Leigh Griffiths

Larsson come off the bench to pretty much win Barcelona the Champions League. Anyone saying he couldn't cut it elsewhere is a complete idiot, and should be treated as such.

 

I like Griff's aggression above all else, I love strikers who don't just wait for midfielders to find him for him to come alive, Griff's aggression and work rate is one of the major pluses for me. He'll come deep, he'll press and he'll go out wide if needs be and still manages to get into good positions to score shortly after. Not a lot of strikers can adapt the way he has, when he came he had a very specific set of skills but you can see how he's evolved as a striker, he's all action. He's very unselfish yet still gets loads of goals.

As for Hooper, he's made his bed, I don't think we're worse with Griffiths up front than we were with him.

 

[ame]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-Xmz1Iq_p2o[/ame]

 

The only thing Hooper had over Griffiths was his hold up play, Griffiths has absolutely everything else.

 

One on ones aswell, but aye that's it really.

 

My worry is that his progression wont go unnoticed down south , 40 plus last season and starting this one with goals and assists at such a young age is bound to attract interest.

 

The phrase 'cut it in the EPL' does my head in. There have been loads of average/poor players who have spent the bulk of their career there 'cutting it'. In a few weeks time Griffiths will be turning out in the hoops at a level of football well above the EPL.

 

I think the way Griffiths plays is actually quite suited to the all action style of the premier league, but regardless you're right I'm sure Leigh himself would much rather play in the Champions League than be fighting relegation or potentially getting relegated in the EPL.

 

Exactly. Steven * Fletcher has carved a career out of the lower end of the Premiership, and I don't think he's anything special.

 

The fact is that if Griff had some sort of exotic name like Griffinho and came from Portugal or Brazil with wavy black hair (he'd love that wouldn't he), folk would be creaming themselves.

he's the first player to score 40 goals since Larsson - say's it all really. He has to still improve in areas but I'm sure he does every day, he'll want to get better. Hooper never did that, even in his final season when Spivco weren't in the league (I hear this excuse used against Griffiths).

Griff also seems loyal and always willing to fight for his place and the jersey, Hooper's head was away with it come January 2013.

Not to say I don't appreciate Hooper but Griff has everything he had but a wee bit more and the loyalty and hunger within him is what seals the deal for me.

 

I thought Dembele was being brought in to be the main striker and Griffiths would end up on the bench this season, I'm sure many thought the same.

He continues to work hard though and he seems to be improving even more under Rodgers. He is our main striker and one of the first players on the team sheet for me now. His hold up play has become a lot better too and it showed last night, that is something that's vital in Europe.

Keep it up Grif lad

 

Watching that Sinclair chance back, Griff was waiting for a tap in for a hatty! Sinky should of passed it!

 

No matter what this guy does for us it still wont be good enough for some folk.

World class free kick last night by the way. Perfection.

 

I reckon Strachan watched that last night and thought, 'that's my number 1 Scotland striker'..

Without a shadow of a doubt..

 

Then typical Strachan forgets about Griffs performance last night and starts Stephen Fletcher instead!!

 

I think he could definitely do a job down there, but it depends on the team and expecations. Take a guy like Sinclair - he struggled at Villa last season but looks great here, part of the will be down to the strength of each league, but for me a larger part of it is to do with expectations - you want a guy to graft on the defensive side of things and fight for 90 minutes then Sinclair probably isn't your guy, but put him into a side that dominates possession, allows him to play mainly in the opponents half, and gives him freedom to drift and he looks like a completely different player.

Someone like Hooper, who's finishing ability is outstanding imo, will get you goals in the EPL if you create chances for him, but put him in a side fighting relegation, where he's going to be very isolated up top most of the time and he's going to struggle. For me Griffiths has a lot more to his game, he could lead the line for a struggling side down there - his movement and work rate alone would cause most sides problems, but he could also play for a side chasing European football imo, he has a lot of quality in his game.