Didier Drogba

[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 20,593]

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 6,484]

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!

[The Skipper 20,593]

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 his legs and to the net?!

Incredible how you 1. Think current Didier is better than Remy 2. Absolve Didier from any blame whatsoever, as if Didier never had some of the greatest chances of the game created for him.

No point in discussing it with you is there really.

[Blue Traveler 256]

Incredible how you 1. Think current Didier is better than Remy 2. Absolve Didier from any blame whatsoever, as if Didier never had some of the greatest chances of the game created for him.

No point in discussing it with you is there really.

You didn't get the point. If you read my first post i mentioned he wasn't probably fully fit but putting the blame on one person is only ridiculous. Everyone were at fault last night from Didier to Cesc to Eden to Cahill.

[Special Juan 27,439]

He just wasn't up to it last night, he looked off the pace and every time he mis controlled the ball you could hear his frustration.

I honestly think this was a mistake from Jose starting him.

[5354 204]

its only the first match, i think it should be expected that he will be match unfit. not sure why jose didnt play remy

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Wait till arsenal game, thats all Im saying

[Nike 373]

Drogba allowed Frank Lampard to be EPL's top scorer...

No Drogba, Lampard would of never risen to the status he is now....

[Special Juan 27,439]

Wait till arsenal game, thats all Im saying

Hopefully he isn't needed for that either.

[iseah100 5,612]

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.

Stats don't tell the whole story. You're wrong.

[TacticalBlues 2,817]

Wenger on Drogba:

"I would have loved to have managed Didier Drogba, for two reasons.

One, I missed him when he played at Le Mans in France, not even in the top league. I knew there was a good player there and I missed him.

And secondly, because he hurt us so much in big games that all this pain would not have happened."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/11105870/Arsene-Wenger-reveals-his-biggest-transfer-regret-was-losing-out-on-Cristiano-Ronaldo-to-Manchester-United.html

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Wenger on Drogba:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/11105870/Arsene-Wenger-reveals-his-biggest-transfer-regret-was-losing-out-on-Cristiano-Ronaldo-to-Manchester-United.html

Wenger with his traditional interview about how close he was to signing world 11 players.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

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