9 | Erling Haaland - 2025/26

The problem is, everything has to work absolutely perfectly just to create a chance for him, never mind a goal.

Every pass has to be of the exact weight, every cross has to be planted directly on his head, every move has to be carried out at a certain speed… it’s laborious.

Long gone are the days of seeing an Aguero/Tevez chasing a lost cause and zipping about giving defenders a migraine.

Haaland is a brilliant finisher, his stats speak for themselves, but it seems he can only function in a meticulous, well oiled machine capable of laser guided precision.
 
Pep didn't know what to do with Ibra so sold him, he can't find a way to utilise Haaland to use his strengths..

Pep knew exactly what to do with Ibra, he played well and scored a ton of goals…and then Pep discovered Messi false 9 and Barcelona became the best club side of all time.


People get so worked up after a loss, but don’t try to rewrite history and expect the rest of us believe it.

Under Guardiola Haaland has the greatest goalscoring record of any striker in PL history. If you think that can happen with a manager who can’t play to his strengths then this ain’t the sport for you.
 
The problem is, everything has to work absolutely perfectly just to create a chance for him, never mind a goal.

Every pass has to be of the exact weight, every cross has to be planted directly on his head, every move has to be carried out at a certain speed… it’s laborious.

Long gone are the days of seeing an Aguero/Tevez chasing a lost cause and zipping about giving defenders a migraine.

Haaland is a brilliant finisher, his stats speak for themselves, but it seems he can only function in a meticulous, well oiled machine capable of laser guided precision.
I said it during the summer we need to take a different approach to games the back line are old and slow and we keep getting caught so maybe we should sit back 10/15 yards deeper and protect the defence. This will also create more space up top for Haaland he suffers up there with two banks of 4 around him most of the time
 
The problem is, everything has to work absolutely perfectly just to create a chance for him, never mind a goal.

Every pass has to be of the exact weight, every cross has to be planted directly on his head, every move has to be carried out at a certain speed… it’s laborious.

Long gone are the days of seeing an Aguero/Tevez chasing a lost cause and zipping about giving defenders a migraine.

Haaland is a brilliant finisher, his stats speak for themselves, but it seems he can only function in a meticulous, well oiled machine capable of laser guided precision.
Tevez and Aguero FORCED the defenders to make errors, Haaland waits for the defenders to make them. That's my take. He's a "convenience" player
 
The problem is, everything has to work absolutely perfectly just to create a chance for him, never mind a goal.

Every pass has to be of the exact weight, every cross has to be planted directly on his head, every move has to be carried out at a certain speed… it’s laborious.

Long gone are the days of seeing an Aguero/Tevez chasing a lost cause and zipping about giving defenders a migraine.

Haaland is a brilliant finisher, his stats speak for themselves, but it seems he can only function in a meticulous, well oiled machine capable of laser guided precision.
Just watchinh MOTD and i thought exactly this. I was at the game yesterday and watching the highlights reminded me of one incident that sums haaland up often.

When marmoush chased the under hit headed back pass and got the ball, haaland was barely jogging in support. He didnt offer a pass option to marmoush.
This is a regular thing. He often doesnt make that bursting run to the front post and , as you say, requires the pass to find him rather than him offering himself.

I always hear that haaland always makes the runs but his team mates dont see it. I just dont see this and i keep thinking im missing something!
His second against wolves was more rjeinders finding a barely moving haaland with a great cut back rather than haaland bursting in to the wide open space.

I go to every home game and a fair chunk of away games. I see the lazy haaland live rather than just seeing his stats

ill get pelters i know, but my opinion is haaland isnt actually a very good footballer.
 
Doubt we will see Real Madrid making any bids for him anytime soon, very frustrating see him play over the last 12 months or so, I want the lad to do well but if your a one trick pony then you can at least ensure your friggin good at that trick.
 
Pep knew exactly what to do with Ibra, he played well and scored a ton of goals…and then Pep discovered Messi false 9 and Barcelona became the best club side of all time.


People get so worked up after a loss, but don’t try to rewrite history and expect the rest of us believe it.

Under Guardiola Haaland has the greatest goalscoring record of any striker in PL history. If you think that can happen with a manager who can’t play to his strengths then this ain’t the sport for you.
Problem is, if haaland doesnt score, he offers absolutely zero
 
Wow amazing! That’s one of his jobs that he gets paid £400k a week for. He should be setting up multiple chances and having several shots on target per game with the ability he has.
That is your expectation. And you are entitled to that. Unfortunately I'm not sure football works that way.
 
Wish he’d use his physicality more on long balls up towards him. He’s left 1v1 with defenders now because teams feel it’s a safe bet which is madness considering his size and build.
He was never far enough up. Always looked to ambling around about 40 yards from our goal. Didnt stretch their defence at all
 
How should it work?
Never mind his wages, but how should our start striker perform? What is your expected minimum
A quick aside: every single premier league footballer is paid a small fortune. His wages dont factor into my analysis.

My minimum expectations are that he works hard on and off the ball and that he gives a shit enough to do this.

I'd expect him to score some goals. If he scores goals at an historic rate then Id be down for that, say for example, he scored 48 goals 49 home premier league games, I'd be very happy.

I think if we're pointing fingers at where we think the team is going wrong, if we're pointing them at haaland then i think we're on the wrong track.

You might see things differently, go back to the false 9 way, perfectly valid but for me not the answer.
 
Just watchinh MOTD and i thought exactly this. I was at the game yesterday and watching the highlights reminded me of one incident that sums haaland up often.

When marmoush chased the under hit headed back pass and got the ball, haaland was barely jogging in support. He didnt offer a pass option to marmoush.
This is a regular thing. He often doesnt make that bursting run to the front post and , as you say, requires the pass to find him rather than him offering himself.

I always hear that haaland always makes the runs but his team mates dont see it. I just dont see this and i keep thinking im missing something!
His second against wolves was more rjeinders finding a barely moving haaland with a great cut back rather than haaland bursting in to the wide open space.

I go to every home game and a fair chunk of away games. I see the lazy haaland live rather than just seeing his stats

ill get pelters i know, but my opinion is haaland isnt actually a very good footballer.
Was that the incident where Marmoush won his press, shot from a very tight angle and the ball trickled across the goal line and then just wide. Any forward with any anticipation would have scored a tap in. Haaland watched the whole thing happen without a response. Aguero would 100% have anticipated Marmoush winning the ball and would have followed the ball in.

He is undroppable and that is going to become a huge problem for us as too many of his performances frankly, stink.
Thats not an overreaction. Its based on the last season and a half and watching how we play without him when he is injured.
 
The problem is, everything has to work absolutely perfectly just to create a chance for him, never mind a goal.

Every pass has to be of the exact weight, every cross has to be planted directly on his head, every move has to be carried out at a certain speed… it’s laborious.

Long gone are the days of seeing an Aguero/Tevez chasing a lost cause and zipping about giving defenders a migraine.

Haaland is a brilliant finisher, his stats speak for themselves, but it seems he can only function in a meticulous, well oiled machine capable of laser guided precision.
Wouldn’t you say the best opportunity of the game where Haaland made something out of nothing, and dribbled through multiple defenders and put a ball on a plate for Marmoush was Aguero / Tevez like yesterday.

I understand what you’re saying, but Haaland can drop and carry with speed well enough, and I agree he needs to do more of it this season or we’re in trouble.

I am just saying, goals change everything.
Marmoush puts that great chance away, yesterday goes way different in my opinion and Haaland gets deserved praise for a fanatic pickup and run with the ball through multiple spurs defenders
 
Was that the incident where Marmoush won his press, shot from a very tight angle and the ball trickled across the goal line and then just wide. Any forward with any anticipation would have scored a tap in. Haaland watched the whole thing happen without a response. Aguero would 100% have anticipated Marmoush winning the ball and would have followed the ball in.

He is undroppable and that is going to become a huge problem for us as too many of his performances frankly, stink.
Thats not an overreaction. Its based on the last season and a half and watching how we play without him when he is injured.
Yep exactly that. Just needed someone following in to tap in to an empty net.
 

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top