Kane's stats made me wonder why Drogba's stats are slightly underwhelming. I mean, Drogba was a very good striker yet he only scored 20+ goals in 2 PL seasons. I see that he's had only 3 PL seasons with 30+ apps so that would partially explain it but then you have the 10/11 season with 36 apps but just 11 goals though.
Why is Drogba's goalscoring record a bit underwhelming?
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Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) discuss United's fantastic win away against Athletic Club in the semi-final of the Europa League.
They also pick out the positives of United's 4-3 loss away at Brentford, and Nik reviews a day out at Old Trafford watching Manchester United Women qualify for the Champions League.
Drogba was about so much more than goals. He was the best I've seen at bringing others into play and doing lots of selfless things. No record breaker, but he also scored when it really mattered, which to me is more important than quantity.
Because his strength was more about holding up the play and getting other involved. He was also very good at stretching the play and stretching defenders out of position. Those qualities are particularly valued in the PL where power and pace can be lethal weapons which was even more the case for a team like Chelsea and the way it was built. In other words, he was the perfect fit for the way they played that his relative inferiority goalscoring wise did not get noticed as much as it would have been otherwise.
He got premier league donkeyvof the year on my uni radio football ahow.
Silent domination?
Lots of the time he wasn't as aggressive as he should've been especially when chances to shoot presented themselves. For alot of his career he didn't have that selfish streak that characterizes Kane. On top of that he played in a pragmatic side that asked him to do alot of the dirty work instead of being the man for the goals. His work as a target man was unparalleled in those days.
In Mourinho's first Chelsea team, Drogba's job wasn't to act as an out-and-out goalscorer. Rather cause problems for the centre backs, to allow Lampard and
Gudjohnsen to profit.
Gudjohnsen to profit.
Pogba was injured.
Another point to add is that Drogba wasn't the main penalty taker for Chelsea (I believe that was Lampard), which makes his scoring record worse relative to most top strikers, who tend to take penalties.
He was a great player but not a great goalscorer.
The stats in his first two seasons show he did 'okay' but I remember many matches where he just couldn't buy a goal, a bit like Andy Cole when he first joined us.
2006/07 he had his breakout year in the Prem but then after that it was a mess, 2007/08 Mourinho was sacked and he really took it hard. Anelka took over the main scoring duties in 2008/09, 2009/10 he was back on it because Chelsea were scoring 5, 6, 7 each match almost and then after that he was just too old.
The stats in his first two seasons show he did 'okay' but I remember many matches where he just couldn't buy a goal, a bit like Andy Cole when he first joined us.
2006/07 he had his breakout year in the Prem but then after that it was a mess, 2007/08 Mourinho was sacked and he really took it hard. Anelka took over the main scoring duties in 2008/09, 2009/10 he was back on it because Chelsea were scoring 5, 6, 7 each match almost and then after that he was just too old.
Good point.
Apart from that, he was a bit of a Rooney for Chelsea in that he got involved in a lot of aspects of the buildup play that lessen your focus on goalscoring. Great player, Drogba. Not someone to rely on to consistently hammer goals in season after season but if you want a goalscoring misfield and efficient team, he is ideal.
They had Duff and Robben running riot either side of him two for the first two seasons IIRC.
To add to what those above has said, his record in big games, particularly at Wembley, was insane.
Goes right alongside the likes of Iniesta, Zidane etc when it comes to consistency in big games.
Goes right alongside the likes of Iniesta, Zidane etc when it comes to consistency in big games.
Was gonna say the same thing - big game player. Jeez any time we played Chelsea it felt like Drogba dominated
A great player & leader regardless.
Yeah, his 07-08 league season for example was quite poor goals wise considering what he was capable of but I recall him being instrumental in their run to the CL final.
Absolutely correct. Right player at the right time and the perfect fit for Chelsea but equally very fortunate that that Chelsea team had other goals in them. Good big game player but far from a prem great.
He almost single-handedly won them the champions league. Good enough in my book. In his prime was always one of my favorite players.
Its also worth remembering that goals/games ratios have gone a little crazy over the last few years. Its not just Messi and Ronaldo; the likes of Lewandowski, Kane, Suarez and Ibrahimovic have all ended up with 1 in 1 goalscoring ratios in recent seasons, something that was almost unheard of 10 years before. This seems like more than a coincidence, something in the game has shifted in recent years. Drogba's record wasn't that underwhelming for his time.
This, I think.
Really? I was usually fairly confident we could keep him out. IIRC he only scored twice against us over all those years. Vidic as his marker and Rio as cover meant that against United his strength wasn't the asset it usually was.
If he took penalty's in 09/10 (assuming he scored them all) his record would have been i think 52 goals in 44 games, im still pissed he didn't win POTY that year as good as Rooney was, based solely on that season he should have been comfortably 3rd place on the balon dor list, if not pushing the big two.
As for the question in the OP, his best 2 games for Chelsea (4-1 at Anfield 2005and 3-1 Birmingham 2011) he didn't score in either which basically answers the question. He's like Hazard in the sense he can be 10/10 without even troubling the goal.
Messi and Ronaldo's stats are distorting what it means to be great.
Drogba was great and I don't care how many goals per appearance etc.
If you watched him often you'd know he was an absolute beast all over the pitch.
Early Rooney, Drogba and Eto'o were amazing strikers who did so much more than score and high rates.
Drogba was great and I don't care how many goals per appearance etc.
If you watched him often you'd know he was an absolute beast all over the pitch.
Early Rooney, Drogba and Eto'o were amazing strikers who did so much more than score and high rates.
So is Kane.
I shall never forget his mock seizure when Evans booted him in the chest
, suddenly stopped once he realised he wasn't getting Jonny a red card.Drogba was the ultimate big game player. Having big impact in both semi-finals and finals on various occasions.
His big finale was in the Champions league in 2012 scoring both in the semi finals and the final (and of course with the final kick of the penalty shoot-out) as Chelsea triumphed for the first time in the competition.
Aged 34, he still managed to scored on against Man Utd on his return to Chelsea in 2014.
His big finale was in the Champions league in 2012 scoring both in the semi finals and the final (and of course with the final kick of the penalty shoot-out) as Chelsea triumphed for the first time in the competition.
Aged 34, he still managed to scored on against Man Utd on his return to Chelsea in 2014.
I actually think most fans would consider him an EPL great even though his stats don't unequivocally support such a claim
I shall never forget his mock seizure when Evans booted him in the chest
He had broken ribs, missed a few games. Laugh at an injury if you want but he was not faking.
And he didn't "stop when he realised Jonny wasn't getting a red card", the physios came on and helped him off the pitch (The ref gave him a yellow for diving as well in what was the worst reffing decision ever).
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Did you realise that Evans actually made a hole in his chest? Strange post!I shall never forget his mock seizure when Evans booted him in the chest
He was great player with superb hold up play but people overrate him a lot. He was very inconsistent too, like very moody player.
he is a EPL legend, no freaking doubt about it IMO.
The refs were not on his side. He was fouled quite often without the ref giving it.
Strikers like him would probably win more penalties now.
Strikers like him would probably win more penalties now.
In 04/05 our best ever season with him he only scored 10 league goals. That was our best ever team though imo. Football is a team game, our attack that season with Robben, Duff, Eidur, Lampard was awesome. We should have won the CL, Mou got it wrong against Liverpool.
We got worse as a team after even though he scored more goals.
He also scored in the CL final and numerous other goals in big games especially at Wembley.
Judging Kane by his goals in a year (stat padding against opposition who have given up for the season, penalties). When the team have done nothing and in the big European game against Gent he was awful. Just marketing to build English players up. Almost any other player would have been red carded against City and out for the last 3 games.
Rather play against Kane than Drogba which kind of shows it isn't always about stats. Kane is better at stat padding against the weaker sides and a far superior goalscorer in general whereas Drogba wasn't natural in this regard. He was the superior player in terms of influence on a side though and the fear factor he brought to a big game.
Kane still young and I'd expect him to surpass Drogba on all fronts based on current levels of growth.
Kane still young and I'd expect him to surpass Drogba on all fronts based on current levels of growth.
Drogba was what I thought Lukaku would style himself on
instead he's a bit more meek
instead he's a bit more meek
I shall never forget his mock seizure when Evans booted him in the chest
Funny thing is, apart from that 5-3 when he caught us with the element of surprise, we have always dealt with Kane pretty well and by all accounts it's been the same for United too.
Zouma, Luiz and Christensen didn't really have any problems with him and when we play Spurs I'm more wary of Eriksen and Alli but by the same token, you can't argue with his record. He actually reminds me of Lampard a bit, not the most gifted but makes the most of every single little bit of talent he has got.
Agree with most you say. But Kane will never surpass Drogba's hold-up play.
Hospitals built: Drogba 5 Kane 0
Wars stopped: Drogba 1 Kane 0
Wars stopped: Drogba 1 Kane 0
Kane is more like Shearer.
Drogba a better Mark Hughes. (Bad analogy)
Drogba a better Mark Hughes. (Bad analogy)