Summer Transfer Misery and Recriminations.

[Power n Glory]

My point is that yes he was played as a winger, but there were times and not once in a blue moon where he played as a second striker behind Thierry Henry

According to Wiltord, that wasn't the case. I don't recall that being the case either. I don't remember Henry or Bergkamp getting injured often enough for him to get a consistent run of games as striker. Odd away CL games maybe because Bergkamp's fear of flying.

But to put thing into context, Wiltord got 49 goals in 173 games for us, you say. How many of those games did he play as striker and how many of those goals did he score as striker?

You really can't compare him to Giroud. It's unfair because he was never our lead striker.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

To be fair, i wasn't trying to compare Wiltord unfavourably with Giroud, i'm just saying he wasn't loads better the difference was as I did state to begin with that he wasn't our lead striker, and that if Giroud was a squad player instead of our lead striker which he shouldn't be than i don't think our view of him would be as unfavourable as it is.

Giroud isn't terrible by any means, his goals stats don't tell that story....but of course he doesn't have the stats that should make him play week in, week out

Wiltord was a good squad player and that's what Giroud should be....that's all i'm saying.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Well that, and that if by some miracle we sign a top striker capable of 20-25 goals in the league, and 30+ overall a season....than having Giroud as a backup option would be pretty good. Especially as he is fairly good at coming off the bench and getting a goal to kill off games.

[Globalgunner]

Giroud is crap, gets booed regularly in French colours. Wiltord is remembered as a national hero. i think the French know their players about as well as we do. There is really no comparing the two. I am pretty sure if Benzema was available, there would be no place in the current squad for Giroud. and yes , He is terrible, Hattrick against Villa notwithstanding.
Edit. Just checked. There is Gignac in the squad so maybe he may have made the cut.

[Power n Glory]

To be fair, i wasn't trying to compare Wiltord unfavourably with Giroud, i'm just saying he wasn't loads better the difference was as I did state to begin with that he wasn't our lead striker, and that if Giroud was a squad player instead of our lead striker which he shouldn't be than i don't think our view of him would be as unfavourable as it is.

Giroud isn't terrible by any means, his goals stats don't tell that story....but of course he doesn't have the stats that should make him play week in, week out

Wiltord was a good squad player and that's what Giroud should be....that's all i'm saying.

I can agree with some of that. Giroud isn’t terrible. He just doesn’t fit in to play a lead role and lacks confidence. As seen with his hat trick, all his goals came from crosses. When he was scoring on a regular, the bulk of his goals came from crosses as well. The eye of the needle through the middle stuff we try to play often results in us playing around our opponents box and nothing much else.

Wiltord was a good squad player. Frustrating at times but I think that’s also down to being played out of position. He’d have probably continued his career as striker if he hadn’t have chosen Arsenal. Saying that, he has more of the qualities we need today in the striker position. Far from World Class but he has the skillset we need compared to someone like Giroud.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Wiltord a national hero?.....I think you are overselling that a bit there....he scored the equaliser for France in Euro 2000 final that was the pinnacle of his international career.


Like i say Giroud has scored 82 in 188, not the stats you want from your leading striker but clearly not terrible and clearly good enough to merit a place in the squad...not the starting 11 but the squad.

Giroud has more headed goals in the league than any other player in the premier league in the last four seasons

We very rarely score headed goals so I'd argue that's a good resource for us, but again not to be starting.

And i think your argument is more an example of how people can't look at things in a measured way, everything is black and white. Most likely next season Giroud will have 100 goals for the club, which isn't a feat achieved by terrible players....he joins the list of Henry, Bergkamp, Wright and Van Persie....is he anywhere near as good as these?...no of course not....but i think it makes a mockery of calling him terrible.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I can agree with some of that. Giroud isn’t terrible. He just doesn’t fit in to play a lead role and lacks confidence. As seen with his hat trick, all his goals came from crosses. When he was scoring on a regular, the bulk of his goals came from crosses as well. The eye of the needle through the middle stuff we try to play often results in us playing around our opponents box and nothing much else.

Wiltord was a good squad player. Frustrating at times but I think that’s also down to being played out of position. He’d have probably continued his career as striker if he hadn’t have chosen Arsenal. Saying that, he has more of the qualities we need today in the striker position. Far from World Class but he has the skillset we need compared to someone like Giroud.

Oh Wiltord was quicker and had far more technical ability than Giroud of course

[Globalgunner]

Wiltord a national hero?.....I think you are overselling that a bit there....he scored the equaliser for France in Euro 2000 final that was the pinnacle of his international career.


Like i say Giroud has scored 82 in 188, not the stats you want from your leading striker but clearly not terrible and clearly good enough to merit a place in the squad...not the starting 11 but the squad.

Giroud has more headed goals in the league than any other player in the premier league in the last four seasons

We very rarely score headed goals so I'd argue that's a good resource for us, but again not to be starting.

And i think your argument is more an example of how people can't look at things in a measured way, everything is black and white. Most likely next season Giroud will have 100 goals for the club, which isn't a feat achieved by terrible players....he joins the list of Henry, Bergkamp, Wright and Van Persie....is he anywhere near as good as these?...no of course not....but i think it makes a mockery of calling him terrible.

If Trezegeut is a hero, and Pires is why not Wiltord. Fact is the whole of that squad that won Euro 2000 are heros in France. In England people that have won didly squat are national heroes like Rooney!

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Again is Rooney a national hero?

Is he mentioned in the pantheon of Churchill, Nelson etc

How often is Martin Peters mentioned as an England legend?


If you asked the French who their best ever players were i doubt Trezeguet, Pires or Wiltord get much of a mention

Certainly not mentioned in the same breath as Zidane, Platini, Deschamps, Just Fontaine etc

[Kano]

Giroud is crap, gets booed regularly in French colours. Wiltord is remembered as a national hero. i think the French know their players about as well as we do. There is really no comparing the two. I am pretty sure if Benzema was available, there would be no place in the current squad for Giroud. and yes , He is terrible, Hattrick against Villa notwithstanding.
Edit. Just checked. There is Gignac in the squad so maybe he may have made the cut.

Giroud was playing in the last WC in the same team as Benzema at times. And the Euro's before that, I think.

And he's not terrible. He's just more of a squad striker for a club like Arsenal who are supposed to be after the best.