EVERY so often, a striker comes along to rip up the rulebook and redefine the role.
Players such as Ronaldo — the original Brazilian one — who is the greatest I’ve ever seen.
Then there was Thierry Henry, the way he cut in from the left to score so many goals provided the blueprint for the likes of Mo Salah, the prolific goal-scoring wideman.
And Didier Drogba, who mastered the art of playing up front on his own, the first one who could truly, single-handedly occupy an entire back four — allowing managers to change their formations.
Erling Haaland is one of these generational talents.
In fact, he could soon turn out to be the best of the lot.
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I probably wouldn’t even compare him to another centre-forward, or even another footballer.
This phenomenal Norwegian reminds me of Mike Tyson in his peak years — where opponents were mentally beaten before they even got in the arena.
Haaland has scored 19 times in 12 appearances for Manchester City.
His Premier League tally is 14 in eight games.
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If he keeps up that strike rate and plays every game this season, he’d end up with 66.5.
The all-time top-flight record in English football is the 60 goals Everton’s Dixie Dean achieved 94 years ago.
I genuinely believe Haaland could surpass that figure.
When he was scoring at a goal per game for Borussia Dortmund, most said that he could never keep up such standards in the Premier League, the toughest in the world.
Certainly not in his first season.
Aren’t players supposed to need time to settle when they move to England from abroad? That’s yet another idea Haaland has ripped to shreds.
This phenomenal Norwegian reminds me of Mike Tyson in his peak years — where opponents were mentally beaten before they even got in the arena.
Deeney on Haaland
You might say I’m crazy but I think the Norwegian could actually become even more lethal when his team-mates become more accustomed to his game.
On Haaland’s league debut at West Ham, he made about 47 runs — with the vast majority being in vain.
I can remember watching Pep Guardiola continually losing his s**t with his players for not giving Haaland the right service.
Even though City dominated, the new boy had 32 touches, the lowest of any of Guardiola’s starters.
Yet City still won 2-0 and Haaland scored both.
Remember this is a City team who have won their last two titles playing with ‘false nines’ for the vast majority of the time.
Their patterns of attacking play have changed drastically due to Haaland.
Some said his arrival might even weaken City because they could have lost some of their attacking fluidity.
Those predictions don’t look too clever now.
Haaland has joined the ultimate team, now favourites to win every competition they play in.
I expect them to win the Champions League for the first time this season.
Gradually, Haaland’s team-mates are getting more used to what he does, he could end up scoring at an even more alarming rate.
You might suggest that opposition managers and defences could start to work him out.
Good luck with that. Do you press or sit deep against a striker who has it all — pace, strength, intelligence and ruthless, instinctive finishing ability?
As a striker, I have been studying Haaland intently and looking for a weakness. I genuinely can’t see one.
Many have looked at his figures, the small number of touches he often has during a match and said that his weakness is a lack of link-up play.
However, his performance in last Sunday’s Manchester derby certainly torched that idea.
Haaland was everywhere, dropping deep, providing two assists as well as his hat-trick — a third successive treble in Premier League home games.
He looks to be a great kid, too. He’s entertaining in interviews.
I was on Match of the Day 2 last Sunday, watching the feeds come in.
Haaland insisted Phil Foden, who also scored a hat-trick in City’s 6-3 win, have the match ball, because he’d already got plenty of his own.
As the kids say, City having Haaland is like having a ‘cheat code’ for a computer game.
The all-time top-flight record in English football is the 60 goals Everton’s Dixie Dean achieved 94 years ago. I genuinely believe Haaland could surpass that figure.
Troy Deeney
And if I try to imagine a manager preparing a team against City with Haaland — such as Ralph Hasenhuttl, taking Southampton to the Etihad on Saturday — it’s difficult to work out what the game plan would be.
You certainly have to be bold against City.
Newcastle were very much on the front foot in their 3-3 draw against Guardiola’s team and probably should have won.
Most of all, you have to hope they have a relatively bad day and that you have an outstanding one.
Even then, you would still need to get lucky to get a result.
For now, let’s just appreciate how privileged we are to be watching a master of his craft.
And remember that Haaland is only 22, with his peak years well in front of him.
Then don’t forget that, while most elite Premier League stars will be toiling at the World Cup in November and December, the Norwegian will probably be enjoying a fortnight on a beach in the Maldives.
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He will take a break, mentally and physically.
And, if it’s even possible, he might come back with his appetite for goalscoring even stronger.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
