City’s xG in the first half was 0.13, and was at 0.16 at 80 minutes. Most of their xG was that one and the Haaland chance a minute or two earlier.
6 Likes
Do you mind if I quote this to my football group in WhatsApp ?
Is it too harsh to call Haaland a modern day goal hanger? I don’t rate him whatsoever, he waits for everyone aorund him to do the work then gets in on the final act and after his City time is done he wouldn’t even make my top 5 list of PL strikers.
2 Likes
Feels even better, the morning after, looking at that table and reflecting on the last week.
On the Haaland point, I had some concern beforehand because Konate was out, and it seemed obvious that Haaland would go up against Joe and try to get some change there. Joe was brilliant and didn’t put a foot wrong, and as Sweeting says, Van Dijk took care of Haaland with aplomb.
I do think Haaland has given Man City an almighty conundrum. He doesn’t suit Guardiola’s style. He will always get goals and always have a highlight reel, but Man City are not the side they were. It needs a rethink and a bit of a rebuild, and with charges hanging over them, the team getting older, and Guardiola’s voice perhaps not sounding as fresh to many of the players as before, there are big question marks as to whether they can turn it around.
Good!
2 Likes
There was one moment in the second half that really sums up the unusual combination of abilities he has…City committed a couple of fouls to try to break up a counter and the ref’s advantage ultimately was unhelpful leading Dom to get angry when he didn’t come back for any of the fouls in the prior sequence. He responded by chasing down which ever City player it was who ended with the ball and just rag dolling them. He then immediately started another attack. For a player who was painted as more of an artist when we signed him, he is a monster physically. He really has it in his locker to be Yaya with a better work ethic and attitude.
The fact Dom and Curtis have more or less alternated the last couple of weeks with both of them just coming in when asked and being dynamite has been incredibly encouraging.
Related to that is that it’s pretty apparent how close the group has become. I think people often have unrealistic expectations of the level of mateyness within a successful team, but it certainly looks to be true of this group. Even among players who are not playing as much as they’d want we’re seeing real camaraderie with players they are directly competing with. Gapko and Diaz is notable. Darwin with everyone. Jones and Dom playing a blinder then not starting the next game and never looking anything but positive. Even Mo is accepting the substitutions. I get it that its easier to be positive and accept the manager’s decisions when you’re winning, but it really feels like the players are enjoying themselves right now.
Ok, I am bookmarking this to revisit at the beginning of March.
10 Likes
He has a nice variety of ways he will score goals, but with his build up play he is very left footed and that limits the areas he is comfortable going looking for the ball. He didn’t used to be this one dimensional, but like several of the City players they seem very pigeon holed by Pep’s tactics.
4 Likes
11 Likes
Haaland had a chance???
1 Like
Lol beat me to it
1 Like
At 82’, right on the 18 yard line, almost dead center of the semicircle, just after the Salah-Silva kerfuffle when we were hemmed in for a bit. Diaz put something halfway between a shot and a pass. Haaland got a half-flick on it. That was his chance, and it accounted for 0.11 of their 0.84 xG.
2 Likes
Why, did you want to read it? 
3 Likes
I imagine there are probably a few lads in that City dressing room thinking “FFS two more years of this weirdo?”
5 Likes
Peaches getting owned more than a glory-hole chapstick, lately.
You love to see it.
4 Likes
It’s looking more and more like a tax dodge.
5 Likes
14 Likes
I may be going soft in my old age, but stuff like that brings a tear to my eyes these days. Such a special moment for the little boy, and he, just by being himself, made it a special moment for everyone. Yes, Diaz! 
16 Likes
10 Likes
Look at the ages of them for fucks sake 
3 Likes
that’s a chance lol 