Giroud- what's the beef?

[cameron326]

The heavy interest in Higuain suggested AW is not entirely satisfied with Giroud up top.

So either:
A) AW changed his mind, perhaps accepting Giroud purely as hold up/link man with a few goalsand relying on heavy goal contributions from Walcott/Sanchez/Ramsay
B) AW changed his mind - thinks Giroud can turn it up next year netting 20+ league goals like modern day Alan Smith (can't see it especially given our style of play)
C) plans to play Walcott/Sanchez up front imstead of Giroud or alternating with Giroud some games.
D) plans to play two up front - Walcott/Sanchez + Giroud
E) still planning on upgrading Giroud with Higuain type striker


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[1989]

C)

[Herd]

According to the press at the time one of the conditions that his missus took him back after being caught with his trousers down ,is that he would have to move back to France .
Also never underestimate the wrath of the Lord Wenger ,Giroud was asked about his transgressions and lied to Wenger and Wenger doesn't forgive easily however such was our paucity in striker options last term ,he would have had to play Sonogoal or Bendtner up front. Even he isn't that stupid although I do think if Bendtner had applied himself he could have done the job !

[Theoperator]

Also never underestimate the wrath of the Lord Wenger ,

Too true, in fairness its second only to old whiskynose I suggest

[goonersid]

Also never underestimate the wrath of the Lord Wenger ,

Too true, in fairness its second only to old whiskynose I suggest

But "whiskynose" didn't stand by useless fucking wankers the likes of Almunia, Flappy, Bendtner and co.

[kiwomya]

Also never underestimate the wrath of the Lord Wenger ,

Too true, in fairness its second only to old whiskynose I suggest

But "whiskynose" didn't stand by useless fucking wankers the likes of Almunia, Flappy, Bendtner and co.

No he had Bebe, Macheda and £20M worth of Anderson to think about instead.

[augie]

Also never underestimate the wrath of the Lord Wenger ,

Too true, in fairness its second only to old whiskynose I suggest

But "whiskynose" didn't stand by useless fucking wankers the likes of Almunia, Flappy, Bendtner and co.

No he had Bebe, Macheda and £20M worth of Anderson to think about instead.

True but he never made any of those his first choice players and would have choked at the thought of allowing one of them to captain his team

[rodders999]

I wonder are we to go with the Suarez/Sturridge model by playing Alexis and Theo up top next season. Bags of pace gets you a long way in this league, that combination could be frightning.

[augie]

I wonder are we to go with the Suarez/Sturridge model by playing Alexis and Theo up top next season. Bags of pace gets you a long way in this league, that combination could be frightning.

Pace is all wally has though - granted his finishing has improved somewhat, but he wont beat a defender with skill and nor is he a natural "right place at the right time" finisher so if opposition defence sits deep I don't know what he will bring as a striker

[LDB]

I wonder are we to go with the Suarez/Sturridge model by playing Alexis and Theo up top next season. Bags of pace gets you a long way in this league, that combination could be frightning.

Pace is all wally has though - granted his finishing has improved somewhat, but he wont beat a defender with skill and nor is he a natural "right place at the right time" finisher so if opposition defence sits deep I don't know what he will bring as a striker

Time to join Alan Hansen and admit you were wrong Augie!

"It is a different world, but throughout my time with this column and Match of the Day, there is probably only one thing that I regret saying - and it is not that you cannot win anything with kids!

Four years ago, I said that Theo Walcott did not have a "football brain", without realising that my comments would be misinterpreted to such an extent.

The meaning of my observation was not as brutal as it may have come across, but nonetheless, I was critical of Walcott’s ability and I am pleased to say that Theo has proved me wrong one million per cent.

He is a proper player and I have to admit that my comments about him were the only time that I have ever been happy to be wrong.

Theo is an intelligent boy, very bright, with genuine ability and he has given the best possible response to my remarks by pretty much showing two fingers to what I said.

I have met him since I said it and there has never been a problem between the pair of us. I am delighted with how he has developed as a player.

England may have performed better at this World Cup in Brazil had Theo Walcott been fit and able to play a part, with his cruciate ligament injury ultimately costing him his place."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... etire.html

[StuartL]

I wonder are we to go with the Suarez/Sturridge model by playing Alexis and Theo up top next season. Bags of pace gets you a long way in this league, that combination could be frightning.

Pace is all wally has though - granted his finishing has improved somewhat, but he wont beat a defender with skill and nor is he a natural "right place at the right time" finisher so if opposition defence sits deep I don't know what he will bring as a striker

Time to join Alan Hansen and admit you were wrong Augie!

"It is a different world, but throughout my time with this column and Match of the Day, there is probably only one thing that I regret saying - and it is not that you cannot win anything with kids!

Four years ago, I said that Theo Walcott did not have a "football brain", without realising that my comments would be misinterpreted to such an extent.

The meaning of my observation was not as brutal as it may have come across, but nonetheless, I was critical of Walcott’s ability and I am pleased to say that Theo has proved me wrong one million per cent.

He is a proper player and I have to admit that my comments about him were the only time that I have ever been happy to be wrong.

Theo is an intelligent boy, very bright, with genuine ability and he has given the best possible response to my remarks by pretty much showing two fingers to what I said.

I have met him since I said it and there has never been a problem between the pair of us. I am delighted with how he has developed as a player.

England may have performed better at this World Cup in Brazil had Theo Walcott been fit and able to play a part, with his cruciate ligament injury ultimately costing him his place."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... etire.html

So was Hansen in the crowd at the Emirates, when Theo was carried off ?

[armchair]

On this occasion I agree with Hansen.

Sorry augie, Theo is a lot better than you give him credit for. Cant wait to have him back.

[augie]

On this occasion I agree with Hansen.

Sorry augie, Theo is a lot better than you give him credit for. Cant wait to have him back.

I'm not a wally basher to the extend I was (partially cos his finishing has improved but also cos he took the piss out of the scum fans ), but my criticism above was based on the notion of playing him as a striker which I don't feel he is qualified for. Whatever about him playing alongside giroud in a front 2, playing him as a lone striker would be madness and I doubt if playing him in a front 2 with sanchez will work either

[northbank123]

I would be mildly interested to see an experiment with Walcott as one of two strikers. His game is still limited in a lot of respects but to his credit he has become a lot more clinical when it comes to his movement. Despite people's endless complaining about Podolski's work rate Walcott on the other wing is exceptionally selfish, which tbh is a good thing in this case. He will quite happily duck out of helping out if it means he can try and play off the shoulder and exploit the ball between CB and LB.

Two games strike me as bold examples of Walcott's improved movement - City away this year when despite the bumholing he was targeting obvious weak spots and was even popping up on the other side of the box if that's where the space was, and Chelsea away last year where at 2-0 he seemed to single-handedly take the decision to sack off his wing position and started playing as an ad hoc CF - the Chav defenders who were playing a high line and easily containing Giroud had a huge shock and pretty quickly he managed to get in behind and get us back in the game.

Of course with this limited approach he's fucking useless in about a third of games and he could still make improvements, not least to his final ball. He still doesn't seem to realise also that he is so blistering off the mark that he can literally kick it past people and run, the way that Bale does with such simplicity to devastating effect. I think Bale is an apt comparison because although his end product improved dramatically over the last few years, it was the last thing to fall into place after the rest of his game. For a winger playing at such a high level Bale has virtually no tricks in the box, technically is remarkably average in terms of touch, passing etc but has tailored his game magnificently to his strengths.

[Nos89]

I think its a combination of giroud taking the piss out of wenger by committing an indiscretion the night before a game in the team hotel, his missing telling him to move back to france or else, and the fact he's average at best, has no pace and there are at least 20 strikers in Europe that are better than him. I've said since his indiscretion I wouldn't be surprised if he left the club this summer.

Also, a change in formation is beckoning with Ozil up front with theo , santi playing behind with sanchez on the wing. The ox or ramsey driving the midfield with jack or (please God) Khedira holding the midfield. So, that's four at the back, Jack, Ramsey, Ox, Santi, Ozil, Theo, Sanchez

All I can add is Jack better watch out, he's on the path that could land him at the exit door. Having mates putting cigarettes in his mouth doesn't help.