9 | Erling Haaland - 2023/24

[Phil1]

True, and we've also seen him charge past defenders like a bowling ball through skittles since we've he's been here. However, we've also seem him completely out on a limb, and miss some absolute sitters, but that went without comment because eventually he scored - Leipzig being an example.

I accept his misses though. I’d prefer him to score every single chance but although he looks like a cyborg sent from the future to destroy the planet he’s very much human.

 

[Stiff Little Wingers]

I was making a distinction between generational, freak and best.

Foden is a rare and special English talent, like Gerrard, Bryan Robson, or Gascoigne.

Haaland is a freak, international superstar talent like Messi, Ronaldo, or Mbappe.

Rodri Is a footballer's footballer - the best player in Europe imo. If his peers had half a brain, he would have won the Ballon D'or last season.

Fair points those

 

[BlueDejong]

Hmmm......

 

[DMA's]

Hmmm......

People won’t like it but we sre a better team with Alvarez as the striker. We are more fluid, have a better build up, better pressing from the front and Alvarez drifts across the front creating overloads and pulling defenders out of position.

Haaland is the better striker but Alvarez makes us a better team imo

 

[Craig]

People won’t like it but we sre a better team with Alvarez as the striker. We are more fluid, have a better build up, better pressing from the front and Alvarez drifts across the front creating overloads and pulling defenders out of position.

Haaland is the better striker but Alvarez makes us a better team imo

Wrong. The team set up was more fluid and quicker. Haaland could have had a field day with us playing such quick football. Alvarez’s main contribution to the first half was giving the goal away. Which admittedly shouldn’t be a problem losing the ball on the edge of the opposition’s box despite having a simple pass on. Imagine Jezza costing us a goal there though!

 

[DMA's]

Wrong. The team set up was more fluid and quicker. Haaland could have had a field day with us playing such quick football. Alvarez’s main contribution to the first half was giving the goal away. Which admittedly shouldn’t be a problem losing the ball on the edge of the opposition’s box despite having a simple pass on. Imagine Jezza costing us a goal there though!

The issue is haaland doesn’t posses the technique to play quickly so that hampers us in the build up etc and we become one dimensional.

The way we play Alvarez is the better option imo

 

[Craig]

The issue is haaland doesn’t posses the technique to play quickly so that hampers us in the build up etc and we become one dimensional.

The way we play Alvarez is the better option imo

Maybe. I just thought we moved it so much quicker in general play when Alvarez wasn’t involved so that could have benefited Haaland too. Fair play to Pep anyway. Huge calls and we were bloody good to watch again last night.

 

[bluedreamer]

Wrong. The team set up was more fluid and quicker. Haaland could have had a field day with us playing such quick football. Alvarez’s main contribution to the first half was giving the goal away. Which admittedly shouldn’t be a problem losing the ball on the edge of the opposition’s box despite having a simple pass on. Imagine Jezza costing us a goal there though!

Team set up more fluid and quicker? Yes. Alvarez fluid and quick.
Haaland static, clumsy and slow.

 

[Craig]

Team set up more fluid and quicker? Yes. Alvarez fluid and quick.
Haaland static, clumsy and slow.

Maybe. A lot of the fluid quick stuff was happening without Alvarez touching the ball. We moved it much quicker than we have done in ages and having real width helped. There were times when we could put the ball across early and i think it would have suited Haaland last night. Will be interesting to see how it works with a similar line up and Haaland upfront. Yes Erling has his faults but it’s not like we’ve not played fast football in the past with Haaland playing.

 

[Lowtower]

Team set up more fluid and quicker? Yes. Alvarez fluid and quick.
Haaland static, clumsy and slow.

Fucking hell.

Static?

Slow?

I'm sure some of you lot have never watched a game