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9 | Erling Haaland - 2024/25
- Thread starter Legal Alien
- Start date
I believe he scored from a "through ball". What is this through ball they speak of? I vaguely remember them...
To be fair, we scored a pretty similar goal last weekend.
But I agree, we don't use it enough. He usually positions himself between the two defenders - as any good striker should - so if we can play the ball to him while he's backing into the one behind him, we're onto a winner. He's too strong, big and aggressive to be knocked off it.
I'm amazed Gundogan hasn't done it more often since being back. He was the one during 22/23 who played it the most (after KDB) - the Palace hat-trick goal at home being the standout.
supercity88
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To be fair, we scored a pretty similar goal last weekend.
But I agree, we don't use it enough. He usually positions himself between the two defenders - as any good striker should - so if we can play the ball to him while he's backing into the one behind him, we're onto a winner. He's too strong, big and aggressive to be knocked off it.
I'm amazed Gundogan hasn't done it more often since being back. He was the one during 22/23 who played it the most (after KDB) - the Palace hat-trick goal at home being the standout.
I think it was his first goal in the PL when he was played through against West Ham. The ball was overhit but Haaland's pace meant he got there and won a penalty. As I said in my previous post, most strikers need that ball to be slightly ahead of them and into space so they can latch onto it, get it out of their feet and score. If you look back at highlight reels of Haaland's goals for us, you'll see plenty of times where the ball hasn't been that good but he's made something of it. He's quicker than most so he gets to a ball with too much weight on it. If it's underhit and gives the defender a chance he batters them off the ball and scores from it. Whilst it might not give us the same control passing to feet does, it's the most effective way of utilising our biggest goal threat so we have to start doing it more often.
To pass it around and manipulate space is very difficult and teams are more than happy to have two or three around Haaland and make it impossible for him to get to crosses. He still does well in those situations, but he'd much prefer to be played in more and in doing so you'd see him stretching the defence more often, keeping them on their toes for more of the game leaving them dead on their feet come the final few minutes.
I think it was his first goal in the PL when he was played through against West Ham. The ball was overhit but Haaland's pace meant he got there and won a penalty. As I said in my previous post, most strikers need that ball to be slightly ahead of them and into space so they can latch onto it, get it out of their feet and score. If you look back at highlight reels of Haaland's goals for us, you'll see plenty of times where the ball hasn't been that good but he's made something of it. He's quicker than most so he gets to a ball with too much weight on it. If it's underhit and gives the defender a chance he batters them off the ball and scores from it. Whilst it might not give us the same control passing to feet does, it's the most effective way of utilising our biggest goal threat so we have to start doing it more often.
To pass it around and manipulate space is very difficult and teams are more than happy to have two or three around Haaland and make it impossible for him to get to crosses. He still does well in those situations, but he'd much prefer to be played in more and in doing so you'd see him stretching the defence more often, keeping them on their toes for more of the game leaving them dead on their feet come the final few minutes.
Absolutely agree. We have a Ferrari and use him like a Ford.
It shows just how good he is that he's put the numbers up that he has IMO. He often takes the first chance he gets in a game which is handy because he doesn't tend to get too many. Apart from the odd game that is.
He needs to do more too, though. He needs to use his physicality in certain duels because there's been times where he's been bullied out the game (Saliba/Gabriel, Rudiger and I'm sure there's more) but he's still only young and that'll come with experience.
Wouldn't change him for anybody else in world football. An absolute freak of a forward and will only get better!
supercity88
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Absolutely agree. We have a Ferrari and use him like a Ford.
It shows just how good he is that he's put the numbers up that he has IMO. He often takes the first chance he gets in a game which is handy because he doesn't tend to get too many. Apart from the odd game that is.
He needs to do more too, though. He needs to use his physicality in certain duels because there's been times where he's been bullied out the game (Saliba/Gabriel, Rudiger and I'm sure there's more) but he's still only young and that'll come with experience.
Wouldn't change him for anybody else in world football. An absolute freak of a forward and will only get better!
He can definitely do more and so can the other players around him. If the opposition have decided we're going to lock him up and follow him all over the pitch, sticking like glue then he's got the ability to move into areas they're uncomfortable and out of position allowing someone else to take advantage. But too often we don't have anyone making the most of it. When we battered Arsenal in the run in a couple of years ago, it was only Rob Holding but De Bruyne took advantage of Haaland pulling him out of position and used the space that opened up.
We don't seem to have anyone who is willing to run beyond him or play closely enough with him to do the same. He's isolated and it wouldn't matter if he's taken Saliba/Rudiger or anyone else into midfield because there's no one moving into that space anyway.