Forever Blue With Ian Cheeseman: Hat-Trick Hero Haaland Is In A League Of His Own

Manchester is Blue, again, but then it has been for quite a while now.

During the first 45 minutes of Sunday’s Manchester Derby we saw the full potential of Pep Guardiola’s 2022/23 team. New signing Manuel Akanji is fast becoming a first choice in defence after another quietly impressive performance, albeit against a largely toothless United attack. 

With Rodri and Phillips, the natural defensive midfielders, both missing through injury, I heard a few nervous voices about team selection, ahead of kickoff. Personally, I’ve got to the stage where Pep’s team selection doesn’t bother me. Whatever team he picks I’d be confident with. I still believe he got it wrong for the Champions League Final in Porto, but since then he’s developed this team to another level. 

It’s true to say that City won’t have been tested in the Champions League or against their closed rivals in the Premier League title (Arsenal & Spurs) but as I write this City are streets ahead of everything that’s been put in front of them. They dropped points at Newcastle and Aston Villa but I firmly believe that if those had been vital games, they’d have found that extra gear to win.

Against United, City were imperious. Erling Haaland and Phil Foden were unplayable. Ilkay Gundogan quietly kept things ticking along and Kevin De Bruyne was majestic, showing all the qualities of the best creative midfielder in world football, which is what he is.

Erling Haaland is the player that’s blowing my mind. I’ve been lucky enough to attend matches, down the years, which have allowed me to see the silky skills of Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Zidane, Platini, the two Ronaldos etc etc, but I’ve never seen a player like the Nordic front man. He has a deadeye instinct for goalscoring allied to the pace of Kyle Walker and the strength of……I can’t think of a player to compare him too. 

It’s still very early in his career, he’s still only 22 years old and has played less than 200 senior games, but I’m already thinking that he’s on course to be the best footballer on the planet. Messi’s silky dribbling skills are mesmerising and on that basis I don’t think Haaland will surpass the Argentinian’s allure, but as a goalscorer he is currently in a league of his own. 

Statistically he’s got a long way to go to challenge the records of Cristiano Ronaldo but if he stays clear of serious injury, I don’t see why he can’t surpass them one day, but it will be more than a decade before we’ll know for certain. In the meantime I want to enjoy this period of dream football because life experience tells me that the greatest moments of your life don’t last forever.

There were some quotes, that were claimed to be from Erling’s father Alfie, suggesting that there is plan for his son to play at City for about three years before continuing his career by spending a few seasons in each of Europe’s top leagues. I can see the attraction of such a plan because there are some who question Messi’s credentials as the world’s greatest ever player because the bulk of it was spent with one club, in one league, until his late career switch to PSG. I’d like to think, and dream, that Haaland will prove his credentials at Manchester City and be a Blue for a decade or more, emulating the heroic status of Sergio Aguero. There are jealous onlookers already suggesting that’s not fair. Did those same people call for Alex Ferguson, George Best, Kenny Dalglish, Thierry Henry or Lionel Messi to be removed from their clubs because it was “unfair”. Of course not! Long may the majestic Norwegian rampage through opposition defences on behalf of City. It’s great to be a Blue, isn’t it!