Nordic Ghost Yeti (Scandi Carroll) | Haaland at City

[heraklion]

No there isn't. There's no proof of that.

The best performance City have had with Haaland in their team is the demolition of Real Madrid at home, 4-0. Since he has arrived at City, they've not bettered that performance in games without him.

probably the worst post in this thread.

The only problem is Haaland was by far the worst player on that game at this point, I'm not even sure if you are watching City games or following Haaland stats on transfermarkt.

imagine attributing City's performance to Haaland in a game where he has ghosted as usual, acting as if KDB, Bernardo Silva, Gundogan, Rodri etc. don't exist.

"L’Equipe rate Erling Haaland worst Man City player"
www.talksport.com/football/1428246/lequipe-erling-haaland-man-city-real-madrid/


Erling Haaland (5/10):
"Was lively but had an off-night in front of goal. Courtois denied him on three occasions and he ends the tie without scoring once. But given what he has done this season, we can forgive him."

Bernardo Silva (10/10):
"A virtuoso display. Produced an emphatic finish for his first goal and a clinical header for his second. But this was about far more than goals. He ran rings around Madrid, weaving magic at every turn."

www.goal.com/en-us/lists/man-city-player-ratings-real-madrid-bernardo-silva-erling-haaland/bltaffd3967cdc8df7a

 

[adexkola]

probably the worst post in this thread.

Bot, I know that you can't comprehend anything that's not programmed into you, so I know it's not your fault that you didn't understand what I wrote. I'll try again in simple English

It is said that City would perform better without Haaland in the team. What proof is there of that, in terms of actual performances? Since Haaland has joined City, what performance with Haaland has bettered that performance (or the one against Bayern at home)?

I know it's hard Bot. Come on, think.

feck, you can't think. Never mind then.

 

[padr81]

what kind of logic is this? As if it was Haaland that took City to CL title and treble by ghosting in every single semi & finals scoring 0 g&a.
Haaland was brought to make a difference in the later rounds of the CL, and he just shitted the bed not only in CL but all competitions final rounds, bailed out by his teammated scoring 12 in 7 games on his behalf so that he can post a selfie with treble cups.

City with Guardiola
1 CL
1 CL final
4 PL titles in 5 years
1 treble

City without Guardiola
0 CL title
0 CL final
no dominance of PL
0 treble

do you want me to do the same for KDB, Rodri etc.?

Whats that to do with Haaland?

 

[brunoag4]

It is said that City would perform better without Haaland in the team. What proof is there of that, in terms of actual performances? Since Haaland has joined City, what performance with Haaland has bettered that performance (or the one against Bayern at home)?

It's no different than saying had Guardiola or Klopp come to United instead of Mourinho, United would perform better. or that City would perform better with Kane. A lot of folks seem to agree that Haaland is not a good fit for City.

Your post only shows how great City is even when their main striker is physically present but football-wise absent in a game, they destroyed Real despite Haaland having a terrible night. I have no idea how you can come to a conclusion on Haaland's value using that game as a reference, on the other hand, it definitely is a reference for how great City is.

 

[adexkola]

It's no different than saying had Guardiola or Klopp come to United instead of Mourinho, United would perform better. or that City would perform better with Kane.

So just conjecture. Not based on anything concrete. Speaking of complete strikers making teams better, how is Kane doing for Bayern so far?

A lot of folks seem to agree that Haaland is not a good fit for City.

Your post only shows how great City is even when their main striker is physically present but football-wise absent in a game, they destroyed Real despite Haaland having a terrible night. I have no idea how you can come to a conclusion on Haaland's value using that game as a reference, on the other hand, it definitely is a reference for how great City is.

I mean, it doesn't make sense when City are a season removed from winning a treble, and Haaland scored how many goals again... That "a lot of folks" look and say, "oh they can be doing better". Doing better at what exactly? And yeah, um, bring proof?

 

[Joel Miller]

No there isn't. There's no proof of that.

The best performance City have had with Haaland in their team is the demolition of Real Madrid at home, 4-0. Since he has arrived at City, they've not bettered that performance in games without him.

When people say, "City are better off than Haaland", they're most likely referring to Pep's first iteration of City, and it's an ignorant take. That team was scintillating, but had a fatal flaw in terms of being prone to defensive collapses and malfunctions in high profile games triggered by counters. And as a result, Pep started working on making City more methodical and deliberate in the buildup. They were more exciting to watch, but I wouldn't say they were a better side.

City's second iteration was more mature, but couldn't put chances away, which hurt them in Porto and against Madrid the season before they finally won it, due to the lack of a reliable focal point.

With Haaland there were teething problems, which Pep solved with having Stones drift into midfield, providing the extra man there, and allowing Haaland to do what he does. This season, with Stones out due to injury, Gundogan/Mahrez (players who facilitated a more patient buildup) gone, the composition of the team has been different, and I think that has hurt City on both ends.

And it's fair to ask whether Haaland's skill-set is optimized for a side with Doku and Alvarez and Foden and De Bruyne behind him (it isn't). That is too chaotic of a selection for Pep ball which is patient and probing and choking at its best. But their strongest team has Haaland as the focal point, with the right personnel behind him.

Eh yeah, and I hate to break it to you, there’s no proof that it isn’t true either.

 

[adexkola]

Eh yeah, and I hate to break it to you, there’s no proof that it isn’t true either.

That's not how it works, you can't suggest an outlandish hypothesis and then ask for proof to the contrary

Ok, you can, there's nothing stopping you

 

[brunoag4]

So just conjecture. Not based on anything concrete. Speaking of complete strikers making teams better, how is Kane doing for Bayern so far?

He is doing great at Bayern, scored 29 g&a in 21 games, a record. How was Haaland doing before coming to City in Bundesliga? any treble winning season, or double? any Golden Shoe? any CL final or SF? most goals in Bundesliga? any Bundesliga title?

Interesting to see that his awards, trophies coincided with his move to City. Kane had won PL Golden Boot multiple times playing for a dysfunctional Spurs. Haaland couldn't even do the same in a much weaker Bundesliga.

You seem to conflate team success and individual success when it fits your narrative, and do the opposite when it doesn't. Using Haaland's very poor performance against Real as an indicator of his value is just one example.

I mean, it doesn't make sense when City are a season removed from winning a treble, and Haaland scored how many goals again... That "a lot of folks" look and say, "oh they can be doing better". Doing better at what exactly? And yeah, um, bring proof?

Bringing a better forward than Haaland that would fit their system. You're conflating team success with individual success again. City does not need Haaland to dominate, but Haaland needs a team like City to win things, trophies, titles, awards. He can be anonymous in the finals as the worst player on the pitch, still not a problem, there's plenty of players in that City that can complete his task on his behalf and win the title.

Many rightly see him as a one-dimensional player as he has not much to offer if he doesn't score.

 

[Alpha 1]

City without Haaland

18-19 - 0 CL
19-20 - 0 CL
20/21 - 0 CL
21/22 - 0 CL

City with Haaland
22-23 - 1 CL

Thats a weird take, City scored 148 in all comps last season as opposed to 146 the season before and 129 in 20/21 season. so a couple of goals in the league either way makes no real difference.
5 less goals and 1 extra Champions League is a trade any manager would take.

He did nothing in the semi and the final of the UCL yet City won.

 

[padr81]

He did nothing in the semi and the final of the UCL yet City won.

Yet they couldn't win it without him. Strange one really. The bottom line anyone trying to say Haaland has been anything other than a net positive at City dispite his glaring issues is an idiot and it shows in trophies. The poster I started the discussion said City scored less goal than without him, but over the course of the season they actually scored more, just less in the PL.

 

[ForeverRed1]

He's thoroughly dislikeable.

You love him if he plays for your team though.

 

[Robbie Boy]

You love him if he plays for your team though.

Yes definitely.

 

[adexkola]

He is doing great at Bayern, scored 29 g&a in 21 games, a record. How was Haaland doing before coming to City in Bundesliga? any treble winning season, or double? any Golden Shoe? any CL final or SF? most goals in Bundesliga? any Bundesliga title?

In case you didn't notice, Kane is on track to not win a Bundesliga title in his first season at Bayern. No "big game goals" (you know, big games only happen in semi finals and finals)

And Haaland's performances at Dortmund had most big teams in competition for his signature. Weirdly, they didn't see him as this useless lump who "only scores and is otherwise a drag on the team"

Interesting to see that his awards, trophies coincided with his move to City. Kane had won PL Golden Boot multiple times playing for a dysfunctional Spurs. Haaland couldn't even do the same in a much weaker Bundesliga.

See, you made me go and look up Haaland on wiki, a nearly unforgivable offense. And it says he won Bundesliga Player of the Season while at Dortmund, and was highest scoring forward in the CL once at Dortmund. Why lie?

You seem to conflate team success and individual success when it fits your narrative, and do the opposite when it doesn't. Using Haaland's very poor performance against Real as an indicator of his value is just one example.

1. No I'm not
2. I'm challenging the "theory" that City could do much better without Haaland. How exactly? You're yet to state how.
3. I wouldn't call his performance against Real poor. Courtois shipped 4 goals but anyone watching the game would know he had a great performance, the way he denied Haaland time and time again. Haaland wasn't a drag for his team, he didn't lose possession, and he got quality shots off. His performance against Chelsea? Poor. See the difference?

Bringing a better forward than Haaland that would fit their system. You're conflating team success with individual success again. City does not need Haaland to dominate, but Haaland needs a team like City to win things, trophies, titles, awards. He can be anonymous in the finals as the worst player on the pitch, still not a problem, there's plenty of players in that City that can complete his task on his behalf and win the title.

Fit their system better in what sense? Score more goals? Provide more assists? Look better? What forwards out there should City consider swapping for Haaland? And what would they provide precisely, that City along with Haaland currently lack?

 

[Zehner]

Yet they couldn't win it without him. Strange one really. The bottom line anyone trying to say Haaland has been anything other than a net positive at City dispite his glaring issues is an idiot and it shows in trophies. The poster I started the discussion said City scored less goal than without him, but over the course of the season they actually scored more, just less in the PL.

I don't know. You were absolutely capable of winning the UCL before Haaland's arrival as well. It's small margins in the latter stages of international tournaments and usually luck plays a huge role so attributing the CL trophy to the addition of Haaland smells like a control illusion to me - especially when the player in question barely participated at the stages in which you tended to go out.

 

[adexkola]

I don't know. You were absolutely capable of winning the UCL before Haaland's arrival as well. It's small margins in the latter stages of international tournaments and usually luck plays a huge role so attributing the CL trophy to the addition of Haaland smells like a control illusion to me - especially when the player in question barely participated at the stages in which you tended to go out.

Makes Pep even more of a fraud that he won a treble playing with 10 men in games where Haaland didn't score.

 

[KeanoMagicHat]

I don't know. You were absolutely capable of winning the UCL before Haaland's arrival as well. It's small margins in the latter stages of international tournaments and usually luck plays a huge role so attributing the CL trophy to the addition of Haaland smells like a control illusion to me - especially when the player in question barely participated at the stages in which you tended to go out.

Man City went from small margins and coming the wrong side of them, to large margins in their favour last season though, they destroyed Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

 

[Greyfog]

A horribly boring footballer. Will surprise me if anybody pays +100ml for him when he moves on. His ball striking is even poor. Bumbling crap on 1 mil a week. Shudders

 

[adexkola]

Man City went from small margins and coming the wrong side of them, to large margins in their favour last season though, they destroyed Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

With 10 men!

except in moments where Haaland scored

 

[Zehner]

Makes Pep even more of a fraud that he won a treble playing with 10 men in games where Haaland didn't score.

Fraud is a bit hard. I think he's the second best coach in history, only behind Xabi Alonso obviously

Man City went from small margins and coming the wrong side of them, to large margins in their favour last season though, they destroyed Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

The margins weren't any different, only the results were. They were the better team pretty much everytime they faced Madrid or Bayern in the last years, even when they were thrown out of the tournament by them. In the final, they had 7 to 14 shots against them which translated to 0.99 to 1.68 xG. And Inter was amongst the weakest finalists of the last 15 years. Haaland is a great striker but so far I don't think he has turned them into a better team. And like it or not, that's also been the case at Dortmund.

I mean, for years coaches have been talking about how important it is that a striker participates in the build up play, presses well and creates space for others with supporting runs. And suddenly, nothing of that matters anymore because it is Haaland. The same way Benzema's, Suarez', Kane's, Firmino's, Giroud's or Lewandowski's body of work outside of their goals was so important for their teams, the lack of it puts Haaland's insane numbers into context. Especially so since Haaland generally possesses the necessary skills to have an impact without scoring.

 

[Judas]

I'd like to see a video of his best goals, just to see what they're like. It's weird how few I actually remember.

 

[sebsheep]

With 10 men!

except in moments where Haaland scored

Those Bayern and Madrid teams seemed to be playing with 9 or less players tbf.

 

[adexkola]

Haaland is a great striker but so far I don't think he has turned them into a better team. And like it or not, that's also been the case at Dortmund.

I mean, for years coaches have been talking about how important it is that a striker participates in the build up play, presses well and creates space for others with supporting runs. And suddenly, nothing of that matters anymore because it is Haaland. The same way Benzema's, Suarez', Kane's, Firmino's, Giroud's or Lewandowski's body of work outside of their goals was so important for their teams, the lack of it puts Haaland's insane numbers into context. Especially so since Haaland generally possesses the necessary skills to have an impact without scoring.

He absolutely does the bolded. Foden recently scored a goal where he had so much space in the box because guess who the defenders went after?

Regarding buildup play, he's no Firmino, but A. he's actually become better at finding others and participating in the one touch football around the box (as shown by his assists), and B. this stuff for a striker is never more important than the goals. And it's become a tendency for some to overrate strikers that do the secondary stuff so well even though they are mediocre at the primary stuff. Case in point: Firmino

 

[adexkola]

Those Bayern and Madrid teams seemed to be playing with 9 or less players tbf.

True, they might as well have started 9 men instead of playing Upamecano

 

[Zehner]

He absolutely does the bolded. Foden recently scored a goal where he had so much space in the box because guess who the defenders went after?

Regarding buildup play, he's no Firmino, but A. he's actually become better at finding others and participating in the one touch football around the box (as shown by his assists), and B. this stuff for a striker is never more important than the goals. And it's become a tendency for some to overrate strikers that do the secondary stuff so well even though they are mediocre at the primary stuff. Case in point: Firmino

You won't hear me saying that City is essentially playing with 10 men because of course a striker, especially when he's Haaland, has tactical implications and drags players out of position by his mere presence, with or without the ball. And as said, I believe his abilities on the ball are much better than he's been given credit for (and that he is showing). But one way or another, he has a very low density of good plays in comparison to other great strikers. I also disagree that scoring goals is necessarily more important. It doesn't matter who scores the goal, what matters is that it is scored. If your contribution to it was more important than the last touch before the ball passed the line, you contributed more to it than the scorer.

 

[SAFMUTD]

There’s definitely something to the argument that they’re a stronger unit without him. He’s just so limited outside of his goalscoring, and while the idea of that being an issue sounds a bit preposterous, in the modenr game it really isn’t since centre forwards are expected to contribute more than just goals.

It wouldn't even be mentioned if it wasn't city, any team on the world would take him but as many have said he offers very little outside the box. He's arguably the best finisher in the world and makes excellent runs but Pep's system is more of a touch and move which aren't Haaland's strengths.

 

[Mike Smalling]

I'd like to see a video of his best goals, just to see what they're like. It's weird how few I actually remember.

The ones that immediately came to mind for me was his overhead kick last year (don't remember the opposition), and the one he scored for Dortmund vs. PSG a few years ago.

 

[heraklion]

.
3. I wouldn't call his performance against Real poor. Courtois shipped 4 goals but anyone watching the game would know he had a great performance, the way he denied Haaland time and time again. Haaland wasn't a drag for his team, he didn't lose possession, and he got quality shots off. His performance against Chelsea? Poor. See the difference?

a great performance by anyone watching the game, yeah, right Maybe, you should apply for the sports director position at below famous news outlets, they can learn thing or two from you.

"L’Equipe rate Erling Haaland worst Man City player"
www.talksport.com/football/1428246/lequipe-erling-haaland-man-city-real-madrid/

Erling Haaland (5/10):
"Was lively but had an off-night in front of goal. Courtois denied him on three occasions and he ends the tie without scoring once. But given what he has done this season, we can forgive him."

Bernardo Silva (10/10):
"A virtuoso display. Produced an emphatic finish for his first goal and a clinical header for his second. But this was about far more than goals. He ran rings around Madrid, weaving magic at every turn."

www.goal.com/en-us/lists/man-city-player-ratings-real-madrid-bernardo-silva-erling-haaland/bltaffd3967cdc8df7a

 

[troylocker]

a great performance by anyone watching the game, yeah, right Maybe, you should apply for the sports director position at below famous news outlets, they can learn thing or two from you.

"L’Equipe rate Erling Haaland worst Man City player"
www.talksport.com/football/1428246/lequipe-erling-haaland-man-city-real-madrid/

Erling Haaland (5/10):
"Was lively but had an off-night in front of goal. Courtois denied him on three occasions and he ends the tie without scoring once. But given what he has done this season, we can forgive him."

Bernardo Silva (10/10):
"A virtuoso display. Produced an emphatic finish for his first goal and a clinical header for his second. But this was about far more than goals. He ran rings around Madrid, weaving magic at every turn."

www.goal.com/en-us/lists/man-city-player-ratings-real-madrid-bernardo-silva-erling-haaland/bltaffd3967cdc8df7a

Haaland had a nightmare night in front of goal this weekend and he's had other bad games too for sure, but your sick need to downplay him as a footballer is totally unjustified. You can blaim him for not finishing his chances on Saturday and probably costing City 2 points in that match, but that's about as far as you can stretch it. He's been the decisive winning factor so many times for them already. He was a handfull for the Chelsea defense and then some on Saturday, and it was good for them his aim was not adjusted properly.

You have a hard case in general though.
Since Haaland came into the squad:

- Won every trophy except the Lego Cup
- Haaland top scorer in both the CL and the PL (crushed the PL record for most goals in a single season).
- Haaland top scorer this season despite being injured for 2 months.

You can argue that City has changed their style to make the most out of having a player type like Haaland in their team. City is not worse with him, they are different. His job in that team isn't to fall deep and distribute the ball, his job is to stay centered, occupying the central defenders and be a threat on the break and in the box, and press when not in possession. For that job he's by far the best in the business, no one is even close.

Your problem is that you don't appreciate his player type. You like them small and tricksy. And that's ok, it doesn't make other types of players worse though.

 

[adexkola]

a great performance by anyone watching the game, yeah, right Maybe, you should apply for the sports director position at below famous news outlets, they can learn thing or two from you.

1. Did you not see I was speaking about Courtois, not Haaland (who had a decent game)? Bot, I suggest Chatgpt 4

2. They don't pay well enough so no thanks

Haaland had a nightmare night in front of goal this weekend and he's had other bad games too for sure, but your sick need to downplay him as a footballer is totally unjustified.

It's it's programming (don't think bots have genders unless they're programmed to say differently)

 

[BlueMoonOutcast]

In Haaland's defence, whilst yes he was poor this weekend, he also is mourning the loss of his grandma. Arguably he shouldn't have been playing.

 

[TsuWave]

 

[padr81]

I don't know. You were absolutely capable of winning the UCL before Haaland's arrival as well. It's small margins in the latter stages of international tournaments and usually luck plays a huge role so attributing the CL trophy to the addition of Haaland smells like a control illusion to me - especially when the player in question barely participated at the stages in which you tended to go out.

Of course but Haaland was a big part of that step over the line, even if he didn't have the best games in the semi's and final, he scored 12 goals on the way there, 4 more than the competitions 2nd top scorer. We absolutely annihalated a Real team who knocked us out the season before desptie no assits or goals he was a huge handful against them and ran them ragged. He had a poor game in the final but so did most the team being honest.

 

[Fobal]

He deserves to be judged by him missing chances, and he missed a few this last game, not all of them clear cut ones BTW...

Yet what few times it's said, is that Pep's teams, specially City, play to the strength of the Bald One ideas and the strategy he wants to apply a certain match (it's not a pun, he is an extraordinary manager, it's just what it is).
This sometimes will make any player at his disposal flourish a certain day when things go well because of being in form and the idea and tactical disposal of that day reinforces his attributes. It can get harder if the role assigned to any of his players a certain match doesn't suit the player in question best attributes, yet Pep mostly wins because almost every approach he tries enhances the strategy that can provide a win, so the team or other player becomes the ace of spades under such idea.

I'll put some little examples that happened in the last match. On a flank there was Alvarez and Doku, that it's an odd combination, the first one has some dribble in him, but is more of a passer, one/two combination type of player and more central forward oriented. The ammount of times Alvarez didn't face his marker, or Doku didn't release the ball fast in a one/two and also hold the ball unnecesarily and other nuances, repeated the whole game.

On the other hand Phil wasn't on his best form, didn't have Hallaand as close, or Julian to combine and tried too much to dribble while being mostly in a flank where he doesn't feel that great.

Hallaand had his chances, but the big lad likes to combine coming from the middle, to run to space, to play with Foden/KDB/Alvarez, to create and go into spaces. Him playing surrounded by tones of rivals, or an in the box striker, doesn't suit his nowadays tendency of playing.
Of course he must develope it in the future, he has the physique and with age he will have to turn into a big box player.

So at the end of the day if Erling or any other scored his chances thsi last game, City could have won, but like so many times with City, it doesn't mean that the idea for that particular match suits like a glove the characterictics of a particular player. Pep soemtimescan somtimes make an 11 with almost all of them doing sthg. not that common for them.

That is why he clashes too much many times with Superstars not named Messi (of course he did have fights La Pulga, but like Mou, Cholo, Jurgen, Ancellotti, or whomever he won't be as daft as thinmking you need to coach a lot a Pele, Romario, Maradona, Alfredo, Messi, R9 or such, you just have to be smart and try to create the best enviroment and avoid clashing while at the same being firm and generate respect from them).

 

[Fobal]

BTW, and in general, leaving Hallland aside, the whole you have to score in quarter,s semis or finals to be important to win a CL/WC or such, it's silly as hell, it's great and a lot better to do it, but God knows how many times teams went home in Group stages in a WC, CL, etc because of not socring in those stages.

 

[brunoag4]

In case you didn't notice, Kane is on track to not win a Bundesliga title in his first season at Bayern. No "big game goals" (you know, big games only happen in semi finals and finals)

In case you didn't notice Dortmund had their best Bundesliga season in the last 3 years after shipping Haaland, You're doing it again and again confounding team performance and individual performance as it fits your narrative.

You always talk about treble, yet when people say he was useless in the later stages of every competition, then you accuse them of using only SFs and finals as big games, this is hypocrisy. It doesn't work that way. You can't attribute treble to the worst player of a team in the final stages and then act like he was the difference maker behind these trophies. Especially when this team was always dominant in those tournaments winning titles, playing finals before him.

See, you made me go and look up Haaland on wiki, a nearly unforgivable offense. And it says he won Bundesliga Player of the Season while at Dortmund, and was highest scoring forward in the CL once at Dortmund. Why lie?

You always mention treble like City was an average side until Haaland graced City with his arrival. And since you are into trebles and titles so much, I asked you to tell me if Haaland had a treble, or a double, or even a single Bundesliga, or Golden Shoe, or top goalscorer award, any CL semi final or final..

So why not answer my questions and call people lying doing mental gymnastics? You can simply say below:
Haaland had no Bundesliga, no double, treble, Bundesliga Golden Boot, Golden Shoe when he was in Bundesliga. He never played CL semi final or final before City.

Fit their system better in what sense? Score more goals? Provide more assists? Look better? What forwards out there should City consider swapping for Haaland? And what would they provide precisely, that City along with Haaland currently lack?

This has been answered multiple times by multiple posters in this thread. He lacks almost everything R9, Benzema, Van Basten, Kane and many others have other than number of goals.

 

[heraklion]

Haaland had a nightmare night in front of goal this weekend and he's had other bad games too for sure, but your sick need to downplay him as a footballer is totally unjustified. You can blaim him for not finishing his chances on Saturday and probably costing City 2 points in that match, but that's about as far as you can stretch it. He's been the decisive winning factor so many times for them already. He was a handfull for the Chelsea defense and then some on Saturday, and it was good for them his aim was not adjusted properly.

Your problem is that you don't appreciate his player type. You like them small and tricksy. And that's ok, it doesn't make other types of players worse though.

Aren't you the guy that compared Messi and Haaland posting below nonsense, comparing a GOAT level playmaker + dribbler + goalscorer Messi with a penalty box poacher and declaring him as better, talking as if Messi is a penalty box poacher as well. Reducing strikers to "number of goals" only as if they don't do anything else with that great football knowledge.

A poor man's Gerd Muller...

As if Muller, Lewa, Mbappe, Messi, Ronaldo etc. hasn't been spoonfed in similarly or more dominant clubs. R9 was really special but unfortunately we didn't see his full potential because of injuries, he still never scored at the same rate. Not even in that one Barca season. City doesn't create more chances than Bayern or PSG or RM or Barca did a few years ago.

Do you really think Haaland has had a huge advantage against the others when it comes to playing for a stacked team? Is 2023 City a more stacked team than 2010-15 Barca? How do you rate Haalands current support crew, Alvarez-Doku-Foden vs. Xavi-Iniesta-Neymar/Villa/Fabregas?
Haaland has just completed his first season at a major club and won a treble.

He has about as much X-factor as you can have. At 23 he's already by far the biggest star in the best league, by a distance. He get's 50M a year to wear Nike shoes....

The fact that you think he's boring to watch has to do with taste, not his talent.

Your problem is that you don't appreciate his player type. You like them small and tricksy. And that's ok, it doesn't make other types of players worse though.

It seems more like the world's problem rather than mine that football fans adore Messi, Maradona, Cruyff, Pele, Ronaldinho, Zidane, Beckenbauer, R9, Xavi, Modric, Platini type of players rather than one-dimensional limited poachers like Haaland. You're definitely in the minority with that unique taste

 

[Zen]

We're talking about City, a team where even Sterling, a notorious finisher, scored 31 goals a season in all competitions.

What does this even mean? Sterling comes close and/or exceeds his xG almost every season.... a sign of a notoriously (good or bad) finisher? I get the idea you are implying he's bad... but delivering in ways only good finishers do.

 

[Zehner]

Of course but Haaland was a big part of that step over the line, even if he didn't have the best games in the semi's and final, he scored 12 goals on the way there, 4 more than the competitions 2nd top scorer. We absolutely annihalated a Real team who knocked us out the season before desptie no assits or goals he was a huge handful against them and ran them ragged. He had a poor game in the final but so did most the team being honest.

I think we won't agree on that, then. I think scoring goals isn't everything, not even for a striker. And for my liking, Haaland doesn't contribute enough outside of them to have the standing he has.

 

[RedRocket9908]

Of course but Haaland was a big part of that step over the line, even if he didn't have the best games in the semi's and final, he scored 12 goals on the way there, 4 more than the competitions 2nd top scorer. We absolutely annihalated a Real team who knocked us out the season before desptie no assits or goals he was a huge handful against them and ran them ragged. He had a poor game in the final but so did most the team being honest.

I wouldnt read too much in to that result against Real as they never turned up on the night and couldnt even string 2 or 3 passes together, that Real performance was miles from the level they were at a few weeks earlier when they annihalated Liverpool on their own pitch.

 

[padr81]

I wouldnt read too much in to that result against Real as they never turned up on the night and couldnt even string 2 or 3 passes together, that Real performance was miles from the level they were at a few weeks earlier when they annihalated Liverpool on their own pitch.

We hammered an on form Bayern 3-0 too but they just didn't turn up either I guess.

Haaland getting a goal and assist in that game that people conveniently forget.

Real, Bayern, Leipzig got beat for a combined 14-0 at the Etihad in our 3 knockout games.

Maybe Liverpool didn't turn up for the Anfield game?

That Madrid team lost the title by 10 pts (not even making 80 points) vs a Barca team so weak they were comfortably beaten by you guys.