Didier Drogba has got to be kidding here, right?

First off, he’s benefitted tremendously from having Shevchenko on the pitch. I’d like to go back and see, goal for goal, how many of his tally so far have come either directly from Shevchenko or as a result of Sheva drawing defenses away or creating something in the attacking third.

Second, this bit is hysterical: “I love to share but when I give, I appreciate it when I get something back.” What?! Since when has Drogba created anything for anybody else? He doesn’t have the skills to create – his ballhandling and passing ability are on a par with your standard maple. When he attempts to dribble, the result is usually a counter-attack heading the other way (he’s like a bigger, slightly slower DaMarcus Beasley or Shaun Wright-Phillips in this respect).

Drogba is a great finisher, but we saw during the World Cup what happens to his effectiveness when he has to come out toward the midfield, pick the ball up and make something happen on his own. (You know, kinda like what’s happened to Sheva since coming over to Chelsea – he’s had no service all season. None. It’s like Mourinho has a strategy for 10 players on the field, but can’t quite imagine what that second forward ought to be doing.) I’m not happy about his failure to put the ball in the twine, either, but if you watch a few games it’s not hard to understand that he’s now in a system that doesn’t make putting him in scoring situations a terribly high priority.

We can talk about Drogba’s partnership with Crespo (a player I really like, by the way) all we want, but let’s compare DD’s Crespo partnership results with what he’s done since Sheva arrived, mmkay?

I don’t want to be too critical of a guy who has posted serious results this season. Last year I kept wondering what it was that Jose thought was so great about him, but this year he has paid the investment off handsomely, and I’m sure I’m not the only Chelsea fan who’s happy he’s on the team.

But let’s understand where those results come from. And then let’s shut the hell up and stand in front of the goal so the rest of the squad can bounce the ball into the net off our magnificant noggins, shall we?

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