I think Giroud has played more minutes this season than he really should at his age.
I'm actually warming up to the idea of Belotti in addition to Origi, but Giroud for his faults is holding up pretty damn well physically. He runs like crazy every game still.
My issue with Giroud is the fucking flicks. They hurt my eyes vs Atalanta. He's so terrible in possession, but I love his spirit and his knack for scoring big goals. If we sign Belotti as well there might not be enough games to go around, but if Girouds body falls together at least we have depth.
But there's always Rebic.
we all agree that there is not great service to our CF due to AM RW not being great ... fixing this means better service to CF, more quality chances that are more likely to be converted.
i think Giroud did great...no need to talk about the crucial goals he scored... i remember Leao putting a few great balls for him. if our RW could bring him half of that. and a AM could do the same.
i also talked about Fik, Theo, Leao, Tonali being burnt, Giroud is in the same category.
Tonali goal v Lazio, + brace, Theos amazing goal, Fik great efforts, Leao's magic all this is happening thanks to their great will and determination... but over 90 minutes you see signs of fatigue all over, Tonali and Theo with some non crisp passing, Leao a bit less succesfull in take ons, Fik lack of concentration sometime...that drop of performance is affecting everybody let alone 35 yo Giroud who has started the last how many games?
Oli still got some juice in him, and can still be important. but obviously if he's gonna have 10-15 straight starts all intensive games it'll be a problem.
the guy he came to rotate with went out of service, which put all the load on him...and like any player, he would have his down time and it has arrived.
with Origi or whovever arrives, and stays healthy, so that no one burns out...it will be fine... i actually see management doing with Giroud what they did with Ibra. if at the end of next season he's still fit and still scoring those crucial goals, they could renew for another season.