Troy Deeney says Man City have a young striker similar to Erling Haaland who Guardiola should be using
Manchester City has had a tough time recently. Last week, they lost to Real Madrid in the Champions League. Then, on the weekend, Liverpool beat them in the Premier League, which seemed to hand the title to Arne Slot’s team. City played both of those games without their star player, Erling Haaland. Haaland has been injured, so City had to find a way to play without him. In the match against Liverpool, Phil Foden played as a false nine, but this didn’t work well, and Foden received criticism after the game.
On the Premier League All Access Podcast, Troy Deeney discussed Manchester City’s striker situation. He questioned why Divin Mubama was not on the bench for City during the Liverpool game. Deeney wondered why Pep Guardiola didn’t choose to have the young striker available as an option. Deeney pointed out that City needed another attacking player, especially with Haaland out. He suggested that Mubama could have been the perfect option. Deeney compared Mubama’s playing style and size to Haaland, saying that Mubama looked like he was built in the same way, being tall and fast, capable of running in behind defenders.
Deeney raised a valid point about Mubama’s absence. City is short on strikers at the moment because of Haaland’s injury, and having an extra player available could have helped. Over the years, we have seen young players step up for other top Premier League clubs when senior players are injured. For example, Marcus Rashford made his breakthrough at Manchester United during an injury crisis, and Ethan Nwaneri at Arsenal is going through a similar rise at the moment.
Mubama has been in excellent form for Manchester City’s U21 team this season. He has played six games, scoring four goals and providing three assists. Mubama has already made two appearances for City’s first team, and in one of those games, he scored a goal. Although it is unlikely Mubama would have made a huge impact against Liverpool, it does raise questions about how Pep Guardiola is handling the young players in his squad. Young stars like Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, Morgan Rogers, and Liam Delap have all left City and are now performing well for other Premier League teams. This makes people wonder if Guardiola is giving enough opportunities to young players like Mubama, who have shown their ability in the U21s.
It is clear that Manchester City could use more attacking options, especially with Haaland out of the lineup. The absence of Haaland has been felt, as City has struggled to score goals without their top scorer. Foden did his best to fill in as a false nine, but it was clear that City missed Haaland’s presence in the attack. Mubama, with his similar playing style to Haaland, could have been an interesting option for Guardiola to consider. Having Mubama on the bench might have given City another attacking threat to call upon if the game against Liverpool had been more competitive or if they needed a change of pace.
The idea of young players stepping up in times of crisis is not new in football. Clubs often look to their youth academies when senior players are unavailable, and some of the best players in the Premier League today started their careers in this way. Guardiola has shown that he is not afraid to trust young players in certain situations, but the question remains whether he is giving enough chances to his youth players when the team is struggling. The fact that Mubama has already played for City’s first team and scored suggests that he is capable of contributing at the highest level. However, the decision to leave him off the bench against Liverpool has left some wondering whether Guardiola is giving enough opportunities to these young talents.
Mubama’s performances for the U21s this season have shown that he is ready for more responsibility. He has been involved in seven goal contributions in six games, which is a solid record for a young striker. His physical attributes, including his height and speed, make him a similar player to Haaland, and his style of play could fit well in Guardiola’s system. Mubama’s ability to stretch the defense with his runs in behind and his goal-scoring instinct could provide City with a different option when they need to change the game. Even if Mubama wasn’t the answer in the game against Liverpool, it is clear that he is a player with potential who could contribute in the future.
Looking at the bigger picture, City’s lack of options up front in Haaland’s absence has been a problem. Guardiola has relied on Foden as a false nine in the past, but this experiment has not always worked as hoped. With Haaland out of the team, City has been forced to adapt, but they have struggled to find the right balance. Mubama could have been a solution to this issue, offering a physical presence and the ability to make runs in behind that City has missed without Haaland. The decision to leave him off the bench against Liverpool raises questions about Guardiola’s trust in young players and whether he is missing an opportunity to give them valuable experience.
The Premier League is a competitive league, and every team is looking for ways to gain an advantage. Manchester City, as one of the top clubs in the league, needs to make sure they have all the resources available to them, especially when they are missing key players like Haaland. Guardiola has a deep squad, but it seems that he is not always willing to give young players like Mubama the chance to prove themselves when the team is struggling. It is important for a club like City to have a mix of experienced players and young talents who can step up when needed. Mubama’s performances for the U21s show that he has the potential to be part of City’s future, but whether Guardiola gives him a chance to shine remains to be seen.
The question of how Guardiola uses his young players is something that has been discussed for years. City’s youth academy has produced several talented players, but many of them have been sold to other clubs or loaned out to gain experience. Players like Palmer, Lavia, Rogers, and Delap have all gone on to make a name for themselves at other Premier League clubs, and their departures raise questions about whether City has missed the chance to develop these players into first-team stars. Mubama, however, is still at City, and it is clear that he has the potential to make a difference for the club. Whether Guardiola chooses to give him more opportunities in the first team could be a key factor in City’s season going forward.
In conclusion, Manchester City’s recent struggles, particularly without Haaland, have highlighted the need for more attacking options. Troy Deeney’s comments about Divin Mubama being left off the bench against Liverpool raise important questions about how Guardiola is using his young players. Mubama has shown his potential with the U21s and in his brief appearances for the first team, and it is understandable why Deeney believes he could have been an asset for City in their time of need. Guardiola’s handling of young players is always a topic of discussion, and it will be interesting to see if Mubama gets more opportunities to prove himself in the coming weeks. With Haaland still recovering from his injury, City will need all the attacking options they can get, and Mubama could be one of the players who helps them through this challenging period.
