It's about the midfield, not just the striker. With Kovacic RLC and Kante, the forwards all played way better than most of our recent PL games. With the Kiev midfield in the PL I would expect the same result, and said in an earlier post that Higuain would also likely score more. I wouldn't have dropped drop a hat trick striker for one who is not fit plus was unwell all week , in a game you desperately need to win.Plus Sarri dumped Jorghino and Barkley 2nd half also, so his midfield flopped as usual.
Giroud was having to play in front of Jorghino Kante and Barkley most of the time, as was Morata, but that's another story. Do you think the EUFA Cup teams are weaker than Wolves, Bournemouth, Leicester, Everton, plus the United, Spurs and Arsenal of early season ?? That's who has beaten us in the PL. Like La Liga, Seria A , France and Holland, apart from the top 4 or 5 teams, the PL is mediocre, though more combative. I would agree totally that we've had a fairly friendly run so far though. No one should have to play 2 or 3 times a week, and with proper rotation of our whole squad, they wouldn't.
Yes I do think those P.L teams are better than the teams we've faced in Europe this year as well as more combative as you say. Just look at some of the international players those sides have.
Not sure I agree, but who knows? On the other hand, we should walk the EUFA if the teams in it are much weaker than the mid to lower PL teams !! My feeling are we haven't played one of the good ones yet.
Exactly. The likes of Kiev are much weaker than Everton, that's why Giroud scores hat-tricks in Europa not Prem. We have Slavia Prague next, who are not close to the standard of Leicester or Everton, or good sides in the Prem like Wolves.
The real test in Europa will be if we get the likes of Benfica or Napoli at some point who are both doing well in better leagues. Prague over 2 legs should be relatively straight forward.
Can we meet half way? I take your point about Kiev and possibly Prague, but I think if Giroud played in the PL with Kovacic, Kante and RLC in midfield, he'd score plenty. Anyway, the EUFA needs to be won and I hope we get on with it.
