Are City a better all round team without Haaland?

[Raskolnikov.]

I wouldn't want to find out!!

It's clear we are now without Kev, sadly.

Haaland has scored 27 goals in a slow build-up, so imagine how many he would get if we move the ball quicker like yesterday!

Agree about Kev and have thought the same for years now. The best football I’ve ever seen us and maybe any team play was in the middle of the 19-20 season when Kev was out injured for a long spell and the whole of the midfield seemed to come out of their shell without him there and we played the most beautiful fluent “total football” week after week after week winning god knows how many games on the bounce.

The man in the street is obsessed with goals and assists and to an extent they’re right and Kev should be in the team but City at our absolute peak can’t feature a man who gives the ball away as often as Kev does.

It must be a terrible dilemma for Pep to face knowing that the one man who is most likely to produce moments of defence splitting magic is also the man who is least suited to the incredible system he’s developed.

 

[chris85mcfc]

The team are more fluid without Haaland. Like we used to be with a false 9.

Managers and teams have worked Haaland out a bit, bar those moments of pure striker instinct that he will always have. 2 centre halfs doubling up on Haaland. And when Kev get’s the ball on the right to cross over to Haaland, teams are doubling up on Kev to stop those crosses that have led to so many goals for Haaland at the start of the season.

Pep needs to tweak his Haaland tactics a bit, just to mix up his movement and the teams movement around him.

But Haaland will always be one of the first names on the team sheet.

I actually think we are more fluid without Kev, and that's not me saying he isn't world class, it's just that so much seems to go through him when he plays

To get the best from Haaland, the passing and movement needs to be quick and crisp, trying to get Kev into the right hand position to put a cross in for Haaland shouldn't be our 'go to' in order to get Haaland into the game

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

I don’t think we can judge anything based on yesterday. Both teams had makeshift teams out and no one matches up to us in terms of being able to make such changes. Not only that but they are badly out of form as well. I wouldn’t be surprised if we beat Arsenal in the cup comfortably by a couple of goals due to changes being made then as well.

Kev is still the best creative midfielder in the world and certainly the best in our side. Foden and Bernardo might have extra legs but they’re also very quiet in terms of dictating play and controlling the tempo. Kev, even on his very worst days, is always there trying to make things happen. This is one of the best attributes a player can ever have. His form in the second half of last season was also arguably his best ever and played a huge part in us winning the league, something we wouldn’t have done without him. He’ll be back to his best again soon enough, just as he always is.

I think he does need a good rest and while he will always be our most incisive passer, there may be coming a time where we have to manage his time and, should we transition towards a quicker way of playing, someone like Bellingham would give him a new lease of life.

I also felt the same when Yaya was sweeping all before him? In European games, he cost us a lot, because we thought the trade off was worth it, but his lack of legs left us a man short at times.

 

[blueparrot]

Agree about Kev and have thought the same for years now. The best football I’ve ever seen us and maybe any team play was in the middle of the 19-20 season when Kev was out injured for a long spell and the whole of the midfield seemed to come out of their shell without him there and we played the most beautiful fluent “total football” week after week after week winning god knows how many games on the bounce.

The man in the street is obsessed with goals and assists and to an extent they’re right and Kev should be in the team but City at our absolute peak can’t feature a man who gives the ball away as often as Kev does.

It must be a terrible dilemma for Pep to face knowing that the one man who is most likely to produce moments of defence splitting magic is also the man who is least suited to the incredible system he’s developed.

Think there may be a question at the moment and will be in the coming season or 2. Thinking that about him for years now is just bonkers though.

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

If any star player needs an excuse to move club in future he only has to quote fans asking this sort of question. Only at City.

 

[Ducado]

It's horses for courses as far as I am concerned

 

[HelloCity]

Beat a diabolical and much changed Chelsea team and people want Haaland and De Bruyne gone from the XI. The only 2 players we have who are the best in the world in their position.

Mind blowing stuff.

 

[wolviedinho]

No.

Same with Kdb.

Pep needs to find the right balance. Rotation is needed and no one argues with that approach. However, keeping a stable team to allow Haaland to shine will be as important.

The Chelsea win showed us all that the team needs energy and grafters. Any lineup going forward without those players is going to struggle.

How Pep balances this problem will determine how successful this season becomes. I have doubts based on what’s happened up to this point.

Alvarez, Bernie, Phil must start if fit. Haaland will do his part.

 

[HelloCity]

I think he does need a good rest and while he will always be our most incisive passer, there may be coming a time where we have to manage his time and, should we transition towards a quicker way of playing, someone like Bellingham would give him a new lease of life.

I also felt the same when Yaya was sweeping all before him? In European games, he cost us a lot, because we thought the trade off was worth it, but his lack of legs left us a man short at times.

We just beat Fulham with 10 men and De Bruyne produced an all time great performance where he ran himself into the ground for the whole game and delivered some sensational balls. Yaya couldn’t have put that work in when he was 21 never mind 31.

 

[KS55]

Possibly the worst thread ever, played a handful of games without him. The way we played today was all about tempo and quick passing, nothing to do with who was upfront. Do these people forget games like Leicester away a couple months ago? Haaland didn’t feature then and it was the dullest game ever

Tempo, tempo, tempo. The key to a good performance. We had become too slow and deliberate at times. Against Chelsea the passing in the first half was slicker, quicker and more instinctive.