On 24/08/2025 at 10:59, timetowaste said:

I'm convinced that Drogba would have gotten a lot of stick if he was around these days. There were a lot of games where he didn't score or get an assist but was just a massive headache for defenders by bullying them and linking up with our other players which is what we saw with Delap yesterday. Yes there are still parts of his game to improve on I think if we give him the time he'll prove to be worth it.

Drogba got a lot of stick in those days, easily as much as Jackson, and it went into overdrive when he publicly courted the Milan clubs while we flirted with Shevchenko, Adriano and Ibrahimovic. Even on this forum there were very few who defended him, with @just being his most vocal defender, despite scoring or assisting in most games.

Edited August 26, 2025Aug 26 by SydneyChelsea

That first season of Drogba though (even into his second) he was unbearable. A bloke that size and strength going to ground with every change of wind direction, proper embarrassing stuff. He did turn it around though and become an adequate squad player….

Delap on the other hand, I absolutely adore watching him, it’s like a proper Number 9. Bullying CB’s, pulling players way out of their comfort zone with his runs, good in the air, insane hold up play. We’ve got a proper player on our hands and I’m so glad he’s one of us now. Haven’t had a striker to fall in love with since Costa.

On 26/08/2025 at 10:17, The Boehly Babes said:

That first season of Drogba though (even into his second) he was unbearable. A bloke that size and strength going to ground with every change of wind direction, proper embarrassing stuff. He did turn it around though and become an adequate squad player….

I was MH Lower season ticket holder in those days and what many didn't notice then or simply didn't account for was that Drogba got fouled constantly by opposition defenders because he got in their faces, won nearly everything in the air and didn't give them a moments rest. Some of the challenges he took were awful. But because of his size and his strength, referees generally failed to give him the proper protection and calls he should have got under the rules of the game. That was the reason, IMO, why after awhile he started to exaggerate the contact and moan to the refs about the treatment he was getting.

Another thing people forget is that first season he was out for more than two months with a bad injury and still scored 16 goals including his first of many cup-final goals. I remember hearing a stat at the end of the season that Chelsea had scored a record number of goals from midfield and defenders that campaign and a lot of that was due, again IMO, to the hold up play, work rate and staggering aerial ability of Drogba.

I loved him from day one and never waivered. Absolute legend and probably the best in the air striker I have ever seen.

4 minutes ago, just said:

I was MH Lower season ticket holder in those days and what many didn't notice then or simply didn't account for was that Drogba got fouled constantly by opposition defenders because he got in their faces, won nearly everything in the air and didn't give them a moments rest. Some of the challenges he took were awful. But because of his size and his strength, referees generally failed to give him the proper protection and calls he should have got under the rules of the game. That was the reason, IMO, why after awhile he started to exaggerate the contact and moan to the refs about the treatment he was getting.

Another thing people forget is that first season he was out for more than two months with a bad injury and still scored 16 goals including his first of many cup-final goals. I remember hearing a stat at the end of the season that Chelsea had scored a record number of goals from midfield and defenders that campaign and a lot of that was due, again IMO, to the hold up play, work rate and staggering aerial ability of Drogba.

I loved him from day one and never waivered. Absolute legend and probably the best in the air striker I have ever seen.

Loved the lad. Met Didier when he entered the UK to sign for Chelsea (I was the Immigration Officer who stamped him in - in my previous immigration life). Got him to sign a landing card, and give me his autograph. Probably shouldnt say - but we refused entry to his Personal Chef who entered with him, as he had the wrong visa.

Also once stamped in Adrian Mutu - who when I asked for his autograph actually signed it "the brilliance" !

Gutted for Delap. I said in the match thread, it was very reminiscent of the Guiu situation last season. A young guy gets his chance in the team, starts to look the part and then gets injured.

It looks like a hammy that went so possibly 4 to 6 weeks out?

Out six weeks.

6 minutes ago, Scott said:

Out six weeks.

Minimum…

CWC has been a hinderance for everyone at this club.

I expect 8 weeks. At least he'll be availabe in October

8 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Minimum…

CWC has been a hinderance for everyone at this club.

2,976 minutes played last season for Delap, including the Club World Cup, which is equivalent to 33 "90s".

This sucks, but I'm not sure we can pin it on the CWC ...

CWC now starting to show the effects on the players

31 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Minimum…

CWC has been a hinderance for everyone at this club.

3 minutes ago, El regreso said:

CWC now starting to show the effects on the players

To be fair he was supposed to play in an under 21's tournament anyway so would likely have played more minutes in that than the WCC.

On 26/08/2025 at 04:28, SydneyChelsea said:

Drogba got a lot of stick in those days, easily as much as Jackson, and it went into overdrive when he publicly courted the Milan clubs while we flirted with Shevchenko, Adriano and Ibrahimovic. Even on this forum there were very few who defended him, with @just being his most vocal defender, despite scoring or assisting in most games.

One of the memorable quotes of that season

Pauly (re: Drogba): More farmer than footballer

Well, two of those weeks out will be taken up by the international break. So hopefully he won't miss too many games.

Edited August 30, 2025Aug 30 by Scott Harris

33 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Well, two of those weeks out will be taken up by the international break. So hopefully he won't miss too many games.

Think 11-12 games total.

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Think 11-12 games total.

If it's 8 weeks out, then it probably won't even be that many. There is another international break at the start of October. So he would probably be back after that.

Hopefully this is limited to 8 weeks. Current Chelsea are very cautious when bringing players back. Hope he bounces back quickly - moments like this can really disrupt momentum, sharpness and confidence.

We still seem to get so many longer term injuries. I’m sure there is a volume of games component, but other teams play this many games and appear more resilient.

Delap is awful. Horrible human being. scumbag. It's all his fault that Jackson is back here.

Despite all that - I do really like delap and am gutted he is injured, think he is a cracking player.

6 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Think 11-12 games total.

Around 9 games. In theory, he should be available against the spuds if no complication and rehab goes well.

Should be back training early November just before the hectic festive period thankfully.

The games Liam Delap is set to miss for Chelsea

Brentford vs Chelsea (13 September, Premier League)
Bayern Munich vs Chelsea (17 September, Champions League)
Manchester United vs Chelsea (20 September, Premier League)
Lincoln City vs Chelsea (23 September, Carabao Cup)
Chelsea vs Brighton (27 September, Premier League)
Chelsea vs Benfica (30 September, Champions League)
Chelsea vs Liverpool (4 October, Premier League)
Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea (18 October, Premier League)
Chelsea vs Ajax (22 October, Champions League)
Chelsea vs Sunderland (25 October, Premier League)
Tottenham vs Chelsea (1 November, Premier League)
Qarabag vs Chelsea (5 November, Champions League)

On 31/08/2025 at 05:30, nonotnowjim said:

Delap is awful. Horrible human being. scumbag. It's all his fault that Jackson is back here.

Despite all that - I do really like delap and am gutted he is injured, think he is a cracking player.

Getting in some practice for Gittens ?? 😂

13 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Should be back training early November just before the hectic festive period thankfully.

Somewhat encouraging. Hopefully recovery goes well and he’s back on the front side of that. We’ve a lot of games coming up - Guiu to get some good minutes also.

7 hours ago, The Rising Sun said:

Getting in some practice for Gittens ?? 😂

Not sure why you think I won't like Gittens. We have had plenty of crap players during the years, and there has only ever been 1 that I utterly despised and refused to support.

Gittens may, or may not, turn out to be a useful player - but so far he doesn't seem like an unlikeable character. In everything I have seen so far, he seems like a good guy, decent personality, doesn't have a face I want to punch, doesnt appear to have questionable off field habits, doesn't seem to have an only fans account. doesn't have a smug little grin, doesn't seem like a village idiot..... I have not noticed any visceral anger building within me towards him.

I think he is safe.

Edited September 10, 2025Sep 10 by nonotnowjim

There is far too much "Mudryk" in Gittens style of play that has me very pessimistic about him. Deserves the chance to prove otherwise, especially with the pressure off of him now.

Had an injury set back and is reportedly out until the new year.

🙃