Poll: Is Didier Drogba the best piece of MLS business this summer?
Published:
Didier Drogba has become the latest Premier League star to leave England for a move Stateside after signing for the Montreal Impact.
The 37-year-old has called time on his long and successful affiliation with Chelsea in favour of a mid-table battle with the side at the Saputo Stadium.
The Ivorian is one in a long line of high profile players to move from Europe to the MLS, as the league continues to grow.
But at his age, how much impact will Drogba have in Montreal?
We want to know how he will compare with other players swapping continents over the summer, and who will prove the shrewdest piece of business.
[poll id=”231″]
Didier Drogba – Chelsea to Montreal Impact
While he didn’t play quite so much in 2014-15 in his second spell at Stamford Bridge, the striker showed that he can still chip in with plenty of goals during a spell with Galatasaray.
He netted 10 times in 24 Super Lig appearances for the Istanbul giants in 2013-14, so if retaining that sort of ability will undoubtedly find the net a few times in the MLS, though at 37-years-old it’s questionable how much long term impact he will have.
Andrea Pirlo – Juventus to New York City
Arguably the coolest man to grace a football pitch the pass master has already made his debut across the Atlantic, coming on as a 65th-minute substitute and still managing to set up two goals.
With the Italian’s game not reliant on pace it is easy to see the midfielder continuing to rule the centre circle for a good few years yet.
Steven Gerrard – Liverpool to LA Galaxy
Like Pirlo, Gerrard made an immediate impact following his switch to MLS. The Liverpool legend scored once and set up former Reds teammate Robbie Keane in LA Galaxy’s 5-2 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on his league debut.
He couldn’t save his side next time though as the Galaxy capitulated against the Houston Dynamos. Can he rediscover his talismanic effect in California?
Shaun Wright-Phillips – QPR to New York Red Bulls
His brother Bradley claimed the league’s Golden Boot in 2014 with 31 goals in 36 matches, but has struggled to back that up in 2015 with eight in 19.
With his elder sibling joining him could Shaun be the perfect tonic to help him rediscover that form. At 33-years-old the former QPR winger will have plenty left to give if avoiding injuries.
Kevin Doyle – Wolves to Colorado Rapids
With respect, it may seem a hopeless task putting Kevin Doyle in with the likes of Pirlo, Drogba and Gerrard, but at 31-years-old the Irishman could be the one for a longer term effect on his new side.
Like the aforementioned Wright-Phillips, strikers who have failed to hit the heights in the Premier League can really come good in the US (see J. Altidore), with Doyle undoubtedly the main man at Colorado.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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