AC Milan’s attacking department is struggling for consistent production and there is a dependency on Olivier Giroud, according to a report.
La Gazzetta dello Sport write that the 3-0 defeat against Inter in the Supercoppa Italiana and the two draws in the league, combined with the defeat against Torino in the Coppa Italia, highlighted a significant problem: if Oliver Giroud, is not at the races, Milan struggle.
The 36-year-old returned from the World Cup final played and lost with France hoping to continue his status as the Rossoneri’s offensive beacon, with nine goals and six assists in 24 games so far this season, but his last goal dates back to November 5 against Spezia.
Since then he has gone six games without scoring, and while it is understandable that he came back mentally and physically tired from the tournament in Qatar – where he scored four goals in seven games – more was expected.
There could be a bit of mental fog, especially after three months playing at a high level both with Milan and the national team. However, when he doesn’t score and Rafael Leao isn’t at his best, Stefano Pioli has a few more problems.
Several goals by Giroud have proven to be decisive: two goals and as many assists in the 4-0 win against Salzburg, then the goals against Inter (3-2), Sampdoria (2-1) and Spezia (2-1), to which is added the assist against Fiorentina (2-1).
Milan lack goals from other sources. Divock Origi has only scored once, Charles De Ketelaere is still without a goal, Zlatan Ibrahimovic won’t return before mid-February (and in any case a 41-year-old who has been out for a year cannot be relied upon), while Marko Lazetic is an 18-year-old with a handful of professional minutes. Brahim Diaz has four goals and two assists in 22 games, but he’s not a striker or a false nine, and nothing is coming from the right wing.
As a comparison you just have to look at Giovanni Simeone, spare striker for leaders Napoli who has seven goals in 15 games in all competitions, including a decisive one against Milan. An excellent deputy to Osimhen, just what Pioli is missing.
Good strikers need good service. Assists are only coming from one side. The left. Middle and right are almost nonexistent.
Good strikers don’t miss that many chances. Giroud is average, at best. His whole career he hasn’t been better than that. Most of his first touches are lost, just watch him a bit closer. For example, you have Beto in Udinese who is superior to Giroud in almost any metric, but people will never mention him. We would be way better if we got him and not half finished player. Giroud is good for a backup, not to play 90 minutes.
Or you want to tell me that Giroud has worse service than Beto at Udinese? He is just missing too many chances and wasting too many long balls on stupid attempts that he can’t pull off. It is like having a 19 year old brain in 36 year old body and not being realistic about your body.
I agree. he is underperforming in his xg. XG:7.68 Goals: 5
“Giroud is average, at best.”
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
The best goal scorer in the history of France. Average. LOL!!!!!
If Giroud is average, what are Benzema, Thierry Henry, Zidane, Michel Platini etc. then?
Giroud at Milan. 46 games, 16 goals. You are also average in your football knowledge, but that is fine. Average player, his France contribution is a bit better, but he took 115 games for those 50 goals. That is average. Haaland scored more goals than Giroud did in his career. 22 vs 36 years old. Beto scores more goals than Giroud at Udinese. Are you being serious? If you are, just don’t reply, you have no idea what you’re talking about.
Anyway, if Milan wants to stay at the top and more importantly, play with top teams in CL, you can’t have Giroud in the starting lineup. His first touch is awful for the type of player he is, most of the balls going to him are miss placed with idiotic attempts. He is a player for last 10-20 minutes if you need to catch the result and use long balls to hit a tall striker in the box, Chelsea used him like that for years for a reason. Not because he is a top striker 😀
“Haaland scored more goals than Giroud did in his career. ”
Oh Jesus… I thought we were talking about average players. 😀
You can compare ANY player from ANY era against Haaland who is a giant (pun intended) exception and will be remembered as one of the best strikers every played this game. So, yes, compared to Haaland, Giroud definitely is worse. 😀 😀 😀
And when looking at the stats of goal scoring capabilities one should ALWAYS look at the goals/minutes ratio instead of just looking at the goals/matches. Everyone knows that. Well… Clearly not everyone though. 😉
“Beto scores more goals than Giroud at Udinese. Are you being serious? If you are, just don’t reply, you have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Jeeeeesus!
Check you motherf*ng facts! 😀 😀 😀
Beto: 18 goals in Udinese.
Giroud: 23 goals in Milan.
So there goes your claim “Beto scores more goals than Giroud” down the toilet.
AAaaaaand if that isn’t enough, let’s calculate Giroud’s & Beto’s “goals/minutes”-ratio, shall we?
Beto: One goal every 180 minutes.
Giroud: One goal every 178 minutes.
Like I said… CHECK! YOUR! MOTHERF’NG! FACTS! 😀 😀 😀
The investment in Origi and CDK amounting to zero production is the problem. Point blank, period. Either play Lazetic or buy a striker.
Giroud is class ,don’t let me hear anyone saying anything different..Yes he is 36 years of age …
The fact is he will score goals ,but the service to him has been very poor of late …don’t tell me he is just a average player he is class world class ,he has proved that wherever he has played …Record scorer for France …We one the scuddeto last season with Olivier .He needs decent crosses put into him ,which were forthcoming last season .Rafael leao has not been delivering crosses in like he did before ,indeed he has tried to overdo things ,and taking on one to many players on before delivering a cross into the box .of course rafael is a very good player ,but needs to relax a little more on the ball .I would like to see formation changed with two up front ,,that is Olivier Giroud,and Origi / keletare ..Olivier will start scoring again soon ..
against lazio would be a start .I am an optimistic..
We are not a bad team overnight ,results will come .