Break it down: A tale of two posts

By: Jack | February 4th, 2011

The enigma that is Salomon Kalou was on full show Tuesday at the Stadium of Light. A superb shift as foil to Didier Drogba overshadowed by a second-half miss so glorious that it managed to bemuse the hell out of all of us. Bemusing us, it’s what King Salomon does best.

kalou
Oh dear.

I. It all started with a breathtaking run from Nicolas Anelka, one of many from the Frenchman on the night.

Salomon Kalou both-post shoot !!! 1.2.2011 -HQ- [www.keepvid.com].mp4_000002006

II. Anelka first swept past the rash challenge of Jordan Henderson before following that great piece of skill with an even better one as he waltzed passed Titus Bramble (next two caps).

Salomon Kalou both-post shoot !!! 1.2.2011 -HQ- [www.keepvid.com].mp4_000002741

Salomon Kalou both-post shoot !!! 1.2.2011 -HQ- [www.keepvid.com].mp4_000003209

III. Anelka then found himself in what basically amounts to a 3v1. A fantastic situation, with Nico marauding through the middle and teammates Kalou and Michael Essien making up ground to his right. Each of the three options represented good value, it was just a question of which this newly christened attacking midfielder was going to chose.

Salomon Kalou both-post shoot !!! 1.2.2011 -HQ- [www.keepvid.com].mp4_000004780

IV. Anelka, as he had all match, opted for the selfless, drawing in Bardsley before slipping the ball into space on the right for either Essien or Kalou.

Salomon Kalou both-post shoot !!! 1.2.2011 -HQ- [www.keepvid.com].mp4_000006284

V. It was Kalou who arrived first, just in front of Essien. Seeing as he had been excellent so far playing off the main striker Drogba – including scoring our second goal, a very cheeky effort mind you – the odds were on for our much-maligned Ivorian not only doubling his tally but also wrapping up the points. Of course, if daddy had thrown down some cash on that happening, daddy would have most certainly lost his mortgage payment.

Salomon Kalou both-post shoot !!! 1.2.2011 -HQ- [www.keepvid.com].mp4_000007220

VI. Near post.

Salomon Kalou both-post shoot !!! 1.2.2011 -HQ- [www.keepvid.com].mp4_000007721

VII. Far post.

Salomon Kalou both-post shoot !!! 1.2.2011 -HQ- [www.keepvid.com].mp4_000008056

VIII. Back into play. And what we are left with is another astonishing, preposterous, improbable – just plain ridiculous – highlight to add to Salomon’s resume. Can’t wait for the next installment.

Salomon Kalou both-post shoot !!! 1.2.2011 -HQ- [www.keepvid.com].mp4_000008423

Here it is in full motion. Do enjoy.

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ASR

as much as fans are weary of the enigma that is salomon kalou, I still like him. Yes, he sometimes misses easy opportunities (which I don't qualify this as), but he is still developing his game and has not reached his potential. I know many wanted to see sturridge instead of kalou in prior games this season, but I think I personally have more faith in kalou. He came in big w/ the goal at everton, he also had the important goal in the CL against inter I think to keep us in it. I think we need to keep supporting him, he is youngish and his confidence will get get better.. and as he becomes more comfortable hopefully his finishing will improve as well.
Squiddy

Rubbish. This was a good effort he was just unlucky with. If you want a bad effort, try the one in the first half when he sent 3 players the wrong way then miskicked when he was free on goal and it was like a bad cross.

Thing is, if you can't tell the difference, I don't take your complaint seriously. You don't know what was good or bad. Kalou played really well at Sunderland and should be applauded. No criticism for his excellent run for the goal I notice. Prat.
Jack

What the hell are you on about? Where in this piece did I say it was a poor effort? Please, point it out for me.

What I was saying, which clearly went over your head, is that Kalou continues to amaze us - be it with great performances, woeful ones or amazing misses. This obviously falls into the amazing miss category, regardless of whether he had been fantastic on the day or was unlucky as pointed out here.
ph0bolus

Ibrahimovich also hit the 7-10 split on Tuesday...
Ray

Or you can say he was terribly unlucky.
arn00b

It's not just that, it rebounded back into play at a speed that was too fast for Nic to tap in the rebound. I thought about it for a bit and I think he hit it too hard. There's no reason to hit the ball that hard from that range. Had it been a little weaker, Anelka would've been able to finish it.

Of course, the other issue is that he was under little pressure and he aimed and hit the post instead of the net. Of course, from that angle, it was difficult. But that's entirely his fault.

His run was so bad. He should've run towards the goal, not wide. He went too far wide, as if trying to pull the defender out, not get into an easy scoring opportunity. Essien's run was better, even though Essien started from further back.

The more I see it, the more I think that Kalou genuinely tried to take the defense out so that Essien would shoot, except Nic made the pass to the striker of the two. Unfortunately.
Jack

I still think it's just another inexplicable piece of play from Kalou. Unlucky he most certainly was.