25 Oct 2016 22:59:27
Oxlade.
Such promise when he was a teenager, I still reminisce about that Champions League game against AC Milan where he burst onto the scene.
Slowly but surely he started to (a phase I like to call) "Walcott" always showed promise, however never seemed to do anything on the pitch. Still he's only, what, 23? Plenty of time.
Yet it was on 'Goats on Sunday' where he said about his game time and how he will consider his options at the end of the season, and it got me thinking, would I miss him?
On the one hand, yes, he's part of our English contingent and can be brilliant at times. But then what's to miss about a player that shows a flash of greatness every 1 in 10 games? Not much really in my opinion!
But since he said that on goals on Sunday, he seems to have kicked on a bit, tonight against Reading he took the game by the scruff of its neck and showed the youngsters who's the first team player, as it should be, rather than get carried for 90 minutes like he has been for a while. He was involved in THAT goal against Burley, and has just seemed to sharpened up a lot, hopefully Walcott has taken him under his wing!
Anyway, it's 11pm, I'm tired and I'm rambling. Just very glad he's giben Wenger a headache and will hopefully been given more chances!
Cheers if you read that utter tripe lads.
26 Oct 2016 00:33:49
Good post Akie,
It would seem that player's who are not reknowned for scoring are hitting the back of the net this season.
Walcott, Ox and Ozil are regulars on the scoresheet.
Are we are better, more fluent team without Giroud?
26 Oct 2016 10:27:50
Yes dags we are.
26 Oct 2016 14:21:15
Great question DG.
We definitely play more fluently without Giroud and it seems that the team produces a higher quality performance for the 90, but it's not always the answer if we're meant to pick up as many wins as possible. Horses for courses really.
We've had some moments of utter brilliance with Giroud as the key pivot in our attack (Norwich at home in 2013 springs to mind) and, as a few games this season have shown, there are limits to using a false nine who isn't even close to 6 ft tall, or, as it seems, actually just playing two no. 10s in our front four.
That front four has played so well that I'm up for having them start most games, but Giroud will have real impact where teams Park their bus against as - and I suspect that'll happen increasingly often while other teams look at the example set by Boro and Burnley.
26 Oct 2016 18:17:57
Good reply BGB.