On the 31st January, Chelsea acquired the services of Spanish striker Fernando Torres for an astonishing £50 million. This made him the fourth most expensive player in the history of the Premier League, a fact made more astounding by the fact that Torres had not been playing anywhere near his best for the first half of the season at Liverpool.
Roman Abramovich obviously thought that Chelsea’s players and style of play would be able to bring the best out of the new No. 9 and they would recoup their investment fairly quickly thanks to a significant number of goals from the forward. Quite simply, it hasn’t happened. Torres has scored only one goal for The Blues and has not yet fit into the Chelsea system or gelled alongside the likes of Didier Drogba and Nicholas Anelka.
Torres, though, I’m sure can make a return to his incredible form of previous seasons but it is clear that Chelsea will have to make a few changes to their personnel and playing style in order to achieve this.
With the benefit of hindsight it is now easy for us to say that Fernando Torres was an odd buy for Abramovich and Chelsea. As well as the fact he was (and still is) out of form, it is clear that a strike partnership with Chelsea’s main man Didier Drogba was always going to be a tricky proposition. You see, Torres and Drogba are similar types of strikers, when at the top of their game. Both like to play from the front and benefit from great midfield service.
Both players are willing to drift out wide if needed but ideally prefer to be in and around the box. What aids both Drogba and Torres is a “creative striker”, a player who can drift wide and collect the ball from the flanks or who will draw the defenders away and leave their partner free to stay in that danger zone around the area.
Drogba had this with the likes of Anelka and Florent Malouda alongside him and whilst Torres lacked this at Liverpool for the first half of the 2010-2011 season, the signing of Luis Suarez during the transfer window was clearly intended as a skillful strike partner for the Spaniard. Perhaps Torres is now regretting his hasty decision to leave Anfield having seen Suarez play at Anfield. The Uruguayan is a player who would have brought the best out of Torres, in my opinion.
For Torres at Chelsea it has now become clear (as American 70’s pop group “Sparks” once sang) that “this town ain’t big enough for both of us.” Torres and Drogba cannot coexist at Stamford Bridge unless one is willing to act primarily as a substitute next season, which I very highly doubt.
Already Chelsea appear to be making moves to resolve this problem as reports now suggest that they are willing to accept any substantial offers for the Ivorian. This is a shame for Drogba as he has proven himself to be a real team player this season and has earned a lot of respect from fans and journalists alike for his attitude. Indeed, I was a critic of Drogba in seasons past as I felt his attitude was lacking and for a big, strong centre-forward his propensity to go to ground under any challenge was irritating.
I am not sure it will that easy to get the best of Torres any time soon. Torres in my opinion can play with another top striker or can lead the line on his own. In each case, he needs a midfielder who got an eye for a quick defence splitting through balls. Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard have proven to be the best one to perform that task. Unfortunately, Chelsea will have to hope for a miracle to get any of these two. Hence their best chance is to take a gamble on Charlie Adams by outbidding liverpool for him. Otherwise will see the same Torres next year regardless who will partner him upfront.
Cannot understand in Drogba Chelsea have someone who is better, runs faster and tries harder!!! (just like rent boy used to be).
As SpitTheDog says, frequenting Hampstead Heath is the best option followed by freshening up in the Spaniards Inn & resting at the Bull & Bush thereafter to get his breath back.
Welcome to London.
It won’t be long before he ships himself to sunny Manchester looking for a BIIIIIIG KULUB!!! to win silverware.
Chelsea fans remember “out of respect for Liverpool fans he did not go to manure FC”!!!!!!
So as you see you were not his first choice , only your money. Has he kissed your badge as yet?! oh no he has not had the pleasure as he has not exactly been firing, only his hard to come by money down the Kings road where he picked up an injury tapping in his pin number.
Solution :
1 – Buy him a one way ticket to Spain or China (on a slow moving boat).
2 – Ask Mr Abramovich to buy Liverpool FC if he wants to win the Champions League.
YNWA
Are Liverpool even in the champions league?
whats the point of buying a player for 50 mill whn he cant create chances out of no where….. most top players that are worth alot can do stuff that no one else can ? ynwa kk …
So Torres hasn’t cost £50 million then. By buying him, Chelsea now need a re-vamp of something far greater – wow!!! That is a lot of money for one signing to force on a club! I think first off Chelsea need to learn what football is and how it works! Sacking a man like Carlo anyway is bad taste just cos you’ve got the spoilt kid sulks but to sack him after he one the double in the first season lacks class. You had a real football manager there and that’s how you treat folk – great. Love the earlier comment about a midfield of Alonso, Gerard and Mascherano – Imagine them all being in the same side???? Oh well!
Stupid comments. Duh!
sell anelka buy alex sanchez
Get two superfast wingers.Sanchez,neymar,kakuta will help out a lot…a creative CAM..IF U CANT get one use anelka in that role
Hi there Roy,
No we are not in the CL, but will be back next season. BUT REMEMBER:
LIVERPOOL have won it
5 TIMES
which is 5 times more than you ever will.
Good luck in buying all the players in the world, as I said before if your owner wants to win the CL he should buy LFC.
See you at the Bridge.
Take care
Torres nid some time to settle