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Counterattack: Samuel Eto’o or Didier Drogba?
Just days before Chelsea and Barcelona kick off their monumental Champions League semifinal, Goal.com’s Greg Lalas and Shane Evans debate the strengths and weaknesses of the two teams’ superstar African strikers.
Apr 24, 2009 12:25:14 AM
They are two of the best strikers in the world: Chelsea’s Didier Drogba and Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o. Between them, they have four African Footballer of the Year awards. Drogba has two Premier League trophies to his name, while Eto’o has two Liga titles to go with one Champions League medal, two Africa Cup of Nations championships, and the 2000 Olympic gold medal.
Next week, the two superior marksmen will come face to face when the Blues visit the Blaugrana in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal tie. The last four times these two sides have met in the Champions League, Eto’o and Drogba have played vital roles, nabbing important late goals on the road (Eto’o scored in the 80th minute of Barca’s 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge in February 2006; Drogba got a 93rd-minute equalizer at the Camp Nou in a 2-2 draw in October 2006). Odds are, they will be equally involved this time around.
Which got Goal.com’s Greg Lalas and Shane Evans thinking about the following question: Eto'o or Drogba, who is a better striker?
Lalas: I'm going to say Eto'o. Several reasons for saying this . . . first, his statistics bear it out: 27 goals in 28 Liga games this season. Plus three goals in Champions League. Second, his ability to play within the highly dynamic system that is Barcelona, which means he has to be more skillful and alert than Drogba does for Chelsea. In the EPL, scoring is most often about power. In La Liga, it's about skill and finishing ability. Third, Eto'o can actually take a defender on with the ball at his feet. Drogba tends to dribble the ball into the fifth row.
Evans: Some valid points you make there. Unfortunately, the first thing you have to consider is the competition. While the EPL may be about power, the quality of defending is also a lot greater. The league itself is of a higher standard than La Liga and Drogba has to use his strength to work around players and fight for the ball. His game isn't dribbling and technique, it's his magnificent first touch—check the Everton match on Sunday when he hit the post at the death—and his vision. He sees things better than most strikers and makes the opposition look silly because of it. Oh, and Drogba can score goals as well, he just needs to be happy to do so, something Samuel knows all about.
Lalas: True, Eto'o can be as petulant as the next striker. All strikers have pretty fickle egos, don’t they? I disagree about the quality of the defending in the EPL. Individually, the defending may be better—because individual defense is often about effort and tenacity. But from top to bottom, I'd argue the Spanish teams have stronger defensive schemes. Tactically. So Eto'o has to figure out ways to break down those defenses. Drogba just has to push past some poor schlub from Hull City. Granted, Eto'o has the likes of Messi, Xavi, and Henry to help him break down those defenses. But it requires a skilled, talented player to mesh in with players of that caliber. Eto'o has that talent. I'm not convinced Drogba would be the same force in Spain.
Evans: Well, on your first point, the IFFHS disagrees. That's the International Federation of Football History and Statistics. They ranked La Liga as the fourth league in the world in a recent study. Who was number one? That's right, the EPL. Just look at the standings to see the disparity: From first place to fourth place in La Liga: 26 points. 26!!! Who's on top? Barcelona. They aren't beating teams; they are dominating. I won't take away from Eto'o's skill, but I have seen them play where he has had tap in after tap in. Barcelona have been playing against breathing traffic cones. You're going to say a league has quality defending when Barca's goal differential is plus-68? Give me a break.
Lalas: Good point.
Evans: As for whether Drogs would thrive in Spain, consider it this way: Speed and skill are great, but when you're going against the force and usually stingy defenders in England, your numbers drop. Also, not having players like Messi, Xavi and Iniesta hurts. Drogs would slaughter defenders in Spain. He's too big and strong for them.
Lalas: So you think Drogba would match Eto'o's success in Spain?
Evans: With the right players around him, yes. When you think about it, he had to sit for half of this season because of Anelka.
Lalas: Because of Anelka? Drogba had to sit for half the season because of himself!
Evans: If Chelsea didn't use Anelka or even sign him, Drogba would have had two-thirds of the goals Anelka scored. And I guarantee Eto'o would have done the same thing.
Lalas: But you can’t just say it was because of Anelka. Drogba had some injuries and then when he was fit he didn’t play well.
Evans: That was because of how Scolari was playing him.
Lalas: Eto'o would not have sat on Chelsea. Not the way Drogba did. Even under Scolari. Eto'o is more consistent that Drogba that way.
Evans: Yea, because look who he plays with up front. Henry is as unselfish as it gets. Anelka, Kalou, Ballack, Malouda—all selfish players.
Lalas: Go on, I want to understand this theory.
Evans: I'll admit, Drogba can be a selfish player, but it makes things a lot harder when you're surrounded by players who do the same thing. Eto'o doesn't have that problem. When it comes down to it, Drogba is a better pure striker and in the right situation—which is not how things were for the first half of the season—Drogba would run circles around Eto'o.
Lalas: Okay, maybe we should define "pure striker." Because for me, Eto'o is a pure striker—not a target man, but someone who finishes off team moves and can also create opportunities by taking on defenders. Drogba is more of a power man.
Evans: Eto'o reaps what the rest of his team sows.
Lalas: Agreed. But that’s diminishing what he does to reap it.
Evans: Drogba has to work grind out his goals. And I guess they can be classed differently, as I'd say Drogba fits the “pure striker” mold in the EPL, while Eto'o fits it nicely in Spain.
Lalas: Probably true. EPL strikers thrive on strength and power—Drogba, Torres, Adebayor—whereas in Spain there's more graft and technique. But you said earlier you think Drogba would score tons of goals in Spain?
Evans: As we've seen with Torres, who made the jump from Spain to England, that type of player is successful in La Liga, simply because they make opportunities for themselves and can finish when necessary. Drogba would be no different.
Lalas: Now let me ask you this: Who will shine more, Drogba or Eto'o, when Chelsea and Barca meet up in the Champions League semifinal later this month?
Evans: Depends on the quality of the defending. Chelsea's defense is banged up and has been a patchwork affair for some time now. But if you look at the central defenders, the Blues have the edge. Pique and Puyol are quality players, but no match for Terry and Carvalho in the middle. Drogba will make Pique look bad, while Eto'o will have trouble working his magic on Terry up the middle.
Lalas: I'll grant you Terry is a fantastic player, but I don't think Eto'o will have as much trouble as you think he will. My feeling is that Eto'o's off-the-ball running will cause the Blues' backline trouble. Yes, Drogba's size and strength will be difficult to deal with, but Pique’s big himself—6'4"—and actually has some EPL experience to draw on when looking to defend a power striker like Drogba.
Evans: Off-the-ball running is one thing, but having two quick, versatile fullbacks is the perfect way to counter that. I'll admit, Ashley Cole hasn't been at his best lately, but Jose Bosingwa has. Similar to Barca's Dani Alves, Bosingwa likes to attack and go forward, but he has the edge in defending, and will surely cause problems for Eto'o in their Champions League tie. As for Pique, his experiences in the EPL, though few, weren't great. If he still played with United, he'd be their fourth or even fifth choice center-back, which in itself, tells you something.
Lalas: That's crap. Maybe if his development had stagnated in 2006. But the Pique of 2009 would challenge Vidic for the starting role. Partly because Vidic hasn't had the best second half to the season, but also because Pique is a very, very good player. Also, I'm sorry, but Eto'o will eat Cole and Bosingwa—a player I like a lot, actually—alive. Of course, Samuel is helped by the relentless running and passing of the guys around him, which will cause much havoc for Chelsea. So, do you believe that Drogba would do better at Barcelona than Eto'o would do at Chelsea?
Evans: Yes, that is a fact. Eto'o is like Kalou, though a better player. Kalou hasn't fit into the scheme at Chelsea. Drogba would take all those lovely passes from Messi and Xavi at Barca and bang them home, much easier than Eto'o would at Stamford Brdige
Lalas: Hm, okay. I guess I can see that about Drogba at Barcelona, although I think he would have a hard time adjusting his game to the flow of Barcelona. He's too static for me, too much a target man looking to power his way through rather than a striker looking to find the seams. Honestly, I don't know how Eto'o would do at Chelsea. I think they have greatly missed any kind of player who can find those seams, or who even looks for them. Joe Cole is normally that guy. I think Eto'o would have a lot of success in that role, with the likes of Lampard and Essien behind trying to slot him through.
Evans: Well, we'll most likely never know the answer.
Lalas: Oh, we’ll know. In less than a week.
Evans: The fact is Drogba is a strong all-around striker and when put up against Eto'o there is very little question in my mind who is the better player.
Counterattack runs every Thursday on Goal.com
Who do you think is a better striker, Samuel Eto’o or Didier Drogba?
Next week, the two superior marksmen will come face to face when the Blues visit the Blaugrana in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal tie. The last four times these two sides have met in the Champions League, Eto’o and Drogba have played vital roles, nabbing important late goals on the road (Eto’o scored in the 80th minute of Barca’s 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge in February 2006; Drogba got a 93rd-minute equalizer at the Camp Nou in a 2-2 draw in October 2006). Odds are, they will be equally involved this time around.
Which got Goal.com’s Greg Lalas and Shane Evans thinking about the following question: Eto'o or Drogba, who is a better striker?
Lalas: I'm going to say Eto'o. Several reasons for saying this . . . first, his statistics bear it out: 27 goals in 28 Liga games this season. Plus three goals in Champions League. Second, his ability to play within the highly dynamic system that is Barcelona, which means he has to be more skillful and alert than Drogba does for Chelsea. In the EPL, scoring is most often about power. In La Liga, it's about skill and finishing ability. Third, Eto'o can actually take a defender on with the ball at his feet. Drogba tends to dribble the ball into the fifth row.
Evans: Some valid points you make there. Unfortunately, the first thing you have to consider is the competition. While the EPL may be about power, the quality of defending is also a lot greater. The league itself is of a higher standard than La Liga and Drogba has to use his strength to work around players and fight for the ball. His game isn't dribbling and technique, it's his magnificent first touch—check the Everton match on Sunday when he hit the post at the death—and his vision. He sees things better than most strikers and makes the opposition look silly because of it. Oh, and Drogba can score goals as well, he just needs to be happy to do so, something Samuel knows all about.
Lalas: True, Eto'o can be as petulant as the next striker. All strikers have pretty fickle egos, don’t they? I disagree about the quality of the defending in the EPL. Individually, the defending may be better—because individual defense is often about effort and tenacity. But from top to bottom, I'd argue the Spanish teams have stronger defensive schemes. Tactically. So Eto'o has to figure out ways to break down those defenses. Drogba just has to push past some poor schlub from Hull City. Granted, Eto'o has the likes of Messi, Xavi, and Henry to help him break down those defenses. But it requires a skilled, talented player to mesh in with players of that caliber. Eto'o has that talent. I'm not convinced Drogba would be the same force in Spain.
Evans: Well, on your first point, the IFFHS disagrees. That's the International Federation of Football History and Statistics. They ranked La Liga as the fourth league in the world in a recent study. Who was number one? That's right, the EPL. Just look at the standings to see the disparity: From first place to fourth place in La Liga: 26 points. 26!!! Who's on top? Barcelona. They aren't beating teams; they are dominating. I won't take away from Eto'o's skill, but I have seen them play where he has had tap in after tap in. Barcelona have been playing against breathing traffic cones. You're going to say a league has quality defending when Barca's goal differential is plus-68? Give me a break.
Lalas: Good point.
Evans: As for whether Drogs would thrive in Spain, consider it this way: Speed and skill are great, but when you're going against the force and usually stingy defenders in England, your numbers drop. Also, not having players like Messi, Xavi and Iniesta hurts. Drogs would slaughter defenders in Spain. He's too big and strong for them.
Lalas: So you think Drogba would match Eto'o's success in Spain?
Evans: With the right players around him, yes. When you think about it, he had to sit for half of this season because of Anelka.
Lalas: Because of Anelka? Drogba had to sit for half the season because of himself!
Evans: If Chelsea didn't use Anelka or even sign him, Drogba would have had two-thirds of the goals Anelka scored. And I guarantee Eto'o would have done the same thing.
Lalas: But you can’t just say it was because of Anelka. Drogba had some injuries and then when he was fit he didn’t play well.
Evans: That was because of how Scolari was playing him.
Lalas: Eto'o would not have sat on Chelsea. Not the way Drogba did. Even under Scolari. Eto'o is more consistent that Drogba that way.
Evans: Yea, because look who he plays with up front. Henry is as unselfish as it gets. Anelka, Kalou, Ballack, Malouda—all selfish players.
Lalas: Go on, I want to understand this theory.
Evans: I'll admit, Drogba can be a selfish player, but it makes things a lot harder when you're surrounded by players who do the same thing. Eto'o doesn't have that problem. When it comes down to it, Drogba is a better pure striker and in the right situation—which is not how things were for the first half of the season—Drogba would run circles around Eto'o.
Lalas: Okay, maybe we should define "pure striker." Because for me, Eto'o is a pure striker—not a target man, but someone who finishes off team moves and can also create opportunities by taking on defenders. Drogba is more of a power man.
Evans: Eto'o reaps what the rest of his team sows.
Lalas: Agreed. But that’s diminishing what he does to reap it.
Evans: Drogba has to work grind out his goals. And I guess they can be classed differently, as I'd say Drogba fits the “pure striker” mold in the EPL, while Eto'o fits it nicely in Spain.
Lalas: Probably true. EPL strikers thrive on strength and power—Drogba, Torres, Adebayor—whereas in Spain there's more graft and technique. But you said earlier you think Drogba would score tons of goals in Spain?
Evans: As we've seen with Torres, who made the jump from Spain to England, that type of player is successful in La Liga, simply because they make opportunities for themselves and can finish when necessary. Drogba would be no different.
Lalas: Now let me ask you this: Who will shine more, Drogba or Eto'o, when Chelsea and Barca meet up in the Champions League semifinal later this month?
Evans: Depends on the quality of the defending. Chelsea's defense is banged up and has been a patchwork affair for some time now. But if you look at the central defenders, the Blues have the edge. Pique and Puyol are quality players, but no match for Terry and Carvalho in the middle. Drogba will make Pique look bad, while Eto'o will have trouble working his magic on Terry up the middle.
Lalas: I'll grant you Terry is a fantastic player, but I don't think Eto'o will have as much trouble as you think he will. My feeling is that Eto'o's off-the-ball running will cause the Blues' backline trouble. Yes, Drogba's size and strength will be difficult to deal with, but Pique’s big himself—6'4"—and actually has some EPL experience to draw on when looking to defend a power striker like Drogba.
Evans: Off-the-ball running is one thing, but having two quick, versatile fullbacks is the perfect way to counter that. I'll admit, Ashley Cole hasn't been at his best lately, but Jose Bosingwa has. Similar to Barca's Dani Alves, Bosingwa likes to attack and go forward, but he has the edge in defending, and will surely cause problems for Eto'o in their Champions League tie. As for Pique, his experiences in the EPL, though few, weren't great. If he still played with United, he'd be their fourth or even fifth choice center-back, which in itself, tells you something.
Lalas: That's crap. Maybe if his development had stagnated in 2006. But the Pique of 2009 would challenge Vidic for the starting role. Partly because Vidic hasn't had the best second half to the season, but also because Pique is a very, very good player. Also, I'm sorry, but Eto'o will eat Cole and Bosingwa—a player I like a lot, actually—alive. Of course, Samuel is helped by the relentless running and passing of the guys around him, which will cause much havoc for Chelsea. So, do you believe that Drogba would do better at Barcelona than Eto'o would do at Chelsea?
Evans: Yes, that is a fact. Eto'o is like Kalou, though a better player. Kalou hasn't fit into the scheme at Chelsea. Drogba would take all those lovely passes from Messi and Xavi at Barca and bang them home, much easier than Eto'o would at Stamford Brdige
Lalas: Hm, okay. I guess I can see that about Drogba at Barcelona, although I think he would have a hard time adjusting his game to the flow of Barcelona. He's too static for me, too much a target man looking to power his way through rather than a striker looking to find the seams. Honestly, I don't know how Eto'o would do at Chelsea. I think they have greatly missed any kind of player who can find those seams, or who even looks for them. Joe Cole is normally that guy. I think Eto'o would have a lot of success in that role, with the likes of Lampard and Essien behind trying to slot him through.
Evans: Well, we'll most likely never know the answer.
Lalas: Oh, we’ll know. In less than a week.
Evans: The fact is Drogba is a strong all-around striker and when put up against Eto'o there is very little question in my mind who is the better player.
Counterattack runs every Thursday on Goal.com
Who do you think is a better striker, Samuel Eto’o or Didier Drogba?
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