Erling Haaland

[Shaelumstash]

So I’m assuming you think peak Cristiano Ronaldo (6’2) also wouldn’t have been good for us?
I can post here a list of comments Pep has made praising him (including one from about a month ago)

Do you think Ibrahimovic was a good fit for Pep’s Barca?

 

[Deleted member 87819]

I just think sometimes being a brilliant player who doesn’t fit the style of the team doesn’t work out for either party. Ibrahimovic at Barca being a good example.

I have a thesis that Ibrahimovic and Pep would have gotten along and made it work at any other club except Barcelona. It had nothing to do with his quality or the tactics Pep wanted to employ. It had everything to do with how Zlatan thought of himself in there and how Pep sees Barcelona; how he wanted players with a low profile (“This is Barcelona. You’ve got to keep your feet on the ground”). I also think he wouldn’t have managed Neymar well THERE (let’s not forget that Neymar’s attitude was an issue there with La Masia players like Iniesta and Xavi for his superstar antics), but elsewhere, they would work fine.

 

[Deleted member 87819]

Do you think Ibrahimovic was a good fit for Pep’s Barca?

I replied to this above. Anyone who thinks the issue there was tactical is making a historical mistake; I lived that era closely. Oh, and Lewandowski is no midget

 

[SWP's back]

Yeh all fair points mate.

I’m certainly not anti-Haaland, he’s a brilliant player, an incredible goal scorer.

I just think sometimes being a brilliant player who doesn’t fit the style of the team doesn’t work out for either party. Ibrahimovic at Barca being a good example.

Lewandowski did ok with Pep though...

 

[BillyShears]

I can’t imagine Villa will let him go easily or cheaply. Perhaps could be our record fee until we potentially buy Haaland.

It's obvious that Villa will want a big fee for him.

 

[Coatigan]

I think it’s great that you come on here with so much confidence in your own opinion, good for you!

There hasn’t been a player in the history of football who is 6’4 and is as good in tight spaces as Messi, or David Silva, or Bernardo Silva.

And my view is, that’s the kind of quality in tight spaces that would be ideal for us.

Jaoa Felix has the technique to be that good in tight spaces. Mbappe has the potential to be. I don’t think Haaland does (but that’s only based on what I’ve seen of him and on biomechanics).

We've got what, 4, 5 players that are great in tight spaces?

How many more do we need? Surely a goal scorer, with other attributes is more needed than numbers of more of the same. And then there is pace, and strength.

 

[kun]

There hasn’t been a player in the history of football who is 6’4 and is as good in tight spaces as Messi, or David Silva, or Bernardo Silva.

This is like saying no one under 5'7 is as good in the air as Alan Shearer.
No fucking shit. There are, at most, maybe 5 players in the world on Silva/Messi/Bernardo's level of close control.

This doesn't mean someone tall can't play for Guardiola. Look at Yaya Touré, Busquets, Rodri, Lewandowsi. Look at Harry Kane, Cristiano Ronaldo, Marco van Basten.

Having someone who adds something a little different is hardly antithetical to our approach as long as he is good enough on the ball. At 20, Haaland's technical ability is already passable in this side, and he has more than enough time to technically develop.

 

[Coatigan]

Yeh all fair points mate.

I’m certainly not anti-Haaland, he’s a brilliant player, an incredible goal scorer.

I just think sometimes being a brilliant player who doesn’t fit the style of the team doesn’t work out for either party. Ibrahimovic at Barca being a good example.

Ibrahimovic at barca is the example people keep bringing up. Which others counter with Lewandowski at Bayern.

The truth is, Haaland is neither of those players, and we are neither of those clubs (same manager but completely differwnt teammates).

 

[Coatigan]

Do you think Ibrahimovic was a good fit for Pep’s Barca?

He was an excellent fit. The issue was a clash of personality and contest for one position. Messi's.

 

[BillyShears]

I think it’s great that you come on here with so much confidence in your own opinion, good for you!

Lol.

I didn’t think your football understanding could be as deluded as your political one. Maybe I was wrong.

Gareth Barry was an excellent player for City because he passed the ball forwards.

Gundogan just recycles possession square and backwards. And when he’s in an advanced position, he hides behind his opponents because he doesn’t want the ball in tight areas.

He can’t run, can’t press, won’t tackle.

The only people who rate him are those that quote his pass completion stats as some kind of evidence he’s a good player. It displays a complete misunderstanding of the truth. Kind of like calling Kier Starmer “Tory-lite”.