Is Didier Drogba a Premier League Great?

TN5 gives their verdict

With the announcement that Didier Drogba will be leaving Chelsea this summer, probably for a club overseas, how will he be remembered? A true Premier League Legend, or a very good player who went down a little too easily? TN5 looks at however Drogba has performed in his time at Chelsea, and compares him to other great strikers from the Premier League era.

Didier Drogba 

        

A powerfully built giant of a man, with a great touch and great technique. Many would say he had it all. Yet he had his detractors, which tended to concentrate on his tendency to go to ground from the slightest of touches and occasionally the odd criticism that sometimes he’d disappear and not produce.

I think few would disagree he played a pivotal role in Chelsea’s recent success. His arrival at the Bridge coincided with a trophy haul that few clubs have ever seen in such a short space of time. His record of 3 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cups, 2 League Cups, 2 Charity Shields and a Champions League title (secured by his header and winning penalty) is a phenomenal record. 10 major trophies (not counting the Charity Shields) in 7 seasons is a magnificent achievement by anybody’s standards.

Then you look at his personal contribution to that success. His scoring record was 157 goals in 338 games for Chelsea, scoring 100 Premier Leagues in the process. He also scored in EVERY domestic Cup final he played in. Add in his goal in the Champions League Final this season mean the only cup final he didn’t score in out the 8 he played in was the Champions League final against Man United. I can’t recall any other player having such a influence on some many big games so often.

And that’s not even to mention the defensive work he did for the team, his creative play in providing chances for others and his all-round contribution to unprecedented success in a Chelsea shirt.

But how does that compare to the other greats of the Premier League? Asked to name the great strikers from the Premier League and the names of Henry, Bergkamp, Cantona and Shearer would undoubtedly figure on fans lists. So, were they better than Drogba?

Thierry Henry

Many people pick him as the best striker of the Premier League era. 228 goals for Arsenal in 376 games, 175 in the Premier League, is a better record than Drogba’s. Few would dispute Henry was a better finisher, but he was the undoubted jewel in the Arsenal crowd and the focal point of all things they did.

His trophy haul was impressive too. 2 Premier Leagues, 3 FA Cup and 2 Charity Shields is impressive but doesn’t measure up to Drogba’s trophy cabinet, and Thierry had an extra season at Arsenal.

Therefore, a greater striker than Drogba? Probably yes. A greater player? It’s too close to call.

Dennis Bergkamp

An undoubted master at his trade and a true artist at work. Not an out and out striker like the others, but for many people the classiest player to have graced the Premier League.

As he wasn’t a pure striker, his strike on paper looks inferior to others. 120 goals in 416 games, 87 in the Premier League -  not as impressive as Drogba. But the quality of his goals and his creative vision in creating opportunities for the likes of Wright and Henry were second to none.

And his impact on the team’s success was equally impressive. 3 Premier Leagues, 4 FA Cup and 3 Charity Shields is almost on a par with Drogba, but is missing the BIGGY of the Champions League plus a couple of League Cups. It was also achieved over 11 seasons compared to Drogba’s 7.

So all things considers, better than Drogba? For the impact on the team reflected in the trophies won, we’d have to say Drogba edges it.

Eric Cantona

A charismatic enigma fascinated fans from the start of the Premier League era and was a hugely influential in setting in motion the domination that Manchester United came to enjoy and still are.

Like Bergkamp, not and out and out striker. 82 goals in 185 games, 64 in the Premier League is impressive, but not up there with Drogba and Henry. 4 Premier League titles in 5 seasons is an unbelievable achievement too, even eclipsing Drogba. Add in his title with Leeds and it is 5 in 6 seasons. This is also supplemented by 2 FA Cups and 4 Charity Shields. But the one that’s missing again is the big one of the Champions League winners’ medal.

An undoubted star of the Premier League, but his impact was shorter than most others (although massively impressive). His presence in the team was turned to silverware for the club and you could argue his impact was as great as Drogba’s on Chelsea. But a better scoring record and the Champions League on the CV again means Drogba just edges it again.

Alan Shearer

Premier League all time record goal scorer. 379 goals in 733 games, included 283 in the Premier League. So often the Golden Boot winner, Shearer I think, is unrivalled in putting the ball in the net.

However, his major Achilles heel is his lack of trophies. 1 Premier League winners’ medal from his time at Blackburn is what let him down in comparison to Drogba. Close again in the Premier League, and the FA Cup on a few occasions, but the lack of silverware for me says Drogba had more of an influence than Shearer did, although Shearer was without doubt the better finished.

So, was Drogba a great? 

We would rate Drogba above Shearer (for trophies won), Cantona (better scoring record and trophies over a longer period) and Bergkamp (better scoring record and trophies won). Is he better than Henry? We couldn’t say. Henry for his scoring, but Drogba for his all-round performances means they are just too equal to spilt.

Henry and Shearer were both named in the Premier League 20 Season Awards. Had it been next season looking back, we would certainly have Drogba in our line up alongside Henry and he is without doubt a true Premier League Great!