Put it this way, Higuain or no one?

Easily the former.

Using the same argument Welbeck was an excellent signing last season. It's stupid. Our alternatives aren't Higuain or no one, just like we had a full summer to sign someone better than Danny last time.

Higuain is a good player, certainly better than Giroud to the degree where it's noticable, but he comes with his own set of problems and some of them will probably be magnfied in Premier League.

I think the argument is to show that unless we are signing no one, he shouldn't be our first choice.

Clrnc wrote:

Put it this way, Higuain or no one?

Easily the former.

Thats like saying if its Mame Biram Diouf  or no one? Easily the former.

Anyone better than Welbeck is better than no one. The thing is there are a lot of players to choose from.

Eh, if you put someone as poor as Diouf for that comparison it would be the latter.

Dunno, I'd rather have Diouf than Sanogo start for us.

Or Welbeck. Anyway let's not get into a discussion of who's better than Sanogo and Welbeck or we'll be here all day.

The point is that saying 'Higgy or no one' is nonsense. We have countless options.

Clrnc wrote:

Eh, if you put someone as poor as Diouf for that comparison it would be the latter.

Mame is not that bad.
He is better than Welbeck as he scores regularly.
I think he broke Stoke's record for their striker using his boots more than his head.
He even managed to get one in, off his arse.

qs! wrote:

The point is that saying 'Higgy or no one' is nonsense. We have countless options.

Which is exactly what I'm saying, Higuain wouldn't be my first choice unless there are no one left...

Well thats just fucking great Clrnc, now we've wasted our time arguing about something we agree on. I hope you're happy.

Will be interesting to see who shows as CF/ST at the Copa.

One big factor to consider, which works in Higuain's favour, is that Giroud is 29 in September and we're at the stage now where we could suddenly dip. He may continue at this level or even continue improving, but it's a dangerous assumption to make.

Then again Higuain will be at that stage in a year or so himself. Really wanted him here badly before his move to Napoli but think we should be aiming higher this time around.

Also not fully convinced by Benzema who everyone seems to want to sign either. Seems to drop deep and tries to be involved in the buildup play far too much for my liking. Doesn't also seem to have that selfish instinct in front of goal that all top nstrikers have.

Might be more to do with playing with Ronaldo all the time.

Still would rather someone who's constantly trying to score goals before looking to set someone else up. No way do I want a ballhog who will shoot from all angles, but someone who will think first to score and pass only if someone is in a better position to score.

Think there's a dearth of top quality forwards nowadays if you subtract the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Messi and Suarez. I doubt Benzema would even be known as a top class striker back in the day when we had people like Henry, Ronaldo, Del Piero, Batistuta and the like running around. It's a bit sad really.

Loylz wrote:

Then again Higuain will be at that stage in a year or so himself. Really wanted him here badly before his move to Napoli but think we should be aiming higher this time around.

Also not fully convinced by Benzema who everyone seems to want to sign either. Seems to drop deep and tries to be involved in the buildup play far too much for my liking. Doesn't also seem to have that selfish instinct in front of goal that all top nstrikers have.

IIRC this is why many French pundits/public supposedly preferred Giroud at CF ahead of the WC - because Benzema was often not in position to get back into the area to get into goal scoring positions.

Loylz wrote:

Still would rather someone who's constantly trying to score goals before looking to set someone else up. No way do I want a ballhog who will shoot from all angles, but someone who will think first to score and pass only if someone is in a better position to score.

Think there's a dearth of top quality forwards nowadays if you subtract the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Messi and Suarez. I doubt Benzema would even be known as a top class striker back in the day when we had people like Henry, Ronaldo, Del Piero, Batistuta and the like running around. It's a bit sad really.

I 'blame' the lone ST/CF formations and the current ideal for every one to contribute everywhere and do everything.
We've become too hung up on complete players and flexibility as an excuse to avoid actually having to build a properly balanced squad that is capable to achieve the intended outcomes.
And it's not just forwards - it's no longer good enough to simply win possession, you have to be able to distribute it and/or play DLP/B2B.
IIRC Sacchi was anti the development of the half position roles like the DM & AM lines & the Asymmetric type of formation that looks to cover all the possibilities on the pitch, as he considered it to be akin to becoming too specialised.  However we've now gone the opposite way whereby we don't allow for specialisation even as compensation for not being strong or capable in other areas.