Swp And Malouda

[Ruh Buh Juh]

Should we get rid of them?

I see it this way:

I would much rather lose Malouda and keep SWP than the other way round.

Even Scolari says he wants SWP to stay here. Give him a seaon. ;)

Malouda I couldn't give a flying monkey's about in all honesty. But maybe that's just my opinion...

Thoughts?

[loz]

Unless we have replacements lined up I would keep them both. They may not be up to scratch but having them is still better than no wingers (and relying on Joe on both sides of the pitch) which is what we would have if they left and were not replaced.

[mad_mac]

SWP - Out

Malouda - Keep

[Valerie]

SWP has had several seasons now (is it 3?), and although he occasionally does some good on the pitch, it's too occasionally for my taste. Get rid.

Malouda showed some improvement towards the end of last season; give him another season to prove what he can do. Some players, especially if they experience English football for the first time, need time to adjust. Keep.

[g3.7]

sell them both.

then we have two options

-bring scott sinclair in and sign a top replacement.

or

- move away from a system relying on wide players.

that is being proactive about improving the side I think.

[Mr Chelsea]

i reckon we should off load them both, and make what ever money we can off them

[Alan]

After watching some of SWP's passing and shooting yesterday, he needs shooting.

The thing with both of them is that they show flashes of quality, but don't do it often enough. Sometimes it seems Malouda can't even pass wind, and that SWP's sole purpose in life is to knock a football 10 yards in front of him and aimlessly chase after it.

[valim]

swp out

keep malouda

[TomP]

SWP has had a bucketload of chances to prove himself. He's a good player, but not quite top draw - just too inconsitant. I suppose if he is happy to stay and fight for a place, then we maybe should keep him, but I would like to see the chances that SWP has been given over the last few seasons given to Sinclair this season, so I say sell him off.

Malouda should get one more season. I'm not going to argue that he wasn't rubbish last season, but he was the French player of the year the season before, and has been an unquestioned choice in the French national side for the last three years at least. Again, it depends on his attitude though - he can't expect an automatic place given his form last season, so if he is happy to fight for a place, then keep him. We did spent the best part of 15 million on him from memory less than 12 months ago, and as a club, we have to get out of the habit of flogging off major investments for big losses after one poor season.

Either way, I think we should still look at signing a new wide-forward. In a club of our standing, we really should have a few better options out wide. I would not be filled with confidence if we go into next season with a choice of Cole, Malouda, SWP, Sinclair +/- Kalou (who I think that Scolari sees as more of a striker than a winger).

I hope we are not putting all our eggs in one basket with Robinho. It worries me that while we are butting heads with Madrid over him, we are going to miss out on the likes of Van der Vaart or Silva.

[Jimboola69]

I know it is weird but...I am posting to say...I don't know.

A few weeks back I was sure they were both out, but Scolari does seem to want to use 4-2-2-2 at least occasionally, and so if these sort of players would work in that system then fine. Jose's style never really suited either, the 4-3-3 became effectively a 4-5-1 after about 8 (very) successful months with the opps's full backs pushing up on the 'wingers'.

So if we need wingers...fine. I feel Joe may be too slow for what Scolari wants however, as the wingers seem to be used on the break a lot and while Joe has plenty and tricks and skills, he has never had good pace. Scotty Sinclair may get a few goes..and if he did I would be delighted as I think given the right guidance this season he could really fly.

[icecoolguy22]

Sell at least one of them, most likely SWP. First we can get a reasonable price back for him, Portsmouth is keen and willing to pay 11 Millions plus. SWP is a good player, but he will never make it to the starting 11 based on his ability. Even against clueless oppositions in the last 2 friendlies, he still manage to hoof the ball over the goal from 10 yards out ( more than one occasion). Malouda is not a lot better, but he deserve another go ( I guess), and we havent got any suitors willing to pay good money so far.

[barak81]

Tomp, do you know that pascal cygan was also once french player of the year.

As for the national team, well that can be explaind only by dominci who picks he team based on astrolagy

[ozboy]

Sell SWP and keep Malouda. SWP has proven he is unreliable. I don't care how many breaks he creates if at the end the quality cross or shot isn't there. And SWP has proven to me that his passing and shooting don't meet the CFC standard.

Malouda on the other hand is hot and cold, but when he's hot his passing his actually excellent and he can shoot a bit.

SWP is faster than Malouda but Malouda is the better team player.

[g3.7]

everyone is a great footballer when no football is being played.

[Butch]

I mirror Loz's thinking. I'm all for being proactive, Gullit4, and I certainly think your "everyone is a great footballer when no football is being played" quote is very, very clever, BUT I do feel that there is merit in keeping our wide options there for when we need to change our game. Also, despite what we may think about their performances, they are some of the more "creative" footballers we have in our squad and I'd certainly like to see what inspiration Scolari can be to them. So, most definitely, unless we have someone (or two) lined up that could take their places in our squad as wide and/or creative men, I'd keep them both in a flash.

SWP, I think, is a good player to have. I have never heard him complain (except through his dad, or is his dad just a #$%@^%#?) and he always works hard on the pitch. There was also a sequence of games last season when he was hands down our best player, so I think there is something there we can work with. Again, I have confidence that Scolari can bring out the best in him so we shouldn't be too quick to send him off.

Same for Malouda - I think to a certain extent the situation with Jose and Grant must have been unsettling for Florent. I think sending him off this season would maybe be a season too soon. We have to give him at least half a season more.

Again, if we already have someone lined up to take one or both of their places in the squad I'd re-think, with the assumption that the replacement is going to be of the highest quality and thus better than what we already have. I think Robinho and/or Kaka would fit that description. But if not, keep them!

Cheers,

Butch

[g3.7]

we've had shaun for for 3 seasons and with two managers and his weaknesses are highly unlikely to go away. would be good for us and good for him to leave. he's had spells of good, even very good football, but his position in the squad won't give him enough football (from his point of view) and will stop us from blooding younger players who could surpass him if given a little more exposure.

with malouda, I'm sure he'd play better next season, how could he not? but does he deserve another chance... I do think people are being too soft- he was signed to be a first choice and in my mind that makes him the bigger liability. I was never a fan, but whether he can improve or not, his total lack of... really any redeeming feature when he was out of form (from game 2 to game 37 in the league) was extremely disappointing.

anyway, seems a chance we will play a diamond / brazilian box type system, in which case neither will be required and robinho would in fact be signing as a second striker.

[evissy]

People really have a small memory that is for sure. Between the end of last season and until these two training matches Malouda have been indifferent or actually not indifferent but a player that you want Chelsea to sell. Now as I read this thread people say "keep Malouda". I was waiting to read lot of these "get rid of that ****".

I never saw those two training games but was he that good that people are chaging their minds about him?? Not to over generalize too much of course, I know there are people who wants to give him a season.

I have written a lot here that we need to give him a chance as last season was anything but easy for him as the guy who bought him was sacked so early in the season.

BTW there are rumors that Malouda is wanted in Roma. In Skysports.

Edited July 28, 2008 by evissy

[kalpitv]

Wow! look at this...

Shaun Satisfaction

Felipe Scolari, on his arrival in Malaysia, has been speaking positively about Shaun Wright-Phillips and the start the player has made under new management.

The Chelsea manager has frequently pointed out that at this time of year, it would be extraordinary if there wasn't transfer speculation over players moving in and out of the club.

Wright-Phillips has been one targeted with stories linking him to a move to other Barclays Premier League clubs. It is not an outcome Scolari is encouraging.

'I had some words with Shaun in training in the morning,' he revealed. 'He said he is happy in Chelsea and if I am happy, he does not want to go out.

'I said okay, you do your job and the decision is not only for me, but for the board also. But I think Shaun stays with us.

'This is the time for buying and players going to other clubs. In a month there will be no more time for this and Shaun has done a good job until now. The players love him and the people like him in my group [of coaches].'

Wright-Phillips has enjoyed a productive pre-season in Asia. As well as goal in each of the two games played, he has contributed important passes in the build-up to two further strikes.

Source : http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0...1352300,00.html

And this...

Malouda Agent Plays Down Exit Talk

Florent Malouda's agent insists that, despite interest from Roma, the winger can be part of Luiz Felipe Scolari's new Blues regime...

The Giallorossi are getting desperate as the transfer window starts to slip away and are reportedly hell bent on landing either Chelsea winger Florent Malouda or Valencia's David Silva.

The Serie A outfit, though, appear to have been priced out in terms of their Silva swoop and could now hurry through a deal for French international Malouda.

The Blues signed Malouda this time last year from Lyon for €20m, but Roma could pick up the underperforming 28-year-old for as little as €12.

Malouda, capped 41 times at international level, saw his Premiership opportunities limited last term, although he did have a decent Champions League campaign as Avram Grant's men surged to last term's Moscow final.

However, despite being hotly tipped to move on this summer, his agent Pierre Frelot insists that Luiz Felipe Scolari has plans for the attacking midfielder and may not sanction his departure.

Frelot told L'Equipe: “We had a meeting with with [blues chief executive] Peter Kenyon and Scolari.

“I'd now like to iterate that the latter is counting on Malouda - he's always held him in high regard.

“The first year was interrupted by injury and coaching changes, but Malouda is now keen to prove his talent.â€

Source : http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=794684

Looks like there will be no shortage of cover, if Robinho is added to the squad.

Edited July 28, 2008 by kalpitv

[snitrbt25]

Looks like there will be no shortage of cover, if Robinho is added to the squad.

Should Robinho arrive (or any other winger for that matter) that will be the end of SWP I think.

But, while there's still no progress on that front there's no point burning bridges. Hope 'Arry doesn't spend that £12 mill just yet!

[TheWestwayWonder]

SWP inspires absolutely zero confidence in me. I know that sounds harsh, but for three years he has toiled under Jose and Grant to no end, and not all of that can be blamed on any stifling system.

Seeing this today is troubling. I know everyone is getting a clean sheet under Scolari but when you have had a career at a club as lacklustre as SWPs has been here, I have to wonder if the player just lacks ambition to do or achieve anything period, nevermind advance their career.

[BlueBosnian]

I'm pretty sure Scolari will get the best out of Malouda this season. If it was up to me, I'd have him stay.

[Mr Chelsea]

all us malouda fans will love this

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11668_3879341,00.html

bloody skysports the bearers of bad news

[Butch]

we've had shaun for for 3 seasons and with two managers and his weaknesses are highly unlikely to go away. would be good for us and good for him to leave. he's had spells of good, even very good football, but his position in the squad won't give him enough football (from his point of view) and will stop us from blooding younger players who could surpass him if given a little more exposure.

with malouda, I'm sure he'd play better next season, how could he not? but does he deserve another chance... I do think people are being too soft- he was signed to be a first choice and in my mind that makes him the bigger liability. I was never a fan, but whether he can improve or not, his total lack of... really any redeeming feature when he was out of form (from game 2 to game 37 in the league) was extremely disappointing.

anyway, seems a chance we will play a diamond / brazilian box type system, in which case neither will be required and robinho would in fact be signing as a second striker.

I guess I am a bit soft, come to think of it :lol: , but my point really is that I'd like for us to have options. My main argument is that I can't quite see a narrow attack winning the EPL. The fast pace of the football in this league tends to leave defenses a little stranded at times, when teams go for it, and when they do get stranded, width and pace is what tends to make things very difficult for them. Playing exclusively narrow, or even mostly narrow, allows the opposing side to concentrate their defense. I know I am simplifying things a little bit, but I think you get my point. Especially when an opposing side comes to defend, width and pace is usually what is needed to stretch and unlock them.

I'm not going to say I am in no way not disappointed by these two, especially Malouda as you say, but as I made the point in my first post, unless we have able back ups, and by that I don't mean youth players (I thought you argued Sinclair wasn't ready, which I agree with?), we should keep them. I did not say we should keep them whatever the case.

This has been a very cagey summer in terms of transfers so far. We all know which club covets which player, but nobody wants to blink first. I don't think we should be readily open to transfers away from the club. We need options.

Arguing the transfer situation only, a team without the likes of Drogba, Lampard, Malouda, and/or SWP is going to be a weaker team than what we have at the moment, whichever way I look at it.

Cheers,

Butch

[evissy]

all us malouda fans will love this ;)

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11668_3879341,00.html

bloody skysports the bearers of bad news

I'm still wondering where all those Malouda haters are now... I'm sure 3 friendly games against low level opponents wont change your mind about Florent.

I really hope he makes it at Chelsea this coming season. He was expensive buy by Jose and I believe Jose can spot quality when he sees it. Malouda isn't the flair player Robben was and will never be but if those crosses start to find Drogba, Anelka and co our left side really starts to produce again.

[Elliott]

Scolari: ''Malouda wasted last season''.

Encouraging that he thinks he's capable of getting the best out of Florent, because, i think Malouda certainly has the talent?..

We'll see i suppose?.. Hopefully after a poor first season (Drogba?), we may see the best of him yet?

Good to read that Deco is fitting in well.

It seems that Scolari is more comfortable using the 4-3-3?