9 | Erling Haaland - 2025/26

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

It’s just one of those things I’ve noticed. He increasingly favours his left foot. If we look at this incident from the recent Everton game, many will criticise Cherki for losing possession, but my first thought is why does Haaland not use his right foot to pass the ball?

That's a very interesting clip. Yes, you're right, it's a five-yard pass, that's all, just begging to put in front of Cherki (whereas in fact, because he changes feet, he puts it directly into Cherki's feet, or even slightly behind him, and Cherki is running at full pelt, so can't control it properly). And if you look, Cherki, even while on the floor, is looking up at Haaland with his palm open, as if to say “What the fuck, mate?”

As I've said elsewhere, Erling's hold-up and lay-off work has progressed hugely since his first season. In that season, he was just a goal monster — that was what was on the tin, and that was what you got. It was “Pass the ball to me, in space if you can, and then I'll look after business”. And he had a player — Kev — who could do exactly that.
He's come on. But he's still got a ways to go.

 

[Gabriel]

That's a very interesting clip. Yes, you're right, it's a five-yard pass, that's all, just begging to put in front of Cherki (whereas in fact, because he changes feet, he puts it directly into Cherki's feet, or even slightly behind him, and Cherki is running at full pelt, so can't control it properly). And if you look, Cherki, even while on the floor, is looking up at Haaland with his palm open, as if to say “What the fuck, mate?”

In fairness, I think Cherki is pleading to the referee for a foul, but it’s Haaland’s insecurity with his right foot that leads to the problem. The more closely you watch his game and not just his goals, the more you can see that he shapes his body and takes extra touches to compensate, and in a game of small margins, that can prove telling.

 

[BlueTG]

If Aguero didn't get the amount of injuries he did for us and didn't have that physique that takes him a good month to get back into shape after an injury, he would have bagged 30 in the league every year for the decade he was with us.

He was elite.

Haaland is too, but both different.

Would he have? Who told you?

 

[Gorbachev]

Would he have? Who told you?

My assumption and would he have got 25-30 a season, yeah.

He scored 184 goals in 275 games over 10 years.

Average 18.4 goals in 27.5 games a season, so if you equate that to him playing 38 games that is an average of 25.4 a season.

Take into consideration the time it took Sergio to get back fit from injury due to his body shape and genetics and that 25.4 would be close to 30 goals a season.

When Sergio was in flow he was bagging weekly like Erling was, but his niggles prevented him from doing it at the rate Erling does now.

Either way if he wasn't as injury prone and didn't take as much time getting back fit and had the same type of fitness genetics as Erling does or even a Lewandowski or Kane, his 184 figure would be close to 250 goals.

Sergio was an absolute goal machine, but unfortunately not blessed with the physical genetics Erling has which allows him to recover to full fitness a lot quicker and not be bound by certain injuries to particular muscle groups.

 

[AirbagsOptionalTheReturn]

He doesn’t normally feel pressure but could the fastest to 100 premier league goals have been weighing on his mind? The 2 big chances he had he normally buries and if he misses one he normally makes up for it on the next chance. It’s a stretch I know….

 

[Tevez City]

Can't wait for his next Youtube video

 

[Chak19]

He doesn't score and we lose, it's that simple.

 

[shemnel]

Weird that he hadn't finished rounding the keeper when he decided to try and finish.

 

[SaintColin]

Won’t be around for long if the poor recruitment continues.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Won’t be around for long if the poor recruitment continues.

We've supposedly been recruiting badly for the last couple of seasons and he is still here

 

[bellsouth]

He is one player that starts every game. Sub him off early if you like but keep playing him whilst he’s in form. Once the form stops it could be very tough for us.

 

[SaintColin]

We've supposedly been recruiting badly for the last couple of seasons and he is still here

There is no supposedly about it. Surely the recruitment being awful the last few years is a unanimous opinion?

But what’s your point anyway? Last season was awful and this season isn’t looking much better…do you think it doesn’t bother him?

 

[Xhavenjoe]

There is no supposedly about it. Surely the recruitment being awful the last few years is a unanimous opinion?

But what’s your point anyway? Last season was awful and this season isn’t looking much better…do you think it doesn’t bother him?

My point is that Haaland ain't going to pack up that easily He will be around when a lot of the rest of our current team have moved on.

 

[SaintColin]

My point is that Haaland ain't going to pack up that easily He will be around when a lot of the rest of our current team have moved on.

I’d love to share your optimism. The recruitment has to improve or it’s simple.

 

[Stelea]

The look on his face on the touchline when they scored the 2nd

 

[Blue-Ghana]

PSG would be his best option if he decides to leave.

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

Lets be honest, we are pretty much a one man team from an attacking point of view.

Surrounding one of the greatest goalscorers of all time, who has just signed a long term contract, with second rate players is borderline criminal.

 

[Gorbachev]

The look on his face on the touchline when they scored the 2nd

Saw that, and I think a lot of first choicer's would have had the same reaction wondering what Pep was thinking going with that setup and personnel against a recent German champion. I know I would have done.

It is extremely concerning how reliant we are on his goals, though.

 

[WestGorton]

At the moment he is Manchester City.

 

[Paul1970]

One nan team and masking over a poor squad without him we’d be worse than last season . Time for pep to earn his money .