The Machine’s Stalling? Giroud and the Challenges in MLS

Olivier Giroud is the kind of player you recognize the second he steps on the pitch, even if you wouldn’t exactly call yourself a soccer expert. Tall, composed, with that effortless European flair that feels almost out of place amidst the high-energy chaos of Major League Soccer (MLS). When LAFC announced his signing, fans were over the moon. I mean, how often does a World Cup winner don their jersey? But, let’s be honest, Giroud’s first six months stateside have been anything but the fairy tale folks were hoping for.

Here’s the deal, laid out in cold, hard stats: 19 games, 2 goals, and just 1 assist. In a league where strikers like Hany Mukhtar and Denis Bouanga rack up numbers like they’re collecting Pokémon cards, Giroud hasn’t scored a single goal in his 10 MLS regular season appearances. Not one.

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So, what gives? Is this just another case of a European player underestimating the MLS grind, caught off guard by the league’s competitiveness? Or is Giroud dialing it back, thinking, “I’ll collect my paycheck and enjoy the Cali sunshine”?

We’ve seen this movie before, haven’t we? Big-name players cross the Atlantic, but instead of bringing their A-game, they coast. Then again, maybe it’s not entirely on Giroud. Could LAFC’s system be failing to bring out the best in the Frenchman? Let’s not forget, Giroud’s never been the flashy speedster or tricky dribbler that some of the league’s stars are.

But hold up! Before we start writing Giroud’s MLS obituary, let’s remember who we’re talking about. This is the guy who lit it up at Arsenal, held his own at Chelsea, and played a crucial role in France’s 2018 World Cup triumph. Giroud’s never been about jaw-dropping numbers; he’s always been about reliability. The problem? Right now, he’s looking more like a burnt-out holiday light than the steady star fans expected.

Then there’s the expectation factor. When a player of Giroud’s caliber arrives, everyone assumes he’ll be scoring hat-tricks left and right. But let’s be real, he’s never been that guy. His game is more about intelligence and positioning than flashy tricks or explosive skills.

Still, it’s way too early to write him off. The MLS season is long and full of twists and turns. Giroud’s got time to turn things around, and LAFC can make tweaks to help him shine. Maybe it’s about adjusting the tactics or just giving him more time to get into the groove of the league.