26 02 2006 Anti-Drogba chanting
At the match yesterday, in which Drogba admittedly had another average game, it was sad to see Chelsea fans
beginning to turn against the striker. In the second half he ran into the box and clumsily let the ball run out of play. Cue
chants of "Hernan Crespo, Hernan Crespo, hello, hello!" Naively, I thought Crespo was on the bench. He wasn't, and we
had already used our three substitutions. Drogba signalled to the bench to ask to be substituted.
I have to agree that Drogba has not set the world alight since he has been at Chelsea. In fact, having seen the goals he
had scored for Marseille I was extremely keen to see him signed for us!
Last season he scored many important goals, without particularly convincing the Chelsea fans that he was the world
class striker we needed. This season he was exceptional in the away game at Anfield when Liverpool were annihilated
4-1. Unfortunately performances like that have been few and far between. Drogba has said himself that he has been
struggling with injury. In that case he shouldn't play at all and recover properly! However, with our shortage of strikers
perhaps he does not have a choice.
Ultimately, Drogba was brought in as a target man. He ruffles defences and sets up others players. For Chelsea, it is not
important whether a striker scores or not at present, as it is our midfielders that have been killing off the opposition over
the last two seasons.
Personally, I have found Drogba to be lazy and disinterested at times. He has missed several good chances this season
that a man with his experience and price tag should have buried. I also find it frustrating the amount of times he strays
offside.
Having said that, he is an important asset to the team and Chelsea fans should not castigate our own players in that
way. I remember Mark Stein being disgracefully booed upon missing a sitter. This for the man who set a Premiership
record of scoring in seven consecutive games!
There is no doubt that the majority of Chelsea fans are not impressed with Drogba's overall efforts in the game. But we
should get behind him as ironic chanting such as this will never restore his confidence.
beginning to turn against the striker. In the second half he ran into the box and clumsily let the ball run out of play. Cue
chants of "Hernan Crespo, Hernan Crespo, hello, hello!" Naively, I thought Crespo was on the bench. He wasn't, and we
had already used our three substitutions. Drogba signalled to the bench to ask to be substituted.
I have to agree that Drogba has not set the world alight since he has been at Chelsea. In fact, having seen the goals he
had scored for Marseille I was extremely keen to see him signed for us!
Last season he scored many important goals, without particularly convincing the Chelsea fans that he was the world
class striker we needed. This season he was exceptional in the away game at Anfield when Liverpool were annihilated
4-1. Unfortunately performances like that have been few and far between. Drogba has said himself that he has been
struggling with injury. In that case he shouldn't play at all and recover properly! However, with our shortage of strikers
perhaps he does not have a choice.
Ultimately, Drogba was brought in as a target man. He ruffles defences and sets up others players. For Chelsea, it is not
important whether a striker scores or not at present, as it is our midfielders that have been killing off the opposition over
the last two seasons.
Personally, I have found Drogba to be lazy and disinterested at times. He has missed several good chances this season
that a man with his experience and price tag should have buried. I also find it frustrating the amount of times he strays
offside.
Having said that, he is an important asset to the team and Chelsea fans should not castigate our own players in that
way. I remember Mark Stein being disgracefully booed upon missing a sitter. This for the man who set a Premiership
record of scoring in seven consecutive games!
There is no doubt that the majority of Chelsea fans are not impressed with Drogba's overall efforts in the game. But we
should get behind him as ironic chanting such as this will never restore his confidence.
