Tag Archives: Didier Drogba

Top 3 Moments Of The PL Weekend Feat. Chelsea Heroes, Newcastle Blitz

The Premier League weekend is over again, barring tonight’s clash between Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa.

Although the clash yesterday between Manchester United and Chelsea failed to provide a winner, it was symptomatic of a day and weekend that featured the classic narrative driven events that fans love about English football.

Here are spoughts.co.uk’s top three moments of the weekend from the Premier League, presented in GIF form.

1. Didier Drogba’s Header Against Man Utd

Didier Drogba’s departure from Chelsea after their Champions League triumph seemed like the perfect cap to a sensational time at Stamford Bridge, and there were doubts this summer about whether he could reach his previous heights again.

Drogba was a difficult man to stop on the pitch in his first spell in the Premier League, and there was no stopping him from making an emotional return to west London.

Sunday was a classic Drogba moment, and reminded fans of both Chelsea and football in general about his innate quality.

Unencumbered by age or the development of the game, Drogba ran to the near post from a corner and leapt high, flicking the ball into the net, as he has done many times before.

The Ivorian international proved on Sunday that he could still be an asset at the highest level.

2. Samuel Eto’o’s Second Goal Against Burnley

Samuel Eto’o’s arrival at Chelsea last season was billed as something of a last hurrah for the Cameroonian international, a throw of the dice by Jose Mourinho on a player who had failed to impress significantly while at Anzhi Makhachkala.

This was not the case, with Eto’o proving himself consistently ahead of Fernando Torres and Demba Ba.

While Mourinho famously doubted his age, he kept scoring, including a famous hat trick against Man Utd.

Now Eto’o is doing it again with Everton, and his long range stunner yesterday, which secured the win, spoke for a player still operating at a high level.

Given the strike and the performance that went with it, Roberto Martinez could have secured himself yet another high class talent at very little cost.

3. Sami Ameobi’s Rapid Strike For Newcastle

It’s fair to say that the last few months have not been kind to Alan Pardew at Newcastle.

His own decisions have lost him the belief of the fans, and many seem very keen to see his departure take place in the near future.

Credit, then, to the manager for his decision making at half time, with both of his substitutes playing a key role in a 2-1 win for the north east club against Tottenham Hotspur.

The second goal came because of half time sub Remy Cabella’s cross, with Ayoze Perez heading home.

The other interval introduction, Sami Ameobi, had a telling impact within six seconds of his introduction, bagging immediately from kick off after latching onto a through ball from Jack Colback.

Pardew’s decision making seems like it might have bought him more time.

Chelsea Hero Warns That Man Utd “Are A Threat”

Chelsea hero Didier Drogba has warned that Manchester United remain a threat, despite the Stamford Bridge club’s undefeated start to the new Premier League season, as reported by the Daily Star.

While the Red Devils have had a questionable start to the campaign after their huge £150 million summer outlay on new players, Chelsea head into Sunday’s game in a weaker position than they have at any point since the season kicked off.

Their main man Diego Costa is out injured, and Loic Remy is a doubt for the clash at Old Trafford, having been forced to withdraw from the Champions League tie against Maribor in midweek shortly after opening the scoring.

Drogba, who returned to the club during the summer, is not convinced that he will play, and youngster Dominic Solanke could be involved after his cameo in the Champions League.

Drogba is also keen to tell his undefeated teammates that Man Utd will still be a threat in Sunday’s tie.

He said: “It’s up to the manager to decide who is going to start.

 

“We are doing a great job and to be able to enjoy these kinds of moments is fantastic. We are lucky and if I play I will feel lucky one more time.

“They are a threat. We know to go there with our belief and our strength, but we also have to know that they’re a good team.”

Why This 20-Goal Chelsea Wonderkid Could Punish Man Utd At The Weekend

With Loic Remy a doubt and Diego Costa almost certainly unavailable for Sunday’s clash against Manchester United, Chelsea’s formidable squad looks weaker than it has done at any point thus far this season.

Didier Drogba is the obvious choice for inclusion in Remy’s place, and the legendary striker got himself on the scoresheet last night against Maribor, which bodes well for the future.

However, Jose Mourinho is known as an occasional risk taker when it comes to young talent.

Raphael Varane, undoubtedly one of the best young defenders in Europe today, was blooded by Mourinho at Real Madrid.

Forget the Premier League, making a decision like that about a young talent while in charge of the Spanish giants takes some serious belief. The smallest mistake at Real is analysed time and time again.

This is why Dominic Solanke, who made an appearance from the bench against Maribor last night, could find himself involved once again at Old Trafford on Sunday.

It’s obvious that the player has significant talent, having scored 20 goals in 25 games for the Under-18s last season.

He was also key as the club won the FA Youth Cup against Fulham, with Solanke performing with aplomb in front of a busy, if not full, Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho himself believes that Solanke has the potential to be a great, and said that he would blame himself if he didn’t achieve over the next few years.

In the summer, Mourinho said: “My conscience tells me that if, for example, [Lewis] Baker, [Izzy] Brown, and [Dominic] Solanke are not national team players in a few years, I should blame myself.”

As for the style of play, Solanke would be the right sort of striker to batter Man Utd’s questionable defence.

Much like Saido Berainho on Monday night, Solanke is skilled at running along the line of the defence, and this is something that none of Man Utd’s defenders are particularly good at dealing with.

Marcos Rojo, who is a more natural left back, and Phil Jones both look relatively comfortable when defending high balls, but neither have the commanding presence or the ability to turn to deal with a striker running between them.

Unlike teams from the past, none of the defenders offer an experienced voice to control the line, which is why Rafael was caught so deep for West Brom’s second goal.

With a player like Cesc Fabregas, who has provided seven assists in the Premier League, joint top with Dusan Tadic, behind him, able to thread through balls between the defenders, Solanke could plunder any opportunities given to him.

It would not be surprising to see him involved in some form on Sunday, and for that reason, Man Utd fans should fear his potential to do damage.