Who Leads The Line Better?

If you had told me a year ago Giroud and Walcott would be in this type of form now a year ago, I would've fainted and laughed in your face and probably called a mental institute to pick you up, as these guys were too inconsistent and players who were to hot and cold. For the first time since Wenger/we (Arsenal football club) have a headache in the striker role since the days where we had Henry, Bergamp, Wiltord and Kanu in our buffet of strikers a couple of seasons back. But the question remains who leads and who will lead the line better?

I've always said with the skills, flair and lethal passing of Mesut Ozil in the number 10 position and Walcott playing off him. The English forward would thrive with the Gunners and be a 20 plus goals a season striker with his pace that can split any defence and his good finishing. But Walcott is the player who now at 26 is starting to show the player he promised to be when he came on the scene at Southampton. At times his end product and lack of a footballing brain, where his decision making in the final third has been too in decisive in recent seasons. But since the back end of last season Walcott is proving to the world he's ready to step up and take Arsenal to a title challenge. I personally if I was the manager I would play him ahead of Giroud. 

Giroud has been winning myself and many who has been on his case since he came to the club. He was exceptional against Everton on Saturday, his link and hold up play 2 days ago has improved remarkably, which has been lacking in his game, if he want's to play the lone striker role. Giroud who has been on form for France as well as Arsenal is showing us he can be the player he was Montipiller where he blossomed in Ligue 1, 3 seasons ago. Giroud who will always get the nod over Walcott because he scores more goals (And because he's French as Wenger loves to favour them lol)  as much as his playing style is very different to Walcott who relies on his pace and quickness to stretch defences, the Frenchman's fox in the box and strength, who likes to bring in players to play is more effective for the Gunners. But can also play the super sub role, if he's the man to lead Arsenal to a title there will always be question marks, but he's proven himself to be the main contender to play up front. This will be a defining season for the Gunners as we are chasing for the title but with Welbeck to come back as well and if he can play to the potential he shown when he was at Sunderland and show a few times for England. Wenger will have a big big healthy headache as he looks to secure a first title in 11 years.    

Words by Ayo Balogun

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A Chance Too Much???

Nile Ranger dubbed the most "troubled footballer in the country" from being convicted of rape, (which he was found not guilty) to kicking his own door down in a heated exchange with an ex girlfriend to even being fined thousands of pounds for his wreckless posts on social media app Twitter. What is next for the troubled striker? Who was tipped for stardom after being one of most prolific striker in the England youth set up.

Nile is from my area North London, I've seen him a few times, I even saw him one time come into Nando's "high" (Everyone should know what this means lol) where I used to work. I looked at him even though I don't know him, but he's friends with many people I know. I saw a troubled man, with the weight of the world on his shoulders. How can a promising young talent as Ranger go and waste his potential that's slowly slithering away. With a bad CV and a even badder reputation, what football club will take on the wounded striker? Like I say football is the stuff of fairy tales where we always see a rag to riches story every week, I hope Ranger is one of those many testimonies and does turn it around, he's 24, an age where most footballers start to peak and are in the best shape and form of their careers as they establish it. 

Looks like Blackpool will not be renewing his contract as he's been AWOL for the last 8 months at the seaside club and is training in the parks of North London and looking to revive himself as he pleaded on Sky Sports today that he's looking to get his career back on track. I discussed this with many people why and how Ranger messed up his chance or maybe his career as a professional footballer. Only he knows what goes on his head, why he's in the position he's in, only he can fight the skeletons in his closet. But what I do know is that he can be another player who turns his controversial life into a career of success or just be another young player who wasted their ability and couldn't cope with the fame and financial gain of football and having to deal with their personal life battles outside the game.  

Should Allardyce Got The England Job?

Sam Allardyce believes he should've got the England job in 2006, but the former Bolton man wouldn't have changed anything in my opinion. His brand of football even though effective at Bolton and West Ham at times was boring and one route. England are a team that should be moving the ball forward not lumping it to a target man. But whose to say that would be his approach if he had the job? Allardyce as much as his CV is quite impressive he's been sacked every where he's gone. England don't need a manager with that sort of resume.

One manager who England should've have hired was Harry Redknapp he's by far one of the best English coashes in the game, a great man manager which England have lacked in many years. The England set up needs a manager that will take a player to the side and tell them to fix up or work on something on their game. Redknapp know's how to play attractive football and a very respective figure in the game that could get any player he manager to play for him in the best possible way, not to mention his great eye for talent. But you know the FA they like to hire "Yes men" or "Mr Nice Guy" if you get what I mean, why do you think the late and great Brian Clough never got a look in for the job? For England that's their problem they'll look past great managers who are outspoken and rather go for a yes man who have had a mediocre coaching career, hence why the national team will never move forward.

Words by Ayo Balogun

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