PloKoon13 Posted October 1, 2008 Posted October 1, 2008 http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/01102008/58/...elsea-draw.html Is this going to be it for him? He was hardly back on top form after his previous injury, but with his knee ligaments messed up again, he's going to be out for a good while. Is he ever going to be the same? And what are we going to do without him?
Lofty Posted October 1, 2008 Posted October 1, 2008 http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/01102008/58/...elsea-draw.htmlIs this going to be it for him? He was hardly back on top form after his previous injury, but with his knee ligaments messed up again, he's going to be out for a good while. Is he ever going to be the same? And what are we going to do without him? Hopefully give the youngsters more of a chance - Anelka simply isn't up to it. If Kalou is injured, I can see that being far more of a blow than Drogba, who hasn't made his presence made at all this season because of his previous injuries.
TheWestwayWonder Posted October 1, 2008 Posted October 1, 2008 (edited) Call me pessimist, but I think if hes out for a while, we might be well and truly f**ked. Unless Lamps is up to playing as a forward, or something drastic. Because simply, Anelka isnt up to it. We've seen it before, and we think it might be changing, but it always seems to be a false dawn. And sorry, but Kalou is too small and just not well adjusted to this role. During the summer we lost two worthless, but seasoned strikers in Pizzarro and Sheva. We replaced them with noone except franco Di Santo. Two experienced hit men =/= one young lad yet to make his debut. Sorry, but the FO really and truly dropped the ball on that one, and now we are gonna have to see the results of that. I know David Villa was a fantasy, but there were lots of guys out there who wouldve been excellent. Because right now our main option is a guy who has been labeled a bottler on many occasions in the past. Feck. Bleh. bleh bleh bleh Roman should send Jose a Rosh Hashana fruit basket asking him to sack Crespo or something. I wonder if Miniero has an eye for goal. Edited October 1, 2008 by TheWestwayWonder
kalpitv Posted October 1, 2008 Posted October 1, 2008 (edited) Big, big blow. We are left with very few options upfront - Anelka, Kalou and Di Santo. Perhaps, Pizarro or Sahar could be called back from their loans. Sign another free agent in the form of Ronaldo? However, one thing is clear, we certainly do need to a young, world-class striker who isn't prone to injuries. Aguero is one who satisfies all of that - picture a futuristic strike force of Aguero and Di Santo. Edited October 1, 2008 by kalpitv
PloKoon13 Posted October 1, 2008 Author Posted October 1, 2008 I was also concerned about Drogba himself. I have a haunting feeling his career is over... at least at this level. I think my pessimistic summary of our striking options might have been more accurate than I thought...
PloKoon13 Posted October 1, 2008 Author Posted October 1, 2008 Perhaps, Pizarro or Sahar could be called back from their loans. Sign another free agent in the form of Ronaldo? I'd love to see Ronaldo here. :lol: His striking rate is phenomenal, but I reckon his injuries might be a bit much. Can we rely on Sahar and Pizarro? Sahar is completely unproven, and Pizarro, as good as he was at Munich, was pretty damn awful last season. ;)
JT26CFC Posted October 1, 2008 Posted October 1, 2008 well if we had signed a striker we wouldnt be in this precitament, but unfortunatley we are. Good thing though with scolari he doesnt focus soley on strikers and uses the wingers as we've seen. we just need to become more creative. Yes im still not over us not being able to sign david villa back in january....
TheWestwayWonder Posted October 1, 2008 Posted October 1, 2008 Jesus, if we sign Gordinho..... Recall Sahar. Leave 30 year old Pizza on the top shelf of the fridge. I had already begun to forget about him. Maybe this is the ray of hope Scott Sinclair's career needs?
PloKoon13 Posted October 1, 2008 Author Posted October 1, 2008 Maybe this is the ray of hope Scott Sinclair's career needs? lol, as solutions to everything go, Scott Sinclair as our main goalscorer ranks somewhere around Senderos at the heart of AC's world-beating team's defence...
PloKoon13 Posted October 1, 2008 Author Posted October 1, 2008 http://www.goal.com/en/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=877996 Well well well :lol:
mad_mac Posted October 2, 2008 Posted October 2, 2008 Ok, there are only a handful of players that we can realistically look at who would be able to come and play straight away, and not be cup tied. Huntelaar is the one for me. However, if we are serious about contending with a great strike force in the future, I'ld love to see us go for Aguero. There are a few people who feel he'd go to Liverpool; unlikely as they've spent all their money on Keane. However, the Spanish contingent up there may persuade him. Man Utd I feel are also unlikely, as they are already stacked up front with Teves sitting on the bench too. I think the main team we'd be in competition with, would be Barca. Ronaldo, I doubt it. Although the signing of Miniero wasn't exactly a brilliant one and I feel we signed him because he was Brazilian. Almost like Belletti coming on today, was that just because he's Brazilian? Anyway, I hope we don't sign someone just for the sake of it, a la Owen or Ronaldo. That would be signing one at one time great striker with dodgy knees for another. Who else are realistic targets, that are not cup tied, and don't already have an affiliation with the operating table? Scott
biru Posted October 2, 2008 Posted October 2, 2008 I'd love to see Ronaldo here. :DHis striking rate is phenomenal, but I reckon his injuries might be a bit much. Can we rely on Sahar and Pizarro? Sahar is completely unproven, and Pizarro, as good as he was at Munich, was pretty damn awful last season. :P If he or other youngsters don't get chances, they will always be unproven.
Tim W Posted October 2, 2008 Posted October 2, 2008 When I watched the game I thought it was his shoulder/arm; many papers say it's his knee while offers claim it's his ankle - bottom line he'll probably play on Sunday
ethicalstrategy Posted October 2, 2008 Posted October 2, 2008 When I watched the game I thought it was his shoulder/arm; many papers say it's his knee while offers claim it's his ankle - bottom linehe'll probably play on Sunday That's ridiculous. He clearly damaged his leg. There is not a hope in hell of him playing on sunday!
Star Posted October 2, 2008 Posted October 2, 2008 It's a little early to write Drogba off but as injuries come along at his age it's harder to recover and that's a major worry in itself. As for cover, forget it. Kenyon's pre-season shambles has put paid to that, if we get sniff of quality in the future Man City's billions will see us off for that i'm certain. We have to play with what we've got - end of discussion !
Mr Chelsea Posted October 2, 2008 Posted October 2, 2008 i reckon we'll be ok without him we were for the 1st half dozen games of the season, so why cant we be for the next half dozen or so drogba will be missing
Nibs Posted October 2, 2008 Posted October 2, 2008 i reckon we'll be ok without himwe were for the 1st half dozen games of the season, so why cant we be for the next half dozen or so drogba will be missing Because although Kalou and Anelka are good at times, you cannot rely on them week in, week out. Neither are consistant enough.
Elliott Posted October 2, 2008 Posted October 2, 2008 The whole reason we didnt go out and spend big money in another striker, is that we had faith in promoting Di Santo. Now is the time for him to get his chance. I hope he proves what he is capable of, but i have a feeling that by the time Drogba is back from this latest set back, we will not be sitting at the top of the league.
ethicalstrategy Posted October 2, 2008 Posted October 2, 2008 If ever there was a time for Anelka to step up to the plate it is now.
ivorycoast Posted October 2, 2008 Posted October 2, 2008 this is it for drogba at chelsea i beleive. Its time to go shopping for a new main striker (20+ season).
Mr Chelsea Posted October 2, 2008 Posted October 2, 2008 Because although Kalou and Anelka are good at times, you cannot rely on them week in, week out. Neither are consistant enough. then they need to get consistent
Mike O Posted October 2, 2008 Posted October 2, 2008 That's the problem with football, isn't it? You spend millions on securing the services of one of the world's greatest football coaches and the moment we hit an injury crisis, we demand he buys some new players. How about this for an idea fellas? Big Phil and his team use their 'coaching skills' to create a system and environment in which Di Santo, Anelka and Kalou can shine as a strike force. I believe that that is what we pay him to do.
coco Posted October 2, 2008 Posted October 2, 2008 That's the problem with football, isn't it? You spend millions on securing the services of one of the world's greatest football coaches and the moment we hit an injury crisis, we demand he buys some new players.How about this for an idea fellas? Big Phil and his team use their 'coaching skills' to create a system and environment in which Di Santo, Anelka and Kalou can shine as a strike force. I believe that that is what we pay him to do. Bang on Mike ! :D
Dorset Posted October 2, 2008 Posted October 2, 2008 Drogba’s injury is a bitter blow, both on a personal front and also in terms of our chances this season on all fronts. Anelka’s limitations have become all too obvious of late and hopes for Didier’s speedy return were something to cling on to if Di Santo was deemed not to be ready to step up yet awhile. However, like many Shed Enders I think that the time has now come to blood the youngster and the reasons to do so are too numerous to ignore. Here are three of them to back up the case for his inclusion… 1. Irrespective of Kenyon’s ability, or lack of it, to get a genuine replacement in January the general consensus seems to be that Aguero is the man for the job and he will not be moving from Atletico Madrid until the end of the season, if at all. By then Citeh’s probable failure to secure anything more than UEFA Cup football next season will mean a massive bid from them for anyone we move for in the market anyway and one major bargaining tool we might have at that time would be the emerging talent and status of a fellow countryman. Success for young Franco in both the Premiership and Champions League over the forthcoming months would make Aguero sit up and take notice as [i’m sure that someone on here would be able to confirm] these two players must have played together at some level for Argentina before making their respective breakthroughs and a well established Di Santo can only be regarded as a bonus when any bidding begins in earnest. 2. Drogba’s injury and Anelka’s profligacy over the last few weeks, gives Scolari the chance [excuse if you like] to throw Franco in at the deep end knowing full well that the fans will back him to the hilt. I can’t see him making such a decision immediately, although I wouldn’t mind it being made as some sort of a statement against Villa, but you sense it must be done before the January window and, if it pays off, the limited number of suitable targets available then might not be such a big problem, as it clearly would have been had we been alternating [probably unsuccessfully] between Anelka and Di Santo in the interim. Having said that, and contrary to the belief of those who think we should soldier on until the Drog’s return, we have been a forward light since Day One, injury or no injury to Drogba, although last night does make us look at the forward situation slightly differently and this leads to my third point. 3. Rightly or wrongly, I foresaw us dispensing with the marauding, one-man-band style central striker at the end of this season come what may and to my mind Drogba’s contribution was going to be something of a swansong before the crossroads was reached and we went down a different route entirely. We may well be at that crossroads now and if so there would be little or no point persisting with yesterday’s 4-1-4-1 with Anelka up front and looking like a fish out of water, especially if it leaves someone on the bench who already has the number 9 on his back and who, like garlic bread, is the future. Pairing them in another formation would mean 4-4-2 and Mikel’s bright light emergence as the holding role midfielder would be dimmed just to accommodate two strikers, one of which has no real form to justify inclusion. Quite frankly, should we be thinking of backup similar to Drogba in January, I’d be more inclined to go for someone like Zaki and put him in with Di Santo to act as a ’minder’ while he beds in.
ethicalstrategy Posted October 2, 2008 Posted October 2, 2008 That's the problem with football, isn't it? You spend millions on securing the services of one of the world's greatest football coaches and the moment we hit an injury crisis, we demand he buys some new players.How about this for an idea fellas? Big Phil and his team use their 'coaching skills' to create a system and environment in which Di Santo, Anelka and Kalou can shine as a strike force. I believe that that is what we pay him to do. Oh Mike. You are starting to sound like Gab Marcotti :D Seeing as we can't go out and buy anyone anyway then Scolari will just have to do as you say. I think he might just manage it too.
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