Giroud to Blame for Goal Drought, not LAFC or Cherundolo, Twellman says | OneFootball

Even in a match where there were seven goals, where his team created 2.2 expected goals and when afforded a full 90 minutes for the first time this season, LAFC striker Olivier Grioud was barely perceptable on the field in Saturday's 5-2 defeat to the Seattle Sounders.

France's all-time leading international goal scorer may still be less than a year removed from scoring 15 times in Serie A for AC Milan. But this was the second of three competitive starts in all competitions this year where the 38-year-old failed to record a shot attempt. And it got to the point where Apple TV broadcasters Jake Zivin and Taylor Twellman discussed whether his lack of production was officially a problem.

Some have tried to explain Giroud's prolonged struggles -- he has only two competitive goals since his arrival last summer, and none in league play -- as a matter of adjustment period and perhaps LAFC not doing enough tactically to suit their striker's needs.

Not a system issue

But during Saturday's broadcast, Twellman said it's far more likely a problem the Frenchman has to solve himself, and not LAFC or its manager Steve Cherundolo.

"I think Olivier Giroud’s got to get more out of Olivier Giroud," Twellman said. "I’m not totally sure it’s on LAFC and it’s on Steve Cherundolo up to this point. Now in saying that, Olivier Giroud is not the first world superstar to come to this league and struggle."

It's true that many other European stars -- including the likes of David Beckham, Thierry Henry and Gonzalo Higuain -- have struggled with the adjustment to a league where the teams are more even in talent, but they are far more talented than their teammates.

But Twellman noted that offseason signing Jeremy Ebobisse, a reasonably productive striker but never a serious MLS Golden Boot candidate, has quickly adjusted to LAFC's 4-3-3 and, for now, apparently won the right to play the more important minutes.

JeBo is Thriving

That's why the 28-year-old Ebobisse played a full 90 in Tuesday night's 3-0 win over the Columbus Crew in Leg 1 of their round-of-16 Concacaf Champions Cup series, while Giroud rode the bench, even though Giroud has been with the club since last summer.

"I think Steve Cherundolo would say to you, if we asked him on the record, he would probably say there’s more legs to Ebobisse, they do similar things," Twellman said. "But Ebobisse’s come right in and looked comfortable and looked like he has been there for a while. And that’s why I think it’s a little bit more on Olivier Giroud than it is on LAFC."

Cherundolo had a slightly different take after the game.

"It’s not just about him," Cherundolo insisted. "It’s collectively the group, moving forward and attacking as a group and getting more numbers around him and around the opponent’s box to be dangerous. It’s never about one player."