Those Chelsea fans who enjoy hurling abuse at Salomon Kalou must have been kicking themselves on Sunday as the Ivorian forward scored three goals and completed 96% of his passes.
While he's enjoyed a love/hate reception from some Chelsea fans, Kalou has come for a lot of criticism since he joined the club in 2006. The frustration largely comes from the widely held perception that he hasn't delivered on early promise. That perception is probably true - to an extent.
He certainly hasn't come on in leaps and bounds in the last few years. Kalou is still inconsistent in front of goal, has an alarming tendency to drift offside and is prone to poor decision making. After a promising start at Chelsea, his lack of clear improvement suggests that Kalou is never going to be a world beater - a Messi he will never be.
But oddly, not being Messi - or rather not being world class - is actually the criticism most frequently levelled at him. It is as if Chelsea fans are only prepared to accept a player if he is one of the best five players on the planet. There are exceptions to this - Joe Cole has enjoyed almost universal support, as has Beletti, who has now reached almost cult status.
But any team's squad - whether you're Chelsea or Barcelona - can't consist entirely of world class players. Squads also need stand-ins who, in addition to being of a certain quality or offering something different to the starting eleven, are prepared to take their chances from the bench.
Kalou does all of those things.
His scoring record isn't bad. Aided by the hat-trick at the weekend, Kalou has now scored eleven goals this year (only Drogba, Lampard, Anelka and Malouda have scored more). These goals include four in the Premier League, three in the Champions League, one in the FA Cup and three in the League Cup. He has also made five assists.
Kalou is happy to sit on the bench, too. After the Stoke game, the Ivorian reiterated that he was happy to play his part from the bench, acknowledged that was his role but suggested that it was an important role. Top class football is in an age of the big squad, and arguably it is the quality of the deputies - and a club's' ability to keep them happy - that most determines success.
You can't fault Kalou's attitude, either. He is tireless in attack, never refusing to take responsibility to take the game forwards. Relentlessly positive, ready to attack the box or take a man on. With Joe Cole not in the side, Kalou's character traits are pretty unique at Chelsea.
And while he's not a world beater, he's not bad, either. He has genuine pace and trickery, and adds a youthful exuberance that Chelsea sometimes lack. I have often got the impression that he is only a hair's width away from away from making a genuine impact in the bigger games. Against Inter, when the team was flagging and making no impression on a resilient Inter defence, Kalou's impact as a second half substitute was instant. Chelsea immediately looked more threatening for having real pace and the will to try something.
Essentially, Kalou's critics are judging Kalou using the wrong yardstick. Yes, he isn't among the best in the world and yes, he can be frustrating. But he is a willing, able and positive deputy for first teamers, and part of a Chelsea second string that is probably superior to that of the club's closest rivals. Chelsea fans should set their expectations right - and let Kalou get on with his job. He has earned that.
What do you think - do you disagree and think Kalou should be sold in the summer? Post a comment...
You might also be interested to read:
While he's enjoyed a love/hate reception from some Chelsea fans, Kalou has come for a lot of criticism since he joined the club in 2006. The frustration largely comes from the widely held perception that he hasn't delivered on early promise. That perception is probably true - to an extent.
He certainly hasn't come on in leaps and bounds in the last few years. Kalou is still inconsistent in front of goal, has an alarming tendency to drift offside and is prone to poor decision making. After a promising start at Chelsea, his lack of clear improvement suggests that Kalou is never going to be a world beater - a Messi he will never be.
But oddly, not being Messi - or rather not being world class - is actually the criticism most frequently levelled at him. It is as if Chelsea fans are only prepared to accept a player if he is one of the best five players on the planet. There are exceptions to this - Joe Cole has enjoyed almost universal support, as has Beletti, who has now reached almost cult status.
But any team's squad - whether you're Chelsea or Barcelona - can't consist entirely of world class players. Squads also need stand-ins who, in addition to being of a certain quality or offering something different to the starting eleven, are prepared to take their chances from the bench.Kalou does all of those things.
His scoring record isn't bad. Aided by the hat-trick at the weekend, Kalou has now scored eleven goals this year (only Drogba, Lampard, Anelka and Malouda have scored more). These goals include four in the Premier League, three in the Champions League, one in the FA Cup and three in the League Cup. He has also made five assists.
Kalou is happy to sit on the bench, too. After the Stoke game, the Ivorian reiterated that he was happy to play his part from the bench, acknowledged that was his role but suggested that it was an important role. Top class football is in an age of the big squad, and arguably it is the quality of the deputies - and a club's' ability to keep them happy - that most determines success.
You can't fault Kalou's attitude, either. He is tireless in attack, never refusing to take responsibility to take the game forwards. Relentlessly positive, ready to attack the box or take a man on. With Joe Cole not in the side, Kalou's character traits are pretty unique at Chelsea.
And while he's not a world beater, he's not bad, either. He has genuine pace and trickery, and adds a youthful exuberance that Chelsea sometimes lack. I have often got the impression that he is only a hair's width away from away from making a genuine impact in the bigger games. Against Inter, when the team was flagging and making no impression on a resilient Inter defence, Kalou's impact as a second half substitute was instant. Chelsea immediately looked more threatening for having real pace and the will to try something.
Essentially, Kalou's critics are judging Kalou using the wrong yardstick. Yes, he isn't among the best in the world and yes, he can be frustrating. But he is a willing, able and positive deputy for first teamers, and part of a Chelsea second string that is probably superior to that of the club's closest rivals. Chelsea fans should set their expectations right - and let Kalou get on with his job. He has earned that.
What do you think - do you disagree and think Kalou should be sold in the summer? Post a comment...
You might also be interested to read:
hmmmm. i just don't think he's improved at all. yes, i understand that we need 'squad' players, but you have to ask why he hasn't improved at least a little. i question his footballing brain - he so often is offside or delays the pass too long
Posted by: chelsfan | 28 April 2010 at 11:11
I wouldn't sell him. He's scored some vital goals (the equaliser against Sp*rs in the Cup, for example) but if Gael Kakuta comes into the squad and Joe Cole stays, then with Malouda there as well, Kalou's opportunities may be very limited. Kakuta is a very exciting player, Malouda is the most improved and Joe Cole is a fan's favourite......difficult choice
Posted by: Capleton | 28 April 2010 at 17:30
i definately dont enjoy giving him stick, but your 3rd paragraph sums things up really, poor decision making and ok he scored 3 at the weekend but lets face it most of the time he wastes lots of chances. selling him i'm not too sure about, as a squad player you cant fault him, he never moans about being on the bench and can have an inpact as a sub, also how much would we get for him, hardly enough to buy a top class player, so maybe a bit of time is needed, it just frustrates me when i see an excellent build up only to see him mess it up
Posted by: boris | 28 April 2010 at 18:16
Kalou played a great game and continues to be a threat right around the goal
But that has never been a question
Kalou still struggles anywhere outside the box and I am not as sure as others that we should just let him start next season without any competition.
He still needs 1-2 seasons before he becomes a complete player
Posted by: Aious | 28 April 2010 at 22:26
ive said it for ages, should of signed adam johnson, look what hes done at city, and even a late shout for the world cup, weve got to ask ourselves, would kalou be in any man utd team though? hes an enigma, but a very frustrating one, can beat 4, 5 men then does the worst pass you could ever hope for, give him half of next season then we'll see, i still think we lack that extra bit of man-beating match winner, i.e robben or zola, i understand that every team doesnt have one, but by god, sometimes we really do need it, especially at home.
Posted by: louiscfc | 29 April 2010 at 00:10
He always seems to score when I want him subbed off, i'll give him that. I still think he should go. You are thinking about it in the wrong way. Sure he is a good enough bench player and I don't expect him to be Messi, but wouldn't you rather we gave Sturridge, Kakuta, Borini and Stoch some time off the bench next season? He's a nice guy, but like Sean-Wright Phillips, I don't think he's smart enough in the final third and I don't think that is something you can improve with training either. We have a potential world beater on the bench in Kakuta and the fact that he isn't getting games is criminal. The stats also don't show how many attacks he breaks down through poor choices or simply falling over his own feet.
Posted by: J spencer | 29 April 2010 at 10:39
I'd like to see a bit more consistancy from Kalou. Ok he might not play enough to get that but its time for him to improve. He does'nt get the rules of offside and his 3rd goal nearly did'nt happen when a square ball to an unmarked player was the thing to do. Likewise he can beat a couple of players and then try to beat a third which becomes his undoing. Again beating 2 players and passing to a teamate in a better position would be the thing to do. If he were to do this then he would be a far better player.Maybe thats why Wenger is interested, he can see the potential.
Posted by: springy | 29 April 2010 at 11:45