I can't believe anyone is feeling Drogba has in any way tarnished his reputation, legacy or whatever here, I commend him for coming back to a club he loves and doing his best to help them achieve more success, he hasn't let us down in any way, maybe a couple of lacklustre performances (how many of our players haven't had a couple of them this season?) but some decent ones as well.

 

He will always be the player that won Chelsea their first CL and he will always for me be a legend.

 

If he has a bad game, I'll support him, the manager watches him in training and feels he still has something to offer, we rest other players when he's on the field and he has been decent enough off the bench as well, I've not seen much of Remy to say he is a better second choice and obviously its horses for courses, Jose will know when to and how to use the two of them to our advantage.

 

I think he's doing as much from the sidelines and in training to have a big influence on how our season pans out and I don't begrudge him a minute on the pitch.

 

I really hope he stays on in some capacity after his playing days are over but I'm in no hurry for the day to come.

He's past it simple as that. Tony McCoy retired at the weekend got out at the top Drogba should have done the same.

He's past it simple as that. Tony McCoy retired at the weekend got out at the top Drogba should have done the same.

 

Vic Flange?

 

That's Great!!

Isnt that a carry on film name? Cant remember which film though.

Isnt that a carry on film name? Cant remember which film though.

Carry on Abroad. Best joke of the film ''This is the wife don't laugh''

Of course, if one game is going to change your mind about something then why should your opinion hold any value in the first place?

 

How many people written Drogba off and wished he never came back after the Shalke home game was it? When he missed a good amount of chances. Then he scored against United and people were licking his arse again, football fans are always so fickle.

 

I stand by what I said and I'm glad he is here, I think he will prove very useful this season.

He scored against Utd from the efforts of others not from his own efforts.

Pssh... just wait until the Arsenal game in April

Horses for courses where Remy and Drogba are concerned imo.

Thought he had a horrible game on the weekend but generally I think his contribution has been good this season and I wouldn't hate seeing him start again.

He still has the strength, skill and charisma to be a dangerous player for us.

P.s. Thought the game on Saturday was just the type of game he has always been liable to have now and then rather than a reflection of his legs having gone.

Edited February 9, 201511 yr by g3.7

Chippy, if I had a pound for every time you used that line............................................!! 

 

 

Thing is though Nibs it's never been truer...Jose wouldn't be playing him if he thought it was detrimental to our chances of winning and

although I've used those exact words many times surely with the said manager being Mourinho people must have enough faith to give him the benefit of the doubt that he knows a bit about the game.

Thing is though Nibs it's never been truer...Jose wouldn't be playing him if he thought it was detrimental to our chances of winning and

although I've used those exact words many times surely with the said manager being Mourinho people must have enough faith to give him the benefit of the doubt that he knows a bit about the game.

 

Bah, what does he know about serving paella?

I simply cannot abide the Drogba knocking. Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water, he has had a significant impact previously and another role in the club awaits.

I actually think maybe it made sense on Saturday to play him. When Fabregas plays he has that ability to play the ball long for the striker to run onto but that's nearly pointless with Drogba.

But with Fabregas out maybe Jose thought our build up play would be slower and we'd need his hold up play.

Problem was he had a poor game.

Think if Cesc is available then Remy has to play.

It was clear for all to see that Drogba was there on Saturday to hold up the ball to allow Ramires in particular to join our three behind Didier to run past him whilst he contained the centre backs.

It makes me laugh when people say Drogba is slow and finished he was there to do a job against Villa and typically Jose's plan worked.

When Villa equalised the game opened up as they pushed on allowing space in between the lines and there centre halves. Thus they had a higher line as they pushed for a winner.

Enter Remy to get in behind and hey presto a goal soon followed.

I am a newbie on here, I flicked through the match chat and I had a good chuckle. Mourinho is a world class tactical genius yet those skating our play until Branner scored were questioning things and Drogba's contribution.

I know it's about opinions, I get that fully and peoples takes on here can be different but it doesn't disquise the fact some comments do show people no nothing about football or more to the point tactics and if they managed Chelsea and not Jose we would be struggling to make the top three !

Thing is though Nibs it's never been truer...Jose wouldn't be playing him if he thought it was detrimental to our chances of winning and

although I've used those exact words many times surely with the said manager being Mourinho people must have enough faith to give him the benefit of the doubt that he knows a bit about the game.

All sport is about the here and now. If we bought any other 36 year old on transfer deadline day who had been playing in the Turkish and Chinese league and put in performances like Bradford and Villa there would be uproar. You have to forget what a legend he was and what he is now a shadow of his former self.

It was clear for all to see that Drogba was there on Saturday to hold up the ball to allow Ramires in particular to join our three behind Didier to run past him whilst he contained the centre backs.

It makes me laugh when people say Drogba is slow and finished he was there to do a job against Villa and typically Jose's plan worked.

When Villa equalised the game opened up as they pushed on allowing space in between the lines and there centre halves. Thus they had a higher line as they pushed for a winner.

Enter Remy to get in behind and hey presto a goal soon followed.

I am a newbie on here, I flicked through the match chat and I had a good chuckle. Mourinho is a world class tactical genius yet those skating our play until Branner scored were questioning things and Drogba's contribution.

I know it's about opinions, I get that fully and peoples takes on here can be different but it doesn't disquise the fact some comments do show people no nothing about football or more to the point tactics and if they managed Chelsea and not Jose we would be struggling to make the top three !

 

Can't say I saw Drogba holding the ball up much on Saturday.

 

He looked totally lost and his legs were gone.

 

Hopefully, just the product of starting twice in succession.

All sport is about the here and now. If we bought any other 36 year old on transfer deadline day who had been playing in the Turkish and Chinese league and put in performances like Bradford and Villa there would be uproar. You have to forget what a legend he was and what he is now a shadow of his former self.

Vic perhaps some of us remember the performances he put in when he started against United and Tottenham as well! Also he came on for the last 10 minutes away to Newcastle and completely transformed us a team.

I can fully understand why Jose thinks Drogba can probably still do a job when called upon until the end of the season. I also think Mourinho possibly doesn't rate Remy that highly, at the moment neither do I. Especially if we stick with one up front.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if we have two new strikers backing up Costa next campaign.

Edited February 9, 201511 yr by just

Sim

 

Vic perhaps some of us remember the performances he put in when he started against United and Tottenham as well! Also he came on for the last 10 minutes away to Newcastle and completely transformed us a team.

I can fully understand why Jose thinks Drogba can probably still do a job when called upon until the end of the season. I also think Mourinho possibly doesn't rate Remy that highly, at the moment neither do I. Especially if we stick with one up front.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if we have two new strikers backing up Costa next campaign.

Simply transformed us as a team by playing long ball in a game we lost 2-1 ?. 

It was clear for all to see that Drogba was there on Saturday to hold up the ball to allow Ramires in particular to join our three behind Didier to run past him whilst he contained the centre backs.

It makes me laugh when people say Drogba is slow and finished he was there to do a job against Villa and typically Jose's plan worked.

When Villa equalised the game opened up as they pushed on allowing space in between the lines and there centre halves. Thus they had a higher line as they pushed for a winner.

Enter Remy to get in behind and hey presto a goal soon followed.

I am a newbie on here, I flicked through the match chat and I had a good chuckle. Mourinho is a world class tactical genius yet those skating our play until Branner scored were questioning things and Drogba's contribution.

I know it's about opinions, I get that fully and peoples takes on here can be different but it doesn't disquise the fact some comments do show people no nothing about football or more to the point tactics and if they managed Chelsea and not Jose we would be struggling to make the top three !

 

 

I think you're giving most of us on here too much credit , Welcome to the forum though.

Yes, totally.

We were dire up front for the preceding 80 odd minutes. There centre-backs had a cigar on. Then Drogba came on and instantly we had possession for the first time in and around their box. He scored one and almost set up another. They couldn't handle him. Perhaps he can no longer do that for 90 minutes but it still shows he can make a big difference sometimes.

I think you're giving most of us on here too much credit , Welcome to the forum though.

OOH Matron chippy by name

Thing is though Nibs it's never been truer...Jose wouldn't be playing him if he thought it was detrimental to our chances of winning and

although I've used those exact words many times surely with the said manager being Mourinho people must have enough faith to give him the benefit of the doubt that he knows a bit about the game.

 

I know Chippy, but even the great get it wrong from time to time.

 

Of course I have faith in Mourinho and back his judgement and decisions but also accept he isn't going to get it right EVERY time, but he will get it right more often than most. As great a coach as his is (the best) he does have his favourites and I think just sometimes this clouds his judgement. I will stand by my view that he shouldn't have brought Drogba back as a player. He is only back with us because of past achievements and his CFC legendary status - No other top side would have taken him on at this stage in his career.

Edited February 10, 201511 yr by Nibs

Again we have different views Nibs, I can understand yours fully but I still feel he's been on the whole well worth having up to now and has in some games looked a better option than Remy, to be fair he looked more of a handfull for the Newcastle defenders than Costa did on the day.

 

Adding to that his undoubted influence on the group and I don't see it as a bad idea, he'll likely have some influence on proceedings between now and the seasons end as well, he's a totally different option to Remy and sometimes that's what we need.

 

I think his age is being looked at a bit too much, he's always had the odd game that went by without him and maybe that will happen a bit more at his ripe old age but his physical condition is better than most of the players in the premiership era who have gone on to make big contributions a few years past their best.

 

Regardless how good we both think he is now, surely you're not in the camp that believes anything he does now is somehow tarnishing what he's done here?

Yes, totally.

We were dire up front for the preceding 80 odd minutes. There centre-backs had a cigar on. Then Drogba came on and instantly we had possession for the first time in and around their box. He scored one and almost set up another. They couldn't handle him. Perhaps he can no longer do that for 90 minutes but it still shows he can make a big difference sometimes.

 

And this is the point most people, including those saying Drogba is somewhat past it, agree on. 

 

Against Spurs he was good, but against United he was actually pretty poor and he limits us as a team. When Cesc looks to hit the ball long, what's the point when Drogba can't run onto it like Costa or Remy and he can't really hold it up like he used to? 

 

But when we're trying to break a team down like Newcastle and hitting crosses into the box then he's a great option because he is still a big unit and in the box he can still finish very well.

 

That to me is where he should be used, but I really don't think he should be starting many matches. But he has made a career out of proving people wrong so who knows?

And this is the point most people, including those saying Drogba is somewhat past it, agree on. 

 

Against Spurs he was good, but against United he was actually pretty poor and he limits us as a team. When Cesc looks to hit the ball long, what's the point when Drogba can't run onto it like Costa or Remy and he can't really hold it up like he used to? 

 

But when we're trying to break a team down like Newcastle and hitting crosses into the box then he's a great option because he is still a big unit and in the box he can still finish very well.

 

That to me is where he should be used, but I really don't think he should be starting many matches. But he has made a career out of proving people wrong so who knows?

 

He was poor against United, his movement was off and we needed pace.

 

The United defence was leaving massive gaps and we couldn't capitalize on it because Drogba wasn't making the movement, how many times did Hazard get in great positions but nothing could be done.

 

I really think if Costa had been able to play that game we would have won it.

He was poor against United, his movement was off and we needed pace.

 

The United defence was leaving massive gaps and we couldn't capitalize on it because Drogba wasn't making the movement, how many times did Hazard get in great positions but nothing could be done.

 

I really think if Costa had been able to play that game we would have won it.

 

I think if Remy had been playing we'd have won it.

 

Drogba's strength now is his presence in the box. Against Newcastle we had them with their backs against the wall so he only had to be a presence in their penalty area.

 

But that's an aberration. Games aren't played like that, they're about what happens outside the box and that's where 36 year olds tend to lose a step. 

I think if Remy had been playing we'd have won it.

 

Drogba's strength now is his presence in the box. Against Newcastle we had them with their backs against the wall so he only had to be a presence in their penalty area.

 

But that's an aberration. Games aren't played like that, they're about what happens outside the box and that's where 36 year olds tend to lose a step. 

 

His age is a factor but I still think he gives this squad a lot of positive merits.

 

He played bad the United game, however he still scored our only goal of the game. You can't fault his spirit, you know he will always be up for it. Our strike force has improved massively from last season and that's great to see. But you have to give Drogba credit in the Newcastle game, Costa was also playing then but he wasn't doing anything, he actually had a disappointing game entirely.

 

That's what we need him for, around November and December Drogba has been fantastic when coming off the bench, it's hard for sides to handle him in the last 10 minutes. I think he's useful, whether or not you think he should be here next season I'm not sure but I think he's going to be useful this season. I say keep at it, bring him on later in games however he was poor the Villa game but I think it's obvious why he started I guess.