Man City's Overreliance on Haaland Raises Concerns for Guardiola's Tactics

Manchester City's scorching form in the Premier League has been largely fueled by the incredible goal-scoring prowess of Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker has netted 26 goals for club and country by the first weekend in November, an astonishing feat that has left fans and pundits alike in awe. However, a closer look at the numbers reveals a concerning trend: 13 of the 20 goals City have scored this season have come from Haaland's boots or head.

Discounting a rare own-goal brace by Maxime Esteve in a win over Burnley in September, only five goals have been contributed by Haaland's teammates. While Nico O'Reilly's composed finish in Sunday's win over Bournemouth was a welcome sight, it was a rare instance of a goal not scored by Haaland. This overreliance on their star forward has raised questions about the team's long-term sustainability and Pep Guardiola's tactics.

Former City goalkeeper Shay Given pointed out on Super Sunday that this reliance on Haaland can only work as long as he stays fit. The prospect of Haaland getting injured or going through a goal drought is a daunting one, and it's a challenge that Guardiola must address. While Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki have shown glimpses of their capabilities, it's unclear whether they can fill the void left by Haaland if he's not on the pitch.

Bournemouth's defeat at the Etihad Stadium was a testament to City's strength, but it also highlighted the Cherries' resilience. Despite being beaten, they showed enough to suggest they can maintain their challenge for a Europa League spot. Their next unbeaten run can start here, and with a fully fit squad, there's no reason why they can't push on.

Elsewhere, Newcastle's struggles on the road continue to be a concern. Their limp defeat at West Ham was a far cry from the dynamism and energy associated with Eddie Howe's team. The Magpies created just 0.54 worth of expected goals and had just one shot on target in the first half, highlighting their struggles to threaten the opposition.

Freddie Potts made a big impression on his Premier League debut for West Ham, coming close to scoring a goal and showing promising signs for the future. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how City adapts to Haaland's role and whether Guardiola can find a balance to mitigate the risks associated with their overreliance on their star forward.