9 | Erling Haaland - 2023/24

[Lavinda Past]

To be honest and this may not be popular but does this KDB fall into the undroppable category?

I think we have a big decision to make on him in the summer, he came back like a man on a mission, sadly the more he has played the older he has looked.

I said during last season that we should have been looking for a KDB replacement in summer 2023. I suggested Ward-Prowse as a good choice for rotation and got shouted down. I also suggested James Maddison, again shouted down.
Too many people on here seem to think that KDB has another 4 or 5 years ahead of him at top level. In my view, he's been overperforming for the last two years, and it seems obvious to me that he's been struggling with his weight over that period.
He's a great footballer but as the old bloke at Maine Road proclaimed... the end is nigh.

He's only "undroppable" because the club's succession planning has been (and no doubt still is) absolutely dreadful for years. We still haven't got a bloody left back!

I'm certainly not looking towards the possibility of us having a post-Ferguson rags type shambles when Pep leaves.

 

[applejuice]

Erling is not in form but it not entirely his fault.

He needs midfielder runners into the box to support him. But yesterday midfield is - Kev sitting outside the box - Phil sitting on the outskirt of the box - Kova - far deeper. This midfielder trio does not work.

 

[timperleyblueboy]

I feel a bit sorry for Haaland this season. We are not playing to his strengths, add to that we have lost the creativity of Gundogen and marhez, injury and poor form of grealish and de bruyne being out half the season. He's a great player, his numbers are up with the best. We just need to play to his strengths and the players around him up their game a little.

 

[richards30]

I feel a bit sorry for Haaland this season. We are not playing to his strengths, add to that we have lost the creativity of Gundogen and marhez, injury and poor form of grealish and de bruyne being out half the season. He's a great player, his numbers are up with the best. We just need to play to his strengths and the players around him up their game a little.

Agree with all of this mate, people writing off Erling already just is plain wrong!

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Agreed. Your last sentence was all that was needed. He has more than enough credit in the bank. Last seasons form will be rediscovered, it's just a matter of when.

I would prefer to see refs giving him the same measure as they dole out to opposition CFs. He was pummeled for ninety minutes on Saturday, and at one point physically thrown to the ground without play coming back. Then we might see a goal or two, or even one of his famous hat tricks.

 

[The Norfolk Blue]

He's in a poor run of form. Maybe the injury hasnt fully healed. Maybe theres something else, or maybe he's just not at it for whatever reason.

I saw what he's capable of last season. It was astounding. That hasn't disappeared. It will be back.

I think we have to separate current form from ability. He is on Ronaldo and Messi numbers. No one else is fucking close. I wouldn't swap him for anyone.

Yes, we are just gonna have to be patient, keep backing him and hopefully he’ll get back to his best before the season ends.

If not, then there’s always next year after a summer’s break.

 

[Jung the foreman]

Playing the ball in to his feet is useless. When Rodri or the centre backs have the ball in the centre circle they should, at least occasionally, put a long ball through for him to run on to.

 

[Fordyboy46]

His form is a concern that's for sure and his recent clumsiness on the ball is strange. It's a tough decision for Pep to make with Haaland, does he rest him and give Alvarez a go up top, go back to the false 9 which has served us so well in recent seasons, or just stick with Erling and hope he comes out of this poor patch of form?

 

[Pedestrian]

He needs to start shit housing defenders. It’s in his game but he’s not nasty enough. Pull a couple of heads off and folk won’t be rag dolling him like the arse did at the weekend.

 

[Akira]

29 goals in 35 games, for someone who is having a 'poor season'.

Personally, I just feel we are 'simplifying' his game too much. Most of the time, he is asked to stay where he is and wait for service. So he ends up having to rely heavily on physically overpowering the defenders. Overpowering one is easy for him, two becomes a problem. Thus, when the service is poor, it makes Haaland look like a very average player.

Maybe it'd be beneficial for him to let him roam a little more, drag players to the wings? Defenders are genuinely terrified of him, they'd keep a close eye on where he is.

But what do I know, he still scored 29 goals in 35 games.