Erling Haaland

[Deleted member 87819]

Although I really want us to sign Haaland I'm increasing skeptical that we will do so:

1) Our best 11 is now a strikerless side; and we're very successful in this sort of lineup. As such, the need to sign a top striker if attenuated;
2) Haaland, if Dortmund sells, is going to command - most likely - a world record transfer fee. Our transfer policy is to sign quality players, but to look for bargains; we've never (I think) signed the most expensive player or even close at any position regardless of talent - we look for bargains;
3) Pep has previously stated that we cannot afford to sign a top, top price striker such as Haaland.
4) We're under UEFA scrutiny for FFP - and our role - however reluctant - in the Super League breakaway - will likely make us much more likely to proceed with caution - to avoid further upsetting UEFA.
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If Haaland is committed to joining our side - I'm sure we'll make it happen.

Yet, Haaland has not expressed such a desire.
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For me - it's 1-in-10, probably less, that we sign Haaland in the next window.

I don’t know how many times we have to keep replying to the same cliches.

1) No. We play without a striker for obvious reasons. Pep doesn’t trust one of our strikers for the big games and the other one has fitness issues. It should be obvious to anyone (as it is obvious to Pep above all) that the tactical setup he has used most this season isn’t sustainable for another season. I say this because he has learned from mistakes from his own career and knows how not to get predictable. You put a top class striker in the PSG game last Wednesday, and it’s an even easier ride.
2) I (and others) have talked about this so many times already. There are exceptions to the rule. You make exceptions when the opportunities present themselves. We were ready to pay for Mbappe the exact same fee PSG paid; he just didn’t want to join us. Haaland is the kind of deal that pays itself in commercial returns, so any club THAT COULD would pay the fee, we just happen to be one of the few that can. If you look at PSG, their third biggest transfer ever is the same as our biggest. The top two are Mbappe and Neymar. Why did they go over their average for those? Biggest it expanded the global reach of our brand, which would happen to us with Haaland. It’s above all a smart commercial move. And I repeat: it’s an opportunity that in the last ten years only presented itself with Mbappe (I’m discounting the Messi saga from last summer— although then too we were willing to spend big for a guy that would change our global status).
3) that is not what he said, even if you are naive enough to believe it. It was blatantly obvious a play; we were being quoted DAILY on every newspaper as being linked to dozens of different strikers and every publication made even more outrageous claims about numbers. Did you notice how that suddenly stopped? That was one of the goals.
And if you look at the quote: he could have stayed quiet about it if the club had a plan to pursuit a “cheap” option. The way he phrased it made it obvious that we’re going for a top world class option
4) I think that is even more naive than the point #3. Look at the clubs involved in the ESL. That’s world football.

 

[Deleted member 87819]

5) Are you expecting Haaland to tell us he wants to play for city. Disrespectful to his club, teammates, fans etc. And what if it doesnt go through anyway. What does he do then. Cant expect any player to say where they want to go publically.

Apparently yes, that is exactly what he expects.
Although we did have some fun with those days in which he was wearing sky blue everywhere lol

 

[OccupiedPalestineBlues]

We have different memories of Yaya then, the Yaya I remembered would very much fit into this team.

I'm obviously misreading the second half of your post because you seem to be suggesting that we buy Haaland and play him as CM to make the most of his talents?

No, I was saying that if we play our possession game with a high press and high line then Haaland would leave a hole in it. Thus we’d need to alter our play to accommodate him.

My further thought was that we had a big fast powerful lump like Haaland (Yaya) and it worked with him because he played at the back of midfield and used his size and speed to hold up play and distribute from midfield, to charge forward on the counter and to push up for set pieces. Like Haaland, he was too big a unit to play in a high press but we still got the most out of his talents without relinquishing our press.
I said that I could image that Haaland would fit well into that role but that he’d want to play striker.

I actually don’t think we should / will get him for a variety of reasons (his agent, his agents bung demand, his fathers bung demand, his massive fee, his uber-massive wage demands causing upset in the ranks, the fact that we’d need to rebuild around ‘him’ etc.).

I also recognise that there’s a frantic clamour to buy the “new superstar” every year and we tend to ignore the pantomime dames and instead buy players who fit well into our system.
I’m happy with where that’s taken us so far but if we do decide to throw a fortune at getting a square peg for our round hole then I’ll be cool with it because I‘ll trust that Pep has a plan to integrate him.
I’d love to see it done but currently struggle with the concept.

 

[OccupiedPalestineBlues]

We have different memories of Yaya then, the Yaya I remembered would very much fit into this team.

I'm obviously misreading the second half of your post because you seem to be suggesting that we buy Haaland and play him as CM to make the most of his talents?

Yes, a marvellous big lump like Yaya would fit into this team but, as I pointed out, from deep midfield not as a striker.

I’m actually stunned that you think Yaya could play striker in our system - fair do’s to you for having such an ‘out there’ opinion . .

 

[Phil1]

One thing I do know is City won't be making a bid unless we have a plan on exactly the best way to utilise his assets.

 

[Deleted member 87819]

No, I was saying that if we play our possession game with a high press and high line then Haaland would leave a hole in it. Thus we’d need to alter our play to accommodate him.

My further thought was that we had a big fast powerful lump like Haaland (Yaya) and it worked with him because he played at the back of midfield and used his size and speed to hold up play and distribute from midfield, to charge forward on the counter and to push up for set pieces. Like Haaland, he was too big a unit to play in a high press but we still got the most out of his talents without relinquishing our press.
I said that I could image that Haaland would fit well into that role but that he’d want to play striker.

If you go back through this thread, you will see multiple analysis I posted that show that this notion is simply cliched and wrong.
Respectfully I ask that you read just this one. Bear in mind that this was posted a year ago and that in the past 12 months he has evolved into an even better player, and that happened without much of a decent coach (let alone one like Pep).

Here is the link: https://talksport.com/football/7077...rtmund-tactics-manchester-united-real-madrid/

This is how the analysis starts:

The most interesting thing about Haaland as a player is the fact he challenges our biases and preconceptions.

When we see the Norwegian on the field our first thought is that he is physically imposing forward, he stands well over 6ft tall, and we naturally think that his playing profile is that of a striker who will receive the ball to feet before bringing others into the game.

Instead, Haaland thrives on passes played in behind the defensive line where he can use his explosive pace to create shooting opportunities.

The purpose of this article is to give greater insight into what makes Haaland the heir apparent to Robert Lewandowski* as the world’s best striker.

* a former Pep player

If you want, I can post more analysis about his pressing etc

 

[Deleted member 87819]

Yes, a marvellous big lump like Yaya would fit into this team but, as I pointed out, from deep midfield not as a striker.

I’m actually stunned that you think Yaya could play striker in our system - fair do’s to you for having such an ‘out there’ opinion . .

“Our system”. So static, huh. Such an underestimation and misunderstanding of Pep...

 

[Deleted member 87819]

One thing I do know is City won't be making a bid unless we have a plan on exactly the best way to utilise his assets.

And you just have to listen to Pep talking about him to know

 

[Centurions]

Yes, a marvellous big lump like Yaya would fit into this team but, as I pointed out, from deep midfield not as a striker.

I’m actually stunned that you think Yaya could play striker in our system - fair do’s to you for having such an ‘out there’ opinion . .

Perhaps you could point out where I said Yaya would play striker in our team?

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

>> Doesnt mean its more or less likely. But if you want to be pessimistic by all means, but not for these reasons

Ignoring all of my other points...

Please point out a single instance under current ownership where we have ever signed the most expensive player at any position.

We've never done this.

We might - I suppose do so for Haaland - provided that he meets with Pep and our management and states that he wants to play for us as his primary objective.
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But signing Haaland for a world-record transfer fee... I really doubt that this is going to occur.