Give this kid a chance

[abramovich]

30 minutes or so against Southend wouldn't hurt.

[Guest Sindre]

I fully agree. In fact i think he potentially got everything we dont get by our wingers today. He got the pace, his technice is immense and he looks like a quite good finisher to.

Give him a chance!

[Alan]

Kakuta definitely does look like one for the future.

[geezer]

Saturday is in the future. How about then?

[abramovich]

He's gone past four mancs like they weren't even there.

[WoodmanBlue]

I have been watching this guy play for about a year now, probs just under and i rate him very highly. Can create chances out of nothing, great dribbler, alright finish (not always the best but then look at our current wingers).

The only thing is that he can keep the ball too long, but then so does Kalou, i say give him a chance, deffo has the ability to make it big!

[BlueBeard]

Wouldn't hurt to give him a start, what have we got to lose? Maybe give him an hour, would do his confidence the world of good - might even help Scolari to see past Malouda.

[WoodmanBlue]

I think Sinclair is more deserving of a start but am i right in thinking he is injured? (the only reason i say this is because i haven't seen him on the bench at all for a while)

[sweet waffle]

The lad looks like he's got the skills to pay the bills.

Reminds me of a young Sweet Waffle. ;) :D

[SydneyChelsea]

I have been watching this guy play for about a year now, probs just under and i rate him very highly. Can create chances out of nothing, great dribbler, alright finish (not always the best but then look at our current wingers).

The only thing is that he can keep the ball too long, but then so does Kalou, i say give him a chance, deffo has the ability to make it big!

The problem with Kakuta- and it is his only weakness- is that he does not show much of a football brain. He holds on to the ball far too long, he passes to the wrong option, he crosses to the back post when all the runners are to the near, he tries too hard to drive the ball when a placed shot is the better option...all these are serious errors in judgement that if not fixed will make him an average player.

His saving grace is that he is only 18 years old, and already, I think he is at the same level as Sinclair or Stoch and has a nice blend of the qualities of each. In fact, disregarding Kalou's experience, I would say Kakuta is already at the same level as Kalou, but with enough time on his side to iron out the mental side of the game.

That said, reserve action is not going to improve him any further. I believe that he needs to get experience of first-team football and that is the only way he will improve his decision-making. The reason for that is, in the reserves, he is clearly our best player and as such there is an expectation of him to produce the goods every game. Playing at a professional level, however, he is no longer the big fish in a small pond, and hence, his ego will be somewhat stifled. Because he is no longer expected to be the 'go-to' man he will want to be more of a team player.

[Star]

I've watched this kid a fair few times a on Chelsea TV.

I'd say along with Stoich, he is the closest thing to a player capable of breaking into the first team in the future.

Scott Sinclair in my opinion isn't in the same class as these two and will end up a fine Championship player.

If either were at Arsenal the press would be raving about them !

[loz]

If either were at Arsenal the press would be raving about them !

And they would be because they would have seen them feature for the first team - even if only on a limited basis.

[icecoolguy22]

I think everyone agree we should play a few kids this weekend, but the man who matters the most is unlikely to share that view ;)

[Nibs]

The problem with Kakuta- and it is his only weakness- is that he does not show much of a football brain. He holds on to the ball far too long, he passes to the wrong option, he crosses to the back post when all the runners are to the near, he tries too hard to drive the ball when a placed shot is the better option...all these are serious errors in judgement that if not fixed will make him an average player.

His saving grace is that he is only 18 years old, and already, I think he is at the same level as Sinclair or Stoch and has a nice blend of the qualities of each. In fact, disregarding Kalou's experience, I would say Kakuta is already at the same level as Kalou, but with enough time on his side to iron out the mental side of the game.

That said, reserve action is not going to improve him any further. I believe that he needs to get experience of first-team football and that is the only way he will improve his decision-making. The reason for that is, in the reserves, he is clearly our best player and as such there is an expectation of him to produce the goods every game. Playing at a professional level, however, he is no longer the big fish in a small pond, and hence, his ego will be somewhat stifled. Because he is no longer expected to be the 'go-to' man he will want to be more of a team player.

Re the weakness, aren't they pretty much the same weaknesses that Kalou and Malouda also suffer from and yet they keep getting games? In those clips he seemed to have a good mix. Sure he runs with the ball a lot - but that's what we could do with - someone running at defenders with a few tricks and pace. We have too many players who are happy to pass it as soon as they get it.

We have to give this lad a few games with the first team and this FA Cup match is the ideal oppurtunity. Playing alongside some of our top senior players is hopefully only going to help him develop.

Lets start a Shed End campaign to get him in the first team squad NOW!

[just]

Liked some of the comments under the video clip:

"Because we're chelsea and we have a phobia of bringing the youth through and just end up loaning them out. We dont even play them in early FA cup rounds or carling cup. It's ridiculous".

"Scolari, please watch this video. Malouda will never do these things"

I have also seen a bit of him on CTV. Possibly a bit small but then so were Zola and Pat Nevin and like them he is a flair player with a capital F. He looks very promising indeed. Still, three years out on loan with lower leagues sides, then sitting on our bench for another season and finally a few games where he is thrown on for the last five minutes, (if he's lucky), should put paid to that.

Edited December 31, 2008 by just

[TheWestwayWonder]

I dont know what is going on within the club that is keeping players like this out of the first team.

We all thought Franco Di Santo getting the number 9 shirt was a harbinger of things to come. How many minutes have youth players gotten since, combined?

its funny because the few times I have seen him on, Stoch has maybe been the fastest player on the pitch. Its not as if we arent crying out for some pace and some trickery (as seen above) late in games.

There must be something preventing them from playing. I dont know what. In this case, I would advocate Roman or someone sitting Scolari down and saying "as soon as you have a three goal lead in a league game or non-European tie, I dont want to see anyone over 23 subbed into the game". Well, I hope he doesnt do that, but that would learn em.