is a team sport.
This whole condemnation of our coaching because individuals don't shine gets on my tits, especially when its by our own fans.
The media lauding Jack because he had 'freedom' - when Everton win trophies I will celebrate with them and him.
Managers complaining about how Pep uses Erling - 22/23 leading goalscorer in PL; 23/24 - leading PL goalscorer; 24/25 - 3rd place; 25/26 - leading goalscorer (to date).
 
oldius said:
Football is a team sport.
This whole condemnation of our coaching because individuals don't shine gets on my tits, especially when its by our own fans.
The media lauding Jack because he had 'freedom' - when Everton win trophies I will celebrate with them and him.
Managers complaining about how Pep uses Erling - 22/23 leading goalscorer in PL; 23/24 - leading PL goalscorer; 24/25 - 3rd place; 25/26 - leading goalscorer (to date).
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I still watch football in the hope of two sides providing 'entertainment' rather than one trying to keep the ball for the longest period and the other scared to cross the halfway line.

You mention Jack in your comment. As I see it, Jack was a great entertainer at Villa and already looks like being a great entertainer again at Everton.

What happened at City...? Pep Guardiola and his boring 'ball retention at all costs' tactics.

Pep's tactics stifle some great players. Simple as that.
 
Lavinda Past said:
I still watch football in the hope of two sides providing 'entertainment' rather than one trying to keep the ball for the longest period and the other scared to cross the halfway line.

You mention Jack in your comment. As I see it, Jack was a great entertainer at Villa and already looks like being a great entertainer again at Everton.

What happened at City...? Pep Guardiola and his boring 'ball retention at all costs' tactics.

Pep's tactics stifle some great players. Simple as that.
Click to expand...
It isn't as simple as that though, that's the point. It is a team sport. The team is the trophy winner, not the individual. If you are happy with individuals shining at the expense of team performance and results, then footy is not for you. We all found joy in Georgi, but we stood and watched him like all our other players did, while being relegated .

It is up to individuals to deliver great performances for the team.

I take your point on the defensiveness of our opponents. The league has become much more defensive, and coaching has improved markedly in that regard.
 
happy_blue_apple said:
Technically a third leg, not sure it counts.

I once dreamt of being a porn director and wanted Dion Dublin starring with Katie Holmes.

I was gonna call it Holmes Under The Hammer.

I'm here all week.
Click to expand...
Would you need these guys starring as well

Thomas “der hammer” Hitzlsperger

Karren Brady

Funded by Dave Sullivan
 
oldius said:
It isn't as simple as that though, that's the point. It is a team sport. The team is the trophy winner, not the individual. If you are happy with individuals shining at the expense of team performance and results, then footy is not for you. We all found joy in Georgi, but we stood and watched him like all our other players did, while being relegated .

It is up to individuals to deliver great performances for the team.

I take your point on the defensiveness of our opponents. The league has become much more defensive, and coaching has improved markedly in that regard.
Click to expand...
"....then footy is not for you"... That smacks of arrogance on your part. Great individual players make the game special, they have done since football started. They can lift an average match to a memorable one, and in many cases over the years, they have put bums on seats.

People pay to be entertained, and I know, from personal experience and many comments on here, that despite the success and trophies, a lot of City fans have found many of our games boring and repetitive.

If you prefer points over entertainment then fair enough, that's your choice. Personally, I'd rather see great players free to express themselves within a system than turned into robots scared of making a mistake

Erling Haaland has become increasingly stifled by Pep Guardiola's style of play. If you think otherwise then, as you said to me, maybe "footy is not for you"
 
Lavinda Past said:
"....then footy is not for you"... That smacks of arrogance on your part. Great individual players make the game special, they have done since football started. They can lift an average match to a memorable one, and in many cases over the years, they have put bums on seats.

People pay to be entertained, and I know, from personal experience and many comments on here, that despite the success and trophies, a lot of City fans have found many of our games boring and repetitive.

If you prefer points over entertainment then fair enough, that's your choice. Personally, I'd rather see great players free to express themselves within a system than turned into robots scared of making a mistake

Erling Haaland has become increasingly stifled by Pep Guardiola's style of play. If you think otherwise then, as you said to me, maybe "footy is not for you"
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I think that great individuals shine and are able to do so in great teams. We have seen it in our own many times. I enjoy both the freestyle football you speak of and the tactical chessmatches. I don't like teams who set ten behind the ball and seek to win by the odd set piece. I take back the footy is not for you comment. It wasn't meant to come across as it did.
 
oldius said:
I think that great individuals shine and are able to do so in great teams. We have seen it in our own many times. I enjoy both the freestyle football you speak of and the tactical chessmatches. I don't like teams who set ten behind the ball and seek to win by the odd set piece. I take back the footy is not for you comment. It wasn't meant to come across as it did.
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No problem mate. We're both hoping for the same outcome at the end of the day!

I have to admit though... I've been very impressed with some of the defensive performances by our opponents since Pep arrived. Our system brings out the best of opposition defenders / coaches. It's like watching a game of chess sometimes!
 
Lavinda Past said:
No problem mate. We're both hoping for the same outcome at the end of the day!

I have to admit though... I've been very impressed with some of the defensive performances by our opponents since Pep arrived. Our system brings out the best of opposition defenders / coaches. It's like watching a game of chess sometimes!
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We do.
The defensive side of the game has improved vastly. Unfortunately, it takes special players to unlock it, which is why peak KDB was so incredibly valuable. I hope Phil and Rayan, et al. can bridge the gap.
 


Hopes he keeps some moves like this for the upcoming fixtures (like for the all of the season please)
 
Lavinda Past said:
I still watch football in the hope of two sides providing 'entertainment' rather than one trying to keep the ball for the longest period and the other scared to cross the halfway line.

You mention Jack in your comment. As I see it, Jack was a great entertainer at Villa and already looks like being a great entertainer again at Everton.

What happened at City...? Pep Guardiola and his boring 'ball retention at all costs' tactics.

Pep's tactics stifle some great players. Simple as that.
Click to expand...
List the great players he stifled then. Jack stifled himself.I can give you loads he never stifled if you like.
 
blueparrot said:
List the great players he stifled then. Jack stifled himself.I can give you loads he never stifled if you like.
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Your opinion obviously differs from mine, and (like me) you're unlikely to change it.

Guardiola wanted Kane over Haaland. Kane would have fit into the 'system' perfectly. Haaland doesn't, and Pep has effectively stifled his play by not adapting his system to get the best out of Haaland.

Haaland could/should be scoring 50+ every season at City. I suspect that Kane would do the same.

Jack Grealish played to instructions at City and was clearly frustrated by the lack of freedom. He was definitely working under the wrong coach, and is already showing signs of improvement at Everton.

Pep stifles players' personalities.
 
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