Salomon Kalou has been part of the Chelsea set-up for a while now (approximately four years in fact) and the time is right for a re-evaluation of his role in the squad. Over the years he has made 120 appearances for the Blues and bagged 33 goals. He’s not the best or most talented forward in world football, but he works hard, contributes the odd goal and has been an important part of Chelsea’s success in previous seasons.
He has a Premier League winners' medal, three FA Cup winners' medals and a Carling Cup winners' medal. His time at Chelsea has not come without accolades. Now, however, as Chelsea work through one of their worst slumps in the last five or so years, criticism of Salomon Kalou has once more reared its head – and the critics are not without their points.
Kalou has a good reputation for squandering goal opportunities - see the spectacular miss in the video below for some evidence of this fact. You never quite know which Kalou will turn up on any given day. The clinical Kalou, or the Kalou that will throw away each and every opportunity. You can serve it up on a plate for the lad, but there’s no guarantee that he’ll score.
[youtube 19MvPzI3PPQ]
Still Carlo Ancelotti obviously sees something in the Ivorian (perhaps he is an absolute beast on the training ground) which has seen him chosen over Chelsea’s youth. I would be keen to get a better look at Daniel Sturridge this season, but Ancelotti clearly favours Kalou and the young Englishman has barely had a look-in.
I can see why Ancelotti admires Kalou. Yes he has his off days, but he’s always up for it, brings enthusiasm to every game and has enough natural skill to add something to Chelsea’s attack. He’s a decent player, I’m just not sure he’s good enough to be playing on a regular basis for a club like Chelsea. The fact that Chelsea have relied on him so much this season is further evidence that they are a little short in the striker department and that they ought to consider their options in the upcoming January transfer window.
Much has been made of Chelsea’s reported interest in Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero. If Chelsea do decide to buy in the January transfer window, I think it’ll be a sign that it’s time for Kalou to move on. If presented with both Kalou and Sturridge and asked who is a better prospect for bringing about success for Chelsea in the future, I think most fans will agree upon Sturridge. As such, Chelsea must make sure he doesn’t fall too far down the pecking order. If he’s going to develop, he’s going to need game time. It’s unlikely that Didier Drogba or Nicolas Anelka will move on from Chelsea this season. At this stage Ancelotti has to question Kalou’s role in the Chelsea squad.
Kalou’s time with Chelsea may well have come to its natural end.
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