Alan Ssekamatte
13 November 2009
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Like him or hate him, Didier Drogba is currently the best value for money player in the world. And I am not writing this as a Chelsea fan or an African. That his playing style dictates he may never win the annual Fifa World Player of the Year award is irrelevant. No player - neither Cristiano Ronaldo, nor Lionel Messi, nor Frank Ribery, nor Ricardo Kaka is as good a shift as Drogba .
Ronaldo's all round game is the only one that comes close. Consider these facts. The Ivorian striker is currently the second highest scorer in the Premiership with 9 goals from 12 games. He has also scored three other goals - two in the Champions League and one in the Carling Cup.
A return of 36 goals from the last 43 games is one reserved for the most mercurial of strikers. Besides, Drogba has five assists, just four less than Cesc Fabregas. When he is in the mood, no body can touch him. No one compares when it comes to big match temperament.
Whereas a player like Torres scores over 70 per cent of his goals at Anfield, the big African nets anywhere, and against all opposition. Goals against soccer aristocrats like Manchester United, Liverpool, Barcelona, Juventus and Arsenal are an annual ritual.
When I say Drogba is the best value for money player, I am neither saying he is the best finisher or the most dazzling dribbler. There are more worthy custodians of the accolade. If we are to strictly confine ourselves to finishing, Torres is better, and David Villa even better.
If we are to confine ourselves to dribbling, Messi is miles apart and I have problems with Ronaldo's sort of entertainment. The argument is about overall contribution to the team. He makes significant impact even when he doesn't score. Last month, a pundit compared Wayne Rooney, Torres and Drogba and marginally gave the accolade of best striker in the Premiership to Torres. That is an accolade I can't begrudge Torres, for I am sure plaudits would have been spread differently if the question at hand was who the better player is.
Like Drogba, Rooney is known to track back, whereas Torres is only interested if play is in and around the opposition's penalty area. The other aspect that the 31-year-old possesses, is leadership. You will never hear Torres utter a word. Rooney talks more but his foul mouthed rants against referees do not amount to leadership.
When I talk about leadership, I am referring to the ability to galvanise the dressing room. In this respect, Drogba, who also captains the Ivory Coast national team, is supreme. His on-field value and dressing room prowess was best illustrated during the brief tenure of Luis Felipe Scolari.
The Brazilian World Cup winner sullied his reputation and cost Chelsea the Premier League title with his decision to sideline Drogba. When Guus Hiddink took over, he placed trust in the burly African and Londoners lost just one of the final 22 games of the season, winning the FA Cup, and getting desperately close to another Champions League final.
Critics point to his need for managerial motivation as a weakness and they have a point. A poor reaction to Jose Mourinho's exit curtailed his progress. However, if he maintains his current form and Chelsea win something or Ivory Coast better Cameroon (1990) and Senegal (2002), he should convert his critics and win the Ballon D'Or. Drogba is that good.
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