Former Everton defender Michael Ball believes the Blues should have made their move for Olivier Giroud earlier in the summer transfer window, but is he right?
We may be only five games into the Premier League season, but a look at the table makes for painful viewing for Everton fans. Regardless of their fixture list to start the 2017/18 campaign, did you really envision them being in a relegation spot at this stage?
Even more glaring, is the lack of goals, with the Blues’ total of two being second-fewest in the Premier League. With every passing game, Ronald Koeman’s inability to find a replacement for Romelu Lukaku becomes more of an albatross around his neck.
In that respect though, Koeman seems to have gotten some unfair criticism, particularly in relation to his failure to sign Olivier Giroud. Former Everton player Michael Ball was especially critical.
As reported recently by Rhod Cannon of www.ibtimes.co.uk, Ball said the Blues should have moved earlier in the summer transfer window, in their bid to sign Giroud. In addition, the retired defender said Koeman should have secured a replacement striker, before allowing Lukaku to leave.
No of course, it’s much easier to give an opinion with the benefit of hindsight. However, let’s consider some of Ball’s comments:
"“If Everton put a bid in while he’s on the beach in his flip flops and Arsenal accept it, he’d feel that he wasn’t wanted and would come to Goodison.“When you’re away on holiday you can forget what it’s like to be at a club. As soon we got into pre-season then he’d be feeling at home again. Giroud got his opportunity and scored in the first game of the season against Leicester.”"
Adding fuel to Ball’s opinion, were comments made by Giroud himself not long after. As reported by the Echo‘s Chris Beesley, the French international said:
"“It was a private decision. It’s true I was close to leaving, because I wanted to play. But after a big reflection with everyone around me like my family and close friends, I wanted to stay at Arsenal.”"
However, we personally believe even if Everton did put in an earlier bid, Giroud still wouldn’t have left Arsenal to join them. And the clue comes in comments he made about speaking to his family, specifically his wife.
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As per a previous report from Stuart Ballard of the Express, Giroud apparently wanted to join Everton, but his wife prevented the deal from taking place, because she didn’t want to move to Merseyside. The claim was first made by Stoke City midfielder Charlie Adam, when speaking on Radio 5 Live.
And while it is easy to make jokes about being under the thumb, Adam’s comments make even more sense, when you consider an incident which took place a few years ago. Back in February 2014, the Daily Star reported on rumours suggesting the 30-year-old had an affair with model Ceila Kay.
Although it was denied at the time by Giroud, he still took to Twitter, to issue an apology. As reported by the Daily Star, he wrote:
"“I apologise to my wife, family and friends and my manager, team-mates and Arsenal fans. I now have to fight for my family and for my club and obtain their forgiveness. Nothing else matters at the moment.”"
No doubt, a lot of you may be wondering why we’re dredging up an incident from over three years ago. However, while we try to limit our coverage of alleged infidelities and other off-field activities, this is important to reference, as it relates to the criticism regarding Koeman’s inability to sign Giroud.
Pure and simple, it wouldn’t have mattered if the Blues made a bid for the Arsenal striker on the first day of the Summer transfer window, if his wife never wanted to move to Merseyside. After what may or may not have happened previously, Giroud was in a position where he was always going to have to do whatever it took, to keep his family happy.
Next: Calls for Koeman to be sacked are insane
What do you make of Ball’s recent comments regarding Giroud? Is he right, or do you still believe Giroud would have turned down a move to Everton, regardless of when the offer was made? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.