Quote Originally Posted by Steve French View Post
In the current climate, Giroud, Campbell and possibly Benzema or someone of that calibre. Heck there are strikers in weaker PL teams that could prosper here. How much the Club is willing to expend on our striking situation is a mystery to me - but they have the scouts and the resources - if they come up with Balotelli that is worrying to me.

And I am focussing on Balotelli here because he is the topic of the thread. If the worst scenario presents itself and it is Balotelli or nothing, I'll opt for the latter and this world cup has if anything reinforced my thoughts on him.
Fair enough, so essentially you don't think Balotelli is any better than Giroud. I have concerns over Balotelli's temperament, who doesn't? But he has a lot of ability and a lot of scope for improving, that's why I suspect others on here wouldn't mind us signing him. Balotelli would deliver immediately IMO or at the very least match Giroud's stats.

As an alternative Benzema is a good player and would be a good signing, whether he would be any better than Balotelli is open to debate, Benzema as it stands isn't available so it's really a mute point.

If we stick with what we currently have we are going nowhere, Giroud has done his auditions as first choice and isn't good enough. He will keep us ticking over but he doesn't have the quality to take us up another level. I don't think it's a case of Balotelli or nothing, more a case of someone of his ability being amongst the best for the price we are willing to pay and the player actually being available. I mean it's not like we are going to cherry pick stars of our CL rivals...