9 | Erling Haaland - 2022/23 Performances

[CityDean]

We are so blessed to have him. Phenomenal today. I knew he was going to be good but he is even better than I had thought. Seems to have settled in a lot quicker than many expected. If we keep him fit, we look very difficult to beat with him in the side.

 

[jollylescott]

As Pep said you can tell he’s a very humble guy.

I recall one of the tunnel cams where a game was over and he had his arm around McAtee as they walked down the tunnel after the game. You can tell he has no prima donna ego, it’s all about the team and winning. For him I actually don’t think he cares who scores.

Also I think Pep’s reaction when he came off was more about Haarland being slightly embarrassed because it is about the team, and not the individual.

To be an elite striker you need an elite mentality. You have to be completely focused at any moment of the game, irrespective of what has occurred before. This young champion possesses a mind of steel and a predator-like ability to be in the right place at the right time.

What a player!

 

[Tricky_Trev]

8 touches in the 2nd half. 3 goals.

 

[PaulPowerScreamer]

I was always going to reserve judgment on him until a few games in, I mean surely he couldn't be THAT good, but it turns out he's even better. If he stays fit, you can forget a "Shearer season" or an "Henry season", more like a "Dixie Dean season" (or several seasons!)

 

[MarsLlama]

Reminds me in a lot of ways of Cristiano Ronaldo, but if you removed the personality issues. Physically freakishly impressive, clinical finisher, top instincts and seemingly an unrelenting winning mentality. We had to be patient but we've clearly replaced one of the best strikers of the 21st century with another player who will be in that category.

 

[Shaffer92]

8 touches in the 2nd half. 3 goals.

that's mad lol

 

[Pep Guardiola]

You needed a star, a reference player, like Messi in Barça, Cristiano in Real Madrid, Van Basten in Milán, Zidane in Juventus, Lewandovski in Bayern, etc.

And he is Haaland.

 

[SWP's back]

Making a mockery of Aguero’s slightly off comments following the charity shield friendly.

 

[SamTheGuru]

This guy speaks the truth:

 

[Crooked_rain]

The boy is a phenom

His ridiculous goals per game ratio continues. I said a few weeks ago if he knocks in 25 PL goals it will be a success (and it will) but now I’m thinking he might smash that

A couple of goals tonight could be seen as easy tap in’s but the reality is all the top goal scorers like him seem to know where to be, it’s not a fluke they just happen to be there. I don’t even think you can really teach it.

Truly top level goal scorers don’t come around that often

 

[FantasyIreland]

If you asked a computer to design the perfect striker,i dont think that player would be too dissimilar to our beast.

 

[vmsuhail]

Yeah but how much was his agent paid

It's definitely less than the transfer fee, so less than 51m.

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

Simply wow.

 

[Keeper!]

Machine, a ruthless, unstoppable machine.

Enjoy him everyone while he is here.

 

[Hart of the Matter]

Seemed to settle yesterday once he got his top knott sorted....

 

[lonestay]

With all our training reports, and scout reports, and general watching of Erling. I still think Pep underestimated exactly what we were getting when he signed .
Pep always seemed up to yesterday, a bit cold and stand offish with Erling, coming out with stuff like he will need to learn the system, he will have to adapt etc. That was until yesterday when he would have happily had man love in the centre circle with an audience !!! I think once Pep started training with Erling even he then realized the talent for goal scoring that the meat shield has, and that maybe Erling doesn't need to adapt but we and Pep do !!

 

[meeesh]

Making a mockery of Aguero’s slightly off comments following the charity shield friendly.

And even a chance of eclipsing what he did for us over the years,certainly started off in the right way.

 

[Rammy Blue]

I hope we are quick to extend his deal and get any nonsense release fees out of it, stay for life.

 

[bobom]

The thing is that playing a traditional number 9 role is very simple. You play mind games with the back 3, 4 or 5 all game and you wait. If there are two at the back it becomes a bit more complex and I always used to go to the wide left and hug the line when that happened. I used to score an enormous amount of goals from just playing a basic number 9 role. Some games, you would only see the ball a couple of times in the match. I am only 5ft 10 but i used to be bullied by two center backs at a corner, but i would push them in their back and move away at the right time. I should never have a right to score from a corner at 5ft 10. But I used to score headers and tap ins quite often stupidly often.

My point is, Erling Haaland does everything so basic, and very well. There is nothing complex about his game at all. It is all about being very disciplined and patient. It also helps being as strong as an ox and lightning acceleration though!

You should have your own performance thread.

 

[BlueAnorak]

Looks like the sports media cretins who were on his back after the Charity Shield are wrong. Very wrong.
I'm not complaining...