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Comments
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Man City had to adapt to cater for the powerhouse style of play that Haarland brings to the table.
He was 31 years, 6 months when we signed him which is no age these days, he didn't get his first cap until November 2022 but had been a regular in the German squad since then and had played in every match of the 2024 Euros until they lost to Spain in the quarters
He might have been the wrong player for us but he wasn't that old, his"best years" weren't "behind him" and he didn't have known injury issues
He was out twice at the end of the 22/3 season, and again at the start of 23/4 with calf and achilles tendon issues, which has been the main issues since he's been with us. If he has a better year going forward than he had in 23/4 then I'll be absolutely amazed. And 31 and a half is quite old to be lumping up over £20m for a player who had never played in the PL.
You can no longer say it’s more physical because at the first whiff of contact players go down as if they’ve been hit with a lump hammer.
I think the main difference with the PL to other top European leagues is that on any given day any team can beat any another unless, as is the case currently, the any team is us.
However you look at it, unless we were also signing a very good younger CF alongside him, Fullkrug was a disaster of a signing, and not just from hindsight.
Diouf’s crossing ability would have been perfect for Fullkrug but it was never given a go.
When a counter attacking side you either break with speed and drive or you have a hold up attacker who holds up until players arrive. I feel this is very difficult to do well nowadays as defences are so well organised, meaning whilst we are arriving they are organising. This is why I think Fulkrug has been so ineffective.
So we either sacrifice another player to attack if buying a Haller, Scamacca or Fulkrug or we look to an Antonio type, which is what I think we need to do.
Our tactics should be pretty straight forward we gain possession and hit one of the full backs to drive forward using the winger that side to link, whilst the other winger moves inwards looking to be available, or we get possession and we get it to Paquetta in the middle who holds up or delivers the pass to forwarding wingers or attacker down the middle, as both wingers move inwards to support. If this is the idea then it's driving pace and delivery that matters. So it's an Antonio type we need.
I just hope we can actually sign a decent striker who may offer us some goals.
Adama Traore is about the best we can do, but we need a centre back & a striker at the least, not depth options but starters..... good luck
The only permanent signings would be short term or has beens who want a guaranteed wage.
Unless we start planning for rhe Championship.
I don’t think he’s the dominant leader-type CB we need, but I think he’s better than what we have.