9 | Erling Haaland - 2023/24

[SebastianBlue]

Absolutely flabbergasted at the Palmer stuff. He's the only bright spark in a 10th place Chelsea side who won't have European football next season, whose lack of discipline in keeping and retaining the ball meant they got dragged into one of the lowest quality games of football I can remember against two "big six" sides. I hold nothing against him, but to compare him to treble winning, title chasing Haaland doing a disciplined job in the best team in the world is fucking insane.

It also shows just a complete lack of understanding of football in general.

They play different positions and roles in their sides, they play in different systems, and they face completely different tactics from opposition teams.

It is usually far more difficult for Haaland to get in a goalscoring position than it is for Palmer because we face parked buses nearly every match whilst opposition teams see Chelsea has vulnerable and play far more aggressively and open. Our games are mostly attack v defence, whereas theirs tend to be basketball games.

And, yet, Haaland is still top scorer in the league, with half as many penalties as Palmer, and essentially the same G/A, even though he isn’t the creative focal point of our team like Palmer often is for Chelsea.

The “Haaland is having a shite season” narrative does my head in. It’s a meme shitetake.

 

[mexico1970]

Not really. He feasts against the lesser sides, as he should. What is his Premier League record against the top 4 or 5? Let's see if he actually makes a difference over the two legs against Real Madrid, which is ultimately what he was brought into the club to do, to make a difference in the biggest games.

Erling Haaland scored against 17 of the 20 teams that made up the Premier League last season. Only Liverpool, Chelsea and Brentford, who this year joined newly-promoted Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town as teams that did not concede from the Norwegian, were spared. He has crossed Burnley, Sheffield Wednesday, Chelsea and Liverpool off his list.


He scores against everyone.

 

[youngbob]

Not really. He feasts against the lesser sides, as he should. What is his Premier League record against the top 4 or 5? Let's see if he actually makes a difference over the two legs against Real Madrid, which is ultimately what he was brought into the club to do, to make a difference in the biggest games.

He's scored against every team he's played in the Premier League.

 

[Bluewars II]

He's due a big performance tommorow, I think he'll start.

 

[lonestay]

Just watching the first episode of the new documentary, I want that Erling back please !!!!

 

[BlueMooner87]

Feel sorry for him, he hasn't been in great form but he has also suffered from the lack of service, with KDB being injured or not completely fit and the loss of Gundo &Mahrez its been a really difficult second season for Erling.

 

[skillman]

I wish we’d see him be more involved (or allowed to be) in the build up. His attacking appreciation for passes and awareness is brilliant.

 

[Ederson1000YardDrive]

Ridiculous comment

You didn't answer my question... what's the chances?

I can see it happening

 

[nellyonthewing]

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.

Alvarez was involve in many of those great fast intricate passes involving 3 or 4 City players on the edge of their box..

 

[nellyonthewing]

I wish we’d see him be more involved (or allowed to be) in the build up. His attacking appreciation for passes and awareness is brilliant.

The thing is in those clips he has space to use his power. Now he's really a static figure boxed in by 2 or more defenders in their box.