"Finding a replacement for Erling Haaland has proved almost impossible. It is understandable, the Norwegian is a freak of nature masquerading as a footballer. A plunderous record of 151 goals in 181 appearances for the Nordic robot makes the task of understudying an unenviable one, and no matter how many tomahawk steaks or glasses of raw milk are consumed, they will never be Haaland."
"The World Cup winner Julian Alvarez, from a country where beef is idolised as much as Lionel Messi, tried it but was losing the fight, exiting for Atletico Madrid. The idea of putting Omar Marmoush on Rico Lewis's shoulders may have created the requisite height but, like cloning, was impractical for Guardiola, even with City's financial muscle. This has forced Haaland to play more than is desirable, causing him to look jaded in recent weeks."
"Playing down the middle as a No 9 has rarely worked for Marmoush, a year into his City career because he cannot replicate what the 6ft 5in Haaland can do. Guardiola produced a cunning plan for Newcastle, of creating a big man, little man strike partnership. Needless to say, there was no launching the ball forward for one to chase the other's knockdown it was more artistic."
Pep Guardiola faces a major challenge replacing Erling Haaland, whose extraordinary scoring record makes direct understudies ineffective. Julian Alvarez attempted the role but departed for Atletico Madrid. Omar Marmoush has struggled when deployed as a central No 9 because he cannot replicate Haaland's physicality or output. Guardiola trialled an alternative against Newcastle by pairing Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo as wide forwards, deliberately creating a central vacuum. That space was exploited by Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden, who disrupted Newcastle's defence and demonstrated a promising tactical workaround to Haaland's absence.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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