Erling Haaland

[Deleted member 87819]

I completely agree with you. But you have to admit Joao Felix looks more a Pep player than Haaland does. Nonetheless I really really hope that I am wrong and we'll go all out for Haaland.

Why are people still talking about this? You could also say Felix looks more like a Pep player than Lewandowski... and yet. If Pep didn’t agree to it, we wouldn’t have contacted and inquired the player’s staff already, and given who’s reported about it, we can trust that’s what’s happened. People have the wrong idea about Pep as if he doesn’t or can’t be challenged. For instance: Ruben Dias isn’t a typical “Pep player”; a CB for him would have to have better passing. And yet this is the best defense we’ve had under Pep.

 

[SilverFox2]

I know very little about tactical football other than being a lifelong CTID.
We appear to generate many chances to score but our normal goal scorers over the last couple of seasons, despite scoring many have frankly scorned many more good chances to score than they convert.
I see Mr Haaland just scores goals so why would he not be the answer to Peps prayers despite not being his 'type'.
Surely the final pass into the back of the net is all he needs to do, not be yet another cog in the passing web that Pep likes to weave.

 

[Gordyola]

Häland is not the finished article if we buy him it’s because of how good he is despite that. If he is willing then his time with Pep will make him improve him I see him scoring a shed load of goals

 

[chaddblue]

I’m looking forward to watching Haaland make Van Dijk look like a washed up crock as he slams a perfect hatrick in the net in front of the kop

 

[Shaelumstash]

A lot of his goals come from counter attacks or breakaway, how would he go on when we're camped in the oppositions halve trying to break them down, I reckon he would be no different to any other centre forward who ever it is, we'd still struggle to score

Totally agree with this.

The kid’s a natural goalscorer and will probably be the highest scorer in Europe over the next 10 years.

But I don’t think he’s suited to the way we play at all. We need someone who’s really good in tight spaces against deep and packed defences.

Ideally someone who’s comfortable dropping deep, or playing wide as and when needed. Mbappe or Felix seem a much more natural fit to me.

 

[MeatHunterrr]

Totally agree with this.

The kid’s a natural goalscorer and will probably be the highest scorer in Europe over the next 10 years.

But I don’t think he’s suited to the way we play at all. We need someone who’s really good in tight spaces against deep and packed defences.

Ideally someone who’s comfortable dropping deep, or playing wide as and when needed. Mbappe or Felix seem a much more natural fit to me.

Now we probably both get hammered for going against the grain here which is not allowed on Bluemoon, but I completely agree. I have Zlatan vibes about this.

I'd invest the money on Felix.

 

[Shaelumstash]

The thing I can’t get my head around when some people say Haaland wouldn’t fit in this team as his overall game isn’t good enough is that these same people have been watching Sergio Aguero for the last decade.

There’s an argument for Aguero being the greatest striker in the premier league era. Our success prior to this season would have been impossible without him. He’s been our marquee player of this era. But I fail to see what Sergio Aguero offers that Haaland does not? Aguero is not great at link up play - he’s not like a peak Suarez or Henry in that regard. His work rate improved under Pep but it’s not like he presses tirelessly all game. What he has been is a consistently ruthless & clinical finisher for us, someone who comes alive only in the last third, capable of scoring goals from nothing by himself and also being on the same wavelength as the creative players behind him and getting on the end of chances they create. I must be missing something in Aguero’s all round game that lead some posters on here to think that Haaland would not fit the system.

I think what you might be missing is the subtlety in Aguero’s movement that creates the space for the chances he gets.

It’s not just the “kicking it one” that contributes to him scoring so many goals, it’s the 5 seconds before to actually get in to that position and he’s the best ever in the Prem at that.

 

[MeatHunterrr]

Why are people still talking about this? You could also say Felix looks more like a Pep player than Lewandowski... and yet. If Pep didn’t agree to it, we wouldn’t have contacted and inquired the player’s staff already, and given who’s reported about it, we can trust that’s what’s happened. People have the wrong idea about Pep as if he doesn’t or can’t be challenged. For instance: Ruben Dias isn’t a typical “Pep player”; a CB for him would have to have better passing. And yet this is the best defense we’ve had under Pep.

Not sure why people bring up this Lewandowski example, he did not have any control at Bayern.

He would not have been allowed to sell Lewa even if he wanted it. Board signed and sold the players, he just had to make do with whoever they signed.

Also a CB even in a Pep team does not have to be SIlva on the ball... he had Puyol at Barca who was OK at best on the ball.

 

[Deleted member 87819]

Not sure why people bring up this Lewandowski example, he did not have any control at Bayern.

He would not have been allowed to sell Lewa even if he wanted it. Board signed and sold the players, he just had to make do with whoever they signed.

Also a CB even in a Pep team does not have to be SIlva on the ball... he had Puyol at Barca who was OK at best on the ball.

I bring up Lewandowski because he made him (supposedly a “non-Pep player”) work, nothing to do with being his choice or not. And you brought up another great example, Puyol. Puyol and Dias serve him what he needs and beyond even if did down Pep would’ve preferred a Bonucci, let’s say

 

[Deleted member 87819]

Totally agree with this.

The kid’s a natural goalscorer and will probably be the highest scorer in Europe over the next 10 years.

But I don’t think he’s suited to the way we play at all. We need someone who’s really good in tight spaces against deep and packed defences.

Ideally someone who’s comfortable dropping deep, or playing wide as and when needed. Mbappe or Felix seem a much more natural fit to me.

So you say he’s going to be the next top scorer in Europe over the next 10 years but not suited to Pep... well, if you believe that, then think about the fact that Pep is likely leaving in two years. I don’t how much Dortmund you have watched, but the idea that he never plays or excels against tight spaces and packed defenses is wrong. But as I have already said in this thread, nearly any player outside of the Premier League will come from playing a different style and against different opponents. If anyone thinks that at 20 he can’t adapt, then one has no faith in him at all. Even if he goes to Real Madrid he would be playing a different style that would require adaptation too.

I really like João Felix but sometimes I read stuff on threads here that make me wonder if people have really seen him play a lot. Let’s make an exercise in hypothesis. Let’s go back to the previous stage of the Champions League, Sevilla vs Dortmund and Chelsea vs Atletico Madrid. Let’s trade Haaland for Felix and vice versa. Here’s what I think would’ve happened: Atletico Madrid would’ve gone through and Dortmund would have not. Simple as that