🇨🇮 Didier Drogba

[Kojo 4,676]

None. No one player wins a cup. It's a team game. Look at the CL. Drogba's goal got us into penalties. But we don't get to penalties without Cech standing on his head, without Cole, Mikel, and everyone putting in a fantastic defensive effort. (and without some luck). We don't even get to Munich without Ramires scoring, without Lampard setting him up beautifully and with a heroic defensive effort by everyone. We don't get past Benfica without Kalou and Meireles scoring. We don't get past Napoli without Ivanovic's goal and without a total team dominance in the home leg. That's the way football works. It's a team game. Drogba scored some immense goals for us, he is definitely one of our best players ever, but he also had some bad periods. He was viewed as a disappointment when he first came. He was missing lots of chances and diving all the time. In the league, he scored 8 or fewer goals three times in 8 years. He got sent off for a stupid red in Moscow that could very well have cost us the Champions' League. Again, Drogba is a Chelsea legend, but if you look at the numbers (yes, stats!) there's simply no way you can justify picking him as #1. And as for the other stuff, you don't think Lampard created goals for his teammates? You don't think Zola created space? You don't think someone like Terry has brought intangible values to the team?

And it's not just the statistics. It's how people thought of him. Drogba was Chelsea's best player once in his entire career. Four different Chelsea players in the past 20 years have won it multiple times including two players that were contemporaries of Drogba.. I don't even see what the argument for Drogba is for #1 overall.

Let me tell you something, had Drogba not of been in the team in the CL Final, do you really believe we would've still gotten a goal in that game?, do you honestly believe that, because if you do then I wont even bother carrying on this discussion.

I wont forget Drogba for what he done, even if some people have, you might not think he's been our best player fair enough, but don't dare even try and look past what he done for us. WE WOULD NOT HAVE WON IT IF IT WERN'T FOR HIM... ENOUGH SAID.

[DYC. 7,542]

Stats wise yes, that can't be disputed and the stats previously posted show Lampard's as more impressive than Drogba's. That being said, anyone watching Chelsea over that time period and for the entire duration of his Chelses career knows that Drogba was always about far more than stats. His contribution to our way of playing could never be measured in stats.

No not just stats wise. Drogba played a important in 2004-2006 but he wasn't crucial, Lampard was. It was Lampard who was second to Ronaldinho, who was in legendary form, for Player of the Year in 2005 (has a Chelsea player ever made the top 10 even after that?). He was the engine and passer in midfield. Always a available passing option, starting up attacks, switching play and finding the wingers quickly with ease. Frank was the main creator and making intelligent runs and exploiting spaces left by the opposition (which struck fear in their defences and pushed them back), Lampard was the player who would find the goal regularly and also score very important goals for the club. And due to his incredible fitness, he was always getting back quickly to defend and played a important part in our very organized defence. Lamps was the player who played every match and produced quality performances at unbelievable consistency.

And when Drogba suffered from loss of form in the seasons 07/08 and 08/09, it was Lampard who we could count on and carried the team offensively. Especially in 08/09, when Lampard was simply magnificent throughout the season imo. Despite the irregular form of his team mates, bar Carvalho and A. Cole. Lampard was a very effective player but he wasn't all about stats, that would be an insult.

Forwards always get far more attention than players in other positions. Drogba was key because of his own physical excellence in our physical style of play, but that doesn't mean he performed the best. When he was on form, he was simply incredible. But when he wasn't, he could be very frustrating. So yeah, on his day he was without a doubt the best offensive player but he suffered from loss of form far too often to top Lamps.

That said, I really don't want this to sound like I don't know or appreciate what Drogba brought to the club. He was a top player and is one of the greats at Chelsea. But Lampard was even bigger for me. I guess we'll never agree on that.

[DYC. 7,542]

Let me tell you something, had Drogba not of been in the team in the CL Final, do you really believe we would've still gotten a goal in that game?, do you honestly believe that, because if you do then I wont even bother carrying on this discussion.

I'm sorry but If it wasn't for Cech's heroics, his goal would have meant as much as Kuyt's goal in the CL 2007 final.

We wouldn't even be in the final if wasn't for Cech. Or what about Cole's goal-line clearance against Napoli.

Giving Drogba all credit is simply ridiculous.

[Kojo 4,676]

I'm sorry but If it wasn't for Cech's heroics, his goal would have meant as much as Kuyt's goal in the CL 2007 final.

And if it wern't for Drogba's goal, his saves would've been pointless.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Let me tell you something, had Drogba not of been in the team in the CL Final, do you really believe we would've still gotten a goal in that game?, do you honestly believe that, because if you do then I wont even bother carrying on this discussion.

I wont forget Drogba for what he done, even if some people have, you might not think he's been our best player fair enough, but don't dare even try and look past what he done for us. WE WOULD NOT HAVE WON IT IF IT WERN'T FOR HIM... ENOUGH SAID.

Do you believe we would have gotten to Munich without Ramires or without Cole or Lampard or Cech or Bosingwa? Of course Drogba was key. He scored goals against Napoli and Barcelona and defended brilliantly but you're last line is exactly the problem I have with this line of thinking. The "him" could be a dozen players.

[Ollie 4,400]

In 5 years, Mata will be in the top 8.

[DYC. 7,542]

And if it wern't for Drogba's goal, his saves would've been pointless.

Exactly. Take one out and the other becomes pointless. No one player deserves all credit.

[Kojo 4,676]

Do you believe we would have gotten to Munich without Ramires or without Cole or Lampard or Cech or Bosingwa? Of course Drogba was key. He scored goals against Napoli and Barcelona and defended brilliantly but you're last line is exactly the problem I have with this line of thinking. The "him" could be a dozen players.

Exactly. Take one out and the other becomes pointless. No one player deserves all credit.

But Drogs was the main man to do it, yes they all came together and did it as a football, but Drogs was the main man who got us the goals and made sure we done it. Can't take it away from him.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

But Drogs was the main man to do it, yes they all came together and did it as a football, but Drogs was the main man who got us the goals and made sure we done it. Can't take it away from him.

I'm not trying to take it away from him. He scored a massive goal and a fantastic one at that but we won because of a team effort, not simply because of that goal.

[DYC. 7,542]

But Drogs was the main man to do it, yes they all came together and did it as a football, but Drogs was the main man who got us the goals and made sure we done it. Can't take it away from him.

That's because you're looking at it from a goals scored view, down playing us preventing goals conceded.

People seem to have forgotten but Drogba almost completely canceled out the relevance of his own goal by conceding a penalty. Just imagine the possible scenario. Drogba gets a stupid red card in Moscow and now hands Bayern the title in Munich. But who came to the rescue yet again? Petr Cech with a brilliant save. And in the penalty shoot-out, Mata missed. Meaning Drogba's final penalty wouldn't even have mattered if Bayern scored all their penalties. But who made Mata's miss unimportant in the end? Petr Cech.

[Peace. 4,352]

And when Drogba suffered from loss of form in the seasons 07/08 and 08/09, it was Lampard who we could count on and carried the team offensively. Especially in 08/09, when Lampard was simply magnificent throughout the season imo. Despite the irregular form of his team mates, bar Carvalho and A. Cole. Lampard was a very effective player but he wasn't all about stats, that would be an insult.

Bro, this is an endless circle. I can copy/past your sentence that I quoted, switch names around and legitimately make Drogba looks better than Lampard. In 2009-10, when Lampard started to be on the wane (despite his goal record, he wasn't that good compared to his best level), Didier was the best goalscorer in the league with 29 goals and managed to have 10 assists ; and he was voted the best player of the FA Cup final, a final where he scored to only goal and allowed us to win it. In 2011-12, while Lampard was busy in having a cat fight with Boas, Drogba was faboulous in the Champions League, scored the first goal in the FA Cup semi-final, and then scored the winning goal (as far as my memory goes) in the FA Cup final. During our two most successfull seasons - i.e. the double EPL/FA Cup, and the double UCL/FA Cup -, Drogba was our better player (at least into my eyes), and he played a major part in our success.

So you see, with the same arguments you are using to "write off" (it isn't the best word, though I cannot find better right now) Drogba, I can use them to "write off" Lampard in Drogba's favor. Both players have been pivotal for Chelsea, at different times. It happened that Drogba was pivotal in our most successful season(s), that must be the reason for which he has been voted as the greatest. There's nothing to get offended about, and this doesn't discredit Lampard by any means.

And I think we'll agree on this, there're no needs to carry on this debat, it's time to be happy for Didier, and put a stop to this endless discussion. It's not as if Lampard was ranked 79th...

[Kojo 4,676]

That's because you're looking at it from a goals scored view, down playing us preventing goals conceded.

People seem to have forgotten but Drogba almost completely canceled out the relevance of his own goal by conceding a penalty. Just imagine the possible scenario. Drogba gets a stupid red card in Moscow and now hands Bayern the title in Munich. But who came to the rescue yet again? Petr Cech with a brilliant save. And in the penalty shoot-out, Mata missed. Meaning Drogba's final penalty wouldn't even have mattered if Bayern scored all their penalties. But who made Mata's miss unimportant in the end? Petr Cech.

I'm not trying to take it away from him. He scored a massive goal and a fantastic one at that but we won because of a team effort, not simply because of that goal.

Yep, that could've been the scenario, but it never happened, and thanks to Cech. However there is only one Didier Drogba, remember that!, we wont get another like him who scores those big goals, no one but him could've done that. And I am not downplaying Cech in any possible way at all here when is say he's not the only keeper in the world who could've saved that penalty. Had it of been up to me to pick the man between the posts in our campaign, i would've picked Cech any day of the week for how good he was, couldn't replace him at all.

But this is my last post on this, as lets face it we are going nowhere, this is an endless cycle, now it wil l be time for you to tell me that Lampard also had a huge part in it and all that, which i already know, then I'll have to state my points again.

So as they say agree to disagree or whatever.

[DYC. 7,542]

Bro, this is an endless circle. I can copy/past your sentence that I quoted, switch names around and legitimately make Drogba looks better than Lampard. In 2009-10, when Lampard started to be on the wane (despite his goal record, he wasn't that good compared to his best level), Didier was the best goalscorer in the league with 29 goals and managed to have 10 assists ; and he was voted the best player of the FA Cup final, a final where he scored to only goal and allowed us to win it. In 2011-12, while Lampard was busy in having a cat fight with Boas, Drogba was faboulous in the Champions League, scored the first goal in the FA Cup semi-final, and then scored the winning goal (as far as my memory goes) in the FA Cup final. During our two most successfull seasons - i.e. the double EPL/FA Cup, and the double UCL/FA Cup -, Drogba was our better player (at least into my eyes), and he played a major part in our success.

So you see, with the same arguments you are using to "write off" (it isn't the best word, though I cannot find better right now) Drogba, I can use them to "write off" Lampard in Drogba's favor. Both players have been pivotal for Chelsea, at different times. It happened that Drogba was pivotal in our most successful season(s), that must be the reason for which he has been voted as the greatest. There's nothing to get offended about, and this doesn't discredit Lampard by any means.

And I think we'll agree on this, there're no needs to carry on this debat, it's time to be happy for Didier, and put a stop to this endless discussion. It's not as if Lampard was ranked 79th...

You seemed to have missed the part where I said Lampard was our best offensive player in the periods 2003-2006 and 2007-2009, which doesn't include our double winning season and the CL and FA Cup winning season. I agree that despite his amazing goal record that season, he wasn't the same Lamps from 09/10 going. I disagree with Drogba being our best player in 2011/2012. People can go on and on about Drogba scoring important goals but I'll keep countering it with Cech's important saves. Ramires was crucial as well that season.

And even though we didn't manage to win the CL in 2004-2006, we were without a doubt at our best during that time. We were the best team in world football alongside Barcelona. And we'll never know what would've happen if Drogba wasn't sent off in the 08 final, in which Lampard scored the equaliser.

I'm happy for Didier definitely, but I'm just saying Lampard was a bigger player for me.

[manpe 10,861]

He's also the man who won us the Champions League, everyone played a huge part in it, but it was Drogba who kept saving our arses, he's the Chelsea god.

How many times did cech save drogba's ass from his stupidly conceded penos? He is no. 1 now thanks to cech, otherwise he'd be a villain and nowhere near top 10. This is a knee jerk list.

[Muzchap 8,966]

Lmao - they are all great players, why are we even arguing who is the best?

It's irrelevant, there's no such thing as the best player, its a Team - from the Owner down to the guy that cuts the grass or cleans the changing rooms...

Forgot this 'idol' thing, respect everybody who plays a part in CFC.

Also, don't forget the historical players that allowed the club to survive and attract Roman.

Everybody at CFC from the first ever players that kicked a ball deserve credit.

Honestly - save the 'he's better arguments for the FIFA and FM threads...'

<end grumpy rant>

[Strike 7,489]

I think he is, Drogba is unplayable, what don't people understand about that?.

Lampard was a great player but it's not fair to say he was our best player, I think Gerrard has been better than Lampard overall if I'm honest.

Drogba is one of them where he was the best in the world at what he did and where he played.

you have to consider all factors. in 2005 there was that diving storm and he was almost anonymous under Scolari. Banned at the end of 3 CL exits. he was unplayable, that's true but not the greatest ever

[didierforever 7,349]

But Drogs was the main man to do it, yes they all came together and did it as a football, but Drogs was the main man who got us the goals and made sure we done it. Can't take it away from him.

dude i am a big DD fan. i love the man with my heart n soul. when he came to india this summer, i bunked my exam, went against my parents, teachers, did what not to just see this guy once. but to say that he was the "main reason" will be an insult to the entire squad. every person deserves the credit. cole for his napoli save, rambo for barca(both legs), meireles for marking messi for large extent of times, mikel for his performance in the final, every1 played their part.

[Peace. 4,352]

You seemed to have missed the part where I said Lampard was our best offensive player in the periods 2003-2006 and 2007-2009, which doesn't include our double winning season and the CL and FA Cup winning season. I agree that despite his amazing goal record that season, he wasn't the same Lamps from 09/10 going. I disagree with Drogba being our best player in 2011/2012. People can go on and on about Drogba scoring important goals but I'll keep countering it with Cech's important saves. Ramires was crucial as well that season.

And even though we didn't manage to win the CL in 2004-2006, we were without a doubt at our best during that time. We were the best team in world football alongside Barcelona. And we'll never know what would've happen if Drogba wasn't sent off in the 08 final, in which Lampard scored the equaliser.

I'm happy for Didier definitely, but I'm just saying Lampard was a bigger player for me.

No, I didn't missed your point, bro, it's rather you that missed my point - or did I misspoken myself ? Possible. All I was trying to say, is that you are bring up the fact that Lampard was our best player from X to Y, which makes Lampard better than Didier ; so I am answering to you that with the same reasoning, I can say Drogba was our best player from X' to Y', and as a consequence he should be the better out of the two. I wasn't trying to argue who was better, not at all bro - actually, I was trying to point out that this kind of argumentation could be used both way : in Lampard's favor or in Didier's favor.

And it seems that you think that Cech was a more important player than Drogba thanks to his important saves. I hear you out and I think your opinion is entirely legitimate. Though, once again I could say that without players such as Claude Makelele and Essien sitting next to Lampard, the later man couldn't have gone forward that much, therefore he couldn't have scored that much, therefore blabla... Once again, I am trying to discredit Lampard or stuff ? No, all I am trying to tell you is that if you are using this kind of argument in Lampard's favor, I can use it as well in Didier's favor. And even a third man could use this argument in X's favor in order to make him look better than both Lampard and Drogba. And if you're saying Drogba wasn't the better in 2011-12, because Cech and Ramires were also crucial, why not saying the same stuff about Lampard best period - i.e. 2003-06 / 2007-09 - ? Because, as Didier wasn't the only crucial player last season, Lampard wasn't alone on the pitch a few years ago, as far as I know.

Don't get my wrong ; I ain't trying to take a dig at you, at Lampard, or whoever. Nor I am trying to say Drogba is head and shoulder better than anyone. I am just saying that, if we do not use double-standard, debating this way will lead us nowhere but to rewrite World's history.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Guys, what is even the point in this list? We are lucky to have had some really world-class players at Chelsea that has brought us success and entertainment throughout the years. Lampard at his best was the best midfielder in the world and DD was the best striker in the world when he was up for it, I don't think you can objectively say which was more important for the club.

[Kojo 4,676]

you have to consider all factors. in 2005 there was that diving storm and he was almost anonymous under Scolari. Banned at the end of 3 CL exits. he was unplayable, that's true but not the greatest ever

And neither was Lampard.