Didier Drogba

[The only place to be 11,313]

As far as legacy goes.. you just can't ask for anything better than leaving after your last ever kick being the CL winner. Stupid decision by Didier and the board, Eto'o would have been a FAR better option.

No proper Chelsea supporter is going to let whatever transpires in the next 12 months affect Drogba's 'legacy'. He's a legend, end of story.

As for Eto'o, they're different players. If you want to discuss the tactical implications of Drogba coming back then that's an interesting discussion to have but I think this is more akin to you discussing Mourinho and his suits or your 'outrage' at our light blue training kits which might look too much like City's. It's a massively superficial analysis.

I won't complain if he's brought back, but I have to agree with Term here that I'd rather have seen Eto'o given another year long contract.

Again, how does that work tactically? Costa does what Eto'o does, whereas Drogba offers something different.

I'll go back to the West Ham game last season where we created 39 chances. If you're pumping balls into the box against a packed defence, who do you want to introduce - Drogba or Eto'o?

[Beigl 1,387]

He still has something to offer despite his age.Yes the last kick of the ball for Didier sounds romantic,but he is a legend anyway,so if he signs a 1-year contract and scores say 5 goals in 15 apps no one can complain.

[Special Juan 27,432]

Costa, Lukaku and Drogba.....

as opposed to.....

Costa, Ba, Torres

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Didier Drogba moves a step closer to a Stamford Bridge return as he texts old teammates to talk about coming back

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2699328/Didier-Drogba-moves-step-closer-Stamford-Bridge-return-texts-old-teammates-talk-coming-back.html

The king coming back.

[Term-X 7,891]

DD won't just be coning here for only lukaku. He will be a MASSIVE help to costa too. Infact, he night be the difference between a WC costa and a good striker costa.

Costa will want to be top dog, he's the alpha male.. I can only cringe at the idea of Drogba trying to 'mentor' him. This is a time for NEW leaders, a new era.. not going back into the past to find Lukaku a cheerleader.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Put it this way, 32 year old Eto'o needed a few months to adjust to playing in a major league again, now we release him when he is fully acclimatised to go through the same thing with 36 year old Drogba when we could jyst extend Eto's deal.

The welcome back vs Leicester would be good but beyond that this has nightmare written all over.

Beyond being black, from Africa and playing up-front, Eto'o and Drogba are very different players. If you remove any analysis of their tactical impact then the comparison makes sense (almost) but I'm not sure if this is a case of Drogba replacing Eto'o.

In fact out of all of our strikers from last season, Drogba is most likely a replacement for Ba as the target man/aerial presence/back to goal type striker....except better.

If we're playing against a parked bus and Costa alone isn't working (because there's a lack of space behind the defence for him to exploit) and we're looking to pepper the box with crosses, which striker do you want to bring on? I think even aged 37 I'd still plump for Drogba over Lukaku, Torres or even Eto'o.

[Amblève. 4,995]

[Special Juan 27,432]

[gr123 167]

If he's returning to play a main role as striker next season then it's a little bit embarrassing frankly. A legend obviously, and would love to see him in a coaching role though.

Would be interesting to know if this has anything to do with lukaku given that he's suggested that drogba was his idol. Might shut him up. Yeah, maybe not.

[didierforever 7,349]

Costa will want to be top dog, he's the alpha male.. I can only cringe at the idea of Drogba trying to 'mentor' him. This is a time for NEW leaders, a new era.. not going back into the past to find Lukaku a cheerleader.

So being top dog means elbowing people or headbutting them??? Being alpha male seems to be not learning from world class players??

Whose our coach? Should we give the same reasoning for hin and sack him right now? Costa CAN very well be the new leader on the pitch and still learn from DD.

[Steve 10,227]

[DavidEU 2,023]

Original article. 10 years ago yesterday.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/3852989.stm

[The only place to be 11,313]

Our Munich hero has become Phil Neville 'putting the cones out', smh.

Why? Sorry, I don't quite get your point here. Putting cones out is beneath him in some way? You're really going to need to expand on that because most of us probably don't see something wrong with someone who wants to move into coaching performing menial but essential tasks like that.

That's what most people in the real world do as well. They start at the bottom and work their way up. Others have, see...

Oh look, another legend holding cones. Are you still in smh mode?

There's a two-times Champions League winning coach not just touching a cone, but wearing one....hard times.

[Term-X 7,891]

Why? Sorry, I don't quite get your point here. Putting cones out is beneath him in some way? You're really going to need to expand on that because most of us probably don't see something wrong with someone who wants to move into coaching performing menial but essential tasks like that.

That's what most people in the real world do as well. They start at the bottom and work their way up. Others have, see...

Oh look, another legend holding cones. Are you still in smh mode?

There's a two-times Champions League winning coach not just touching a cone, but wearing one....hard times.

Really Idiotic point made there, Jose is the manager ffs, very different from your only real role being to put cones out. If he was serious about coaching, he should go for his coaching badges first, at least that would legitimise this.

It will take him an entire season to adjust to playing again at this level, like it did with Eto'o after his stint away, and then he'll be 37. The only thing people remember about Henry's return was his beard, Kaka tarnished his legacy at Milan by returning as a washed up has-been.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Really Idiotic point made there, Jose is the manager ffs, very different from your only real role being to put cones out. If he was serious about coaching, he should go for his coaching badges first, at least that would legitimise this.

He can do his coaching badges whilst at the club....part of which will involved taking training sessions and (prepare yourself) possibly touching cones.

It will take him an entire season to adjust to playing again at this level, like it did with Eto'o after his stint away, and then he'll be 37. The only thing people remember about Henry's return was his beard, Kaka tarnished his legacy at Milan by returning as a washed up has-been.

That might be the only thing you remember about Henry's return. He also scored the winning goal in two matches.

I honestly think you've got some weird view of people's legacies that verges on the precious. Drogba can't do anything to tarnish his legacy...he's a legend. That's the end of the discussion on the matter.

But in pure footballing terms he actually could offer us something that we're lacking, and that's something you don't want to talk about apparently.

[Term-X 7,891]

But in pure footballing terms he actually could offer us something that we're lacking, and that's something you don't want to talk about apparently.

How do you know he can still offer anything at this level.. do you seriously believe he can slot right in and do the job when called upon. Because let's face it, he's going to get far less game time than Eto'o, and it took him a while. I'm starting to believe this 'coaching role' is just to save his blushes; so when he fails to deliver, he's not going to be sent packing in an undignified way.

[The only place to be 11,313]

How do you know he can still offer anything at this level.. do you seriously believe he can slot right in and do the job when called upon. Because let's face it, he's going to get far less game time than Eto'o, and it took him a while. I'm starting to believe this 'coaching role' is just to save his blushes; so when he fails to deliver, he's not going to be sent packing in an undignified way.

Because I watched a bit of him last season and whilst he's lost that pace and explosiveness, he's still 6'2", strong, good with his back to goal, a massive threat in the air and still has better technique than Lukaku and Torres.

I would never start him because I don't think he has it in him anymore to play more than 65 minutes against a fresh defence, but if we're chasing a goal then I'd probably bring him on ahead of Ba, Eto'o, Torres or Lukaku.

And he's also a pretty decent dead-ball striker, which is something we can't really sniff at right now.

[Tomo 21,733]

Beyond being black, from Africa and playing up-front, Eto'o and Drogba are very different players. If you remove any analysis of their tactical impact then the comparison makes sense (almost) but I'm not sure if this is a case of Drogba replacing Eto'o.

In fact out of all of our strikers from last season, Drogba is most likely a replacement for Ba as the target man/aerial presence/back to goal type striker....except better.

If we're playing against a parked bus and Costa alone isn't working (because there's a lack of space behind the defence for him to exploit) and we're looking to pepper the box with crosses, which striker do you want to bring on? I think even aged 37 I'd still plump for Drogba over Lukaku, Torres or even Eto'o.

I agree about them being different players, my worry was it took Eto'o adapting time so Didier being 4 years older and less games due to Costa he will probably need even more re adapting time after so long out of a major league.