9 | Erling Haaland - 2022/23 Performances

[AlfieBorden]

Such a shame that the season he joins us, is the season this team decides to drop a level. Hoping for some good cup runs. Because he won't be getting a Pl winners medal this season.

Coincidence?

 

[don84]

Coincidence?

yes

 

[Dax777]

Can someone please explain to me how Haaland is detrimental to the team?

We still keep the ball for 70% of the game, and limit teams to very little opportunities on our goal

We have lost some control to our game, but personally I think that's due to Kev, Gundo and Bernardo not having particularly great seasons thus far

Instead of having 5 players who all inter-changed, we now have 4 plus Haaland

I'm sorry, but if we are coming to the conclusion that Haaland is the problem, then perhaps we are in a worse position that I originally thought

Bring back Sterling and Jesus

I wish we'd lose a little more control and attack a little more.

The possession is killing me

 

[Txiki Txiki Bang Bang]

Great goalscorer but I'm afraid the team is becoming predictable with him playing, not his fault and I still want him to keep playing but we have to revert to the old system where everyone could get a goal, makes it much more difficult for the opposition.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

The only “issue” for me is the lack of pressing. I don’t think it would be as much of an issue with Foden and Alvarez alongside him but Grealish and Mahrez exacerbate the problem. Other than that I don’t see how anyone could question Haaland given his goal record.

That three of Grealish-Haaland-Mahrez are bloody hopeless at winning the ball back up high.

 

[richards30]

Seen some shite posted because we dared to draw but some blues claiming now we shouldn’t have signed Erling is ridiculous!

 

[vincent]

Seen some shite posted because we dared to draw but some blues claiming now we shouldn’t have signed Erling is ridiculous!

Not sure that’s the case. He is fantastic and we are fortunate to have him but he needs pace around him. Playing intricate passes against 10 men defence is not playing to his strengths.

 

[madloaf]

Every time he gets on the shoulder of the last defender, points to where he wants it, and then we pass sideways or backwards it makes me die inside just a little.

 

[Cricket Blue]

strange performance from him yesterday but Everton clearly wanted to rattle him.
Really thought he was going to get red carded and some stage, he will have to watch it as other teams will try what Everton did yesterday.

 

[blue61]

My lad was happy with a wound up Haaland. Seeing his reaction after the first minute challenge he put £10 on him to get booked and won £160!

 

[OB1]

I wish we'd lose a little more control and attack a little more.

The possession is killing me

The idea is that it will over the long run kill the opposition far more often than not...

Personally, I hate it when our opponents have the ball; so does Pep, which is one reason I like him.

 

[Moggzy]

Goodness help me!

21 goals in 15 games and still some moan.

You don’t deserve to watch this team.

This is why opinions are like arseholes.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

Every time he gets on the shoulder of the last defender, points to where he wants it, and then we pass sideways or backwards makes me die inside just a little.

It’s becoming infuriating for me watching it. Fuck knows what it’s like for him

 

[Blu1]

Grealish & Mahrez not really helping haaland both too slow, safe & come inside way too much. Sadly peps orders

If Kev has a poor game then haaland gets no service.

I’d rather have walker flying down the wing & smashing balls in the box as an option to kevs crosses to haaland

He’s been incredible but I think we could do better for him.

 

[braut]

After 16 games Erling Haaland has already won 5 Premier League golden boots taking golden boots away from 10 people who have won it. Without cheating, who are these players?

I had no idea, so I had to cheat, but I thought this was interesting, so I looked it up. Here's the answer:

Spoiler: Premier League Top Scorers With Less Than 21 Goals

1997–98, 18 goals:
- Dion Dublin
- Michael Owen
- Chris Sutton

1998–99, 18 goals:
- Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
- Michael Owen
- Dwight Yorke

2006–07, 20 goals:
- Didier Drogba

2008–09, 19 goals:
- Nicolas Anelka

2010–11, 20 goals:
- Dimitar Berbatov
- Carlos Tevez

... and not long until he knicks even more golden boots. Quite a lot of seasons had the top scorer at 22 or 23 goals.

 

[youngbob]

Even if some other players are performing worse because Haaland's around, it'll bear fruit next season and it'll be worth it. Don't think we'll win the league this year (have had us down to finish 2nd since August), but we just have to keep ticking over. It's not like we haven't survived seasons without trophies before (if that happens). We always come back stronger.

This season reminds me of 16/17, Pep's first year. We had to get used to him as a manager, his methods, playing one DM instead of two, making De Bruyne the heartbeat of the team, asking more of Aguero and Bravo/Caballero. Then it suddenly clicked and we had the Centurions season and then the treble-winning season.

After that, in the 19/20 season (and the first half of the 20/21 season), Rodri made the team a lot worse at first. He struggled positionally, exposed our Kompany-less defence, and it affected us a lot. Then it suddenly clicked again and we built our success in the 20/21 season and the 21/22 season on Rodri's back.

Haaland will likely be the same. This year, 22/23, we're getting used to playing with a proper number 9 again. It means we're stumbling a bit right now overall because we've got less control in certain games and our midfielders are looking for him first instead of going for goal, but suddenly it will click and we'll win the league again.

We've been here before and survived and we'll be here again. We can't win the league every year (it would be shit and boring if we did, let's be honest) but we can win 5 or 6 titles across a decade if we use our "off" seasons to try out new things and develop the team for the future. Pep knows what he's doing and I trust him with long-term thinking.

Ferguson used to do this at United. They won the first two PL titles, then finished 2nd to Blackburn. Then they won the next two titles before finishing 2nd to Arsenal. They won three on the trot before finishing 3rd in 2002 (their lowest finish for 11 years). Then they went three years without the title between 04 and 06 while Mourinho was at Chelsea.

We all remember the "Fergie Out" banners from that mid-2000s period. United had leaner periods, seasons where they were slightly off the pace, and it was normally because Ferguson was working out a new system that would make things better down the line. Pep seems to approach the game in the same way.

 

[mosssideblue]

Grealish & Mahrez not really helping haaland both too slow, safe & come inside way too much. Sadly peps orders

If Kev has a poor game then haaland gets no service.

I’d rather have walker flying down the wing & smashing balls in the box as an option to kevs crosses to haaland

He’s been incredible but I think we could do better for him.

Walker flying down the wing and smashing balls into the box. Lol

 

[wolviedinho]

Patience required. Team is in transition from false 9. It will click and once it does…

In Pep we trust.

What’s the worst can happen? We don’t win silverware? Stick with the lads and show support. I have faith it will come good.

 

[madloaf]

It’s becoming infuriating for me watching it. Fuck knows what it’s like for him

If he fucks off in 18-30 months then exhibit A is this. The fact he still keeps going is a testament to the lad.

 

[madloaf]

Walker flying down the wing and smashing balls into the box. Lol

Didn't you know it's 2018.