@ Freezer: Yes, and Cisse came after two broken legs and still lit up the SL.
As for the locker room dynamics point you bring up, I don't buy this. In time, if the younger players perform, they will get paid. As a 21 year old, a player should aspire to establishing himself through hard work. I think the young guns will welcome Essien with open arms in order to learn what it takes to be a pro.