Eto’o 2.0: Chelsea Linked With Move For Russian Premier League Star – Scouting Report

Strikers? Who’d want to be one? Well, apparently most children these days. Chelsea are one of the most dominant clubs in England and have supporters up and down the country but they haven’t really been inspiring the children to shout their names when kicking a ball around a field. As a football coach myself, I find it quite surprising how little I hear Samuel Eto’o, Demba Ba or Fernando Torres screamed at the top of their little lungs. There was a time when all you could hear was ‘Drogba’.

I’m probably looking too much into it, but you can’t get away from the fact that the Chelsea strikers have been putting in sub-par performances. GiveMeSport are not only reporting that the three could be shown the exit door this summer but, as a replacement, Seydou Doumbia is all being linked with a move to the Blues.

I must make the point that every player is different and the fact that Eto’o has been quite good at times. However, Eto’o hasn’t added that ‘world class’ factor to the Chelsea squad and neither will Doumbia.

Eto’o has a much better pedigree than the Ivory Coast international, having played at clubs like Barcelona, Inter Milan and was a product of the Real Madrid youth system after switching continents from his home in Cameroon. Doumbia has spent time in Japan, Switzerland and Russia.

After a very successful 2012, winning the golden boot for the Russian Premier League, he spent a majority of 2013 on the sidelines. He has a history of injuries as well, while Eto’o has only had the odd couple. Chelsea want a consistent striker, well he won’t be if he’s injured. A ridiculous statement, of course, but he does carry that fear.

In many ways the two have very similar playing styles as they thrive off playing off the last man. Send a through ball to them and they’ll be on it in a flash. Doumbia may well be better at doing this than Eto’o and he could be better at finishing but when you consider the past that Eto’o has experienced, you highly doubt that’s a possibility.

Clearly it’s the tactics that Chelsea deploy that result in the ineffectiveness of their strikers. Having said that, their current tactic certainly benefits the supporting cast of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian.

Maybe a fox-in-the-box is what Chelsea need?