How We Got Our Mojo Back
Posted by Zeno in Chelsea | 10 April 2006
Before we begin today’s piece, we’d like to send out a message of sympathy to Irons fans. When we heard that you’d gone to all that time and expense to get points cards printed up in case Drogba went triple pike in front of the Shed, we applauded the initiative. A gambit worthy of the original Shed denizens, and reasonably amusing to boot.
What made it all the more satisfying, of course, was the big Dog’s match-winning performance following the deserved dismissal of Maniche for an extremely poor challenge on 17 minutes. After his insipid cameos and that palpable hit, we expect the Portuguese to head straight back to Moscow at the end of the season. Enjoy the weather.
Drogba’s had quite a time of it in recent weeks… in fact, after the pundits lined up to applaud him on Sunday evening, it occurred to me that his experience could be used as a primer course on the behaviour of the British media. Lauded and vilified in equal measure, the Ivorian produced one of his “impossible to handle” displays that we remember from Liverpool away this season, or Bayern Munich at the Bridge last year… or, in fact, Selhurst Park in January. Muscular, swift, decisive and committed, he chased every ball and gave Konchesky and Gabbidon a particularly depressing afternoon.
Don’t get me wrong. It was a match-winning performance. But there were plenty of things he could have done better. His touch remains an enigma… occasionally brilliant, usually suspect. His shooting varies and his skill and end product in one on one situations is… well… intermittent. And yet he remains a potent weapon in certain circumstances. Certainly more effective than his strike partner, who managed a goal eventually but who failed to bury any of the several chances he was given against Birmingham recently. On this showing, Drogba will stay at the Bridge next season. But with rumours still rife about the potential arrival of a Torres, Shevchenko, Tevez or Eto’o, he may find his place under more of a threat. Or will Jose adopt a regular 4-4-2 after this shimmering display?
Some points to bear in mind.
Frank Lampard, his brilliant pass to Drogba notwithstanding, still looks tired and jaded.
Essien is beginning to blossom as a Chelsea player. He was quietly efficient and hardly put a foot wrong yesterday. Well, apart from his continued woeful shooting. Dare I say it… rest Frank and give the Ghanaian a couple of games in that position.
Robben gives the ball away with remarkable ease at the moment. Someone slap the kid and tell him we expect more.
Bring on Bolton.
