When Fernando Torres came to Chelsea from Liverpool, everyone expected him to fill Drogba’s boots when he leaves the club. But it was never in the blue print of Torres that he could replace Didier. Not just because of their different style of games, but also because of their different approach to the game. Torres’ style suited more to one other striker we had, Nicolas Anelka. You ask why? I’l explain why I believe so.
Firstly I’ll explain the ‘Anelka’ role. The main attributes of Anelka when he came to Chelsea was that of a fox in the box type of player. He knew where to be at the right time to get his name on the scoresheet. For one whole season he was that type of player who was content with tap ins and simple goals, and amazingly he beat Cristiano Ronaldo to the golden boot that season. However, that didn’t last for long. When Didier Drogba came back to full fitness, it became hard for the then manager to accommodate both Didier Drogba as well as Nicolas Anelka. So he decided to give Anelka a new role, somewhere his predator instinct was no longer required, but his long legs and good physique were important, in the wings. He never ever matched the definition of a perfect winger, as he played more like a supporting striker often, supporting the big Ivorian ofcourse. Soon Anelka showed everyone his creative side too. This even led to Carlo Ancelotti once admitting that he’d choose Nicolas over Didier if he had to choose of them. This was a massive compliment.
Now, back to why I believe Torres matches Anelka. Yes, I’m wrong to say he is the perfect remake of Anelka. Anelka knew how to take on defenders and also score important goals whenever needed. Torres however is not being tried in the Anelka role. Both Di Matteo as well as Rafa Benitez were trying their best to bring back the old Torres, the one whose game solely based on pace and quickness. Torres lost those attributes during the last stages of his Liverpool career, when he was injured. But what he never lost is his ability to dribble and take on defenders. He does that even now to some extent. And he also developed a better passing ability than he was at Liverpool. So why not try him at the Anelka role? While playing Demba Ba in the middle. I am pretty sure neither striker will have a problem with the other being on the pitch at the same time. Moreover, if you watch Torres’ final games for Liverpool, where was he playing while scoring goals? Yes, he was deployed in the center, however he preferred drifting to the left and right wings and then score with a sharp cut or a curler. Once he gets back his belief that he can do things, and that all is not lost, maybe he will become as important to some manager like Anelka was, and even win over our hearts.
PS.: I know I might sound stupid at many places in this article, but all I am trying is that maybe we should rather look less at negatives and focus on the positives. But the feeling is strong within me, Torres can own the ‘Anelka’ role.
Leave your thoughts and comments below, I’d love to hear from you.
For me Torres is a waste , Chelsea need to move on and try other solution. Look Torres can’t pass, can’t score, can’t help the team in possession way. Simple is like Chelsea is playing with 10 men when he is playing. Torres cost much to the team.. Sacking of managers, selling of better players like Anelka, Drogba,Sturridge and Lukaku. And saying Torres is like Anelka that is stupid. Anelka is 100 times better than Torres. Better finisher, Better ball controller …..simple Torres is the worst striker even in blue shirt
Use your brain idiot if he never score at barsalona …..they have to go to extra time….extra time is enough to beat Chelsea …..idiot …..I want Torres in ac Milan he have more respect then chelsea
You pillock, that game at the Nou Camp couldn’t have gone to extra time. It was 2-2 on aggregate but we would have won on away goals if Nando hadn’t scored. Torres’s goal was ultimately pretty irrelevant.
The worst striker in a chelsea shirt was Kezman. And if you want a more expensive choice.. Shevchenko.. U seriously have short memory.. and inspite of all your abuses Torres is still playing for Chelsea.. unlike Sheva who left d club on loan… and as for all the other nonsense you spoke abt him not being a footballer.. Euro golden boot winner.. period.. And also check the stats for last year and this yr.. he was third highest contributer to goals.. and this yr he is our second top scorer.. please make more sense when you say something next time..
You are right, But if that is the case, Chelsea have to play 4-3-3 formation like what Carlo did. If Torres has to play on the right side of Ba, a suitable LS would be Hazard. Marin can be a back up for Hazard once in a while. Also, the 3 midfielders playing could be Lampard, Mata and Mikel. Although Ramires and Oscar won’t have much playing time, but they can come out as subs. It might never happen, but it would be quite nice to see Chelsea try that 1 day.
Yes, atleast we should try it..!!!
you are absolutely right.. the kind of young attacking players we have, we should go for 4-3-3 formation.. for me cole(LB), terry, Gary Cahill, ivanovic (RB).. 3mid fielders would be mata, lampard, oscar & torres, Ba & hazard in fronts..
Mata, Lampard and Oscar as a midfield 3? That would be overrun in a heartbeat! It has to be Mikel/Romeu/Luiz, Ramires/Lampard, Oscar/Mata. My favourite is Luiz, Ramires and Oscar with Mata up front and no Torres.
If we model it on the 2009/10 team, Ballack = Luiz, Essien = Ramires, Lampard = Oscar, Mata = Malouda, Drogba = Ba, Anelka = Hazard.
preity good idea actually
Torres is a good for nothing player that does not deserve to don †ђƺ colours of Chelsea after two years of trial ΑϞ∂ error. He should βε̲̣. Thrown away without further delay or else he Wȋ̊ℓℓ drown chelsea.
Let forget torres and move on pls.
Its a surprise to compare torres and anelka, torres is wasteful, he fail to hold the ball. anelka could hold the ball and break the defence, torres needs to be paired with ba in 4-4-2 formation
still figuring to fit floppes in a team… funny, laughable. he is finished. since he has come he has brought problems to chelsea and nothing else. a disgrace. can’t wait for the day when he will be out of chelsea.
Torres is a good striker no doubt about. But i thing in chelsea, he has cost us many fortunes of trophy.to me i don’t see torres coming back to his best in chelsea, so i suggest he should be sold out. Because what i saw yestarday in the europa league proved enough to me that torres cannot come back to his best. So i prefere we sell him and bring in a world class striker like cavani or falcao. I wish the team the stability and focuse.
Wow!! You are always on point!!!
Torres has delivered decent performance this season.He has scored 15 goals and assisted somewhat like 5-8 goals.That’s not bad.All Chelsea needs to do is play both Ba and Torres atleast for once.They could suit well either in the 4-4-2 formation or 4-1-3-2 formation.I urge Chelsea to do this atleast for once.Against Brentford Ba assisted Torres for the goal.So Chelsea please try with playing 2 strikers upfornt!
spot on!
You’re so right! I always point out that. The 7 minutes they played together, Torres scores, Ba assists. While I think Torres could fit in the above mentioned role, I would love to see a 4-4-2 formation with Ba and Torres up front
Ppl who talk abt Torres in such a manner seriously lack a knowledge of football.. that guy is the second highest contributer of goals for Chelsea this season.. only behind Mata.. funny how ppl dont know that and talk nonsense abt a euro golden boot winner. Anyways.. Torres should play a CF if he will get those through balls.. else a second striker is a very good option. I think the same issue is for Lamps.. instead of playing him as CM, we shud play him as CAM. It will be goals galore then…
I’agree with you because torres looks like he doesn’t go with midfilders move and he does not folow the ball in to box like BA or osca and mata even sturidge.so i’think torres should play on the right as fals 9 while ba is center not tobe in center permanetly.look at chicharito how he does.so torres have to play in one position with as finishing player if he can settle whith defender’s line to prevent off side coz he is not good enough difensively so he makes the team play like 9men so i’don’t see what coachs help torres coz this ploblem it could be fixed by coach coz for me it seems like a litle
I’agree with you because torres looks like he doesn’t go with midfilders move and he does not folow the ball in to box like BA or osca and mata even sturidge.so i’think torres should play on the right as fals 9 while ba is center not tobe in center permanetly.look at chicharito how he does.so torres have to play in one position with as finishing player if he can settle whith defender’s line to prevent off side coz he is not good enough difensively so he makes the team play like 9men so i’don’t see what coachs help torres coz this ploblem it could be fixed by coach coz for me it seems like a little ploblem as you see
I think maybe playing him in the rooney was supposed to in the madrid game. I know the whole team was defending but on the formation he supposed to be right behind RVP. Torres can do good there. Coz he is a ratha good player maker
This would be my lineup
GK Cech
Def: RB Azpilicueta CB Cahill CB Terry (if fit not then IVA) LB: Cole
DCM Mikel
AM Oscar Lampard Hazard
Fw Ba, Torres
With Mata the bench striker
Mata on bench??? Absolutelt not… it has to Oscar on d bench with that formation as he has been more inconsistent.. And then maybe Oscar can replace lamps…
Yes you are right but how do you let manager kwon about this concept of yours?
Thats exactly where we are damn helpless
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Left 4 me I wl not put all my blame on Torres instead I wl blame Roman letting lukaku even Drogba 2 leave,man av Rooney,chicarito yet day still buy wellbeck lata got RVP smtym d 3 wl b 2geda on d pitch no mata how one of dem must score in dt game compare 2 chelsea after dy let go of Anelka den Drogba go den lukaku on loan now dt Ba came is game is 10-20 minutes all bcuz of under form Torres
yes u are right Torres must take Anelka role. he dribbles the ball fast as soon as he reaches to the box he hits it hard. also i believe that Torres has many chances of scoring goals but rather he assists pass for other players playing as a play maker. he is a striker and strikers role is to score goals not assist. so i don’t believe in him anymore.