Disagree re Torres, I think he's now awful (at that level) & can't remember seeing such a great player lose form like that at an early age.
However, I'd take him at Charlton, he could do a job there. (ignoring wages of course).
Disagree.
The guy still oozes class. His movement and and ability to turn an attack dangerous is unplayable at times.
Problem with Torres is that he is inconsistent with his performances. Sometimes he is world class but when he is bad he is really bad.
He's also now seems to want to pick the ball up deeper, whether that's tactics or frustration I don't know. But for Spain and early Liverpool he was always on the last man. He needs to stay further up the field.
20 goals probably isn't a bad return for your average striker and most teams often look for a '20 goal a season striker'. But Torres has played well over 50 games this season, in front of a midfield featuring the likes of Oscar, Mata, Hazard, Ramires, Lampard etc. A top striker should have 35-40 goals with that supply line. As we'll see next season if they sign Falcao.
20 goals probably isn't a bad return for your average striker and most teams often look for a '20 goal a season striker'. But Torres has played well over 50 games this season, in front of a midfield featuring the likes of Oscar, Mata, Hazard, Ramires, Lampard etc. A top striker should have 35-40 goals with that supply line. As we'll see next season if they sign Falcao.
Fair point Chris, but CE described him as 'awful' at this level, which is a bit unfair imo
Club World Cup Chelsea FC 2 1 0 0 0 England - COC Chelsea FC 4 2 0 0 0 England - FA Cup Chelsea FC 5 1 0 0 0 England - Premier League Chelsea FC 32 7 5 5 1 FA Community Shield Chelsea FC 1 1 0 0 0 UEFA Champions League Chelsea FC 6 3 0 0 0 UEFA Europa League Chelsea FC 8 5 0 0 0 UEFA Super Cup Chelsea FC 1 0 0 0 0
So he's scored 7 in the league for Chelsea. I'm still of the opinion that's he's nowhere near the player he was about 5 years ago. His loss of form is like when someone is on borrowed time & are heading for retirement. Yet this started when he was nowhere near retirement. A bit like say Jeffers :-)
This is what happens when you start playing week in week out at 16 in one of the top leagues in Europe and you aren't just an emerging fringe talent, but the figurehead of the club and being made captain by 19 years of age. Physical and mental burnout.
In my opinion it was going to happen, any player who leaves a club going on about how they are going to a bigger club and going to win leagues and European cups deserves to be piss poor. No doubt when he goes back to Spain he will hit form again and be a very good player like he once was at the pool.
This is what happens when you start playing week in week out at 16 in one of the top leagues in Europe and you aren't just an emerging fringe talent, but the figurehead of the club and being made captain by 19 years of age. Physical and mental burnout.
Makes sense , didn't realise he was club captain at 19!
This is what happens when you start playing week in week out at 16 in one of the top leagues in Europe and you aren't just an emerging fringe talent, but the figurehead of the club and being made captain by 19 years of age. Physical and mental burnout.
Makes sense , didn't realise he was club captain at 19!
I think Torres at Chelsea is a bad fit. They're play too slow and are too negative. Torres needs to be the main man up top on his own with someone in a free role behind him - a la Gerrard. He works bloody hard for that team and it's probably the reason his goalscoring ratio has suffered. iI'd be interested to see his number of assists.
It should be chucked in the bin along with Llera's and Cech's scrum caps and David's swimming goggles. If a player isn't fit to play without a face or head guard he shouldn't be out there.
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also David Luiz with a fabulous curler top left BOSH
However, I'd take him at Charlton, he could do a job there. (ignoring wages of course).
The guy still oozes class. His movement and and ability to turn an attack dangerous is unplayable at times.
Problem with Torres is that he is inconsistent with his performances. Sometimes he is world class but when he is bad he is really bad.
He's also now seems to want to pick the ball up deeper, whether that's tactics or frustration I don't know. But for Spain and early Liverpool he was always on the last man. He needs to stay further up the field.
Still, 20 goals this season isn't a bad return.
Those 3 have 46. Torres has 21.
Club World Cup Chelsea FC 2 1 0 0 0
England - COC Chelsea FC 4 2 0 0 0
England - FA Cup Chelsea FC 5 1 0 0 0
England - Premier League Chelsea FC 32 7 5 5 1
FA Community Shield Chelsea FC 1 1 0 0 0
UEFA Champions League Chelsea FC 6 3 0 0 0
UEFA Europa League Chelsea FC 8 5 0 0 0
UEFA Super Cup Chelsea FC 1 0 0 0 0
Not sure of how many of those are sub appearances
FA Cup 2
League cup 2
Europe 8
Community shield 1
World club cup 1