We’re getting close to the stage where Pep has got a decision to make regarding Foden starting games in the 10 role on a more regular basis. He’s too good in that position to keep playing him out wide to accommodate KDB. This day was always going to arrive. I’m sure KDB could adapt his game to play more of a controlling role deeper in the midfield or maybe Pep can come up with a more creative solution? KDB is not getting any younger and has been picking up injuries so maybe a less explosive role would be better for him also? Be interesting to see what Pep does going forward.
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Aston Villa (H) | PL | Post-match Thread
- Thread starter SebastianBlue
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Last night left me nostalgic for the false 9 days of recent seasons past, when the goals could have come from any number of players and we had always had that element of surprise. Haaland is amazing, box office at his best, and should never be written off - but rotating him like anyone else if his form is off is the right thing to do.That is rather the point. It is arguable that Pep’s style does not easily tolerate an out and out goal scorer. We won the title after all without a striker at all. When Aguero was left out to develop his all round game, he returned a much better player. Haaland needs to do the same.
You play to his strengths within the team. Aguero was a better footballer than Erling. Earling scores more goals. You don't learn all round ability his ability is putting it in the net.
That is the real issue. Sergio is possibly the best forward to grace the premier league, let alone us.
Gingers Dad
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Gvardiol's last two games have easily been his best for City. Although I don't think he'll be a long term LB he's going to be an excellent player. I'm hoping he will become a centre mid.Fair play - still to me had the Laporte feel re pace - then i thought what a buy..exactly like Gvardiol i feel - what an immense week he has had
Dias is back to form as well
I don’t agree with those saying Haaland should be dropped but he does need to improve other aspects of his game to fulfil Pep’s team style. Get working on it, Viking!Could've but didn't
Yet we have scored 6 goals or more in games with Haaland on. Rags, Luton, Leipzig etc..
So do you know we wouldn't have scored more with Haaland on, as we have many times?
Tolmie scores
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Absolutely, He has a sort of has a Rodri feel, great feet for a big strong lad - not quick of course - would be Rodri's perfect 'pupil' for a couple more years ....maybeGvardiol's last two games have easily been his best for City. Although I don't think he'll be a long term LB he's going to be an excellent player. I'm hoping he will become a centre mid.
Dias is back to form as well
Gingers Dad
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I didn't want to put Rodri comparisons in just yet, but I agreeAbsolutely, He has a sort of has a Rodri feel, great feet for a big strong lad - not quick of course - would be Rodri's perfect 'pupil' for a couple more years ....maybe
Fair points.it seems almost churlish to say that his system doesnt work with haaland when that system won a treble last year and is still deep in 3 competitions this year, haaland has scored 29 goals this year despite having his chief creator missing for half the year so he does fit, the problem with haaland like most of our players is that they are so top level when they have a minor blip its built into an absolute catastrophe, there is not a team in world football that haaland doesnt walk into so keane and mccoist can stick their bullshit to be quite frank, yeah i do think he could improve his all round play but alvarez lost the ball frequently last night and missed 2 absolute sitters but because we won its ignored which is understandable but i do think haaland will come back and come back strong.
Tolmie scores
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No worrying at all - Dias was great again last night btwRuben Diaz has won 8 Major trophies in 3 years at City! (you don't need to worry)!
mrbelfry
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Haaland scores at least two in my opinion at last night's game (the fizzed cross from Grealish and at least one of the Alvarez chances. Doku also put in a couple of crosses you'd expect Haaland to be attacking). He gets judged much too harshly when he goes a few games without scoring.
The difference yesterday's wasn't Haaland not being there it's also us playing with much more pace and we absolutely can do that with Haaland in the team. Grealish and Doku playing well is also a combo we haven't seen too often this season. We pressed pretty well against Arsenal with Haaland in the team - Alvarez is probably better at that but they both give the ball away and Haaland's finishing is superior.
Haaland's all round game is improving and you seem him involved in more areas of the pitch. The problem is when we launch it up aimlessly at him and expect him to be Emile Heskey.
Also don't underestimate how good Rico played - his positioning is elite and he's got a nice little pass in him which makes him a more offensive asset than someone like Kovacic. Plus the way he receives the ball is very good.
And then the biggest factor in our increased pace is where our players pass the ball into their team mate. When we are a bit off our game all the passes tend to be behind a team mate so they have to turn and control and sloooow down (or get pressed into playing it backwards). When we are on it the passes are played just in front of or into the body of a team mate. there is 100% no team better at using their bodies to collect and progress the ball - very few need to take touches to get it under control and think about what they are doing. Combine this with the runners off the ball and you have unstoppable football at times even in ridiculous tight areas with width provided by wingers and not full backs.
Haaland doesn't quite use his body in this way yet (neither does Alvarez but his body parts move quicker) but I'm sure Pep and the team are working on it - he's probably been able to just use his brute strength all his life and now he's having to learn more nuance BUT I have no doubt Haaland can play. Don't forget he has played much of this year with a bad foot (we also won the treble without him scoring much at the end of the season)
The difference yesterday's wasn't Haaland not being there it's also us playing with much more pace and we absolutely can do that with Haaland in the team. Grealish and Doku playing well is also a combo we haven't seen too often this season. We pressed pretty well against Arsenal with Haaland in the team - Alvarez is probably better at that but they both give the ball away and Haaland's finishing is superior.
Haaland's all round game is improving and you seem him involved in more areas of the pitch. The problem is when we launch it up aimlessly at him and expect him to be Emile Heskey.
Also don't underestimate how good Rico played - his positioning is elite and he's got a nice little pass in him which makes him a more offensive asset than someone like Kovacic. Plus the way he receives the ball is very good.
And then the biggest factor in our increased pace is where our players pass the ball into their team mate. When we are a bit off our game all the passes tend to be behind a team mate so they have to turn and control and sloooow down (or get pressed into playing it backwards). When we are on it the passes are played just in front of or into the body of a team mate. there is 100% no team better at using their bodies to collect and progress the ball - very few need to take touches to get it under control and think about what they are doing. Combine this with the runners off the ball and you have unstoppable football at times even in ridiculous tight areas with width provided by wingers and not full backs.
Haaland doesn't quite use his body in this way yet (neither does Alvarez but his body parts move quicker) but I'm sure Pep and the team are working on it - he's probably been able to just use his brute strength all his life and now he's having to learn more nuance BUT I have no doubt Haaland can play. Don't forget he has played much of this year with a bad foot (we also won the treble without him scoring much at the end of the season)
KDB‘s role is a key factor in all this. Foden must not be shunted to the left. Frankly he is ordinary there.Thought we were excellent last night, i know a lot are probably suggesting its because Haaland was out of the team but there were games already this season without Haaland that we didn't play well. The real question is, where does Kevin fit in? Do we swap Bernardo to the right and move KDB more to box to box? I don't know. I would like to have a fluid lineup where KDB, Foden and Bernardo all alternate between the three roles of 10 - 8 and right wing.
mexico1970
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I don’t agree with those saying Haaland should be dropped but he does need to improve other aspects of his game to fulfil Pep’s team style. Get working on it, Viking!
Last night was his type of game, there were plenty of chances inside the box. Maybe Villa would have set up differently if we would have played him we will never know.
I'm with you though, get the Viking up and running as often as possible.
My thoughts exactly. Accurate crosses were coming in all game that were not attacked. I think Haaland would have been more effective than Alvarez in this game. (But I have no issues with Alvarez)Haaland scores at least two in my opinion at last night's game (the fizzed cross from Grealish and at least one of the Alvarez chances. Doku also put in a couple of crosses you'd expect Haaland to be attacking). He gets judged much too harshly when he goes a few games without scoring.
The difference yesterday's wasn't Haaland not being there it's also us playing with much more pace and we absolutely can do that with Haaland in the team. Grealish and Doku playing well is also a combo we haven't seen too often this season. We pressed pretty well against Arsenal with Haaland in the team - Alvarez is probably better at that but they both give the ball away and Haaland's finishing is superior.
Haaland's all round game is improving and you seem him involved in more areas of the pitch. The problem is when we launch it up aimlessly at him and expect him to be Emile Heskey.
Also don't underestimate how good Rico played - his positioning is elite and he's got a nice little pass in him which makes him a more offensive asset than someone like Kovacic. Plus the way he receives the ball is very good.
And then the biggest factor in our increased pace is where our players pass the ball into their team mate. When we are a bit off our game all the passes tend to be behind a team mate so they have to turn and control and sloooow down (or get pressed into playing it backwards). When we are on it the passes are played just in front of or into the body of a team mate. there is 100% no team better at using their bodies to collect and progress the ball - very few need to take touches to get it under control and think about what they are doing. Combine this with the runners off the ball and you have unstoppable football at times even in ridiculous tight areas with width provided by wingers and not full backs.
Haaland doesn't quite use his body in this way yet (neither does Alvarez but his body parts move quicker) but I'm sure Pep and the team are working on it - he's probably been able to just use his brute strength all his life and now he's having to learn more nuance BUT I have no doubt Haaland can play. Don't forget he has played much of this year with a bad foot (we also won the treble without him scoring much at the end of the season)
Tolmie scores
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agreed two games is a million miles from Rodri's imperious years!...but we can live in hopeI didn't want to put Rodri comparisons in just yet, but I agree
Crosses, crosses. Someone took me to task the other day for calling for more wing play and crosses, saying Haaland doesn’t score headers. Last night showed the value of wing play. Crosses don’t have to be to heads, the driven cross was well used in the past.My thoughts exactly. Accurate crosses were coming in all game that were not attacked. I think Haaland would have been more effective than Alvarez in this game. (But I have no issues with Alvarez)
I also think rodri stepped forward more than usual last night which gave us an extra dimension, rodris passing range is criminally underrated, the pass for fodens second was brilliant and if kdb made it, theyd be waxing lyrical about it on motd (not that their opinion means anything)Haaland scores at least two in my opinion at last night's game (the fizzed cross from Grealish and at least one of the Alvarez chances. Doku also put in a couple of crosses you'd expect Haaland to be attacking). He gets judged much too harshly when he goes a few games without scoring.
The difference yesterday's wasn't Haaland not being there it's also us playing with much more pace and we absolutely can do that with Haaland in the team. Grealish and Doku playing well is also a combo we haven't seen too often this season. We pressed pretty well against Arsenal with Haaland in the team - Alvarez is probably better at that but they both give the ball away and Haaland's finishing is superior.
Haaland's all round game is improving and you seem him involved in more areas of the pitch. The problem is when we launch it up aimlessly at him and expect him to be Emile Heskey.
Also don't underestimate how good Rico played - his positioning is elite and he's got a nice little pass in him which makes him a more offensive asset than someone like Kovacic. Plus the way he receives the ball is very good.
And then the biggest factor in our increased pace is where our players pass the ball into their team mate. When we are a bit off our game all the passes tend to be behind a team mate so they have to turn and control and sloooow down (or get pressed into playing it backwards). When we are on it the passes are played just in front of or into the body of a team mate. there is 100% no team better at using their bodies to collect and progress the ball - very few need to take touches to get it under control and think about what they are doing. Combine this with the runners off the ball and you have unstoppable football at times even in ridiculous tight areas with width provided by wingers and not full backs.
Haaland doesn't quite use his body in this way yet (neither does Alvarez but his body parts move quicker) but I'm sure Pep and the team are working on it - he's probably been able to just use his brute strength all his life and now he's having to learn more nuance BUT I have no doubt Haaland can play. Don't forget he has played much of this year with a bad foot (we also won the treble without him scoring much at the end of the season)
eastmanc
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Would you really sell a player who has scored 80 goals in one and three quarter seasons that would be mad. The comparison with Sterling isn't the right one as Haarlands numbers are off the scale. He he came on the market today every club in the world ĺwho could afford him would be in for him if Raheem was to come on.the market the clamour for his signature would be from low to middle clubs in the Premier League.The answer then is to ‘do a Sterling’. Pep thought he could improve in front of goal; when he didn’t, he was sold.
But you don’t know that, hundreds of players have disproved your theory that you can’t improve your all round game. Observe Rodri.
That ability depends on football intelligence. I don’t know whether Haaland has it. I shall observe his progress with interest.
No, I wouldn’t sell him but that’s effectively what you are saying. Translation of your argument: “Haaland is a goal scorer full stop. He will never be anything else.” As I said, if that were true, he would be on his way. There was no comparison to Sterling, but rather to PEP’s policy on non-improvers. Have a look at what he did to the so-called stars when he became head coach of Barca. He hasn‘t changed that philosophy: change or die. Ask Mr. Eto’o. Now if Fat Sam were our manager, things would be different, but it’s PEP.Would you really sell a player who has scored 80 goals in one and three quarter seasons that would be mad. The comparison with Sterling isn't the right one as Haarlands numbers are off the scale. He he came on the market today every club in the world ĺwho could afford him would be in for him if Raheem was to come on.the market the clamour for his signature would be from low to middle clubs in the Premier League.
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First time since Chelsea away since we scored 4 in a league game and first time since Bournemouth at home we won a game by 3 goals in the league.
Seriously think Pep is going to have to consider at the very least now using De Bruyne as an impact sub and not a starter.
Also Haaland is not bench resistant in this run-in.
Seriously think Pep is going to have to consider at the very least now using De Bruyne as an impact sub and not a starter.
Also Haaland is not bench resistant in this run-in.
feedmpenzaandhewillscore
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Last night was his type of game, there were plenty of chances inside the box. Maybe Villa would have set up differently if we would have played him we will never know.
I'm with you though, get the Viking up and running as often as possible.
Villa made the mistake that Arsenal didn’t want to, they came and had a go which opened the game up. Some of the closing and pressing last night was fantastic, they got absolutely strangled.