The Debate - Should Chelsea ditch Didier Drogba?

Martin Samuel

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The dalliance with Inter Milan may bring events to the boil, but it is the coin-throwing incident involving Didier Drogba that encapsulates the worst facet of his character.

Consider his reaction in the context of Chelsea’s present circumstances. They need him now, as the early momentum behind Luiz Felipe Scolari’s methods falter. Nicolas Anelka cannot go it alone in every match, so Drogba is his mid-season cavalry, coming over the hill.

Yet, in that instant against Burnley, he disregarded his importance to the team and placed his feelings of anger ahead of all. He did the same in the Champions League final against Manchester United in May, sent off with a penalty shoot-out looming. The indiscreet meeting between his advisers and Inter, which disrupted Chelsea’s preparations in Bordeaux, is strike three.

Scolari expects his players to serve the team ethic and Drogba, for all his dedication to the cause when he plays, remains a solo turn in his head.

Debate - Should Chelsea ditch Didier Drogba?

Comments

[jerry smith]

drogba is the best. if it wasnt for him cfc would have won nothing.Kalou looks like a lost child out there. He has no idea what he is doing.look at his movment off the ball. Simply rubbish. Anelka just shoots from whereever like he is pele. plus he is not elegant and exciting to watch like drogba or lampard

[Charles Jones]

I was surprised that Drogba was still with the team after his antics and sullen manner last spring in the EPL and culminated in the CL final last spring. He had a good run with the Blues, but I think it's time for them to part ways.Although Kenyon has said that there will be no player movements next month, if they get a half-way good bid for him, they should jump on it , get him out of the clubhouse, and bring in some new blood. Chelsea has a solid chance to win the EPL this year, but they need help up front to do so. I think Drogba has lost the fire in his belly and the other players have lost respect for him - someone fetch Mr. Drogba's coat for him!!

[Tom]

Chelsea shouldn't sell Drogba, we should swap him for Adriano who doesn't get on with Mourinho and should mature under the influence of Chelsea's experienced Brazilian / Portugeuse contingent. He'll give us strength to hold up the ball, an aerial threat and goals from outside the box if we can't break down top opposition (as we seem to struggle to do this season).

Scolari needs more time, but he also needs better attackers. With Joe Cole injured, we need more creative, tricky, fast players, unlike the wasteful Kalou and disappointing Malouda, who infuriatingly insists on grinning every time he looses possession.

[Piers]

Simple answer: yes. At his age there is only one way from here, Chelsea are already carrying plenty of ageing attacking players in their ranks in Deco, Ballack and Lampard while Anelka is no spring chicken either.

He is not dedicated to the Chelsea cause and is too egotistical and unpredictable to rely upon. But they will wait until the end of the season, who can they bring in at January who they can count on to perform in the Premier League and who is available for the Champions League.

In fact the whole Chelsea team needs over-hauling, their ageing attacking central midfield and their lack of talent up-front and wide (despite Scolari's penchant for using attacking wing-backs for a source of width) requires attention sooner rather than later. Perhaps Arnesen's famed youth spotting talents will lend itself to a mid 90's Ferguson-esqe youth revolution......perhaps not though eh.

[barry]

drogba: over 30 years old. bad knees. missed over half the games since the beginning of the 2007-2008 season. always a threat to be red carded. can no longer outpace center backs. unhappy at the bridge.

didn't chelsea learn their lesson regarding 30+ injury prone bad attitude center forwards with shevchenko?

[Tom]

Drogba is one of those players who, for every moment of brilliance that reminds you of what a great footballer he is, shows in any number of incidents what a disgrace he is as a sportsman - the diving especially, but also the constant moaning about wanting to leave Chelsea and the incidents (such as those mentioned above) which have weakened his team at key points.

It has been reported that he has done great and selfless work with sporting bodies in the Ivory Coast, but we never see that more noble aspect of his character at Chelsea. Drogba's antics seem to me to be one of the key factors in the perception of that rival fans and neutrals have of Chelsea's utter charmlessness. His injuries, age and temperament mean he will surely be an expensive liability from now on, and a younger, more reliable forward should surely be Chelsea's priority.

[killian]

you guys are real haters leave the Drog alone , we alrready know that people who want Drog to go dont have CFC at heart they want to see Liverpool standing a chance but we can see right through you , Drog is going to come back stronger in the second half of the season so eat your heart out mr columnmist.

[Alexander Hum]

Chelsea should let him go, im starting an Ashford CC X1 to raise money for my cricket club 'The ants' if hes keen. We can offer 100 per game and petrol but thats about it? He can partner by brother, Trevor, up front, and i can get him and the team in quid post game.

[John]

Just watching Drogba's brilliance was alone worth the price of my season ticket, but it's patently obvious the guy doesn't want to play for CFC anymore, and sadly has become a liability. Mourinho brought the best out of him and I feel they will soon be reunited. He will leave sublime and ridiculous memories, but oh what a player!!

[Nikhil]

As a Manchester United fan, it would to be a pleasure to see Drogba leave Chelsea. Simply put, Chelsea are never the formidable force they are without the Ivorian sharp-shooter. Though his beaviour and loyalty are questionable, his ability on the pitch is undeniable. Apart from Lamps and Terry, this is one man who has made Chelsea what they are today. But from the Stretford End, I'd love to see his back.

[sabs]

leave drogba

[Emeka Aneke]

As a Chelsea fan, I appreciate what Drogba has done for the Club but quite honestly, I don't really care what he has to offer now or contribute in future...(even if it's guaranteed he'll score 25 goals this season).

I think it's time for him to go. Nothing seems to please him any more and so will it remain until he's let go.

[Lino]

After what Chelsea did to Mourinho, and to a lesser extent to Grant, they will never win another title for 50 years (as was their tradition).

[susan]

If you take into account every time this despicable cheat has feigned injury to get an opponent booked, every time he's whinged about how unhappy he is despite having the best job in the world, or committed an act of prima-donna selfishness dropping his team-mates in it, he'd have more than 3 strikes against him, more like 333.

Why does Mourinho love him so much, must be the attraction of mutual narcissism.

[Rocket Gopher]

Andrew and others... so if the English game needs to be rid of divers, then that must mean that Ronaldo, Rooney, Gerrard and goodness knows how many others should also be sent packing.

[Brighton]

Drogba, is not the only problem Chelsea have at the moment. I believe the that they are truely missing the stregnth and dedication of Micheal Essien more than anything.

[Lee - Brighton]

I've just heard that Drogba won't go in January. Maybe he and Scolari have had a nice chat. Does he want to be there? Do they want him there? Simple. Communication is nine tenths of pretty much everything.
The coin-throwing is irrelevant as to his future at the club. Yes it was stupid but top sportsman, high tension, spur of the moment is all it was, nothing more than that - punish him and move on. Didn't Carragher do something similar once? Besides Man Utd didn't exactly rush to get rid of Cantona after Crystal Palace and he's as enigmatic and mercurial as it gets. There's plenty of Chelsea life left in the Drogba trawler and those seagulls will follow for a while yet.

[Lennoxville]

Drogba comes across as an egotistical prat, but Chelsea should only sell him if they can line up a replacement. But who is going to buy a 31yr old with dodgy knees?
On a wider note, Chelsea have a very weak forward line. Malouda and Anelka are not top class and are at best squad players. Kalou has not improved has a player and is not good enough. That leaves Joe Cole and Drogba. who are currently injury prone. How the hell does Abramovich expect to win the Champ league and Prem with such a paucity of attacking options?

[David]

Drogba isn't going to get any better as a footballer and his behaviour is likely to deteriorate so I would snap the hands off anyone who offers some cash. I reckon we're going to need someone if the Russian starts to need his money back or Putin tells him to repay it to the Russian peasants who lost out during all those privatisation deals.

[FIXED]

Hi Andy..Yes Drogba and Anelka should both have gone. Appreciate that Anelka has knocked in 12, but a one legged footballer could have done the same for 10 of them. Besides what has he done in big games? And yes JT could possibly play better up front..more physical player, better at heading and doesn't topple over like a toddler....

[Jimmy]

On his day, he’s an awesome striker, absolutely unplayable. Everyone knows this and you just hope he’s having an off-day when he plays your team. The other side of the coin however, is that he’s simply a spoilt child who embarrasses himself, his team-mates and fans with his attitude and petulance. You get the sense that not too many fans would be upset to see him go. The trouble is, silly money would need to be spent to replace him and I’m not sure there;s one available player out there who could bring in what he does when he’s on top of his game.

I think Chelsea have seen the best of Drogba, and should have made the Champions League final his last appearance for the club. They would have received more money for him in the summer as well. The main problem they have is that up-front, they just don’t have enough to frighten their main rivals, both at home and abroad. I know who I’d rather be facing, even in the form Anelka’s been in this season, he just doesn’t have the presence that Drogba has.

For all the money they’ve spent (I know, it’s an old one) and all the success they’ve had - and indeed strive to achieve - the forward line at Chelsea just isn’t up to much. Granted they have the most powerful midfield surely in world football, but if they had a forward player such as Torres who simply loved playing for the club/fans etc. they’d be unbeatable. Would anyone be surprised if Drogba and Anelka left Chelsea? Probably not, yet if Torres were to leave Liverpool can you imagine the scouse outrage.....

[Adam]

Drogba is 30 years old and is unlikely to improve as a player. His reputation and abilities are still enough to warrant a hefty transfer fee and this along with his growing capacity for controversy should be enough to convince the Chelsea board to get shot of him. If he is having a negative effect on the dressing room, it can, like Berbatov at Spurs, create problems on the pitch. Chelsea have enough quality and enough resources to do without him and replace him with a younger, fresher and less volatile character.

[T Ludden]

The answer is - maybe.

During the second half of this season he'lll be needed. If Anelka spends some significant time injured, the title would be all but written off without Drogba in the squad. Scolari knows this. Likewise, If Drogba is bound for the exit, he'll need goals for future buyers to invest. Either way Scolari gets what he needs.

[Victor Thompson]

As a gooner I would love to see Drogba go however in fairness, the criticism of him is over the top. He reacted to the coin being thrown at him on the spur of the moment. He did not aim it at anyone and certainly didn`t throw it with any force. I agree he is a big girl`s blouse and a diver but he can`t half lead the line and score goals.

At the end of the day though, if Chelsea FC is no longer important to him, then let him go.
If his ego cannot be accomodated at Chelsea, then on balnce he would be better gone.

[Michael Statham]

Yes , Drogba is no good . And he has been no good for quite some time now . Scolari too is no good - Chelsea is truly unconvincing with Scolari at the helm . I think Chelsea were best under Avram Grant - we all owe him an apology , and should make maximum efforts to bring him back .