When it comes to coaching in the Premier League, not many have more experience than Sam Allardyce, which makes his ranking of a former Chelsea man all the more interesting.
Sam Allardyce has spent over 30 years as a manager, and has come up against the best the Premier League has to offer.
That gives him some license to share his opinions with confidence, and one he shared on the latest episode of No Tippy Tappy Football will be pleasant reading for Chelsea fans.
He was joined by Emile Heskey to discuss all things striker-related, and they rounded out the interview with a game comparing the best goalscorers to grace the Premier League.
Sam Allardyce picks ex-Chelsea forward over Wayne Rooney
Both Heskey and Allardyce were given the same task — picking between two strikers in a winner-stays-on format. Heskey stuck with Michael Owen from the start, until the last round where Thierry Henry was brought up.
Allardyce, though, didn’t rate Owen as highly.
His answers went like:
Owen or Rooney? Rooney.
Rooney or Heskey? Rooney.
Rooney or Fowler? Rooney.
Rooney or Drogba? Drogba. Yes. I love Drogba, big Drogba fan.
Manchester United V Chelsea, Premier League
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
That’s a big shout from Allardyce putting Rooney behind Drogba, but it makes sense. A big, strong, clinical finisher who dominates in the air — the Ivorian is the prototype of striker Big Sam would make in a lab.
He continues:
Drogba or Ian Wright? Drogba.
Drogba or Sheringham? Drogba.
Drogba or Defoe? Drogba.
Drogba or Robbie Keane? Drogba.
Unfortunately, the Chelsea legend wouldn’t make it to the end, bested by a different United striker.
Drogba or Ruud (van Nistelrooy)? Ruud.
Ruud or Harry Kane? Harry Kane.
Harry Kane or Alan Shearer? Alan Shearer.
Alan Shearer or Thierry Henry? A draw.
Bit of a cop out at the end, but a solid response overall.
Didier Drogba’s brilliance unappreciated by some
With how football has evolved, stats have become such a huge part of analysing the game.
But they don’t tell the full story.
Drogba has just two campaigns with 20 league goals in his career, and that is used by some to suggest he wasn’t a prolific number nine.
But he was. The four-time Premier League winner knew when the big moment called, and seldom failed to deliver. His playmaking is also criminally underrated.
Drogba was an icon at Stamford Bridge for good reason, and it’s great to see his legacy lasting despite plenty of efforts to undermine what he achieved at Chelsea.