Media Make a Mountain from a Molehill…As Usual
By: Inara | October 24th, 2007
You can imagine my befuddlement when I opened my inbox yesterday morning and saw dozens of google alerts informing me of Lyon’s determination in signing Chelsea want-away Didier Drogba. It’s caused such an uproar that even the Skegness Standard is reporting it (and you know when the Skegness Standard gets involved, it’s serious).
Affordability issues aside, Drogba wouldn’t come to Lyon anyway. If Bolton prisoner Nicolas Anelka won’t return to France, it’s wishful thinking that Drogba will. To refresh your memories, Lyon tried really hard to sign Drogba last fall (right before he exploded into amazing form at Chelsea) but weren’t able to complete the deal. And though Drogba is an admirer of Lyon and considered their offer, he eventually extended with Chelsea (he’s also a loyal marseillais at heart).
And now it’s too late. *wipes away tear*
I don’t quite understand why the news of Lyon’s interest spread like wildfire, overtaking even the more credible Drogba rumors. I mean, yeah, Lyon would love to have him, just as they’d love to have Kaka and Ronaldinho. So I thought to myself, did Jean-Michel Aulas, who is known for punching above his weight, really lose his marbles in the ensuing Drogba madness?
It turns out that in an interview for Aujourd’hui en France, Aulas, when asked about Drogba’s availability, admitted that the Ivorian striker would be a dream signing. He goes on to say that:
“Everything is possible in football. Didier Drogba is an exceptional footballer who loves France. We had an asset (to make him come) here, Florent Malouda, who was playing for us, but he has left for Chelsea. If we had to sign both of them, it is maybe beyond our means.”
Basically, Aulas is saying that though anything can happen, Lyon missed the boat in signing Drogba now that Florent Malouda is no longer at Lyon, and to bring them both back is not really possible.
And that is all.
So sorry guys, no Drogs for us this year. Except I’m not really sorry because we have Karim Benzema, who is so much cooler.
Category: 
Subscribe
|
Print
|
Share
      |
Comments
-
Drogba, Gud, and so many other possible recruits who would have made us miss Karim’s extraordinary potential…
Same for Reyes, Mancini, Robben and Rothen for Hatem!!Posted from
Hong Kong
-
Drogba is a good player, much better then when he left Marseille. But with Benzema and maybe Fred you dont need him, we need another young guy to come off the bench from time to time cause Baros aint cuttin it.
Posted from
United States -
Okay people, Benzema is good, GREAT. my favorite lyon player and all but don’t go saying he’s better than Drogba.
Drogba is the best in the world and the only reason he won’t get the Ballon d’or is the same reason C.Ronaldo won’t get it, they play in the premiership. But if he goes to Milan or madrid, not only will he win a CL but he’ll get a ballon d’or.Posted from
France -
Oh and Corey, drogba was this good when he was in marseille. Now only are people catching up. If anything he was better. He brought us to the final of the european cup practically by himself. At chelsea there are superstars at every position.
Posted from
France -
I have known Drogba since Guingamp Mag, I was aware of his talents. He was a one man show at Marseille true, but then again Mido was much more powerful as his strike partner back then too. He was still a little raw when he left Marseille, his finishing and ball control have improved dramatically, and he stays on his feet more often instead of going do ground, which leads him to creating more chances for himself. I think his biggest attribute is the fact that he can chest the ball down to himself from a goal kick with a defender on his back, that is no mean feat. But Mag, im not insulting Marseille, but he was the big fish in a small pond by ability standards at Marseille when he left, but when he arrived at Chelsea he was a small fish. Now he is yet again a big fish, and to continue his progress he may have to move on.
Posted from
United States -
I agree with you totally. He was a whale in a fishbowl at marseille. He single-hadedly eliminated Inter and newcastle. I’m not saying skill wise but when it comes to actual impact on the game. True Mido, Meriem and Even Beye were very good then but at Chelsea he doesn’t need to do what he was doing in Marseille. he had to work more defensively because our midfield was so weak. If he was playing with Ribery or nasri then, he would have scored 40 instead of 25. I think what he did the first season is what Shevchanko had to do last year. Earn that right to be number 1 offensive choice.
BUt as you said Drogba’s numero UNOPosted from
France -
No doubt that right now, Drogba is better than Benzema right now. Benzema is still a kid with a lot to prove and even more to learn. For example, a more experienced striker wouldn’t have missed like that against Stuttgart. But I think Benzema is at that stage right now where he needs to play as much as possible, and bringing in a striker like Drogba (not that it would be possible anyway) would hamper his development. Too much of a good thing is just as bad as an absence of a good thing.
But I do think that Benzema may grow to be better than Drogba, Sheva, and Ruud. Early indications are promising, but then again, who knows?
The good thing about Drogba is that he didn’t leave Marseille until he was considerably older. I hope Benzema can learn lessons from that.
Posted from
United States -
i think drogba has “blossomed” since he left marseille, but it’s very tricky to say how much he’s “improved”…
if the few matches i’ve seen in the last couple of years are a valid sample, he, like the team, seem to have become one-dimensional. i’d be very interested in seeing all that talent doing more than just chase down a long pass and hammer it in…
i’m not saying he couldn’t, in fact i’m rather convinced he would put on a heckuva show, but seeing is believing.
Posted from
France -
INARA : Drogba didn’t leave OM before age 26 because he only broke through at age 25. He only spent ONE year in Marseille (and two with Guingamp).
Before that he was playing bad football at Le Mans in L2.Posted from
United States -
Kanoute was also a late bloomer too, if I recall correctly.
Posted from
United States
Comments are closed
Home 
