The record for the youngest-ever player in British senior football was broken last night - by a 13-year-old (for Glenavon in the Northern Irish League Cup).
It almost seem too young to allow a 13yr child to play in a professional game. There must be safeguarding concerns with regarding to changing while he's in the same room. I hope this is something that is looked in to.
Remember, this player is still a child, developing through puberty and needs to be playing against those closer to his age, no matter how talented they might be.
Think you are underestimating how good the two pieces of skill were tbh. A cross of that distance and accuracy with the outside of the boot is extremely difficult and really is an instinct thing rather than a practiced art. As for the finish, that requires a huge amount of athleticism for such a big man. For example, I could never see Bayo lifting himself like that! 😂
The first City goal, I was question the Keeper. While it was a great strike from Stones, who is not known for his long range efforts, the keeper just seem to stand there and makes little or no effort to save the ball. From most angles, he had a good sight of it from the moment it left Stones' foot, he should have done better.
For the 2nd Goal, the cross from Cancelo was outstanding and the best bit of individual skill that I've seen for a long time. (However I bet all junior coaches will hate him as the younger players will keep trying to use the outside of their right foot rather than their left foot in those situations now).
The finish from Haaland was very good and unusual. If it was Harry Kane, he prob would have tried to head it in but all credit to Haaland for getting into a position to score. It seems that whatever he touches in the penalty area either is a goal or the keeper has to save, not many chances are wasted with him!
One of my favourite things about Haaland is that he basically plays on his own imaginary pitch: he drops back to get involved in build-up, but he spends almost the entire game between the posts. He's just an absolute machine.
Technical ability is one thing...and maybe not every goal will be a thing of exceptional beauty but having someone big, strong, fast and ugly who can turn everyone else's stylish, silky play into a goal with seemingly every part of his hulking frame must put the bejesus up the opposition. For me it's a bit like a Harry Enfield sketch dropping a 1970s centre-forward into a 2020s football team.
But Physically and Mentally, a 13 yr old is very different to a 16 yr old. It takes a bad tackle or shirt pulling or tussling during a set piece could leave a player in very uncertain waters of child abuse.
Could we just agree that 13yr olds shouldn't be playing professional football?
Phenomenal really, obviously not a fair fight financially but exceptional talent in a team that will supply so many chances, if he stays fit and isn't rested heavily his numbers in a few years could be ridiculous even by the standards of those perceived to be playing in much weaker leagues
And to think he cost £34m less than Liverpool paid for Darwin Nuñez - who I think is a 20-goal striker but clearly isn't on the same level as Haaland (then again, is anyone?).
He's not playing in anything like the same team at the moment, Haaland into that City team that always created 1000 chances and didn't even need a striker to win leagues seems almost unfair.
But it is funny how some players need time and like the myth about not signing players in January some just laugh at that and score hattricks for fun, may not be a surprise or unlinked that the last person I can remember doing it was Aguero. Jota maybe to a lesser extent but then got injured.
Also the fee is ridiculously low in the current climate but that's because he knew he wouldn't be there long at his last club and had a clause put in. Apparently Utd wouldn't buy him due to that which is as bit silly because Dortmund got a profit and loads of goals and if he'd had that success at Utd he might have taken them to a level where he wanted to stay.
Comments
The record for the youngest-ever player in British senior football was broken last night - by a 13-year-old (for Glenavon in the Northern Irish League Cup).
It almost seem too young to allow a 13yr child to play in a professional game. There must be safeguarding concerns with regarding to changing while he's in the same room. I hope this is something that is looked in to.
Remember, this player is still a child, developing through puberty and needs to be playing against those closer to his age, no matter how talented they might be.
City's two goals tonight... Bloody hell.
https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/status/1570150767343837185?t=a3NMdAWTPyg8zehrkOwqjw&s=19
https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/status/1570151926741843970?t=Q5QFlshrob0CigXPBmO2uA&s=19
If Haaland scored that goal on FM, people would complain the match engine had glitched.
I was expecting a worldie with the build up it was given... come on, I've seen Wycombe players score better goals than that
Seriously? You're unlikely to see a better assist + finish combo all season.
Yes it was a good cross and a good finish... but I think there will be better goals scored this season
That but Mehmeti to Vokes on Saturday 😍
It was a very heavy first touch from McCarthy. I think a better keeper may have reacted sooner to that and denied him a shooting opportunity
Think you are underestimating how good the two pieces of skill were tbh. A cross of that distance and accuracy with the outside of the boot is extremely difficult and really is an instinct thing rather than a practiced art. As for the finish, that requires a huge amount of athleticism for such a big man. For example, I could never see Bayo lifting himself like that! 😂
Or it didn't sit up perfectly for him but he still scored. He's not a striker.
You're not wrong, but a heavy touch and through the legs of the keeper from a non-striker for the only goal of the game will do for me!
The first City goal, I was question the Keeper. While it was a great strike from Stones, who is not known for his long range efforts, the keeper just seem to stand there and makes little or no effort to save the ball. From most angles, he had a good sight of it from the moment it left Stones' foot, he should have done better.
For the 2nd Goal, the cross from Cancelo was outstanding and the best bit of individual skill that I've seen for a long time. (However I bet all junior coaches will hate him as the younger players will keep trying to use the outside of their right foot rather than their left foot in those situations now).
The finish from Haaland was very good and unusual. If it was Harry Kane, he prob would have tried to head it in but all credit to Haaland for getting into a position to score. It seems that whatever he touches in the penalty area either is a goal or the keeper has to save, not many chances are wasted with him!
One of my favourite things about Haaland is that he basically plays on his own imaginary pitch: he drops back to get involved in build-up, but he spends almost the entire game between the posts. He's just an absolute machine.
That and the way he seems to go against striker's instinct and stands still in the box while defenders panic around him
Lineker is always talking about that (standing still). He's really interesting to listen to talk about the art of being a goalscorer
Technical ability is one thing...and maybe not every goal will be a thing of exceptional beauty but having someone big, strong, fast and ugly who can turn everyone else's stylish, silky play into a goal with seemingly every part of his hulking frame must put the bejesus up the opposition. For me it's a bit like a Harry Enfield sketch dropping a 1970s centre-forward into a 2020s football team.
Pretty sure provision is made for this. I think Ibe had to change separately from the rest of the team when making his debut.
But Physically and Mentally, a 13 yr old is very different to a 16 yr old. It takes a bad tackle or shirt pulling or tussling during a set piece could leave a player in very uncertain waters of child abuse.
Could we just agree that 13yr olds shouldn't be playing professional football?
Must admit I thought the same as you!
I was expecting something that made Trevor Sinclair's outside of the box flying overkick look like a tap in!
Yep. It's pretty miserable to whinge about it! Enjoy the goal and win!
Crewe v Leeds U21 in the pizza cup next week is off because Leeds have had too many international call-ups 😂 What a silly little competition.
Derby v Man City off too
They are drug testing Haaland right?
I don't think any drugs would have an effect on him tbh
Phenomenal really, obviously not a fair fight financially but exceptional talent in a team that will supply so many chances, if he stays fit and isn't rested heavily his numbers in a few years could be ridiculous even by the standards of those perceived to be playing in much weaker leagues
And to think he cost £34m less than Liverpool paid for Darwin Nuñez - who I think is a 20-goal striker but clearly isn't on the same level as Haaland (then again, is anyone?).
He's not playing in anything like the same team at the moment, Haaland into that City team that always created 1000 chances and didn't even need a striker to win leagues seems almost unfair.
But it is funny how some players need time and like the myth about not signing players in January some just laugh at that and score hattricks for fun, may not be a surprise or unlinked that the last person I can remember doing it was Aguero. Jota maybe to a lesser extent but then got injured.
Jota didn't sign for Liverpool in Jan, did he?
Also the fee is ridiculously low in the current climate but that's because he knew he wouldn't be there long at his last club and had a clause put in. Apparently Utd wouldn't buy him due to that which is as bit silly because Dortmund got a profit and loads of goals and if he'd had that success at Utd he might have taken them to a level where he wanted to stay.