Okay Drogba... enough is enough!

[BlueBosnian]

How much longer will I have to watch Drogba wrestle the ball out of Ballack's and Lampard's hands when it comes to free kicks? Can someone please tell him that he is not as good and is not supposed to get every kick. I've seen him do it a few times in the past few matches, esspecialy when a foul is on him, and it makes me sick. I see him arguing over it with Ballack and Lampard every time, so can someone please explain it to me why he gets the previlidge to decide those?

Leave already!

[Maksimov]

Lampard may be able to do a lot of things, but freekicks aren't what he does best and I think Drogba does a better direct freekick than Lampard, but I agree that Ballack should take most of our freekicks when he's on the pitch.

[loz]

To be honest it is a much wider problem than just Drogba. In general our quality from set pieces is atrocious, not just direct free kicks but also our delivery from indirect ones and corners. Set pieces are such a massive part of the game now that it staggers me that we are so poor at them, and have been for so long now without us seeming to be doing anything about it. It always surprised me that we were so poor in this area under Jose as he was so meticulous in his analysis of the game that he surely couldn't miss the fact that we were throwing away such a great opportunity. Under Grant things haven't improved.

[Tim]

Do you remember tha first season under Jose, where we looked so lethal at set pieces?

We have great delivery, we had clever, pre-arranged moves which we had obviously practiced to perfection, and we had goals goals goals as a result.

We were also equally solid defending them, so what has happened.

We have largely the same team, with the exception of Gallas, so how has it all gone so wrong?? I now worry when we concede a free kick/corner and assume nothing will come of it when we win won.

can't be THAT hard to get right in training can it???

[ethicalstrategy]

If only we had Ronaldo to take our freekicks and penalties. I believe he scores everytime.

I think people get a bit carried away with the set piece stuff. It is easy to fall in to the trap of thinking that every other team scores every time they have a corner or freekick around the box. They don't. Most set pieces come to nothing. If you can get just a small percentage right then that is as much as you can expect.

The target area to play a ball from a set piece is very tiny. Too low and you hit the wall/first defender. Too high and it flies over everyone or is easy for the keeper. In effect the person taking the set piece is aiming for a very small window to deliver anything dangerous.

I do agree, however, that our set pieces have deteriorated recently. I believe that it is because we don't seem to have any set rules for who takes them. It used to be pretty clear that Lampard would take most of them with Duff or Robben occasionally having a go. Now it seems to be a free for all with players arguing amongst themselves - example, Ballack and Drogba the other week. The players should know exactly who will take freekicks in any particular situation.

[sweet waffle]

The target area to play a ball from a set piece is very tiny. Too low and you hit the wall/first defender. Too high and it flies over everyone or is easy for the keeper. In effect the person taking the set piece is aiming for a very small window to deliver anything dangerous.

The thing is though it's quite easy to practise set-piece delivery, especially corners. How do you think Beckham became so good at deadball delivery, by practising all the time that's how. If the players aren't putting the effort in during/after training then it won't improve. How many times do our corners fail to beat the first man, it's beyond annoying.

Hopefully we'll sign Alves in the summer and he'll sort us out as he's supposedly pretty hot on set-pieces.

[BLUENUT]

Gianfranco spoilt us!

[sweet waffle]

Gianfranco spoilt us!

Very true. Maybe he should come back and give the lads some lessons.

[ethicalstrategy]

The target area to play a ball from a set piece is very tiny. Too low and you hit the wall/first defender. Too high and it flies over everyone or is easy for the keeper. In effect the person taking the set piece is aiming for a very small window to deliver anything dangerous.

The thing is though it's quite easy to practise set-piece delivery, especially corners. How do you think Beckham became so good at deadball delivery, by practising all the time that's how. If the players aren't putting the effort in during/after training then it won't improve. How many times do our corners fail to beat the first man, it's beyond annoying.

Hopefully we'll sign Alves in the summer and he'll sort us out as he's supposedly pretty hot on set-pieces.

Well it's a big assumption that we don't practice deadball situations.

And my point was that the reason you see a corner failing to beat the first man is because we are trying to "just" beat the first man. Any idiot can beat the first man every time if it also beats the last man and everyone else.

If you think that Alves will be the answer then I think you are in for a disappointment.

Don't hget me wrong, I'm as frustrated as the next man when it happens but if you watch all the games from all the other sides you see just as much of it.

[cox3100]

most overated player in the league bar none

[Maksimov]

most overated player in the league bar none

Thank you for your insight and wisdom.

[Alan]

most overated player in the league bar none

Thanks for that.

[sweet waffle]

The target area to play a ball from a set piece is very tiny. Too low and you hit the wall/first defender. Too high and it flies over everyone or is easy for the keeper. In effect the person taking the set piece is aiming for a very small window to deliver anything dangerous.

The thing is though it's quite easy to practise set-piece delivery, especially corners. How do you think Beckham became so good at deadball delivery, by practising all the time that's how. If the players aren't putting the effort in during/after training then it won't improve. How many times do our corners fail to beat the first man, it's beyond annoying.

Hopefully we'll sign Alves in the summer and he'll sort us out as he's supposedly pretty hot on set-pieces.

Well it's a big assumption that we don't practice deadball situations.

I didn't make that assumption, I proposed that for any player/team to get better at set-piece delivery they have to practise. The assumption was that we don't appear to practise enough as it's pretty clear that we aren't very good at it, as today's game showed. Corners are so much an intrinsic part of football that it's criminal that we are quite so poor at getting the ball into the danger area.

I think we can all agree though, that Chelsea as a team look a lot less threatening at attacking set-pieces than a fair few other teams and by the same token sometimes look a lot more susceptible when defending set-pieces, and it's something that needs rectifying.

[coco]

most overated player in the league bar none

No he isnt, he is a big prat sometimes i know.

But Rooney is by far the most overated player in the EP at present (good finish today, i'll give him that). He looks a shadow of his youthful self.

[mudasar]

the reason we were so good at defending at set peices was drogba, he just to get on the end of all them and on the other end when terry was scoring we looked dangrous.

[TheWestwayWonder]

the reason we were so good at defending at set peices was drogba, he just to get on the end of all them and on the other end when terry was scoring we looked dangrous.

He might be good at defending them, but thats what he should be doing: Using his big frame to hammer it home when it goes in there. Because, and correct me if I am wrong, Didier Drogba has NEVER scored on a freekick for Chelsea Football Club. At least, I never recall seeing him or reading about him doing it.

Loz and Tim had it right on the money. We were so good at set pieces under Jose. Nobody will ever forget the JT header against Barca, but if youll recall, he scored a boatload that season for a defender. Gallas and Drogba used to get their fair share too. That was a big part of our offensive game, and opened the game up a bit because people were afraid to foul us

Now, we look more or less toothless. I know Lamps has never been the best at freekicks, but in Ballack we have a guy who has the potential to get them right on the target every time. In the moment, he should be the default taker and Drogba should get his childish arse into the box to bang around a bit and see if he can get to the end of it.

Now, whats this I heard about him and Clarkie having a bust up on the sidelines?

[ethicalstrategy]

Of course he has scored from a freekick. In fact he was probably the last person to do so for us! Think Carling Cup final for a start!

The "bust up" was when Mikel was down just after the freekick. He was still arguing with Ballack, who just urned his back and ignored him. Clarke got hold of Drogba and was trying to settle him down.

Whilst I think that the arguing about who is going to take it is well out of order and should be sorted by the management prior to the game, on both occassions that Ballack and Drogba have argued about it Drogba has taken pretty good kicks which have need excellent saves to prevent a goal.

[The Brit]

Didier is going regardless, but I think it's a good thing...it's time we changed tack up front and our playing style and his ego has got out of control. I think he's been great for us on the whole during his time at the club, but we can't have bust-ups like we had today...ballack may have played a part in it but didier wouldn't let it go...it was poor...he should have been focussed on the game.

[valim]

Drogba should leave this seson he going old and looking he every free kick he nervose bicose he dont know to shoot it agains liverpool only want to shoot

[Guest]

most overated player in the league bar none

No he isnt, he is a big prat sometimes i know.

But Rooney is by far the most overated player in the EP at present (good finish today, i'll give him that). He looks a shadow of his youthful self.

I disagree about Rooney. Rooney is a very good player but is being played out of position as the team's centre forward. A manc friend of mine reckons he is a better player than C.Ronaldo who he actually doesn't rate that highly.

[evissy]

Drogs' antics on the field will not probably lower his price or other teams interest to buy him from us but it surely wont help him, I'm sure. He should still be proud Chelsea player in our last 4(yep, we should play in the final) games. The other players should mention it to him and I'm sure someone have already done it...Terry, Ballack..

I think there is no chance of him staying. His body language and face expressions looks like he is already made his mind..

[Essien's Strike]

If only we had Ronaldo to take our freekicks and penalties. I believe he scores everytime.

I think people get a bit carried away with the set piece stuff. It is easy to fall in to the trap of thinking that every other team scores every time they have a corner or freekick around the box. They don't. Most set pieces come to nothing. If you can get just a small percentage right then that is as much as you can expect.

The target area to play a ball from a set piece is very tiny. Too low and you hit the wall/first defender. Too high and it flies over everyone or is easy for the keeper. In effect the person taking the set piece is aiming for a very small window to deliver anything dangerous.

I do agree, however, that our set pieces have deteriorated recently. I believe that it is because we don't seem to have any set rules for who takes them. It used to be pretty clear that Lampard would take most of them with Duff or Robben occasionally having a go. Now it seems to be a free for all with players arguing amongst themselves - example, Ballack and Drogba the other week. The players should know exactly who will take freekicks in any particular situation.

good post. +1

[coco]

most overated player in the league bar none

No he isnt, he is a big prat sometimes i know.

But Rooney is by far the most overated player in the EP at present (good finish today, i'll give him that). He looks a shadow of his youthful self.

I disagree about Rooney. Rooney is a very good player but is being played out of position as the team's centre forward. A manc friend of mine reckons he is a better player than C.Ronaldo who he actually doesn't rate that highly.

Typical Manc by the sounds of it. They know f**k all about football.

[Guest]

I disagree about Rooney. Rooney is a very good player but is being played out of position as the team's centre forward. A manc friend of mine reckons he is a better player than C.Ronaldo who he actually doesn't rate that highly.

Typical Manc by the sounds of it. They know F*** all about football.

Not this Manc. I can safely say he knows more about football than most fans.

He is right about Rooney. Rooney is being expected to play the most advanced striker in the side for Man Utd. This means he is often playing with his back to goal, whereas he does his best work when able to drop deep, turn and play facing the goal.

I know Tevez is a good player, that deal was such a pointless signing by the Mancs. His another Wayne Rooney (in terms of style) when what Man Utd need is a Van Nistelrooy or Didier Drogba to lead the line.

As for C.Ronaldo. He is a very good player, but if you actually watch him, his link-up play is quite poor for a player of his ability. His strength is his dribbing (his very hard to disposses) and his got a thumping shot with both feet. He also seems to take very good free kicks, but he is a selfish player who doesn't have the vision and passing abilities of the kind of attacking midfielders he is compared to such as Kaka. He also offers very little defensively.