Erling Haaland's exceptional performance compels English journalists to acknowledge his undeniable talent.

In the first half of Manchester City's match against Everton, Erling Haaland seemed like a peripheral figure on the field, having touched the ball only once. Everton, well aware of the threat posed by the towering Norwegian striker, flooded the center of the pitch with defenders, attempting to stifle his impact. However, avid Premier League viewers understand that Haaland's apparent lack of involvement is not indicative of weakness at this stage of the season.

Time and again, Haaland has proven that he can make an immense impact with just a few touches. True to form, shortly after the graphics showcasing his minimal contribution disappeared from the screen, he unleashed a powerful header that sailed past the outstretched arms of Jordan Pickford, securing a 2-0 lead for Manchester City just before halftime.

This goal marked his 52nd of the season and elevated his Premier League tally to a record-breaking 36 goals. Scoring against Everton also meant that only three out of the 19 other teams in the division have been able to prevent Haaland from finding the back of the net.

It was a crowning moment in an exceptional week for the Manchester City star, as he was honored with the prestigious English Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year (FWA) award. Garnering an overwhelming 80% of the vote from the top soccer journalists in the country, Haaland's landslide victory underscored how sections of the English media have been forced to reevaluate their initial assessments and swallow their pride.

The English press had initially passed judgment on Haaland after he struck the crossbar in his debut against Liverpool in the Community Shield. The match was billed as a showdown between Liverpool's Darwin Nunez and Manchester City's Haaland, the two high-profile signings. The media response boiled down to a simple comparison, with headlines proclaiming "Darwin Nunez comes out on top, Erling Haaland struggles." The BBC even went so far as to state, "there was no doubting who came out on top" in the clash between the two new strikers.

Yet, perhaps the media should have heeded the insights of someone who truly understands the game from firsthand experience. Former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney offered a vastly different perspective in his column for The Times of London, declaring, "The Erling Haaland I watched is going to dominate the league." Rooney confidently predicted that Haaland has the potential to clinch the golden boot and maintain a goal-a-game ratio throughout the season.

Even the Premier League's all-time leading goalscorer, Alan Shearer, exhibited remarkable foresight when he proclaimed, prior to Haaland's arrival at Manchester City, that "Put Erling Haaland or Harry Kane in that City team, and you're pretty much guaranteed 40 goals a season." Shearer's statement, shared across various media outlets, now stands as an astute observation of Haaland's immense capabilities.

In summary, Haaland's undeniable impact on the field has forced English journalists to reevaluate their initial judgments, as his remarkable goal-scoring prowess, accolades, and endorsements from respected figures in the game demonstrate his dominance and potential to shape the Premier League landscape.

Why Haaland Is Incredible

Haaland's extraordinary success at Manchester City shouldn't come as a surprise, given the thorough analysis of his statistics before joining the club.

His exceptional chance conversion rate, the best in Europe, coupled with City's reputation for creating the most scoring opportunities on the continent, made for a potent combination.

While some may label Haaland as a robotic or superhuman figure due to his incredible numbers and reluctance to divulge much in interviews, the true secret to his success lies in his grounded and humble demeanor.

This down-to-earth attitude was evident in his gracious words upon receiving the FWA crown, as he generously praised his teammates and acknowledged the support of manager Pep Guardiola and the entire City staff.

Maintaining a balanced perspective, unaffected by both success and failure, is vital for athletes performing at the highest level. Haaland possesses this invaluable trait, unfazed by the BBC's comparisons to Nunez and displaying an unwavering composure even after a missed opportunity in the Charity Shield.

In fact, the now-iconic images of Haaland smiling to himself following the near-miss serve as a powerful symbol of his unwavering belief and confidence.

Today, journalists have also come to recognize Haaland's exceptional abilities and the impact he brings to the game.