Anzac wrote:
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.

Giroud is not really that much better in that situation either. He tries but he's too slow and unless the ball is being crossed into the box, he won't be in goal scoring opportunities. Rather outside the box sometimes very deep trying to "make the ball stick" and laying it off to someone else.

As some may have noticed I'm not Giroud's number 1 fan, but he is pretty much always in position when the ball is being played into the box IMO.

Lulz wrote:
Anzac wrote:

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.

Giroud is not really that much better in that situation either. He tries but he's too slow and unless the ball is being crossed into the box, he won't be in goal scoring opportunities. Rather outside the box sometimes very deep trying to "make the ball stick" and laying it off to someone else.

I'd prefer Benzema as IMO he's more mobile and a better goal scorer.
Giroud's 'strength' as a goal scorer is a near post run and deflection for goal as seen in the FA Cup, but IMO he's not got a great shot like Podolski, Sanchez or even Walcott.  Rambo has the best shot of any of the midfield.
Our issue is that only 1 of those 4 is a nailed on starter.

Rucks wrote:

As some may have noticed I'm not Giroud's number 1 fan, but he is pretty much always in position when the ball is being played into the box IMO.

Last season he used to make space for Walcott to run the channels, but since his return from injury he seldom goes wide and he looks to stay in the area when the ball is in the final 3rd.

So he is in position then.

Rucks wrote:

As some may have noticed I'm not Giroud's number 1 fan, but he is pretty much always in position when the ball is being played into the box IMO.

I think the complaints are more imagined than anything, "on he's slow so he mustn't be able to get into position". As you say he's usually in a great spot when the ball comes into the box. His positioning is great on long balls too, he's always challenging and usually winning those. Other centre forwards drift away from the ball and fail to even challenge for them. Giroud has his limitations but he knows what he's trying to do and is a very smart player.

Rucks wrote:

As some may have noticed I'm not Giroud's number 1 fan, but he is pretty much always in position when the ball is being played into the box IMO.

Don't think you're actually really disagreeing with me Rucks. I pretty much said as much. When we have the ball wide he's usually the only one in the box making his trademark near post run.

I actually like Giroud and always have. But his positioning when we're in possession is usually on the edge of the box trying to flick the ball for the person attempting to play a one two with him. He's the wall we play off of and I think that's apparent as that's the way we set up with him.

You could see the difference in positioning between him and Walcott in the Cup Final when he came on. One was always looking to get in the box regardless of whether we hade possession of the ball going through the middle or from wide.

Lulz wrote:

I actually like Giroud and always have. But his positioning when we're in possession is usually on the edge of the box

Thats called being on side.

You can be pedantic if you want and pick selected parts of my quote but you know exactly what I mean.

I misunderstood. I agree with you that when play is in front of Giroud he usually positions himself just outside the box, fairly central, looking to be someone other players can bump balls off of. He rarely looks to find openings looking to be played in himself.

Walcott, on the other hand, wanders from side to side, constantly looking to get the ball so he can have a pop himself, or being played in behind the back 4.

However, as soon as the ball is played beyond Giroud, most often on a flank, he is almost always then getting into a position from where he can score from.

Exactly. Like I thought, we were both saying the same thing.

Much as I like Giroud I can't help but think what he could have been had he been blessed with more pace. I still think we need a more mobile striker up top dragging defenders all over the place with great movement and who is clinical in and around the box. Dunno who ticks all those boxes that we can realistically get.

I still say do a ridiculous bid for Benz. Just open at £35m for Benz with £45m walk-away and get it done before other pieces start to move. Hopefully, so doing creates pressure for Madrid to chase Aguero, destabilizing City, or Cavani, destabilizing PSG. We have mucked about too long on the striker issue. We now need to verpay to rectify it.

Speaking of PSG, it's nice to see Paris be relevant in world football. When I was growing up, all PSG were known for was a crazy black man aptly named Loko

That's just the thing. For all of Benz's technical qualities, I don't know if he has the hunger to be the main man banging in goals left, right and centre. To me he seems like someone who enjoys being involved in the buildup more than getting on the end of things and putting the ball in the net.

He did it all at Lyon. Liked coming in from wide and powering through folks. A frontline of Benzema, Walcott and Sanchez will allow us to blitz teams like Suarez-Sturridge-Sterling did last year. Ozil would drop 20 assists in his sleep

The guy certainly is very, very talented. Just hope that if (in the off chance) we do get him that he can regain some of that directness you mention. Been a long time playing the supporting cast to Ronaldo, might be difficult for him to even play like that anymore.

We should buy Schurrle, go full Jerry thats what I reckon.

As everyone knows I am not a big fan of Giroud at all but his positioning is pretty good. If it wasn't he wouldn't be getting his numbers especially with his lack of pace. Welbz on the other hand is a disaster at positioning and making off the ball runs.