Chelsea's African problem
Wed Nov 04 11:46AM
Last night Didier Drogba showed what an asset he is to Chelsea. Currently the second best centre-forward in the world after Fernando Torres, he was magnificent away at Atletico Madrid, personally securing Chelsea's qualification to the knock-out stage of the Champions League with two typically robust, muscular goals.
It was apt pay-back for the suspension he earned himself with his comedy performance after last season's semi-final. And it was a reminder to every Chelsea supporter - not to mention their manager Carlo Ancelotti - of what they will miss come the middle of January.
The final round of qualification takes place next week to decide the last four of the 16 teams to compete in the African Cup of Nations. The draw follows in Luanda on 20 November. And the first games kick off across Angola on January 10, 2010. But for Chelsea fans, whether Ivory Coast can avoid Cameroon in the first round group stage or whether Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt can continue the north African domination of the competition is not the principal issue.
It is the fact that they will be missing their talismanic striker for potentially three weeks at a cruicial stage of the domestic season. Should Drogba carry his impressive form in Madrid to the tournament and propel his country into the final, he will be absent from Stamford Bridge from January 10-31. That means he will not be available to terrorise the defences of Sunderland, Birmingham and Burnley in the Premier League, plus whomever the club draw in the third round of the FA Cup. And these are precisely the sort of games Chelsea need to win to secure silverware.
Not that Drogba is the only one who will be missing from action. The 12 nations who have already qualified will be accounting for the following Premier League players:
Arsenal: Emmanuel Eboue (Ivory Coast), Alexandre Song (Cameroon).
Aston Villa: Moustapha Salifou (Togo).
Bolton: Danny Shittu (Nigeria).
Burnley: Andre Bikey (Cameroon).
Chelsea: Michael Essien (Ghana), John Obi Mikel (Nigeria), Didier Drogba & Salomon Kalou (Ivory Coast)
Everton: Ayegbeni Yakubu & Joseph Yobo (Nigeria).
Fulham: Dickson Etuhu (Nigeria), John Pantsil (Ghana).
Hull: Daniel Cousin (Gabon), Kamel Ghilas (Algeria), Seyi Olofinjana (Nigeria)
Man City: Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo), Kolo Toure (Ivory Coast).
Portsmouth: Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria), Nadir Belhadj & Hassan Yebda (Algeria).
Sunderland: John Mensah (Ghana).
Tottenham: Benoit Assou-Ekotto & Sebastien Bassong (Cameroon).
Wigan: Richard Kingson (Ghana).
Chelsea followers will note with alarm from that list that neither Manchester United or Liverpool will be suffering from any absentees. But there is little the club can do. While the European Championship has always been scheduled in the league's close season (and timed to fall in between world cups) the African Cup of Nations has traditionally been at a time that maximises conditions in the footballing majority of the continent (in 27 stagings, Angola represents only the second time it has been played south of the equator).
Besides, the clubs knew about it long ago. Since the Premier League began importing African players in the late Nineties, the tournament has become an increasingly pertinent issue, not least in the amount of scouting that goes on there. But presumably managers took the decision that it is better to have the likes of Drogba, Essien and Adebayor for eight months of the season that to pass on the opportunity to play them because they will be missing for three weeks in January.
This season, however, Chelsea will be handicapped in a way they haven't in the recent past. Before the last Cup of Nations in 2008, they took the opportunity to buy in Nicolas Anelka as cover for Drogba, a neat bit of business that Jamie Carragher was wishing this week his bosses at Anfield had conducted when they had the chance when he was on loan in 2002. But this year they won't have such a luxury. Thanks to their insistent internationalisation, which saw them breach the rules on luring foreign youngsters, Chelsea are banned from entering the transfer market for two windows.
This time there will be no chance to bring in experienced cover for Drogba, Essien, Mikel and Kalou. Nor did they make funds available back in the summer before the ban came into force. Which is a huge blow, the equivalent of United being obliged to do without Wayne Rooney, Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Michael Owen. Or Liverpool having to find replacements for Torres, Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano and whoever it is Rafa Benitez thinks is an adequate understudy up front.
No wonder Chelsea's new chief executive Ron Gourlay is spending every waking hour attempting to persuade FIFA to relent on that transfer ban. Come January 10 his club will need all the help they can get.
1st!
From b.white181 on Wed Nov 04 12:02PM1st
From simon.nevin on Wed Nov 04 12:04PM1st!
From b.white181 on Wed Nov 04 12:05PMnumber 1
From simon.nevin on Wed Nov 04 12:06PMCome on, you cant win all the time! At what stage is the league not crucial? If three weeks absence is the cost for someone who regularly bangs in 20 odd goals a season, isnt it worth it? And more importantly, why do Chelsea and co register 30-plus players every year if they have to rely only on four players who will be absent for three weeks? Or is someone telling me that there is some welfare footballing scheme where clubs pays salaries of players they will never use?
From ekongub on Wed Nov 04 12:16PMJim as much as i agree with ur article...our fixture list is kind and of the 4 we will only miss Essien and Drogba.....Mikel will more than ably be replaced by Deco...we still will have Lampard and Ballack in midfield with Belletti as backup so we should be fine for that role....for thr forwards Anelka and Sturridge plus Di Santo as backup will be a good thing......Joe Cole might even be promoted to a second striker just like Gerrard is off Torres....that will be fantastic....i think we will cope with it and we will emerge laughing at all the doubters...go on Chelsea! We r all with u!
From rush_bach on Wed Nov 04 12:20PMDrogba is a lot better than Torres idiot.I'm a Man U fan
From painkiller14 on Wed Nov 04 12:26PMThis is a pathetic write up, Drogba secound to Torres, Man U & lIverpool not missing any player which shows how African players are not that club the "Theme" Chelseas African Problem" is herendous and in Bad faith Both Liverpool & Man U will not be winning anything this season let the English prone Clubs Buy English players & for your information what appeals to most Africans about the Premiership is the presence of such players note Chelsea has a deep squad and will do so well when those players return to their mother land to make Africa Proud
From iyahsino on Wed Nov 04 12:31PMI do agree with rush even though I am far from being a Chelsea fan... hope they got unlucky on other department more than losing player to the African Cup of Nations...
From izzfp9802 on Wed Nov 04 12:40PMYou said it yourself:
"That means he will not be available to terrorise the defences of Sunderland, Birmingham and Burnley in the Premier League, plus whoever it is that the club draw in the third round of the FA Cup. And these are precisely the sort of games Chelsea need to win to secure the title. "
Those 3 teams will be a walk in the park for Chelsea even without the African players. We're lucky we didn't get any hard teams during that month.
From mantho_d on Wed Nov 04 01:01PM"He will not be available to terrorise the defences of Sunderland, Birmingham and Burnley in the Premier League" No quality defense there, dont need him for those games really. Chelsea have easy fixtures during the African Nations. JIM WHITE IS AN IDIOT.
From markspence03 on Wed Nov 04 01:22PMi think drogba is better than torres! torres is ust a penalty box fox wich is good but didier can do it from anywhere!
From lukeburman on Wed Nov 04 01:31PMJim, you fumbled again. How could you say Drogba is second to Torres? Who is Torres when Drogba is on the field?
It looks as if you have a shortsight problem, our team will not feel any less with the absent of Drogba, Essien and the rest who are substitute lately. Cant you see Deco and Ballack doing their old jobs again? Any vacuum that Drogba will leave behind Anelka can fill with easily. The most important thing is our back 4 and they are intact.So, why the title "Chelsea's African problem"? My beloved Chelsea gets no problem Jim, you do.
From lennoxmallory on Wed Nov 04 01:36PM"United being obliged to do without Wayne Rooney, Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Michael Owen." Why are you making fun of poor Michael Owen? But it was a good one
From jzubrik on Wed Nov 04 01:39PMChelsea have a good squad , but to replace Essien and Drogba will be difficult and that could well see United take top spot during the African nationas period .... It will be an interesting seaseon ... think chelsea might just do it ... but it depends on United's activity in the transfer market .. Liverpool will finish around 5th
From jonnymernagh on Wed Nov 04 01:45PMAs much as i agree that Chelsea will only LOSE the premiership in January due to Drogba's and Essien's absence, suggesting Drogba is second best to Torres is a blasphemy!!! He is by far the best striker in England; by FAR... Coming from a United fan!!! I say 'lose' because Chelsea look like the best team in the premiership so far this season and they can only lose this status when Essien and Drogba will be absent. I just don't think Joe Cole moving up front or Belletti covering for Essien will be sufficient, even against the small teams; That's when United will pull away (probably with Arsenal) with Chelsea close behind; announcing a tense end to the season. The league will be won on the last day and i can only wish good luck to my team and better luck next time to the others... Jim, Drogba is by far the best striker the EPL has to offer (if not planet earth)
From yawboakye86 on Wed Nov 04 01:50PMSilly, silly domestic bias again. Drogba and Torres top two in the world? Meaning that David Villa, who carries Valencia most of the time, is 3rd at best? Compare international apps/goals of Spains top two strikers, go on.
Also, 12 nations have qualified so far for ACN 2010 but Togo aren't one of them.
Do your research, James.
From jonathanleewaldron on Wed Nov 04 01:54PMThis article (or at least the headline) is in bad faith (Chelsea's African Problem). Jim, why don't you just send out a memo in caps to all Premier League teams: DON'T BUY AFRICAN PLAYERS. EVERY TWO YEARS FOR THREE WEEKS, THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO PLAY IN THE AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS. While what you write is accurate, one would be really stupid not to read the underlying message which you make quite clear in your headline. I enjoy your writing, Jim White, but this one is under the belt and totally uncalled for. However, to be fair to you, you are only expressing what some top managers have come to believe in the past two years. A good example is Arsene Wenger, who for years has had many African players but starting damping them in the past season. This is to thank you for taking part in the bloodletting. Thank you, Jim.
From rocco.lazy on Wed Nov 04 01:54PMThis 'problem' is a regular issue for clubs but surely they realise it will happen when they sign them?
The ACN is hardly a new tournament, is it?
From les_b_richards on Wed Nov 04 01:59PMI love sports. Feel free to view my se xual photos-- under "tINAXA" @ Afro M i n gle - c - o - m -- where you- can
find
many
nice
sports--
BABES
From vicky768354 on Wed Nov 04 02:02PMI love sports. Feel free to view my se xual photos-- under "tINAXA" @ Afro M i n gle - c - o - m -- where you- can
find
many
nice
sports--
BABES
From vicky768354 on Wed Nov 04 02:02PM#12 It's a good job Aquera will be in Chelsea blue by then!
From screwloose.computers on Wed Nov 04 02:03PM#12 It's a good job Aquera will be in Chelsea blue by then!
From screwloose.computers on Wed Nov 04 02:03PMI love sports. Feel free to view my se xual photos-- under "tINAXA" @ Afro M i n gle - c - o - m -- where you- can
find
many
nice
sports--
BABES
From vicky768354 on Wed Nov 04 02:05PMyour anti chelsea tosh continues to offend me!!! im a liverpool suporter and get fed up of reading biased crappy journalism on this site!! and as for some of the cretins that comment, do you idiots actually watch any football??
From lynch.jack on Wed Nov 04 02:16PMdogbreath is the biggest diving cheat going .he even did it last night in the final minutes .im a united fan and he aint fit to lace torres boots and torres cut the diving out or you will end up being hated like dogbreath
From dazgallagher on Wed Nov 04 02:16PMscrewloose computers spell his name right and by the way your banned from signing players so dream on pal
From dazgallagher on Wed Nov 04 02:18PMdrogba best in the world
From adingranoel on Wed Nov 04 02:29PMchelsea will do fine, no worries
From gimidebreast on Wed Nov 04 02:31PMWho cares if Chelsea had not cheated they would never have got the ban in the first place, and if Drogba had not been such a comedian with match officials Chelski might not be quite so desperate
Bring on the bench warmers and the sick
WHUFC forever
From arttidesco on Wed Nov 04 02:33PM
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