What's right with football?

[horlock07]

There's definitely been talk of this - I think the masterplan is Norweigan leagues to make loads of mistakes as a youngster, Dortmund to refine and add the competitiveness of a top league with a bit of European experience, now the big boys like City and then Real Madrid for the peak of his career in the Spanish sun.

I think the thing is with Haaland, if he had come up through the normal PL academy route he would have had a lot of what is special 'polished' out of him.

[Audrey]

Good bit of PR

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-62994593

[Quagmire]

Good bit of PR

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-62994593

Looks like Swindon is in Gloucestershire now!

[mystical_goat]

I think the thing is with Haaland, if he had come up through the normal PL academy route he would have had a lot of what is special 'polished' out of him.

Definitely. Seems that Alfie wanted him to grow up in Norway and knew that first team football would come much sooner.

[Qunk]

I don’t really follow the Prem, but Haaland is something to behold. Could be the complete striker. He’s relentless

[ibelieveinmrreeves]

3 hattricks in 8 matches is 

[Jimmy Quinn]

I think the golden boot is a safe bet😀

[ibelieveinmrreeves]

Danny Ings wearing ear defenders to include his autistic mascot in yesterdays game. Lovely gesture.

[Jimmy Quinn]

Will there ever be a better free kick

[swindonmaniac]

Will there ever be a better free kick

Gladwin hit a few in his ‘younger’ days.  Hoddle was another specialist.

[mystical_goat]

I don’t really follow the Prem, but Haaland is something to behold. Could be the complete striker. He’s relentless

I was excited to see him but in the Charity Shield he missed an open goal and, overall, touched the ball a tiny amount of times. Thought it looked like he could have an immediate crisis of confidence but he got 2 goals away to West Ham in the next match:



The pace to get the ball and win the penalty, and get away from his marker for the 2nd, is incredible.

Look at his scoring stats on SoccerBase:

https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=101493

Scored in 10 consecutive games, scoring 18 goals - an averge of nearly 2 per game.

Compare him to the 2nd top scorer, Harry Kane:

https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=52657

I'm not that interested in the Premier League either but will watch short highlights like the above, or bits of Match of the Day. But players like Haaland will make me tune in more, he's a phenomenon. 22 years old too - imagine him at 28 when he's learned even more.

[tans]

Could have played for England too

[mystical_goat]

Will there ever be a better free kick

I don't think there will.

I like Le Tiss' cheeky one



And the Beckham one becuase it was brilliant and so far out, and our qualification relied on it. Plus, it rounded off the best all-round performance from a player I think I've ever seen

[horlock07]

https://cumbriacrack.com/2023/01/09/football-fans-devotion-to-workington-reds-goes-viral-online/

[horlock07]