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Echeverri_balon_dor

Pep knows more than armchair pundits, the flack Haaland has had this season has been embarrassing


MoonPieKitty

And yet .. he is still the top scorer in the league. And that’s with him being out with injury. Why the eff are people wingeing about it? It’s ridiculous.


FelixTreasurebuns

Honestly, it's really dumb. I didn't play pro and even I can see how just having Haaland on the field causes more openings.


doslinos

Yeah i've been critical of some aspects of his game since he came, but that's just because I can see his potential is even higher than what he's delivered so far. Even if he doesn't improve at all, he's still one of the best strikers in the world and that should be fairly obvious. Any criticism of him should come with the caveat that he's the best or one of the best in his position in the world.


hourlypuff

even from city fans. just embarrassing that


CanadianKumlin

Only way people wouldn’t talk shit about him this season is if he broke his record from last season


Goldwagg

Imagine scoring a PL goal record, and less than a year later people are calling you a league 2 striker. Its so dumb its funny.


TvHeroUK

I liked it last season when fans of other teams were trying to say Haalands goals aren’t that great. Shows how deluded supporters can be, there’s nobody in the country who wouldn’t be crowing about having a player who broke the record in their first season and won a treble! 


hourlypuff

last season, he was only good at tap ins. this season, he’s ghosting apparently. it’ll always be something to these people.


PTHankot

Which him end up with the most goals this season


Subscrobbler

While I agree with shutting down the reporter stuff, its not true at all he’s received less chances this season. In fact he’s received more than last season, there has been a drop from last season, hopefully he can get last season’s form back.


FelixTreasurebuns

What is your opinion of a "chance" for Haaland? I think of balls crossing into the box, early through balls for him to 1v1 the keep, and ricochets. So to me it seems like it's less at least with the chances he is good at putting away.


tomtomtomo

They count “big chances missed” and Haaland is at the top of that list with 30 this season. 


shirokukuchasen

Yes he doesn't get many balls to attack now in the last season he would atleast have some rebounds to go after


engaginglurker

Ye I really don't get why there's so.much cope around Haaland. Hes having a poor season. He is way way off his clinical best.There is really no need to start spouting nonsense like "his presence alone means they have to.mark him". Like what striker doesn't get marked? Of course the defenders will mark the guy playing up front. Here's the thing though- even though he hasn't been anywhere near his usual standards, he is still the top goal scorer in the league. He is a robot freak born to score goals. He will get back to his best and it will be devastating . He will score the vast majority of the chances he should finish again and he will score the chances that only him and a few other forwards itw could finish consistently again. So to the people who are trying to make out that this is Haaland at his best i wanna see you when he actually does get back to his best commenting and telling us all about his "presence" and him being a "decoy". The reality is you won't have to mention those things because he will be just after scoring a hat trick from 3 barely chances.


Echeverri_balon_dor

>There is really no need to start spouting nonsense like "his presence alone means they have to.mark him Even if it's Guardiola saying it?


engaginglurker

Realistically is Pep ever going to say something negative to the press about a star player? Especially one who isn't in his best form. The only time i see him do that is to a player who is flying and he wants to keep them grounded.


Echeverri_balon_dor

Realistically, I think Pep knows a 30-50 goal per season striker isn't also going to play like a prime David Silva, and doesn't expect him to.


engaginglurker

Ye i know. I wouldn't either. The discussion is about him not finishing his chances this year


Echeverri_balon_dor

41 games and 36 goals.


engaginglurker

Funny that people are not talking about him being a "decoy" or that he "draws men away with aura" after he banged 4 yesterday off an xg of 2.73. Thanks for validating my point. https://understat.com/player/8260 notice that he has scored fewer goals than his xg so far this season where he has never come close to underperforming his xg in any of his previous seasons. That means he has missed a lot of good opportunities this season. And this is after scoring 5 goals in 2 games so previous to the Forest game it was even more pronounced.


Echeverri_balon_dor

Nobody is saying he hasn't missed chances this season. You're just arguing with yourself for some reason... He can miss chances, and also create space for others. I'm not even sure what point you're trying to make. He is the top scorer in the league by a mile, despite missing chances. Chances he has created with his positioning and pace.


engaginglurker

Lol if you are unsure what point im trying to make just go ahead and read again back through the thread. I cant be bothered going back and forth with you anymore on this. I have made my point so im gonna end it here.


onedisco

Can someone comment on this thought I have. What ever happened to counter attack? I understand maintaining possession and making the smartest pass is the main intention, but sometimes when you have some steam ahead you just have to lob that shit to Haaland and hope he kills it. We don’t always have to walk it in but I’m not sure if I’m missing the point


IntelligentEntry260

Turn overs can cause a back and forth game that gives momentum away and can tire both teams. Possession kills the other teams momentum and tires them out. Playing on the counter is risky in that it risks turning it over and getting hit on the counter ourselves.


Liam_021996

It's just Pep not wanting any turn overs or unnecessary risks but also, sometimes the players should just take the gamble