Step forward Didier Drogba

[Star]

Today I saw a different side to Drogba, pleased as punch as laying on goals for Anelka and Kalou, despite being on the verge of history in banging in a hat-rick to be the first player since the 40's to score a treble in three successive top flight games.

Head and shoulders today's man of the match, without scoring, who'd have ever thought it?

Early CSR/PR regulars will remember my early info. from the South Of France when I let everyone know he was signing before the hacks got hold of ir, Pierre from Marseiille, now departed but always remembered, a mate who supported them for all his life and told me Didier was the best striker on earth and to stick with him while almost every Chelsae fan I spoke to ( Even on those famous forums) slated his every mis- placed touch.

Well Pierre, rest in peace mate, Star maybe pissed, but Didier done you proud today my son.

Edited August 21, 2010 by Star

[stevo]

Didier is a team player and a hungry one, he shows it all the time. He is definately not a selfish player,and deservedly got the man of the match today. Here's to another great season and another golden boot for the mighty Drog.

[PloKoon13]

Here is a photo of the attempted disintegration on Didier Drogba, proving that he is not only invincible (he has civil war-busting Wolverine healing powers), but that every particle of his body carries the blue of Chelsea.

[Pac]

By far the best striker on the planet.

[Bobbywoodhogan]

When Drogba's on form he is easily the best striker on the planet, he not only scores goals he creates them. The guy is the perfect team player

[dkw]

I thought it was very interesting to see Carlo play him on the left of the 3 when Kalou came on, and he played just as well as when he was in the middle of the 3. Nice to see Carlo do that, it will give teams we play a real worry to see Drogba switch to wide left or right as defenders wont know whether to go with him or not.

[coco]

Yeah Drogba is King.

But dont forget the other 3 supporting strikers Malouda, Anelka and Kalou.

Combined they are the best attacking players we have ever had.

[Mikstaw]

Drogba is fantastic!!!!! The best striker in the world!

[Gem]

Farmer.

[mbh]

Best striker? yer aving a larf, how many did he score yesterday? none that's how many, useless, sell him, get Heskey. ;)

[The Machine]

Drogba is a fantastic player, one that I have a high regard for. However if he is to take it to the next level he has to perform very well in this season's Champions League. Also when it comes to that competition I hope he cuts out that redicious behaviour when things are not going for him and Chelsea. The behaviour against Inter at Stamford Bridge last season springs to mind.

[mad_mac]

Drogba will always be regarded as one of our greatest ever Strikers, but I'll be first to admit: I was certainly critical of him when we signed him, and for a good few seasons thereafter. He's slowly won me over. However, him slapping Vidic and getting sent off in Moscow still gets to me. However, he's done plenty since then to help me almost forget

[bluegraham]

we have been blessed with great strikers down the years,but none ave them have done what drogba done all he.s missing is scoring in a champions leauge final then he has scored in everything. all does goals and he dont take penos

[Ruh Buh Juh]

Absolute legend!

Edited August 22, 2010 by Ruh Buh Juh

[Backbiter]

When I first saw him play - for Marseille in their UEFA cup run in 2004 - I'd never seen a centre-forward like him, for all-round ability and sheer presence.

Jose knew how good he was, but - as DD's autobiography made clear - he never wanted to come here in the first place and didn't really settle until a couple of years ago, ironically after JM had left. Now his head is right, and his fitness is 100%, we are seeing what a phenomenon he is. The World Cup proved there is no striker on the planet that comes close to him, and I really think he can carry on at this level for a few more seasons.

[ws6blue]

he is an enigma...............

yesterday first 45 mins he was awful, few busrts of enrgy but his touch was poor and he just wasn't on it

second half he was excellent all round and you could see how pleased he was for nico and soloman

[kennypaul]

Drogba is a fantastic player, one that I have a high regard for. However if he is to take it to the next level he has to perform very well in this season's Champions League. Also when it comes to that competition I hope he cuts out that redicious behaviour when things are not going for him and Chelsea. The behaviour against Inter at Stamford Bridge last season springs to mind.

i have to agree,a fantastic player,and if scolari had had his way(you remember scolari,the one who know-all ferguson said it was a mistake to get rid of!)he would probably be scoring goals somewhere else.however i also have to agree on his bad side.imo when things arent going well for him and the team,a little bit of petulance creeps into his play,and i agree about the inter match,he did tread on mottas ankle,although some still think he didnt,not to mention moscow.

[icecoolguy22]

We saw the other side of the Drogba in the Wigan game, when he wasn't scoring loads of goals or hold up the ball, he was able to set up 3 goals with some beauiful pass and cross. The cross for Kalou's goal would make any winger proud. Carlo really extracted the best out of Drogba since his arrival, back to his early days, Drogba was the target man and constantly battling aginst 2 central defenders and got kicked and bruised every match, and he was not happy. Now with ball at his feet, he is having a blast. The way he is playing at moment, he can easily go around for another 4-5 years

[Blue Celery]

He's ok.

[Spiller86]

He may well be the best buy of all of the spending we did way back when, at least over the long term.

The thing that makes him so valuable is that he is unique, the only striker of his kind. Big and capable of being dominant physically but also with brilliant with the ball at his feet. Furthermore he is a superb asset at set pieces in defence as well.

Of course there is the dark side as madmac mentions. I've never been more angry with a player than when he got sent off in the final in Moscow. The diving and carrying on I always thought was a blight on his game, but that is aspect is probably not as bad as it was, and is probably really only kept alive becaue it is stil played up a lot by the media.

I think he's matured a little bit in the last season or so under Carlo. He's still a very passionate player and still has those moments like when he wanted the penalty against Wigan last season (which again was played up and would have been made a bigger deal if we hadn't had gone on to score 8 IMO.)

Now, in my belief he's very much a leader at the club, and is perhaps more valuable than he ever was particularly with the addition of his free kicks in the last season or two. He really is our lynchpin despite all the talk about Frank, JT etc. When he plays well, normally we win. It's when he doesn't play well we have problems. Makes me wonder what in earth we are going to do when he retires, It'll require a whole rethink of how play I think.

Edited August 23, 2010 by Spiller86

[evissy]

The set-up for Salomon's goals proved the man is currently the best player in the prem. The first with the schoolboy's special going past the defender with just sheer Drogba-force was amazing. He just made the opposition look like 3rd rate defenders. Second goal pass was better than Lamps could have given. Inch perfect!!

Do you remember 2 seasons ago when we were sure Didi will leave? Horrible to think that. It was that brazilian clown who almost made him leave. Stay away from Chelsea LFS!

[Cam]

Drogba is far more valuable to the team than any transfer fee we could get for him.

He is without a doubt the best striker in the EPL, probably in the world.

I love watching him play. Teams must think they have him contained in some games, then he just explodes from nowhere....usually with a sudden exhibition of his strength, or a surprising amoung of agility. His technique and skill is phenomenal too. He is pretty much the perfect player. His attitude has left a little to be desired in the past, but he seems to have really improved recently (bar the hiccup of the petulance in the final game last season). He looks like he's enjoying the club, and the football we're playing.

[chelseabootboy]

The set-up for Salomon's goals proved the man is currently the best player in the prem. The first with the schoolboy's special going past the defender with just sheer Drogba-force was amazing. He just made the opposition look like 3rd rate defenders. Second goal pass was better than Lamps could have given. Inch perfect!!

Do you remember 2 seasons ago when we were sure Didi will leave? Horrible to think that. It was that brazilian clown who almost made him leave. Stay away from Chelsea LFS!

lamps does it week in week out how can you say that??? drogba is sheer quality but to be honest i dont think he's hit form yet still needs games for sharpness, lamps plays balls like that every game but because he does it so often people don't highlight it..

[MHL_blue]

Drogba is far more valuable to the team than any transfer fee we could get for him.

Well said!

[SydneyChelsea]

To an outsider of football it would sound like this thread is a bit exaggerated :) but I think 'force of nature' is a pretty appropriate way to describe Drogba.

Whenever Drogba gets the ball it makes you stand up on the edge of your seat. Whereas with some strikers you feel like it "just isn't their day" as they seem to fade out of games after repeatedly missing chances, the Drogba of the last few seasons seems to be growing closer and closer to a goal with every missed chance.

It reminds me of a debate I had with a Scouse friend of mine over Shearer vs Fowler. I would concede that Fowler was the more technically-gifted of the two players but there was something about Shearer that made you feel that a goal was imminent every time he had the ball. I think it comes from a rare but perfect combination of mentality, technique and determination.

Another striker i'd put in that class was Thierry Henry. These three strikers have more than one dimension to their game- the technique is there but they also made things happen by sheer physical presence (Henry was deceptively strong, and also lightning quick- how many goals did he score after outmuscling or outpacing a stranded full-back and slotting in from wide angle?) or determination.

Many strikers are better finishers than these three but none quite inspire the same fear in defenders. Shearer was dirty, Henry stroppy and Drogba is a diver but there are still many neutral fans that just sit back and admire the ability of these players.

Across the world the only two other forwards who are even close to this class are Rooney and Torres and I think they will prove to be as good in time.