After two seasons with Chelsea, the arrival of Scolari could really benefit Kalou and I can see him making a big impact for us this coming season. I think out of all our players, he is the one who needs a sort of father figure around, one who is going to put an arm round his shoulder and tell him he has the potential. I think we can all see the raw talent he has, it just needs to be molded into a constant threat.

He's 22 (23 in August), quick, energetic, not afraid to run at people (I think our only attacker who isn't...!) and as I said previously, has raw talent. He doesn't seem to have any bad habits yet (i.e. dives or constant step overs), so they won't need shaking out his game.

We all talk about Joe because he's a favourite, SWP because we've all pretty much given up on him and Malouda because he's a bloody pain, but what about Kalou? Seems to get left in the dark a bit. With proper guidance, a run of games and some quality delivery to hit feet (i.e. Deco), I think he could have a big say in our season. As Scolari himself has says, he likes young players, he wants to give them a chance. Kalou is better than Quaresma, (who I admit I've only seen in about 10-15 games in his whole career) who seems to have shrugged off whatever Scolari said to him whilst on International duty, but, if Kalou listens to the advice... Well... :D

Thoughts?

I think I posted much the same kind of thing last summer but I now reckon he's not going to make it at Chelsea...

1. He's not strong enough on the ball. My 11 year old could dispossess him with a well placed shoulder barge.

2. He bottles it in front of goal. He inevitably seems to want to take one touch too many before unwinding his striking leg at which point he'll get dispossessed, again.

Can't knock him for his work rate, though or his skills. Personally, I think he was a far better left winger last season than, for instance, Malouda. There again, Cudicini was a better left winger than Malouda....

Ahh did you? So next pre-season it'll be someone else's turn to say "next season..."

Still, I'll stand by my stance. Of course, I'd rather see Scott Sinclair get a fair chunk of games, see what he can do.

After two seasons with Chelsea, the arrival of Scolari could really benefit Kalou and I can see him making a big impact for us this coming season. I think out of all our players, he is the one who needs a sort of father figure around, one who is going to put an arm round his shoulder and tell him he has the potential. I think we can all see the raw talent he has, it just needs to be molded into a constant threat.

He's 22 (23 in August), quick, energetic, not afraid to run at people (I think our only attacker who isn't...!) and as I said previously, has raw talent. He doesn't seem to have any bad habits yet (i.e. dives or constant step overs), so they won't need shaking out his game.

We all talk about Joe because he's a favourite, SWP because we've all pretty much given up on him and Malouda because he's a bloody pain, but what about Kalou? Seems to get left in the dark a bit. With proper guidance, a run of games and some quality delivery to hit feet (i.e. Deco), I think he could have a big say in our season. As Scolari himself has says, he likes young players, he wants to give them a chance. Kalou is better than Quaresma, (who I admit I've only seen in about 10-15 games in his whole career) who seems to have shrugged off whatever Scolari said to him whilst on International duty, but, if Kalou listens to the advice... Well...

Thoughts?

I agree with you Gem. I've been saying for the past couple of years that Kalou has the potential to be a very good player if he improves his finishing and works on his positioning (seems to have been born offside). It will be interesting to see, as you say, the effect Scolari will have on him.

If it came to a choice [it wont] I’d take him over Anelka any day. My memory might be going, but who bottled their CL penalty and who didn’t?

If it came to a choice [it wont] I’d take him over Anelka any day. My memory might be going, but who bottled their CL penalty and who didn’t?

Me too. I have faith in Kalou. I just don't think what will happen with his form this year can be accurately predicted from his previous contributions. I think that he's quick and quick-witted and that those aspects of his game that need work are primarily related to experience. I expect to see him come on well if Scolari gives him a run. Unlike other recent youngsters in the squad (carlton cole, Glen J had attitude problems, Robben had injury ones) Kalou is consistently fit and has his head on straight. He could be a real find I think.

He had that great delivery to Riise in the first leg too. We all know he knew Riise had no right foot and planned it that way, brilliant young guy.

I think I posted much the same kind of thing last summer but I now reckon he's not going to make it at Chelsea...

1. He's not strong enough on the ball. My 11 year old could dispossess him with a well placed shoulder barge.

2. He bottles it in front of goal. He inevitably seems to want to take one touch too many before unwinding his striking leg at which point he'll get dispossessed, again.

Can't knock him for his work rate, though or his skills. Personally, I think he was a far better left winger last season than, for instance, Malouda. There again, Cudicini was a better left winger than Malouda....

I'm not sure why you appear to be writing off Kalou. He's fast, runs with the ball, can cross/pass the ball, was far more effective than SWP ever was, let alone Malouda - and has also chipped in with a fair few important goals. Above and beyond all that, he's still not yet 23 and there is every possibility that this season will see a big improvement in his overall effectiveness.

I think Kalou is a great talent; not quite as young as I thought he was, but still young enough that with the right encouragement could turn into a really rather fantastic player.

Good shout on the Champion's League penalty by the way, showed that he has a lot more bottle and passion than Anelka

hope he isn't a first choice, simply because he isn't good enough yet. great for playing against wigan, but out of his depth at the top level at the moment. in a similar position to nani for man united... maybe a little behind him despite being older.

too inconsistant with his choices, and too inconsistant with his crossing and finishing. still very raw.

however, would like to see him stay and continue to get games, he's a player who likes to make forward runs (more than joe and much more than swp or malouda) without the ball, so he offers a decent goal threat, moreso than joe despite being a far less accomplished finisher... so it's obvious what he needs to work on, but with a side that has deco, a player that will make runs into the box is going to be very useful, even moreso if lamps leaves.

keep him as third choice, lose swp and malouda, and brinng in another player who likes to run beyond the striker from wide, but of a higher quality.

keep him as third choice, lose swp and malouda, and brinng in another player who likes to run beyond the striker from wide, but of a higher quality.

Going to commit on who that player might be?

I have it on good authority that a clone of Charlie Cooke is being worked on a the Cobham laboratory

in a similar position to nani for man united... maybe a little behind him despite being older.

I'd say he is a lot better than Nani. He scored more goals and had more assists than him last year in roughly the same number of games. Also, rather more subjectively, Nani is sh*t.

Kalou is a very nice chap as a person...well balanced, hard working and down to earth. I can see him improve a lot under Felipao's guidance. Still if we manage to get one of our touted targets, then Kalou might have to take a place in the bench and wait for his chance. He had a decent season last one, had great impact coming off the bench and scored a few important goals.

I wish him all the very best for the coming season, and hope he comes off better than his fellow Ivorian in long term.

I'd say he is a lot better than Nani. He scored more goals and had more assists than him last year in roughly the same number of games. Also, rather more subjectively, Nani is sh*t.

I thought Nani did very well in his first season with mancs. He's got tremendous potential.

doubt it his finishin is shockin at times. far too wastefull

Going to commit on who that player might be?

my mind briefly flickered towards the cop out "duff or robben" answer, but we've been linked with robinho, maybe that's a possibility. he's improved for sure, but even so there would be a lot of doubts.

I think ribery would be a good choice for a 442, maybe less so for a 433 because he is similar to joe in not making that kind of run all the time. difficult actually to think of a perfect player for what we require (well, actually the pure footballing answer is adrian mutu, but let's not go there). I'm not sure. a fit ronaldinho isn't exactly that kind of player but would score enough easily, so him.

I agree with Gem.

He's quick, skillful and he's in another league to Malouda. But most of all, he's young. Only 22 so he's only just started to grow as a player. By the time he gets to about 25/26 (if we still have him) he'll be up there with the best in my opinion.

My only worry is that he might not get as many games as he did under Avram. I hope he gets as much of a chance as anyone else. ;)

Think he's decidedly average , dont know what Jose saw in him.

Gem, or is that Jem? I have said before that I think Kalou will be a great player for us. He has all the tools, just needs to get them clicking! Doubt he will start, but I also doubt he is one of the names on Scolari's trimming list. Therefore, I expect him to play and grow as the season advances. Hope he signs a contract extension soon, just for a couple of years, and we can watch him develop

Scott

Definitely think he should stay and hopefully play more. We have no other player in the squad who can offer what he does, and even if we buy someone who does, having two pacey, direct wingers can only be a good thing.

If he improves his shooting, he will be awesome, and may well benefit from Deco's arrival.

He also seems like a quiet, well balanced individual who just gets on with the job, which is a refreshing change from most young footballers who seem to be arrogant little tw*ts.

kalou has not quite yet filled his potential, at times he seems to unsure of what to do, he lacks confidence in front of goal

i'm unsure if this is a pecking order thing, or he was told to supply the forward whilst he was out on the left, thats why he always seemed to pass rather than shoot

someone said he's a bit light weight and easily knocked off the ball, i agree, maybe he should bulk up a bit

but the lads very committed and hard working and with a few pointers in the right direction from the management he may just fill his potential

This guy has tremendous potential and he proved a point during the penalty shoot-out.

It's no easy job to be crowned the 'Eredivise football talent of the year' which he won some years back.

All he needs to do is be a bit more composed and work on his finishing.

This guy has tremendous potential and he proved a point during the penalty shoot-out.

It's no easy job to be crowned the 'Eredivise football talent of the year' which he won some years back.

All he needs to do is be a bit more composed and work on his finishing.

I'll never forget that crucial equalising goal he scored in that game against Spurs at home.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/6415115.stm

He's definately not the finished article, but as far as potential goes, he is still the player in the squad that I have the highest hopes for.

I still think he is only a season away from being a world-class player. He just needs to sort out his finishing and his decision making and he will be top notch. The number of potential opportunties he creates for himself and others in any match right now is amazing. It just seems that more often than not, he manages to balls-up the final pass or the finish.

The blunders we have made in the transfer market have meant that he has seen a huge amount of first team football over the past two seasons. I think the worst thing that could happen to his career at the moment is for those first team opportunities to dry up. He has improved immensely as a player since we signed him, and I hope that the arrival of new players into his position doesn't push him too far down the pecking order.