Is Malouda a FLOP yet?

[Jimboola69]

Leaving the game the other day i got talking to some guys as we filed out (as you do) and they were discussing Malouda, one said "so when can we officially call him a flop" and frankly I don't know. But looking at him at this moment he does not exactly seem a matchwinner.

I would give him 4/10 as he has had a few decent moments but also gobbed off to the press, and to me he IS a FLOP!

[Bodzilla]

My 7 year old nephew holds the ball better and is stronger on the ball then Malouda.

I'd give him a year to settle, but I'm not sure (well yes I am, 100%) I'd be playing him as regularly as Grant is at this time.

[mad_mac]

Jim, I think that calling him a flop is a touch harsh. Not lived up to expectations, perhaps; however, to call him a flop I think is a bit premature.

There are people willing to give Sheva more time, saying that he has been plagued by injury, trying to settle in to a new country, trying to settle in to a new league, etc. But the same people are not willing to give Malouda any lee-way to see if the same could be said of him.

I think that Malouda doesn't seem settled, and almost a little homesick (just my observation). I think that he is a great player, and obviously so do others, as I don't think you get "french footballer of the year" just by playing the odd game or two. IN fact, didn't Essien get some form of similar accolade (kind of like the player's choice award)

I think we all had a bit more hope for him seeing as he had proven to be a good combination with Drogba at Guingamp, and that he managed to make it into a Lyon team that contained Juninho, Essien and Malouda. His background, I understand coem from street football, and that usually means he would be a player with a lot of flair and natural ability. Although we have yet to see it, it is obvious that he has it.

I hole out that he will be a success, but maybe that is just my blind faith. I don't know, sometimes you just get a personal affection for a certain player with no real justification. however, I really hope that Malouda flourishes into the player we all hope that he can be.

I would not, however, call him a floop until he has had one full season with us, and a decent run in the side. He has been getting a decent run lately, but there are not many people on our team right now that are filling me with confidence, nor setting the world alight, right now.

Scott

[evissy]

He is not a flop. He clearly needs time to settle and clearly he is not satisfied on his own game either. He tried to find his spot between Ballack, Drogba and A.Cole yesterday and he didn't know what he was doing in such a small place between them. He should have taken his place but due to his lack of confidence he didn't.

Give him time!

[dkw]

i was all for giving him time, but last night he wound me right up. every cross he put in was pumped in blind. he never once tried to pick someone out, just hoofed it in. at one point, ballack was completely unmarked on the penalty spot, so he smashed it blindly over everyone. a good winger would have picked him out.

[Barn]

He's been a complete flop so far. There's a chance he might turn it round next year (Drogba did!) but I'm not holding my breath.

[c3blu]

I thought he was rubbish last night, like he as been for most of the season. Maybe he needs a season to settle but he's no youngster is he?

He just does'nt offer us anything going forward, i have yet to see him take a full back on and his set pieces are terrible(but then again they all are at the moment).

Basis last nights performance he should'nt make the cup final.

[Scott]

Malouda =

[BlueBeard]

I agree that Malouda didn't have a good game last night, but he wasn't the worst player on the pitch - Drogba & Joey were both appalling.

In fact Joey has been well below par this season, but I don't hear too many people calling him a flop or even giving him any criticism. Seems that a lot of people have one rule for their favourites and another rule for the rest (apart from Joe Cole, see Lampard, Ferreira, and even JT).

Hopefully it's just a case of Malouda needing to be given time, just as some of our other foreign imports did - Drogba in particular.

[evissy]

Though Malouda's crosses and passes were horrible he is more in a defensive role on the left than for example Kalou. Kalou can't defend, at all. Malouda could be used as left back if needed. I think his mind is too much in defending when his attacking play doesn't work.

I bet that Malouda's passes inside the box would be far more leathal(can't really use the word leathal with Kalou in the sentence) than Kalou's. Malouda just haven't visited the opposite's box too much during the season, he always seem to drag behind the attack. Kalou is 10 or more times inside the box in a good place to pass or score in a game.

Not to defend Malouda too much he needs to pick up or he could be axed in the summer.

[Guest Brian M]

Crapouda should be put on the same boat as Sheva and Mr. Piz and Gentle Ben and sent to some far away place in the summer where they never get to see a Chelsea shirt again, let alone wear one.

[valim]

he needs to adopt he is intelegent player

you will see next year

you can see in athens pitch is froozen can play ball dont jump

and cole did nothing agins olimpiaykos

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sorry for bad english

i hope you understand me !!

[Chippy]

I agree that Malouda didn't have a good game last night, but he wasn't the worst player on the pitch - Drogba & Joey were both appalling.

In fact Joey has been well below par this season, but I don't hear too many people calling him a flop or even giving him any criticism. Seems that a lot of people have one rule for their favourites and another rule for the rest (apart from Joe Cole, see Lampard, Ferreira, and even JT).

Hopefully it's just a case of Malouda needing to be given time, just as some of our other foreign imports did - Drogba in particular.

Agree with this as if any of these players have bad stretches of games we know what they can do and are ready to give them time,

in Maloudas case he had a good couple of games and then just seemed to lose interest,

he seems to have no confidence to run at defenders or take players on and seems to hit blind passes, apart from two perfect telling ones

he obviously has ability and thats what I think Grant feels and why he was right to give him the run in the team at Sinclairs expense(IMO) as he was hoping his confidence and form would improve for the business end of the season, we got away with carrying him mostly but it is getting more and more like he will have to be given less time now and maybe we will see the best of him next season.

Yesterday again showed why Sheva has had such a hard time here, like Anelka in the Pool game Drogba got no service and he is the best of the three to play the lone role but struggled when not on top form.

finding a way to get Anelka and Drogba up front together is a tough job, do we go 4-4-2 or do we stick with 4-3-3 and push Nic wide?

I would love to see 4-4-2 but just dont think we have the players to make it work, still like to see us try it though.

[Tim W]

Hopefully it's just a case of Malouda needing to be given time, just as some of our other foreign imports did

As long as during that "time" he, and anyone else for matter who is under-performing, donates his/their wages to Children in Need.

[glory55]

To be fair,he has hardly played.

He's young,fast has a good touch and we have yet to see the best of him.

[Maksimov]

To be fair,he has hardly played.

He's young,fast has a good touch and we have yet to see the best of him.

Are you talking about Sinclair or Malouda?

[glory55]

To be fair,he has hardly played.

He's young,fast has a good touch and we have yet to see the best of him.

Are you talking about Sinclair or Malouda?

Malouda,you couldn't criticise Scotty Sinclair he is only a young boy.

[Alan]

I think he should be given more time, but he has been very poor recently. He started off the season in good form but has tailed off since then, he doesnt want to take players on and often backtracks with the ball.

[Nibs]

I agree that Malouda didn't have a good game last night, but he wasn't the worst player on the pitch - Drogba & Joey were both appalling.

In fact Joey has been well below par this season, but I don't hear too many people calling him a flop or even giving him any criticism. Seems that a lot of people have one rule for their favourites and another rule for the rest (apart from Joe Cole, see Lampard, Ferreira, and even JT).

Hopefully it's just a case of Malouda needing to be given time, just as some of our other foreign imports did - Drogba in particular.

Thing is Bluebeard, we all know what Joe can do. When he has a bad game (and I agree he's had a fair number) we really notice it. Joe has won us many games over the seasons. It's really disappointing when he has a poor game like last night but you know he will bounce back and win a game for you. With Malouda it's just one abject performance after another - he's never any good.

For me, up to now he is a flop and needs a huge improvement to be anywhere near good enough.

[Chelsea FC Champions]

To be fair,he has hardly played.

He's young,fast has a good touch and we have yet to see the best of him.

hes not young hes 28

[glory55]

At the peak of his career,and at 28 he aint exactly old bones is he??

[coco]

Malouda was recommended to the club buy Drogba, never a good idea to listen to players, we'd have all sorts at the club else !

[abramovich]

Drogba was a shadow of his current self in his first two seasons at Chelsea.

Some people take more time to settle others less. I think it's very harsh and way too early to brand Malouda a flop. He's a French international and is a well known quality player.

I won't miss Malouda if he's gone in the summer but i think he needs to be given more time. He is an intelligent player and is more effective with a few touches of the ball in a few minutes' time than, for example, SWP who runs around all match looking busy.

[valim]

stoop to OFFENCE he is a chelsea fc player

not a ENEMY

look liverpool kewel never play like kuyt never score never offence

arsenal lehman he lose to many games never offence

manchester what he do oshea never offence

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every player have dark moments and need support not a offence

[Elliott]

Hmmmm..... By that train of thought, it seems that i could play for Chelsea, and undoubtedly be crap for a season, only to look up from the pitch at times to see Valim cheering me on.

What a guy.