🇨🇮 Didier Drogba

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

I'm not sure what you're getting at here. While it's true Drogba was not the most prolific striker in the history of the PL, he was arguably the most influential to his team, alongside Henry. When he wasn't scoring goals, he was a nightmare for defenders to defend against, occupying entire back four's with his incredible hold up play and physical, direct style. He was much more than just goals and a pound for pound superior player to what van Persie and Rooney ever where. He was also not our regular penalty taker like those other players you mentioned (except Jimmy). And he also had seasons were he fell out with some managers/managers fell out with him which affected his scoring numbers. Also, when was Chelsea ever a high scoring team when Drogba was in his prime here? Apart from the season under Ancelotti, we were one of the lowest scorers among the "big 4" clubs.

To say Drogba was not a PL great and was "not close to being our greatest ever player" shows how completely clueless you are about:

(1) Drogba's contribution to Chelsea.

(2) The history of Chelsea FC.

The fact that that is a "popular" post worries me. Seriously, have a word with yourself son.

So, explain why Drogba is close to being one of the greatest Chelsea players please. TWO years of 12+ goals in the league. Apart from those two seasons, he had a pretty mediocre goal-scoring record for the other 6 (87 goals in 237 games is not good). He was a very good striker who had two fantastic seasons and happened to play on fantastic teams so he had a lot of big game moments (he also had a lot of bad moments in big games which is normal) . We have had a lot of very good strikers but none have ever been on teams like Drogba was so never had the opportunity to have those massive games in front of the world. Chelsea have had a lot of very good strikers. Bentley, Osgood, Dixon, Tambling, Greaves. What makes Drogba stand apart from any of those players except that he played on better teams and was able to play and score in big games? By and large, those players played for longer for Chelsea and were more consistent. You look at someone like Lampard or Terry who were excellent players for Chelsea every single year for about a decade on the same team. I'm not saying Drogba was not a great player overall, just that because of his big-game moments, many Chelsea supporters have elevated him to a status he doesn't belong to.

As for belonging to the best of PL forward, there's not really a serious case. Henry is the best Premier League striker ever IMO (but Shearer is very close). Henry got UEFA team of the year 5 times in 6 years (he scored 26+ goals 6 times). Wayne Rooney has scored more than 16 goals in 10 straight years. Hassailbank did it 7 times. Fowler did it 6 times, Shearer did it an amazing 11 times. Michael Owen did it 7 times. Van Nistelrooy did it 5 times in 5 years. Van Persie has done it 5 times. Drogba did it twice. You're comparing a player who had two excellent seasons with players who were excellent for 5-10 years.

Hassailbank is a good comparison to Drogba because they both played 9 years in the Premier League (and both played with Chelsea.) Here is where Drogba finished in the EPL scoring race in his career in the EPL. 16, 10, 1, 24, 54, 1, 12, 59, X. Compare that to Hassailbank who finished 4, 1, 1, 2, 14, 13, 4, 14, 113 in his Premier League time. You don't see the difference? Hassailbank was a top-5 scorer in the league 5 times. He was a top-15 striker in the league 8 straight years. Drogba finished top-5 in the league in scoring twice. He was top-15, 4 times in 8 years (and won't be this season either obviously). Hassailbank also had a year in there with Atletico where he finished second in the league in scoring in Spain (24 goals in 34 games). You don't think if Hassailbank played on the slightly later Chelsea teams, he also would have scored lots of big goals in big games? Of course he would have. Drogba was a great player but not an all-time great.

[stroey 2,525]

So, explain why Drogba is close to being one of the greatest Chelsea players please. TWO years of 12+ goals in the league. Apart from those two seasons, he had a pretty mediocre goal-scoring record for the other 6 (87 goals in 237 games is not good). He was a very good striker who had two fantastic seasons and happened to play on fantastic teams so he had a lot of big game moments (he also had a lot of bad moments in big games which is normal) . We have had a lot of very good strikers but none have ever been on teams like Drogba was so never had the opportunity to have those massive games in front of the world. Chelsea have had a lot of very good strikers. Bentley, Osgood, Dixon, Tambling, Greaves. What makes Drogba stand apart from any of those players except that he played on better teams and was able to play and score in big games? By and large, those players played for longer for Chelsea and were more consistent. You look at someone like Lampard or Terry who were excellent players for Chelsea every single year for about a decade on the same team. I'm not saying Drogba was not a great player overall, just that because of his big-game moments, many Chelsea supporters have elevated him to a status he doesn't belong to.

As for belonging to the best of PL forward, there's not really a serious case. Henry is the best Premier League striker ever IMO (but Shearer is very close). Henry got UEFA team of the year 5 times in 6 years (he scored 26+ goals 6 times). Wayne Rooney has scored more than 16 goals in 10 straight years. Hassailbank did it 7 times. Fowler did it 6 times, Shearer did it an amazing 11 times. Michael Owen did it 7 times. Van Nistelrooy did it 5 times in 5 years. Van Persie has done it 5 times. Drogba did it twice. You're comparing a player who had two excellent seasons with players who were excellent for 5-10 years.

Hassailbank is a good comparison to Drogba because they both played 9 years in the Premier League (and both played with Chelsea.) Here is where Drogba finished in the EPL scoring race in his career in the EPL. 16, 10, 1, 24, 54, 1, 12, 59, X. Compare that to Hassailbank who finished 4, 1, 1, 2, 14, 13, 4, 14, 113 in his Premier League time. You don't see the difference? Hassailbank was a top-5 scorer in the league 5 times. He was a top-15 striker in the league 8 straight years. Drogba finished top-5 in the league in scoring twice. He was top-15, 4 times in 8 years (and won't be this season either obviously). Hassailbank also had a year in there with Atletico where he finished second in the league in scoring in Spain (24 goals in 34 games). You don't think if Hassailbank played on the slightly later Chelsea teams, he also would have scored lots of big goals in big games? Of course he would have. Drogba was a great player but not an all-time great.

Lol, you're clearly a wikipedia analyst.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

When we signed Drogba, I was afraid of precisely this happening: that Jose would let his emotions affect him and play Drogba when he shouldn't. If it was anyone but Drogba, Jose wouldn't have done it. Playing a 36-year-old striker well past his prime in a CL game when we have 2 better strikers doesn't make any sense. Disappointed with Jose, but maybe he needed this lesson. It's a good thing it happened so early in the season.

[Jase 43,479]

I realize it was a dogshit performance but I didn't expect Chelsea fans to start marginalizing Drogba's status as a one of the great PL forwards. You'd think Chelsea fans of all people wouldn't forget Drogba that quickly.

Considering the world we live in these days, it's not surprising. Has happened with few other players previously after all.

[Tomo 21,751]

When we signed Drogba, I was afraid of precisely this happening: that Jose would let his emotions affect him and play Drogba when he shouldn't. If it was anyone but Drogba, Jose wouldn't have done it. Playing a 36-year-old striker well past his prime in a CL game when we have 2 better strikers doesn't make any sense. Disappointed with Jose, but maybe he needed this lesson. It's a good thing it happened so early in the season.

At Real he basically told Carvalho to fuck off, within a year back here he has let go Essien, Lamps, Cole and dropped Cech.

Jose doesn't let emotions get the better of him, he made a mistake keeping Didier on so long, but it has nothing to do with chasing 2005.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

At Real he basically told Carvalho to fuck off, within a year back here he has let go Essien, Lamps, Cole and dropped Cech.

Jose doesn't let emotions get the better of him, he made a mistake keeping Didier on so long, but it has nothing to do with chasing 2005.

I don't buy it. His decision to start Drogba and keep him for as long as he did wasn't rational. Jose is a great manager and it was a silly mistake, so I believe his emotions did get the better of him.

We don't know his true relationship with Essien, Lamps, Cole and Cech. He might have been less attached to them than to Drogba.

[DH1988 1,348]

As soon as I saw him on the line up starting I thought "Shit." - he just doesn't have it anymore, does that bother me? not really, does it affect his status as a legend? nope, should he only really be used in the last 10-15 minutes of a game to lump it up or a corner? yeah probably, should he continue to be the leader in the squad along with JT etc.? yes please.

Carry on Drogs, carry on.. just try not to start too many matches ahead of Remy.

[Tomo 21,751]

I don't buy it. His decision to start Drogba and keep him for as long as he did wasn't rational. Jose is a great manager and it was a silly mistake, so I believe his emotions did get the better of him.

We don't know his true relationship with Essien, Lamps, Cole and Cech. He might have been less attached to them than to Drogba.

I think it's pretty obvious Jose was attached to Lamps and Essien. He also dropped Pepe shortly after kissing him on the head while he leaves the field.

Jose is one of the few managers that would happily ditch his favorites for results, on a personal level he's sentimental ill give you that, professionally is a completely different matter.

[Blue Traveler 256]

With regards to Sunday match i think Jose made the right decision to play Drogba. He is not fit enough i say but we couldn't play Costa and play him on Sunday again. Remy just arrived without any experience in CL nights. i would've played Drogba ahead of Remy/Costa.

The problem was we didn't take our chances. That Cesc clear cut chance in the 1st half should've been in the back of the net 100 percent. We were a little complacent and shaky at the back and Hazard was a lil selfish in this game.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Remy just arrived without any experience in CL nights.

You do know Remy played in the CL quite a bit for Marseille right?

[Blue Traveler 256]

You do know Remy played in the CL quite a bit for Marseille right?

I do and i considered that NOTHING to Didier's one.

[Blue Traveler 256]

So, explain why Drogba is close to being one of the greatest Chelsea players please. TWO years of 12+ goals in the league. Apart from those two seasons, he had a pretty mediocre goal-scoring record for the other 6 (87 goals in 237 games is not good). He was a very good striker who had two fantastic seasons and happened to play on fantastic teams so he had a lot of big game moments (he also had a lot of bad moments in big games which is normal) . We have had a lot of very good strikers but none have ever been on teams like Drogba was so never had the opportunity to have those massive games in front of the world. Chelsea have had a lot of very good strikers. Bentley, Osgood, Dixon, Tambling, Greaves. What makes Drogba stand apart from any of those players except that he played on better teams and was able to play and score in big games? By and large, those players played for longer for Chelsea and were more consistent. You look at someone like Lampard or Terry who were excellent players for Chelsea every single year for about a decade on the same team. I'm not saying Drogba was not a great player overall, just that because of his big-game moments, many Chelsea supporters have elevated him to a status he doesn't belong to.

As for belonging to the best of PL forward, there's not really a serious case. Henry is the best Premier League striker ever IMO (but Shearer is very close). Henry got UEFA team of the year 5 times in 6 years (he scored 26+ goals 6 times). Wayne Rooney has scored more than 16 goals in 10 straight years. Hassailbank did it 7 times. Fowler did it 6 times, Shearer did it an amazing 11 times. Michael Owen did it 7 times. Van Nistelrooy did it 5 times in 5 years. Van Persie has done it 5 times. Drogba did it twice. You're comparing a player who had two excellent seasons with players who were excellent for 5-10 years.

Hassailbank is a good comparison to Drogba because they both played 9 years in the Premier League (and both played with Chelsea.) Here is where Drogba finished in the EPL scoring race in his career in the EPL. 16, 10, 1, 24, 54, 1, 12, 59, X. Compare that to Hassailbank who finished 4, 1, 1, 2, 14, 13, 4, 14, 113 in his Premier League time. You don't see the difference? Hassailbank was a top-5 scorer in the league 5 times. He was a top-15 striker in the league 8 straight years. Drogba finished top-5 in the league in scoring twice. He was top-15, 4 times in 8 years (and won't be this season either obviously). Hassailbank also had a year in there with Atletico where he finished second in the league in scoring in Spain (24 goals in 34 games). You don't think if Hassailbank played on the slightly later Chelsea teams, he also would have scored lots of big goals in big games? Of course he would have. Drogba was a great player but not an all-time great.

You like numbers? go support Manure, Barca, Real or even scumpool.

[TheOneChan95 225]

Ironically the last 15 mins would have been the perfect time for him to be on the pitch when Schalke were staying in their own box and we could spam crosses.

[Styles 9,790]

Whilst I don't agree with TorontoChelsea's larger point you can't dispute the numbers; Drogba wasn't a prolific goalscorer (although his goals to games ratio isn't bad by any means). I just felt that he was a brilliant focal point for the team to play around, he contributed a lot to our general play and provided plenty of assists, and had a lot of intangibles that made him a unique player. There were games he wouldn't get on the scoresheet but was integral to us winning. I absolutely think he is an all-time Chelsea great and one of the best Premier League forwards.

Hasselbaink was brilliant by the way and I wish he had stayed for just one more year and picked up a Premier League winners medal.

[boshman 1,073]

So, explain why Drogba is close to being one of the greatest Chelsea players please. TWO years of 12+ goals in the league. Apart from those two seasons, he had a pretty mediocre goal-scoring record for the other 6 (87 goals in 237 games is not good). He was a very good striker who had two fantastic seasons and happened to play on fantastic teams so he had a lot of big game moments (he also had a lot of bad moments in big games which is normal) . We have had a lot of very good strikers but none have ever been on teams like Drogba was so never had the opportunity to have those massive games in front of the world. Chelsea have had a lot of very good strikers. Bentley, Osgood, Dixon, Tambling, Greaves. What makes Drogba stand apart from any of those players except that he played on better teams and was able to play and score in big games? By and large, those players played for longer for Chelsea and were more consistent. You look at someone like Lampard or Terry who were excellent players for Chelsea every single year for about a decade on the same team. I'm not saying Drogba was not a great player overall, just that because of his big-game moments, many Chelsea supporters have elevated him to a status he doesn't belong to.

As for belonging to the best of PL forward, there's not really a serious case. Henry is the best Premier League striker ever IMO (but Shearer is very close). Henry got UEFA team of the year 5 times in 6 years (he scored 26+ goals 6 times). Wayne Rooney has scored more than 16 goals in 10 straight years. Hassailbank did it 7 times. Fowler did it 6 times, Shearer did it an amazing 11 times. Michael Owen did it 7 times. Van Nistelrooy did it 5 times in 5 years. Van Persie has done it 5 times. Drogba did it twice. You're comparing a player who had two excellent seasons with players who were excellent for 5-10 years.

Hassailbank is a good comparison to Drogba because they both played 9 years in the Premier League (and both played with Chelsea.) Here is where Drogba finished in the EPL scoring race in his career in the EPL. 16, 10, 1, 24, 54, 1, 12, 59, X. Compare that to Hassailbank who finished 4, 1, 1, 2, 14, 13, 4, 14, 113 in his Premier League time. You don't see the difference? Hassailbank was a top-5 scorer in the league 5 times. He was a top-15 striker in the league 8 straight years. Drogba finished top-5 in the league in scoring twice. He was top-15, 4 times in 8 years (and won't be this season either obviously). Hassailbank also had a year in there with Atletico where he finished second in the league in scoring in Spain (24 goals in 34 games). You don't think if Hassailbank played on the slightly later Chelsea teams, he also would have scored lots of big goals in big games? Of course he would have. Drogba was a great player but not an all-time great.

Why is Drogba one of the greatest Chelsea players ever? Is that a serious question?

Maybe his 157 goals for the club (the 4th highest in our history) maybe the 100 premier league goals (only African to achieve that) maybe the 4 Fa Cup final goals in 4 Fa Cup finals. Maybe the 8 cup final goals in 8 cup finals. Maybe the countless times he has scored massive goals on massive occasions. Maybe the fact it was he who produced THE greatest moment this club has ever witnessed with THAT penalty.

[The Skipper 20,609]

I do and i considered that NOTHING to Didier's one.

What did Didier's massive CL experience do for us yesterday? Sorry, can't use that to justify starting Drogba over Remy. Poor reason.

[Styles 9,790]

Why is Drogba one of the greatest Chelsea players ever? Is that a serious question?

Maybe his 157 goals for the club (the 4th highest in our history) maybe the 100 premier league goals (only African to achieve that) maybe the 4 Fa Cup final goals in 4 Fa Cup finals. Maybe the 8 cup final goals in 8 cup finals. Maybe the countless times he has scored massive goals on massive occasions. Maybe the fact it was he who produced THE greatest moment this club has ever witnessed with THAT penalty.

Maybe he believes that many of the top strikers we've had in our history could have done all that and been more prolific. Maybe, maybe not; who knows? However I'd rather just appreciate the guy who did do all that instead of disparaging his overall contribution as not enough, which is what it kinda feels like if I'm honest.

[Fernando 6,585]

You like numbers? go support Manure, Barca, Real or even scumpool.

Stupid comment.

The guy posted a nice lengthy opinion the least you could have done was given thoughts as to why you disagree about his points.

[Blue Traveler 256]

What did Didier's massive CL experience do for us yesterday? Sorry, can't use that to justify starting Drogba over Remy. Poor reason.

What make you sure Remy would've done a better job than Didier? A logical reason to play a more experienced player who's been here longer, played longer and knows the team players and manager's thoughts better to play the match.

And is it Didier's fault Cesc can deliver that clear cut chance or is it his fault Hazard can't keep that volley down or couldn't tap that ball in or maybe it's his fault Cesc lost the ball in the middle made them counter and Cahill couldn't keep his legs closed which the ball went through and to the net?!

[Blue Traveler 256]

Stupid comment.

The guy posted a nice lengthy opinion the least you could have done was given thoughts as to why you disagree about his points.

I gave my opinion but if you like a nice lengthy thing i have some thing for you!