Well, this is my honest amateurs opinion.Originally Posted by McNamara That Ghost...
Given his attributes Sanogo's role would bear similarities to that of Giroud or Bendtner.
To play that role he needs to:
1) Possession
Receive the ball (usually under heavy pressure), lay it off accurately, and win a decent percentage of aerial duels.
2) Shape
Make intelligent attacking runs/take up dangerous positions, show for the forward pass and close down centrebacks.
3) Goal Threat
Take shots/headers and get them on target.
From that it seems clear why we need a better striker and why Walcott and Podolski are only used there in extremis.
Walcott is strong in 3, decent in aspects of 2 and has the great advantage of pace, however his 1 is poor.
Podolski is also strong in 3, has decent touch and link up for 1, but his 2 is weak.
Giroud doesn't do enough of 3, but is brave, extremely hard working, and takes up smart defensive positions at set pieces.
Of the three he could be regarded as just about adequate for our needs.
Sanogo, based on what I have seen of him last summer, is still something of a callow youth - too slight to hold his own against aggressive Premiership CBs, an erratic first touch, and without real speed or little bit burst, he is unlikely to outskill, outpace or overpower any half decent CB.
Of course, he is young, and young guys can develop physically and improve technically very quickly. If he is to be any use to use this season, he will have needed to do that substantially from the summer.
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