Gaël Kakuta back in the side?

[alex54]

Ever since Robben left Chelsea, I haven’t seen an electrifying player (winger) again who with one ‘rush’ good change the course of a match. Those agile players with quick feet and wonderful dribbling technique are becoming a key element in modern football. They are also exciting players who bring the fans to the stadium. Nani in Manchester, Pedro and now Alexis Sanchez in Barcelona, Neymar (Real Madrid now?), Aguero,… What I think we lack the most in our squad today is a fast winger like that.

I have seen some great flashes of Gael Kakuta last season and from what I hear he is an amazing talent. So could this explosive winger we are searching for already be in our team? Shouldn't we give him the chance to prove himself as a starter? And how did this 20-year old Frenchman fare during the preseason matches?

Edited August 29, 2011 by Mod

[BlueNose]

I agree that since the days of robben and duff we have lacked pace and quality going down the wing, i would love to see kakuta given a chance to show what he's all about but i dont see that happening, i think AVB will look elsewhere...who knows, maybe hulk from porto? ;)

[Uno]

I dont think he is the answer. He reminds me of Anelka in a way, attitude wise. He may have a lot of skill but he doesnt seem to have that fighting never say die attitude. When you look at some of the other youngsters that have been given a chance, the likes of Borini, Bruma, Josh, PVA, Bertrand just to name a few, they all work their socks off but apart from the first two games for the first team Kakuta just hasnt seemed to work hard. Lets face it in January we was slipping down the table and needed all the help we could get but Kakuta was loaned out to Fulham. I think that says it all.

[Zeta]

Kakuta is not the one.

[sizzler85]

kakuta should be tried in a hole to play behind the striker and not in the wings is my humble opinion .

[PloKoon13]

Kakuta should be second choice left forward now with Zhirkov's departure, and he might even be able to fit in a creative role in midfield in the odd game. It would certainly be a cheaper organic alternative to Sneijder...

[The Moos]

Too bad he didn't get to be a part of the pre season. Would have been really useful to have seen him play.

[dkw]

Too bad he didn't get to be a part of the pre season. Would have been really useful to have seen him play.

Yeah it is a shame, but he was in a competative youth comp so AVB should be able to use it to gauge the player before he gets back to Chelsea. Anyone any idea when this youth comp finishes?

[german-blue]

Kakuta should be second choice left forward now with Zhirkov's departure, and he might even be able to fit in a creative role in midfield in the odd game. It would certainly be a cheaper organic alternative to Sneijder...

I second that... The departure of Zhirkov is a chance for Kakuta to get some time at the left wing. Its far too early to give up on him (seems like a few did already?), unfortunately missing the pre-season probably didnt help his chances.

[alex54]

I have read that Martin Jol was impressed by Kakuta in fulham (despite his injury) and that he wanted to loan him back for the forthcoming season. (http://www.goal.com/en/news/596/exclusive/2011/07/07/2564340/chelsea-manager-andre-villas-boas-weighs-up-fulham-approach)

AVB rejected because he wanted to see what kakuta was worth in the summer. This insists maybe that he is willing to use the guy more than during previous years. I hope he does. By doing so i think the new 'chelsea-tactic' (give the players from the academy a decent chance to become a regular) would become more credible.

[HazardsLeftPeg]

Anelka and Kalou will probably share backup duties on both wings. I don't think Kakuta offers much on the wing anyway. He should be second choice to Benayoun when we play 4-2-3-1 though.

Yeah it is a shame, but he was in a competative youth comp so AVB should be able to use it to gauge the player before he gets back to Chelsea. Anyone any idea when this youth comp finishes?

France are playing Ecuador in the round of 16 match today. The final is on the 20th.

Edited August 10, 2011 by footballoholic

[zsoca8711]

Do you guys now something about his performances in the U20 world cup? Did you see him play? i would be interested in some opinions.

[Star]

Chelsea think a lot of Gael. The fact that he went on loan, as Sturridge, to another Premiership side and not into

oblivion in the Championship as many of our young players over the years says something to me.

He hardly set the world alight at Fulham though, saying that I wouldn't write him off just yet and AVB will know his

talent from the time he spent here in the past.

The boss will decide, he is much keener to integrate young players in our ranks than Carlo so the kid has a major

chance to impress.

[BrewCrew]

With the addition of Mata and maybe Morris, Gael keeps getting pushed done the line even further. I personally feel he should be still considered a big prospect for us. Can be a really good winger if a #10 for us. He is one got that has had no chance to show AVB what he can do because he has been gone from the team at the U20's.

I think he should go out on loan to a French side or a PL team where he can play each week. I see him as a good replacement for Malouda when he moves on.

[ethicalstrategy]

With the addition of Mata and maybe Morris, Gael keeps getting pushed done the line even further. I personally feel he should be still considered a big prospect for us. Can be a really good winger if a #10 for us. He is one got that has had no chance to show AVB what he can do because he has been gone from the team at the U20's. I think he should go out on loan to a French side or a PL team where he can play each week. I see him as a good replacement for Malouda when he moves on.

Who is Morris? DYAC!

[dkw]

Who is Morris? DYAC!

Jody, been signed as cover for Cech in goal.

[scottish born chelsea blue]

i love geal i think he is a great prospect he just needs a chance give him a break on the right with nando and mata and we could see something great i dont think he has been given a fair chance, but none of our younger generation has maybe under avb this will change

[BrewCrew]

Who is Morris? DYAC!

Sorry. Auto correct on my mobile. Should have been Modric.

[Celery1989]

Not too sure what to think of Kakuta. I remember his debut cameo against Wolves 2 years ago where he looked explosive, but then I remember he was utterly anonymous at Villa Park last season in his first start - granted the whole team were pretty ordinary but still. Would like to see him loaned out this year to continue his development, he's not gonna get a game with Mata, Malouda, Kalou, Anelka, Sturridge occupying the wide positions. I don't think the club have given up on him just yet but he's got to perform on loan this year: Look at Sturridge, it's taken him scoring in every game for Bolton and him being our best player in pre-season just to make the squad for this year!

[lecter]

Any news on him after the return from the WC? I hope he features somewhere in AVB's plans. If not, I hope he is sent out on loan to a decent side, which uses him amply unlike Fulham last season. TBH, CA stalled a couple of years of this lad's progress.

[german-blue]

TBH, CA stalled a couple of years of this lad's progress.

Not only Carlo but also the decision to loan him to Fulham. IMO if you loan a player you have to make sure they play week in week out. Fulham was too good of a team for Kakuta.

Anyways I still have high hopes for him, if we sell Malouda he could be back-up to Mata for LW. I also remember Kakuta was used mainly on the right with Carlo as our manager. I think this is the wrong position for him, he should be going up and down the left wing putting crosses in and not trying to play like Anelka and going inside all the time.

[Bobbywoodhogan]

I dont think he is the answer. He reminds me of Anelka in a way, attitude wise. He may have a lot of skill but he doesnt seem to have that fighting never say die attitude. When you look at some of the other youngsters that have been given a chance, the likes of Borini, Bruma, Josh, PVA, Bertrand just to name a few, they all work their socks off but apart from the first two games for the first team Kakuta just hasnt seemed to work hard. Lets face it in January we was slipping down the table and needed all the help we could get but Kakuta was loaned out to Fulham. I think that says it all.

yeah I hate to agree but I do. I want Kakuta to make it but I personally don't think he's good enough.

[lecter]

Not only Carlo but also the decision to loan him to Fulham. IMO if you loan a player you have to make sure they play week in week out. Fulham was too good of a team for Kakuta.

Anyways I still have high hopes for him, if we sell Malouda he could be back-up to Mata for LW. I also remember Kakuta was used mainly on the right with Carlo as our manager. I think this is the wrong position for him, he should be going up and down the left wing putting crosses in and not trying to play like Anelka and going inside all the time.

This. I always envisioned Gael to be playing on the left flank putting in delicious crosses. Unless we offload a couple of players I dont see him making the first-team, which is sad considering the speculations of his great talent and the fuss CFC went through when we signed him.

[dkw]

Not only Carlo but also the decision to loan him to Fulham. IMO if you loan a player you have to make sure they play week in week out. Fulham was too good of a team for Kakuta.

Im not sure it was initially such a bad choice, Fulham were fairly safe at the time and we probably expected them to play him more often. They then fell down into a relegation battle and needed players to fight and battle through so Kakuta didnt get any chances. It turned out badly for us and him, but maybe a loan this season would be the right thing, a team like Bolton would seem to be perfect for him.

[Spiller86]

It's all going to depend on what ends up happening before the end of the window. If we end up still having all of Drogba, Anelka, Kalou and Malouda on the books, opportunities are going to be limited for him.

If that's the case as I suspect it will be he needs to go on loan to somewhere like Swansea where he will play every week and prove his point there, same as Sturridge has done. If you get games then your quality if there should technically shine through.

I think over the next 6 to 12 months we are going to figure out, who out of the four above is worth keeping (I'm not for example above giving Nico a new contract) and who will be going. If Gael can make his impact over that period then he should be first choice to take whichever spot becomes available by departures. But right now I think his Chelsea career might be in the balance a little bit. The likes of Lalkovic in my mind aren't far away from him at all.