[Albion] Kazenga Lua Lua: post-Albion

[blockhseagull]

Want to feel sorry for Kaz, but can’t help thinking the problem might be more than fitness.

Become a bit of a one trick pony and not sure he seems that interested anymore.

 

[Munkfish]

https://twitter.com/RokerReport/status/984388342216318976

[tweet]984388342216318976[/tweet]

Could someone post the content, cant get through onto twitter.

 

[bn1&bn3 Albion]

Want to feel sorry for Kaz, but can’t help thinking the problem might be more than fitness.

Become a bit of a one trick pony and not sure he seems that interested anymore.

He had the perfect opportunity to prove himself after coming back from injury when we were short of wingers, what does he do? Get himself a 6 game suspension for kicking off after being sent off for the U21's...

 

[Postman Pat]

Could someone post the content, cant get through onto twitter.

Former Brighton & Hove Albion attacking midfielder Kazenga LuaLua will not be offered a new contract by Sunderland in the summer, according to our club sources.

It’s hardly groundbreaking news, particularly given the fact that he’s barely featured since arriving, but many fans - myself included - had high hopes for him upon signing and had assumed that he’d at least play a small part in boosting our faltering hopes of survival.

Unfortunately, things haven’t materialised and he’s set to leave the club once his deal is up at the end of the season.

LuaLua was allowed to leave the newly-promoted Premier League club on a free transfer in January in order to link up with Chris Coleman on Wearside, but in almost three months he’s yet to register a single appearance in Sunderland’s starting eleven, instead finding himself restricted to occasional appearances from the substitute’s bench.

The apparent reason for his non-inclusion has been his persistent issues with injuries, in particular with his hamstrings, and it’s believed that the Sunderland manager has significant worries that in handing LuaLua a start he’ll not be able to perform over the course of an entire game.


Despite being only 27-year old, LuaLua has struggled for a number of years with his fitness and it’s been a big factor in why he’s barely played at any of the clubs he’s played for in recent years.

In an interview with Roker Report in January, Alan Wares - a Brighton supporter and the presenter of ‘The Albion Roar’ radio show - expressed his concerns over the winger’s condition, stating that whilst he was capable of brilliance “he lost some pace after he broke his ankle about five years ago”.

This season - including his spell on loan at Queens Park Rangers in the early part of the campaign - LuaLua has started just two games and has completed only 356 minutes of action on the pitch.

The terms of his deal with the club are as yet unknown, but taking his previous issues with fitness and injury into account it wouldn’t be unfair to suggest that the club might have agreed upon a pay scheme based upon incentives that depend on him being fit and ready to play.

Upon his signing Chris Coleman suggested that we’d see LuaLua play a fairly prominent role down the middle as opposed to in his favoured wide-position, but due to issues that have plagued him since the day he arrived we’ve just not seen him feature anywhere near as much as many had hoped.

With just four games remaining time is seriously running out for the player to impress the club enough in order to earn a new deal, and whilst he appears fit having featured on a handful of occasions recently from the bench it looks unlikely that he’ll even be given the chance to prove both his worth and his fitness ahead of the summer.

Sadly, for all parties involved, it’s been an incredibly disappointing and frustrating stint for the player at Sunderland, and it was perhaps fairly naive for us to have even hoped that he’d have been fit and capable enough to perform to the standard required in order to help drag the club away from the relegation zone.

 

[Frutos]

Could someone post the content, cant get through onto twitter.

Kaz isn't going to be offered a new contract at Sunderland and will leave at the end of the season.

 

[Bevendean Hillbilly]

When he was good he was very ,very, good but his best days are gone.
Really loved his swashbuckling runs.

 

[Blue3]

Very sad feel sorry for Kaz after all he was a big part of where we are and at 27 he should be coming into his best I think league 1 might be a good level to get fit score some goals and get back on track

 

[BensGrandad]

Perhaps he should drop to Div 2 to virtually start again.

 

[Giraffe]

Where is Will Buckley now? Strikes me he is very similar in terms of injuries problems restricting his match appearances. Although I suspect with Kaz there is more than just the injury issues.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Very sad feel sorry for Kaz after all he was a big part of where we are and at 27 he should be coming into his best I think league 1 might be a good level to get fit score some goals and get back on track

Gave us some great moments, albeit few and far between. Like you say 'at 27 he should be coming into his best'. Still young enough to be worshipped like a GOD in one of the minor leagues of Europe. Maybe Cyprus or Holland or something.

 

[Stat Brother]

Where is Will Buckley now? Strikes me he is very similar in terms of injuries problems restricting his match appearances. Although I suspect with Kaz there is more than just the injury issues.

With Craig Noone at Bolton. (much to my surprise)

 

[Stat Brother]

Gave us some great moments, albeit few and far between. Like you say 'at 27 he should be coming into his best'. Still young enough to be worshipped like a GOD in one of the minor leagues of Europe. Maybe Cyprus or Holland or Scotchland or something.

...

 

[Ninja Elephant]

They've spotted what some of us had spotted years ago - the lad's overrated. Good luck to him wherever he ends up in league 1 next season - he needs to get his confidence back by playing against players without pace who don't realise that all you have to do is ask him to produce something. Don't challenge him, don't force him to make a decision because he can be dangerous when forced to be. If you just stand off him and ask what he's got, he's got nothing.

He's had the benefit of working with multiple coaches, and he's never improved. There's only one person to blame for that.

 

[BensGrandad]

If as many seem to assume he will be in Div 1 next season, why have Sunderland not offered him a new contract as that is where they will be, so they presumably do not think that he is good enough for that division next season.. I think the best he can hope for is Div 2 in this country or move abroad and Cyprus would seem ideal for him.

 

[crookie]

Didn't even know he had gone there

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

If as many seem to assume he will be in Div 1 next season, why have Sunderland not offered him a new contract as that is where they will be, so they presumably do not think that he is good enough for that division next season.. I think the best he can hope for is Div 2 in this country or move abroad and Cyprus would seem ideal for him.

The article says he's struggled with fitness (when hasn't he) and given his potential wage demands it makes sense to release him. Sunderland need to cut costs, they'll still be paying Jack Rodwell £70,000 a week next season to not play for them.

 

[Springal]

The article says he's struggled with fitness (when hasn't he) and given his potential wage demands it makes sense to release him. Sunderland need to cut costs, they'll still be paying Jack Rodwell £70,000 a week next season to not play for them.

Rodwell drops to £40k per week next season, if relegated apparently. But yes probably slightly excessive for L1 football

 

[Stat Brother]

Rodwell drops to £40k per week next season, if relegated apparently. But yes probably slightly excessive for L1 football

A fact most, if not all of us, need reminding about every 6 months.

 

[Easy 10]

Cheese strings for hamstrings unfortunately. He'll be lucky to find anyone in L1 willing to have a punt on him now. With his injury record, he'll probably end up at some noddy northern club in L2 on a short term contract.

 

[Triggaaar]

They've spotted what some of us had spotted years ago - the lad's overrated.

Yep, him and Barnes just aren't good enough. Definitely nothing at all to do with injuries. Definitely.