I've been critical of Haaland in the past as when he's not scoring, which admittedly isn’t all that often, he can be completely out of a game. But he is still young, and even Kane at the same age wasn't the all round player he is now, so time is definitely on his side to improve his hold up and link up play. But give him space to run into and behind defenders and he's a freak.
Foden is a strange one because his ability is obvious. But even when performing amazing for City, he's always been ordinary for England. I can only put it down to Guardiola moulding him into a system player. And the system at City and England are completely different. But someone with his talent should be doing much better regardless ao does need to share some of the blame. I know he had some off field issues last season so still think people writing him off was a bit daft and premature.
True, Haaland game truly revolves around pace and athleticism, and he's a cheat code with them. I know he's only 25, but I just don't believe he has Kane's natural ability in link up and passing - he's much more cumbersome than Kane and normally by age 25 you are mostly developed technically (you're right; Kane seemed to develop world-class passing out of nowhere). His all-round game and hold up did look better though (allowing for the fact it's against a joke like United) and I hope he can keep that up, because I have been criticising his all-round game since long before Keane did. I grow bored of doing so and want to see him do well. Let's hope he becomes more rounded in the coming seasons.
That happens with certain players though - they play better for club. It's not unique to Foden or Pep. But I know what you mean - he's much more at home for City than the National Team. I think he and Bellingham take each other's space too when they play together. They don't gel that well.
Bit unrelated, but seeing as I like you a lot as a poster, I'd like your thoughts. I am born in 1982, and I recently got talking to a member of staff at the cinema I attend frequently. He was born 1973. He said Ronaldo is a great player but boring to watch (he said it without me prompting, so he doesn't know I hate Ronaldo). I agree with that post 2012. He also said Pep has ruined football, implying it's too much of a system game now (he didn't explicitly say this, but he said what happened to players like Gazza and Henrik Larsson running through teams, so he obviously means there's less off the cuff magic). I half-agree with that, half don't. I am undecided really.
He also totally agreed with me that Messi is much much better than Ronaldo when I mentioned all the vastly superior attributes Messi has that I and others have outlined before on here and elsewhere.
I am mostly interested in what you think of his comments on Pep and the game being more of a system game and more robotic now?
