*Official* English Football Season 2013-14

[Eds]

Think criticisms of Giroud are harsh. He's probably the striker in the league who most relies on players around him (maybe Soldado tbf..) because he plays back-to-goal and his main strength is those one or two touch through balls to onrushing centre mids. Obviously Ramsey's been out for ages and Wilshere's not had a long run in the team so they've had to rely on Rosicky for that and he's just not as good at it as the other two. Hell, they've even tried to get Flamini to do it recently.

When Arsenal don't have that sort of threat from centre mid Giroud looks like an absolute dud and that's Wenger's fault for having him as the only real striker at the club.

 

[Cabinet96]

I've generally backed Giroud more than most Arsenal fans. It's not his fault he's not very quick and Walcott and Ramsey got injured. But he was much more clinical earlier in the season, and he seems to have lost any ability to scored headed goals. Read a stat about he's had about three headers on target this season out of a **** load. This match has kind of been parody though, with his lack of pacing meaning we couldn't score just before they did and him not quite reaching the end of a Sanga cross.

 

[Uppercut]

That still makes him an embarrassingly limited striker, though. If he has fast, direct, technical runners surrounding him, the team knows how to play to his strengths, he's fully fit and on form and Saturn is aligned with Jupiter then he's a 7.5/10 striker. Otherwise he's pure ****.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

This one over. We await the Liverpool game now and see if they choke or not.

 

[Cabinet96]

Arsenal are just getting trolled by Everton players doing keepy uppies as they dribble into the edge of the box.

 

[GIMH]

Pretty sure I've said this before but Arsenal sure know how to lose hey

 

[Spark]

Swapping between the cricket and this, is Arsenal's defense usually this cringey?

 

[Eds]

That still makes him an embarrassingly limited striker, though. If he has fast, direct, technical runners surrounding him, the team knows how to play to his strengths, he's fully fit and on form and Saturn is aligned with Jupiter then he's a 7.5/10 striker. Otherwise he's pure ****.

All those factors are controlled by Wenger though. He knew Giroud's strengths and played to them early in the season and the threat from midfield and the linkup with Giroud was the main reason they did so well. It's not a surprise to see lots of injuries at Arsenal and it'll happen for as long as Wenger is there -- it's his fault for not bringing in a completely different striker who isn't pure **** in circumstances such as today.

Yes, he's limited and one-dimensional but that doesn't mean he's ****. He's really good at what he does but obviously when the team and tactics don't allow him to do that then he's awful. But that's Wenger's job to sort out, not Giroud's.

 

[sledger]

His worst problem, as I said the other week, is not necessarily his lack pace, but he just doesn't seem to think like a striker. It wouldn't matter if he was a bit slow if he could spot the right run and make it in good time.

 

[Uppercut]

All those factors are controlled by Wenger though. He knew Giroud's strengths and played to them early in the season and the threat from midfield and the linkup with Giroud was the main reason they did so well. It's not a surprise to see lots of injuries at Arsenal and it'll happen for as long as Wenger is there -- it's his fault for not bringing in a completely different striker who isn't pure **** in circumstances such as today.

Yes, he's limited and one-dimensional but that doesn't mean he's ****. He's really good at what he does but obviously when the team and tactics don't allow him to do that then he's awful. But that's Wenger's job to sort out, not Giroud's.

Yeah but everything is ultimately the manager's fault, especially when he has as much control as Wenger. Even if Giroud was just pure **** with no mitigating circumstances, it would still be Wenger's fault for buying him.

Also everyone looks great when surrounded by fast, direct, technical players. Probably why no one who leaves Dortmund seems to look half as good in their new team.

 

[Cabinet96]

The linesmen should've rewarded the fact Sanago managed to get a shot on target and give the goal.

 

[sledger]

Well that was terrible.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Well that was terrible.

The big thing to notice was the way Wenger sat there looking very stressed. A man under real pressure at the moment.

 

[Cabinet96]

This was so much more painful than the Liverpool and Chelsea defeats.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

This was so much more painful than the Liverpool and Chelsea defeats.

Why because an Albino Scotsman was man of the match?

 

[GIMH]

I must admit to being slightly conflicted. In some ways I think it would be good if Everton cracked the top 4 - just a big **** you to so many people and a reward for playing good football for the bulk of the season. Too many draws but without checking I'd guess they've lost fewer games than any other Prem team. And Martinez is a likeable manager. Plus it just compounds the Moyes hilarity.

They're the pros now for the cons

They are ****ing blue ****e ****s

 

[Cabinet96]

The worst thing if we finish outside the top four and Wenger doesn't sign is that we won't even be able to tempt Martinez away from Everton with Champions League football.

 

[Cabinet96]

Why because an Albino Scotsman was man of the match?

Who left his foot in early, yeah. But more because not winning the title wasn't devastating. Not getting CL football would be.

 

[King Pietersen]

Steven Naismith. Romelu Lukaku. Ross Barkley. Mikel Arteta. Arsene Wenger.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Wet Sham playing well against Liverpool so far.