The Drogba Myth

David Diop's popular poem on Africa starts with Africa, my Africa; Africa of proud warriors in ancestral Savannahs, illustrating Africa's huge production line of warriors and soldiers. This poem is given credence by none than the pride of the Ivory Coast, the Elephant of Abidjan; Didier Yves Drogba Tebily, a true African Warrior.

On first arrival on the big stage in European Football with Marseille his sheer size put the fear of God in most defenders across Ligue 1 and the Uefa Champions League, forget that he had played for two other clubs in the French first division Guingamp (scoring 20goals in 45 apperances) and Le Mans (12 goals in 64 games); it was at Marseille that the entire world took full notice of the colossal Didier Drogba, to think Arsenal Wenger passed on a chance to sign him whilst at Guingamp is still a surprise.

The size and impact of Didier Drogba is well documented, his goal scoring record for club and country is know to all; but there is a mysterious element, a myth of sorts that surrounds the man Didier Drogba; some say it mare coincidence, some say its Juju, Jazz, Voodoo, Black magic; some say its his class and stature that sets him apart at Chelsea that every striker that has been signed before or with or after the coming of Drogba has struggled at Stamford Bridge. I have had this discussion with numerous people and it seems like everyone believes that something is fishy with the demise of every top marksman that Drogba has wrestled with for the number 9 or the top marksman position for the blues. We will try to as much as possible to investigate, highlight and conclude on reasons why some of the best strikers in the world on their day have continued to fail to show Africa's illustrious son the door at Stamford Bridge.

The Perm

Please how is it for the love of God that a grown man can get away with carrying a perm; for the love of me its one of football's biggest mysteries. In Africa, especially in the South Western part you get to see all forms of hair do that the men put on, but Didier Drogba just stands out with his perm; there just has to be something about that perm we don't know. Is it the source of Drogba's mysterious powers, staying power and resoluteness. Next Chelsea or Cote d'Ivoire coach should ask for him to skin his head bald; lets try that for for a bit to see if he will turn out to be another Samson.

Pre Mourinho Era

Chelsea had 5 strikers in the season before the Roman and Jose revolution; these were not mediocre forwards; Hernan Crespo, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scoring 12, 13 and 18 goals respectively in a season the blues pipped Liverpool to the last Champions League slot on the last day of the season. So it is obvious that goal scoring was not the problem for Chelsea going into the new season more so they still had Adrian Mutu and Fat Frank Lampard, who could get you 15 goals from midfield. As they say;  a new manager comes new ideas and methods; Jose Mourinho fresh from back to back European successes had his own plans; a combination of  68goals from 4 prominent strikers and a great midfielder was not sufficient, hence the arrival of Didier Drogba, (also fresh from an European adventure in his only seasn with Marseille) who at that time could not boast of a 20goals season; a gamble you may say but Drogba knew the ace he had off his sleeve and Mourinho knew he had jewel on his hands; 19 goals in 35 games is not a  bad record.

The Mourinho years

Didier Drogba's arrival at Chelsea didn't have the desired immediate impact that was expected; given the number 15 jersey as against his preferred number 11; injuries limited his influence, but then he ended the season with 16goals in 40games. Eidur Gudjohnsen was ahead of him in the pecking order in Jose's 4-3-3 formation with Duff and Cole the wide men. The most interesting part was that Chelsea did not sell off any of their strikers instead they were released, contracts not renewed or sent out on loan all due to the arrival of this man monster from Abidjan. Imagine Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who had scored 18 goals the previous season was transferred to Middlesborough on a free, Crespo out on loan to Milan same also Carlton Cole, Mikael Forsell; strange you would say,but it was all in the well laid plan of the Elephant of Abidjan.

In the following season, Chelsea interestingly got rid of Mateja Kezman, who had surprising struggled wearing the number 9 shirt despite his impressive record in the Dutch Eredivisie especially with the departure of Adrian Mutu due to drug related issues. Hernan Crespo was called back from a fine season in Milan, rescued Chelsea in the first league game of the season with a last minute strike,but had the misfortune of wearing the number 9 shirt; Drogba on the other hand had another quiet season still in the number 15 jersey scoring 15 goals more than any other striker in the Chelsea squad.

The 2006/07 season came along with Chelsea seeking to win their third title in a row, but surprisingly Damien Duff was sold to Newcastle; Crespo was sent out on a 2 year loan at Inter despite his insistence on wanting to return to Milan, the cannibal  was signed from Hamburg, he had the misfortune of picking the number 9 jersey, strange been a defender and all. Many managers would and may have gotten rid of Drogba at this stage because his two season had not hit the heights expected with a combined total of 31 goals in 80 odd games for me was not good enough for a man that cost £24MM, but then Mourinho knew something we didn't more so Didier Drogba had made two visits to Abidjan in 2006 in preparation for the Nations cup and the World cup;his designated herbalist had been consulted, the solution was simple resume wearing the number 11 jersey for Chelsea as you do for the National Team and watch the goals rain in from all corners. The consultations were spot on Didier Drogba ended the season with 33goals from 59 games; a remarkable goals return; however due to Drogba's previous lethargic season Chelsea had splashed the cash on Milan's renowned Talisman Andriy Shevchenko paying a whooping £30MM for a striker that had delivered 54goals in all competitions in the preceding two seasons.  The dye was cast for Didier Drogba, he's position as the focal point of Chelsea's attack was under siege, but instead of losing his place to the expensive import from Milan, Drogba more than ever cemented his place in the Chelsea starting line up.

Post Mourinho Years

Although Mourinho left in less than romantic circumstances in September 2007; Chelsea had signed Claudio Pizarro from Bayern Munich on a free, hence Drogba had another proven European Goal scorer to contend with despite the fact that Pizarro had advanced in age, but Pizarro;s introduction to the English game would not have been a pleasant one for Drogba with Andes Bomber (Pizarro's nickname at Bayern) scoring on his debut. Subsequently, Pizarro began to struggle and Drogba started to thrive once again, but had to proceed to the Nations Cup and the goal scoring burden could not be left with the struggling pair of Shevchenko and Pizarro especially with summer signing Salomon Kalou also leaving for the Nations cup as well, hence Avram Grant had to sign Nicolas Anelka from Bolton after a great start to the season from the French man. Upon his return from the Nations Cup; Drogba was expected to form a formidable partnership with Anelka; however review of this partnership has proven that Anelka tended to drift wide to either the left or right wing. The coming of Big Phil Scolari did not change much, he tried to play a more expansive style which depended on the full backs joining the attack with a narrow midfield; Drogba remained the focal point of the team, but Anelka ended the season as Chelsea's top scorer as much did not change with the arrival of Guus Hiddink as Big Phil was fired mid way into the same 08/09 season. Carlo Ancelotti  on resumption for the 09/10 season released Claudio Pizarro and Shevchenko sticking once again with Drogba; which lead to a goal tally of 37 goals in all competitions; however after a great title wining season the previous season coupled with the owner's obsession for the Champions League; Chelsea decided in the January 2011 transfer window to splash the cash on another striker, this striker on the other hand had been a tormentor in chief to the Blues; off to merseyside a bid of £50MM (the 50 cent deal) was accepted by Liverpool for Fernando Torres a  British record fee. It was rumoured that he was not Carletto's signing but more like the owner adding to his trophy pieces; the little that's said about this transaction the better.

In all, you would probably ask what as all these long story been for and why do we have to be weary of Didier Drogba nor suspect something is fishy with respect to his absolute domination at Chelsea beyond his innate God giving talent.

My Conspiracy theories

1. That Perm: ask him to get rid of it and see him fight like there's no tomorrow. There's something in that perm, believe me, but i do not know what it is.
2. The Number 9 Shirt at Chelsea (and Cote D'Ivoire):  Can someone check the Chelsea record books since the Arrival of Drogba has anyone ever been successful wearing the number 9 jersey; correct me if i am wrong; the list is as follows,

• Khalid Boulahrouz: remember him?otherwise know as the Cannibal, came with  a big reputation from Hamburg had the misfortune of selecting the number 9 jersey, a defender at that. He had a less than impressive season, remember him coming on as a substitute against Spurs in a league game and Robbie Keane turned him inside out, he was substituted immediately afterwards little was heard of him subsequently.
• Steve Sidwell: currently at Fulham, had a breakthrough season with Reading in 06/07 left for Chelsea on a free, selected or was given the number 9 jersey; had a less than impressive season in 07/08, spending only a season with the blues and its  been a stop start career thus far.
• Franco Di Santo: well we all know how his career has been.
• Mateja Kezman : A striker that broke all goal scoring records in Holland before arriving with Drogba at Chelsea, only lasted a season with the blues scoring only 4 goals having scored 105 goals in 122 games for PSV.
• Hernan Crespo: it was one loan after the other for such a solid striker that holds the record of scoring for all the teams he has played for in the Champions League.
• Fernando Torres: the Jury may still be out, but come on; he should have known what he was getting into, since Sidwell the jersey had been vacant, he picked it wanting to be the main man to justify his price tag; all he and Chelsea can show for £50MM is 3 league goals and a candidate for miss of the decade at Old Trafford.
• Cheick Tiote: At the Elephants of Cote D'Ivoire camp, a midfielder wears the number 9 jersey; he hasn't lit up the national team,but is a good player; however our focus is on Drogba at Chelsea.

   3.   Leave your reputation at your former club, this is my town: How do you explain star marksmen of great european pedigree falling like a pack of cards at Stamford Bridge all because of  one man; Hernan Crespo, Shevchenko, Mateja Kezman, Nicolas Anelka, Torres; so long as you've come to Chelsea to lay claim to the point man position; you'll be in Drogba's bad books.

4.    Get yourself another role or adapt to another role: Nicolas Anelka is an out and out striker; he arrives at Chelsea plays that way, Drogba returns from the Nations Cup he leans more to the wings/flanks; he's considered in a 4-3-3 on either flank; same with Salomon Kalou. These guys have had to adapt to ensure they got playing time, because Drogba's position is his and he isn't sharing.

5. Hope it Rains,he's injured or away at the Nations Cup: In Africa, it is widely believed that rain water is quite potent and can be used to destroy the potency of Juju/Jazz; little wonder Fernando Torres scored his first Chelsea goal in the rain against West Ham after going  903 minutes without a goal. If he's injured just hope its serious; at the Nations Cup may be a wrong option; take note of the Chelsea goal this weekend against Sunderland.

6. His Herbalist (Babalawo/Jazzman) has a standing instruction to perform: My conclusion is this Didier Drogba, the pride of Abidjan; one of African's best ever footballers, is a truly great footballer. However, note that his Herbalist has his standing instruction to perform, how else do you explain scoring a good goal only for you to miss an open goal not long after or score in a match and subsequently get sent off;

is something not fishy here?

 

This article serves as a kind of a teaser to our forthcoming African Cup of Nations Preview which we expect you to look forward to, the article is to be taken on a lighter note and the opinions shared are that of the author only and constitute a figment of his crazy imagination and it is in no way a known fact or science or has it been proven in any way.

Adeyemi Adesanya

Tactics IQ Limited

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