A Bergkamp Wonderland

By #ABW Guest Blogger and Radio Regular, The Other Jason (@ColonialCannon)

What does a striker have to do to be considered world class? 30 goals a year minimum? Conversion rate of 30% or higher? 60% plus shots on goal? You can ask 100 different fans and get 100 different responses. Ask 100 people if Messi is a world class striker and 98 out of a 100 will say yes while those who say no would just be in denial. What makes him so good though is that it’s easy to understand his greatness with the flair he has and style in which he plays. Ronaldo, alternatively, is great because of the pace power and ruthlessness of his game. But what if a player doesn’t fit those molds? What if he isn’t as fast as a Theo Walcott or as skillful moving with the ball at his feet as Mesut Özil? What if he is physical and tactically sound? What if we are comparing apples to zucchini? Thus is the comparison of Messi/Ronaldo to one Olivier Giroud.

Don’t not miss read this. I AM NOT SAYING OLIVIER GIROUD IS AS GOOD AS MESSI OR RONALDO! Olivier though, might not be as “average” as some in the press and on twitter say. His playing style is nothing like those two and never will be so there is no point in comparing playing style – but there are some elements we can compare that shed some light on our man up top.

Continue reading →