Giroud is quite capable of roughing it out in the PL as he showed in the early part of the season. When he's strong, stands up, takes the initial hit and keeps the ball, makes the simple lay-off and keeps moving he's a good (though still second tier) striker. When he opts to fall over on the first challenge and complain, when he fails to stay on the move to compensate for his lack of pace, when he can't be bothered to stay onside - then it's a problem and blunts our entire game.

If his head is in the wrong place because he let his dick interfere with what is expected of a highly paid striker at a top PL club then there's only one person to blame. It's not about being a snob, it's about all our players giving it 100% in the run in to this title challenge. If we drop below 100% anywhere on the pitch but our opponents don't then we finish 4th. We say we don't want 4th yet again, so therefore we must say we want 100% from all our players or nothing less. The table won't forgive any less at the end of the season.

That performance from Bif yesterday was not even close to being good enough.

As for Sturridge - yes, we need somebody LIKE him but not him. He's a cheat.

Benteke still works for me, powerful, technical and while not blazingly fast he's mobile enough. Plus we wouldn't have to blow the whole budget getting him so could add resources elsewhere.