Considering how successful Manchester City have been over the past couple of years, the team and their players’ consistent excellence can potentially be taken for granted.
Ultimately, the standards Pep Guardiola’s men continue to hit are somehow expected of them as there is no limit to how much they can accomplish season after season.
However, it is important to understand that before the £378,846-a-week man’s appointment in 2016, Manuel Pellegrini’s side finished in fourth place — scraping into the top four by beating Manchester United on goal difference.
Pellegrini’s final City side finished on 66 points — which was the same points total Tottenham Hotspur accumulated as they ended up in fifth place under Ange Postecoglou last season.
After a nine-point jump in Pep Guardiola’s debut campaign where Manchester City finished on 75 points and in third place, the English juggernaut have won seven league titles in eight seasons.
In the meantime, the Sky Blues have also won the treble, a domestic treble, set the record-points tally for a single Premier League season (100) and lifted an unprecedented four successive titles amongst other incredible accomplishments.
As a result, alongside Pep Guardiola, their players, both from the past and the present who have contributed to their dominance deserve heaps of credit.
Robbie Earle explains why Erling Haaland doesn’t get the credit he deserves
Erling Haaland is one player whose greatness seems to be expected of him at this point.
Despite being just 24, Stephen Warnock back Haaland to “obliterate” Alan Shearer’s record of scoring 260 goals in the Premier League.
Kevin De Bruyne singled Haaland out as the most “prolific striker” he has ever played with — despite sharing the pitch with number nines such as Sergio Aguero, Fernando Torres and Samuel Eto’o — indicating how special a player he is.
Alan Shearer rightly labelled Haaland as “ridiculous” and the best goalscorer in the world.
Yet, Ally McCoist described Haaland as “bang average” in terms of his all-round game.
The Scottish pundit agreed with Roy Keane describing Haaland as a “League Two player.”
Robbie Earle feels the £51 million man is “underappreciated” on NBC Sports’ The 2 Robbies Podcast.
Earle initially said: “Could he be an underappreciated performer of the week? Why not? What’s appreciated for him?”
“But there is an element of people who’ll tell you, like when the goals happened yesterday, it was seven touches, two goals. People can’t wait to tell you how many touches.”
“He’s been talked of as a Division Two player, he’s got no this, he’s got no that. He’s seen as industrial, Rob [Robbie Mustoe]. He’s seen as, yeah, he’s just a finisher.”
Robbie Earle described why Haaland is more than just a goalscorer and delved into how his all-round game does not often get the praise it merits, referencing his latest display against West Ham United.
“No, he’s not just a finisher! Just a finisher, by the way is the hardest thing to do in football. He scores three goals yesterday Rob, he passes one, he hammers one and he dinks one. He shows you three different types of finishes from a big guy who’s got a lovely feel for the ball and a lovely understanding of what to do with his technique.”
“His build-up play is getting better, he’s still a young man who’s growing, who’s learning the game. His work off the ball, Rob, is getting better. You’ve seen him run 50 yards back to tackle [Michail] Antonio. You’ve seen him passing from the front when he has to. You’ve seen him drifting out to the left-hand side at times to create space for others.”
The pundit continued: “I get that you wouldn’t say he’s underappreciated. I just think at times…he’s got eight hat-tricks, Rob in 69 Premier League games.”
“[Haaland’s critics go on like] He’s not a very good footballer who just puts it in the back of the net.”
“You talked about Haaland and he didn’t have international football and I get it and I’m not disagreeing in your point. Marcus Rashford had the summer off. It’s not a given that you have a summer off and you have that form and you start the season off that way.”
Robbie Earle stressed how key it is to let the standards Haaland is setting in the Premier League season after season sink in.
“I just think we do that with Erling Haaland. We kind of don’t appreciate what we’re seeing. This is some of the best finishing we’ve ever seen in English football and we’ve got to give this young man a little more credit.”
Erling Haaland could silence all his critics this season
Robbie Earle makes a fair point about how Haaland is often slated for his flaws and the magnificence he continues to produce perhaps does not get highlighted as he is expected to continue raising the bar.
However, this season, Haaland looks on track to have a potentially legendary campaign and if say, he breaks how own record of an all-time high 36 goals in single term, perhaps his biggest critics could turn into his most ardent admirers.
The way the Norwegian has started this season coupled with his improving technique could finally prompt his detractors to sit back and appreciate the greatness they are witnessing.
Especially if Haaland’s individual success is followed by Manchester City winning a major trophy.
For the time being, the former Borussia Dortmund striker might perhaps have to contend with the stick he gets despite being remarkably consistent.
The two-time Premier League’s focus will be on having another great season after his blistering start instead of being consumed by the criticism that comes his way regardless of his performances on the pitch.
