Olivier Giroud - Another Alan Smith or "Le Chapman"?

[highburyJD]

I follow Montpellier: tv and one or two live games a season
I support Arsenal
but we're discussing Giroud not me

I believe in him. He's delivered under pressure before (many games last season were billed as the biggest in Montpellier's history) I think he will again
I'm not pretending what he's done so far is enough
I think we should have more than one centre forward, its weird that Podolski hasn't had more chances there
but 15 goals and lots of assists is, so far, a good return for a mid-priced player coming up a level

[Chippy]

I assume Montpellier is where mummy and daddy's French villa is. Or am I just being a wum?

[highburyJD]

nope, you're basically right,
my dad bought a house near there in the early 80s
been going on holiday there all my life, normally go a few times a year
the French season always starts very early so get one or two home games depending on how the fixtures pan out

there are many posters on here who post as if they watch no football but Arsenal
some of the judgementalness (pun intended) is way over the top
seems obvious Giroud has strengths and weaknesses, at his current rate he should get to near 20 goals
that's a decent return for your first season - we all hope he can improve a lot next year

[Top Londoner]

I honestly had faith in Giroud early on this season JD. When he shot at goal (can't remember the home game) and it landed on top of the net, it missed inside the bar by inches, I championed his effort and confidence.
The bloke has let himself down a lot since imo.
For being a big strapping lad, his hold up play and passing has been pretty awful. It cannot be a confidence thing either. His heading of a ball is like his head is a thrupenny bit and his shocking, whacking toepunts whenever he is 25-40 yards from goal are woeful.
I hope that he can get better next year, and despite your knowledge of his playing in France, I have the gut feeling that Steve0 has hit the nail on the head for quite some time now with regard to him and also Forehead.

[highburyJD]

I still believe in Giroud
Gervinho on the other hand...

[Top Londoner]

I still believe in Giroud
Gervinho on the other hand...

Not quite, but almost blind faith.
I can give him more time but the bloke might need to be seen to better effect in a 4-4-2. No chance of that happening though.

[highburyJD]

If Giroud did NOTHING it would be blind faith,
he's scored 15 goals FFS,
you'd think he was Park Chu Young the way some on here go on...

[flash gunner]

Regardless of what you've read about what he did at Montpellier

actually I missed around half-a-dozen Montpellier games last season
those that I missed I watched extended highlights...

Ignoring the fact that you were born more than 5 minutes from Montpellier's stadium and therefore have no right to follow them

[highburyJD]

Born quite a lot more than 5 mins from Highbury or the Grove.
The key definition difference is between followers and supporters
I started watching Arsenal simply because it was a short walk,
I'm lucky in that, doesn't improve my eyesight or opinion
and I've never suggested it does
sure there must be some NorfLondon people as miserable as the median onlineGooner miseryguts poster
I just don't seem to meet them

Smudger despite being neither fan nor follower gets wheeled out by Sky as a token Arsenal rep
I think he's still bitter about the end of his career, and not making much money
for whatever reason, his unremitting negativity makes me think hates Arsenal

[Top Londoner]

If Giroud did NOTHING it would be blind faith,
he's scored 15 goals FFS,
you'd think he was Park Chu Young the way some on here go on...

28 Pl games played
89 shots
9 goals

pffft.

[highburyJD]

What do people on here think an acceptable return would be?
I think we should have another striker in our squad, don't blame Giroud for that
mid priced centre forward in his first Prem season how many should he get?

[flash gunner]

Not sure what a good return is and i don't think he has done badly for us this season but i don't think he is a good enough standard for Arsenal if we want to challenge for serious trophies. I dont dislike him and he does work very hard but i just think he's an average player

[highburyJD]

First season he's been better than Drogs IMO

[flash gunner]

First season he's been better than Drogs IMO

I do not agree with that

[highburyJD]

Saw Drogs loads in his first year, he was only dreadful