Who should lead the Chelsea frontline – Didier Drogba or Nicolas Anelka?
Drogba v Anelka - who's better?
Whether it’s in muddy parks every Sunday afternoon or on the pristine turf of the Premier League you always get big-game strikers and big-match chokers.
The ‘chokers’ aren’t bad players (as they normally score a hatful against the lesser sides) but they tend to go missing when things are tight and when you need them most. From experience this species of player is normally less talented than they are generally perceived to be.
In contrast, you also get strikers who find it difficult to motivate themselves week in, week out, yet often produce their best performances when it matters most. These players are a source of frustration for managers at every level but they are also worth their weight in gold. From experience they are the most gifted players.
Was I describing Nicolas Anelka in paragraph two and Didier Drogba in paragraph three?
I think perhaps I was.
After all, when Big Phil Scolari needed a goal against Man United, Roma, Liverpool and Arsenal his 14-goal French top scorer failed to deliver. Avram Grant might also recall Anelka drawing blanks in six outings against the rest of the big three last year too.
Didier Drogba is a different animal on the other hand, scoring eight goals against those sides over the last two seasons – as well as whole host of other key European goals.
All of which begs my original question. Who is more deserving of the two to lead Chelsea’s line? Should it be 2008/09’s most prolific marksman Anelka or a fit-again Drogba?
I am clear in my view as to who I’d rather have in my team – and that is the Ivorian. He’s got to be undisputed number one.
They’re both moody, both likely to look elsewhere when things go pear-shaped and luckily for the Blues they are both very good.
But the way Scolari sets up his team – only one of them can play. Come on Chelsea fans, who should it be?
Adrian Clarke is the co-founder of Sport Media Solutions. This article was originally published on 4sportsake.com.
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe… Numbers don’t lie on either side on this one and I agree with the “chokers” vs. the “inconsistent” strikers, but the PL is not about JUST winning the BIG ONES. You have to win ALL of the smaller ones, which is what Chelsea has done. Who has gotten them this far, this year? Anelka has. I say start Anelka until he proves otherwise. Look what he’s been able to accomplish so far — being the top scorer (by 5 goals)in the world’s best football league. What a nice problem to have Phil. If Anelka doesn’t keep performing, you have Didier to fall back on.
I think it’s time to start playing a 4-4-2..
When you’ve got 2 world class 11s as Chelsea do you sometimes need to drop top players and keep your form players on. If Anelka stops hitting them in then play Drogba, i understand that they play better with Drogba but he played the other night and they didnt exactly play beautiful flowing football did they?
they could play 4-4-2 diamond system which could accomodate their central midfielders
cech
bosingwa carvalho terry a.cole
obi mikel/essien
ballack lampard
deco/j.cole
anelka drogba
this would also cut out the dross that is malouda & kalou(?)
Drogba!!! hands down he knows how to get the goals that really do matter
I think personally that Anelka must have dirty photos on scolari or roman!!! I mean he is not world class but Drogba is one of the best players in the world for me!!!
They both suck and are overrated.
What about Ameobi like?
Both are good, so Scolari should simplify things by dropping Malouda and using both Drogba and Anelka – that way he can get goals in all agmes, and defenders have t cope with a big strong guy who can hold it up and the quick guy who nips in through the gaps – most teams won’t know what hit em. Some may know what hit em, but will be no closer to stopping them. So I reckon a system like the one yu1mixer suggested would be good, although I think hes being harsh on Kalou, whos been a bit hampered by being played on the wing. If Anelka gets injured he’ll be a good replacement, but only if he partners Drogba so its not all up to Kalou, who isn’t up to it in big games yet – in years to come, maybe. Don’t even start me on Malouda. I reckon when he was bought, Mourinho knew he wouldn’t last much longer and was just trying to waste Russian money.
i think drogba is better than Anelka.. i saw Chelsea’s last game with Arsenal with a poor attacking performance by Anelka. They made some great moves and the passing was fantastic but they could not finish well due to the lack of quality forward like Drogba but i still think Scolari should buy another forward to use as a substitute.. At this time they have only one quality forward and the other one still needs time to set.
Drogba
What about Franco Di Santo? Is he not ready for a chance?
Isn’t Di Santo injured? That was the last I heard. Either way hes not really the type of player who can hold up the ball when needed. Drogba’s Chelsea’s only forward who can.
Drogba is the best striker ever, Anelka is just terrible and overrated, Drogba.