This week saw the return of everyone’s favourite penalty taker Didier Drogba, a Chelsea legend and damn good striker.
Now 36, his return is rumoured to signal an end to 21 year old Belgian international Romeu Lukaku – yep, 36 year old Didier Drogba, a man whose best days lay discarded somewhere in the arrivals lounge at Shanghai Airport, has signed a 1 year deal, whilst exciting, talented, and let’s not forget expensive, Lukaku is off before ever really getting much wear out of his number 18 shirt.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not displeased with Drogba’s return, especially to coach; I’m glad we look to be involving the best players of our, apparently, short history to develop current squads – unlike Arsenal who are forced to see them sat in ITV studios or coaching Manchester City’s youth sides. But at the expense of a current player? Really? Especially one who shares such similarities with our ‘newest’ signing, although both distance themselves from it, and would benefit from his coaching.
After two loan spells at West Brom and Everton, scoring 17 in 35 and 15 in 31 respectively, Lukaku is surely worthy of a season at his parent club? I appreciate the reported fee leaves us in profit, but it’ll be so frustrating to watch him succeed elsewhere. I said in my last piece that Chelsea fans have a cautious approach to strikers, and bringing back one of the few success stories in replace of someone who has spent 2 seasons displaying his ability explains why.
It will be great seeing Didier back in the shirt, give Oscar the now free number 8 and Drogba will once again be our number 11, but this nostalgia may be short lived, and then the realisation that we’ve taken a huge step in the wrong direction will set in.
Just to make myself clear, yes to his return, no to its consequences.
