Kalala keen on Blues switch

[Evening Echo]

JEAN Paul Kalala is keen on a switch to Southend United.

More...

 

[DTS]

Unless someone is off then I can see where he fits in?

 

[palexander]

CP just tweeted the Kalala deal should be done today.

Would expect Grants to be announced too then? :sad:

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

CP just tweeted the Kalala deal should be done today.

Would expect Grants to be announced too then? :sad:

Could you ask him what the delay is with Leonard?

 

[Pubey]

Could you ask him what the delay is with Leonard?

I was thinking that this morning, would be great to get him on board finally.

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

Could you ask him what the delay is with Leonard?

Sorry! Just caught up with his tweets, I see that he's aleady been asked...........talks ongoing. (sounds a lot more complicated than I would have thought)

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

This hasn't yet come up on SZ
http://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/9157910.No_bids_yet_for_Grant/
I can't help feeling that, at the moment, there is a lot going on in the background that we are clearly not being told about, concerning Anthony Grant.

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

Its scary that Grant is our longest serving player! Really hope he doesn't go, would prefer to lose Ferdinand.

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

Its scary that Grant is our longest serving player! Really hope he doesn't go, would prefer to lose Ferdinand.

I understand what you're saying but would Grant sign a new contract with us? I have a strong feeling that he wouldn't. In fact, if he was going to, he should be signing an extension about now. I think the only way we could have kept Grant would have been if we were promoted last year. I don't think there is anyone on here that would deny that Grant is worth his wages, if not meriting even more. Honestly, him signing a new contract, with a subsequent drop in salary to fit into TB's wage structure, appears EXTREMELY unlikely. Sad though it is, I'd prefer us to sell him now and bring some cash in as well as reducing our wage bill, especially as we seem to have found a reasonable replacement for him, presumably for far less money.

 

[Onion_Bag_Dave]

We need to keep Grant and Kane, and we need to sign Kalala.
I like that style of player, the Midfield of

Johnson Kalala Grant Hall

Is very strong and with Kane pushing for a place (and probably playing in a 4 5 1 formation, we have again got a top top Midfield.
Everything about Kalala his touch, the way he runs, his niggling at heels and the ball over the top for the goal to Clohessy remind me of Essien so much!

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

I understand what you're saying but would Grant sign a new contract with us? I have a strong feeling that he wouldn't. In fact, if he was going to, he should be signing an extension about now. I think the only way we could have kept Grant would have been if we were promoted last year. I don't think there is anyone on here that would deny that Grant is worth his wages, if not meriting even more. Honestly, him signing a new contract, with a subsequent drop in salary to fit into TB's wage structure, appears EXTREMELY unlikely. Sad though it is, I'd prefer us to sell him now and bring some cash in as well as reducing our wage bill, especially as we seem to have found a reasonable replacement for him, presumably for far less money.

True, but what would the difference in cash be if we sold him now or in January? Maybe £50k less? Also if we are flying high near the top and looking like playing in League 1 come January, he may be more willing to commit to an extension, maybe with a release clause?

I just think that at the moment, Grant is a shoe in for the first team, whilst Ferdinand, has the potential, but is still on the fringes, and wouldn't be first choice.

 

[Smiffy]

We need to keep Grant and Kane, and we need to sign Kalala.
I like that style of player, the Midfield of

Johnson Kalala Grant Hall

Is very strong and with Kane pushing for a place (and probably playing in a 4 5 1 formation, we have again got a top top Midfield.
Everything about Kalala his touch, the way he runs, his niggling at heels and the ball over the top for the goal to Clohessy remind me of Essien so much!

What about Sawyer?, what about N'diaye? or even James-Lewis? or Woodyard? :omg:

If Kalala signs, someone will have to go. Whether that is N'diaye back to Palace, Grant or Kane sold, time will tell. We cannot afford the luxury of half a dozen players in the same position. Especially when it is well documented that we need a quality striker...

Personally I would like Kalala to come in. N'diaye shipped back to Palace (If Luggy does not think he will make the grade) and Woodyard/James-Lewis loaned out for the season.

That would leave us with 4 CM's (perfect for competition) Grant, Kane, Sawyer & Kalala.

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

We need to keep Grant and Kane, and we need to sign Kalala.
I like that style of player, the Midfield of

Johnson Kalala Grant Hall

Is very strong and with Kane pushing for a place (and probably playing in a 4 5 1 formation, we have again got a top top Midfield.
Everything about Kalala his touch, the way he runs, his niggling at heels and the ball over the top for the goal to Clohessy remind me of Essien so much!

If we could do that, whilst signing Leonard and a 'quick' striker, I for one, would be OVER THE MOON! It's just with all the talk of limiting our wage structure and wage bill, that you fear that some economies are going to have to be made.

 

[loz]

Looks like we're effectively replacing Easton and Grant with NDiaye and Kalala, so I wouldn't neccesarily say we're flooded with midfielders (especially if we're going to play 433, and given that there's a decent chance Kane will be off at some point this season). I'm not convinced that the striker situation is as desperate as it appears- as others have said, JJ and Mohsni are at least options there. While I agree that a pacey stricker would be nice, we'd seem pretty topheavy with another striker in...

 

[Onion_Bag_Dave]

What about Sawyer?, what about N'diaye? or even James-Lewis? or Woodyard? :omg:

If Kalala signs, someone will have to go. Whether that is N'diaye back to Palace, Grant or Kane sold, time will tell. We cannot afford the luxury of half a dozen players in the same position. Especially when it is well documented that we need a quality striker...

I expect Ndiaye to go back, I also expect Woodyard to go out on loan and Merrick, (but I do really rate MJL)!

Forgot about Sawyer...

:omg:

 

[Smiffy]

I expect Ndiaye to go back, I also expect Woodyard to go out on loan and Merrick, (but I do really rate MJL)!

Forgot about Sawyer...

:omg:

Exactly!!

At the moment in CM we have:
Grant
Kane
N'diaye
Sawyer

Other CM options:
Woodyard
MJL
Stevens
Smith

And that's before Kalala has even signed.

The 4 others I would expect to go out on loan. But for the life of me, I cannot see us having 5 (If JP signs) players going for at most 2 positions (4-4-2/4-3-3) perhaps on rare occasions (4-5-1) 3 positions.

 

[Onion_Bag_Dave]

Exactly!!

At the moment in CM we have:
Grant
Kane
N'diaye
Sawyer

Other CM options:
Woodyard
MJL
Stevens
Smith

And that's before Kalala has even signed.

The 4 others I would expect to go out on loan. But for the life of me, I cannot see us having 5 (If JP signs) players going for at most 2 positions (4-4-2/4-3-3) perhaps on rare occasions (4-5-1) 3 positions.

Yep.
We need some money to be honest, it would be sad to see Granty and/or Kane going but we need some dosh in the coffers!

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

Why not Grant and Kalala? On friday the two of them were head and shoulders above their Ipswich counterparts in the 2nd half (including the detestable Bowyer). Both have plenty of experience. What are the other options? Ndiaye looked hopeless, Kane is still young and may be away with Ireland a few games. And then there is Lee Sawyer. Apart from his first spell here he has done nothing to impress me in a blue shirt. The youngsters dont seem good enough, maybe Merrick-Lewis apart.

Ive said it before if we are to get promotion it is vital we keep Anthony Grant, he is our most reliable performer in the midfield. I know he had a few iffy games last season but in the 2 and a half years he has been here his performance levels have been pretty consistent. Bearing in mind he has been played in all sorts of positions, he has always knuckled down and got on with the job. He is probably our cleverest player too, good at getting free kicks and also a very fit player, very rarely injured, and has curbed the ill-discipline that marred his early games for us. Him and Kalala with Hall and JJ either side of him would be a very tasty midfield.

 

[duncan bulgaria]

Was chatting to a pal over weekend and he said that his mate was playing a 5 a side match in Ilford I believe and teh team he played against contained 3 of the current squad .

Cut story short was getting a bit needley as my pals team was holding their own , one of the Southend guys kept saying don;t worry mate won't be at Southend come the start of the season .....having asked my pal to describ who it was he reckons it was Hall who's leaving by the

I hope it was just a pure case of bravardo and no legs in this one

 

[Norwichshrimper]

It's hardly surprising he's "keen to join" after being booted out by Yeovil and Borstal Rovers in the last 2 summers. There's only so many chances a player gets. I'm afraid I can't get excited about this one. no matter how exotic his name is.