The Case Against Didier Drogba

There’s no doubt about it, the subject of Didier Drogba is one that completely divides opinion at Chelsea. As already seen in the previous article, and to an extent, as he showed in last night’s game, he’s regarded by some as the one player capable of getting us a result—and possibly even turning our home form around.

 

Other supporters though—myself included—regard him as a right pain in the arse. A damaging influence, who’s brief but sulky appearances this season continue to suggest he couldn’t really care less about the club and is just biding his time for a better offer.

 

Not only does he seem to need constant adulation, but he demands that the game revolves around him. For me, his ego just needs a little too much rubbing and again last night’s game highlighted this.

 

Apparently satisfied by the excitement his warmup seemed to induce, he was then prepared to launch himself fully into the game for the first time this season. And it didn’t take him long to take over up front, reducing an unhappy looking Anelka into the almost redundant supporting striker role.

 

Fair play, it was a great take from the Ivorian for his goal, but when Anelka had the opportunity to play a pass at one stage and took it on himself without the desired outcome, the look on Drogba’s face while he stood hand on hips already suggests he isn’t thinking in terms of a partnership here.

 

Because ultimately, this striker has to believe the game revolves around him. I don’t think it’s any coincidence that all the strikers brought in to play alongside Drogba—Kezman, Shevchenko, Kalou, and Anelka—have failed to cut the mustard on the same pitch as Didier.

 

I guess for me though, the biggest problem is that Drogba hasn’t made up for the Champions League, and whilst some might point to it being his goals in the win over Liverpool that put us into the final in the first place, I still maintain there was little or no point working his arse off in the semifinal only to cock-up in such spectacular fashion when it mattered most.

 

And what about his dodgy knee and increasingly prolonged periods of time out injured these days? I mean, he’s 30 now and the fact is, since April last year, Drogba has missed twice as many games as he’s started.

 

Of course I fully expect his fan club to remind me that of the eight Premier League games we’ve played against United, Arsenal, and Liverpool without him, we’ve only won one and of the three he’s played in we’ve beaten both United and Arsenal and got a draw against Liverpool.

 

I accept the statistics suggest we’re just not the same team without him and yet he’s clearly no good to us if he can’t stay fit.

 

But then Drogba’s no good to us unless he sorts his attitude out either. His petulance on the pitch and persistent press coverage off it are damaging and recent rumours point to senior players getting a little bit tired of his self-obsession.

 

And yet he’s got the club over a barrel. Chelsea don’t have the strength in depth up front and for all Anelka’s goals this season, he still doesn’t have quite the presence of Drogba in and around the opposition’s defence. 

 

And with a lack of funds available, not to mention suitable replacements in the January window even if the money was there, we’ll be relying on him at least until the summer—and he knows it.