I think we should have retained him mate .. As the car park attendant.

As Fergie will confirm, he has no friends in the parking attendant profession.

Got to say, I was one of those that thought Torres would be shown the door as soon as Jose arrived.

 

I know it's early days and I know we've been here before but I'm beginning to think Torres might have a decent season. He's never going to be the Torres of old nor is he going to compete with the RVPs and Sergio Agueros of this world, but he could prove an asset and he could vindicate Jose's decision to let Lukaku go.

 

I think his performance on Tuesday was overstated. I think he got lucky on the second goal because his touch was awful and he was very fortunate that it bypassed the keeper. I also think his run for Hazard's goal was made to look a lot better by Hazard's adept piece of skill and finish. If Torres were more confident in front of goal he would have carried on running straight, given Hazard the easy option, and finished on his left, but we all know he has no left foot to speak of.

 

However, his performances in his last three games have definitely been encouraging, he has scored 4 goals in those 3 games, and he has shown a far better mentality. Although he deserves credit I can't help thinking the reason I'm more optimistic than usual is because of the manager. Jose has handled Torres incredibly well thus far and shown what a great manager he truly is. He's got inside Nando's mind, clearly. He's got Nando playing for him, and he's released that bit of devil, and as a result it looks like Torres has got his appetite back and is actually enjoying playing. In short, he's being braver. Torres in his pomp, as well as being a great striker was also a warrior. He looks to be getting that back.

 

People worrying whether he will be dropped on Sunday, really ought to chill out. Isn't it clear Jose knows what he's doing? Isn't it clear Jose knows more than all of us put together? I always felt Eto'o would be a good signing and the goals would come, because I trust Jose. 

 

Looking at the way Torres is performing, it's clear we really ought to trust Jose more than ever. He really is a fantastic manager. I'm actually enjoying watching Torres at the moment, which is almost a first, and while I still feel he has an awful long way to go, I have a hunch Jose's just going to pull this one out of the bag, which I would never have foreseen before the season started, and I'm one of Jose's biggest fans.

 

For me, the best thing about Jose Mourinho, is that when it comes to the big calls, on who should partner Terry for example, or who should partner Rambo in the middle, or who should go on loan or who should play up front, I trust in his judgement far more than any other manager out there.

 

I have said it all along since he arrived and people started fretting about his decisions, chill out folks he knows what he is doing.

 

I would have shown Torres the door, sent him on loan, anything. I couldn't believe he survived the summer under Jose. Now we're seeing precisely why he was kept on. I keep thinking of Diego Milito under Jose. Torres is not a dissimilar player. I'm not saying Torres will achieve similar heights under Jose but I bet Jose sees a little bit of Milito in him, and I bet he's hoping for similar results.

 

If he does half as well as Milito I think he'll have more than doubled most of our expectations, and I think it will be one of Jose's finest accomplishments. Jose seemingly really understands how to best utilise Torres, he understands his strengths and weaknesses, and as usual his man-management is coming to the fore.

 

Be interesting to see who he plumps for on Sunday, Torres or Eto'o, and whichever one of them is playing, it will interesting to see how they fare. We may not be as short up front as we initially feared, particularly after Jose's failed attempt to buy Rooney.

 

I agree with most of what you say here Davey, however I have to disagree with regards to the run that Torres made for Hazards goal, that was classic forward play, drawing the defender with him, to open the space for Hazards shot.

 

If he makes any other run the defender has no decision to make and he can go to Hazard, watch what happens in the 2 seconds before Hazard shoots, the defender is drawn to Torres and thats the moment that makes up Hazards mind.

Drogba scored 41 goals in his first 100 Chelsea starts.

Torres has scored 39.

How's that for a flop?

 

According to Wikipedia he's scored 38 goals in 141 games.

According to Wikipedia he's scored 38 goals in 141 games.

 

It was according to some media outlet 39 in 100 starts.

It was according to some media outlet 39 in 100 starts.

 

ah ok, not sure of a reliable site that would display starts separately to substitute appearances. I know ESPNFC does it but they mesh together club/international figures and I can't be bothered going through and working it all out.

 

If that is true then I guess it looks decent, however you look at who he scored those goals against and therein lies the problem.

 

Been good so far this season though, backing him to start against City and grab a goal.

Edited October 25, 201312 yr by Jonty

ah ok, not sure of a reliable site that would display starts separately to substitute appearances. I know ESPNFC does it but they mesh together club/international figures and I can't be bothered going through and working it all out.

http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/24257/fernando-torres?cc=5739

 

This page breaks down all starts/ sub appearances/ goals for every competition.

 

He's scored 15 Prem goals for us in 58 starts and 30 sub appearances.

 

Overall he's scored 40.

Don't really see the point in comparing statistics. There's no denying that Torres has underperformed massively (although I don't think he's been that bad, just that mediocrity isn't what we need (and certainly not to a fantasy price)), but it's encouraging to see that his best performances towards the end of last season (Benfica when there was a trophy on the line) has been followed up and doubled by Jose. Some of his performances this season has actually been really good-good (he's still yet to do a poor start, imo), and whatever steroids Mourinho has him on must be taken. He doesn't have the electric pace that could see a 20 yard misspass by Gerrard be successfull anymore, but he looks a lot stronger, and some of his runs against Speds and Schalke were the same runs as he did in the red shirt. His heading ability seems to be on as well.

 

If he can re-create these good performances at a 1/2 or maybe even a 2/3 rate, whilst maybe scoring a poachers goal in some of the more lackluster games he's (and everyone else) bound to have, then he's done more than good. He won't ever reach the days of his Boing 747 Ultra Jet engine, but I don't think that's what Mourinho wants of him either (hence Mou's penchant for Rooney). Mou wants a dog up front that will chase anything and everything, make runs, nick a couple in here and there, assist if needed etc, and FT's performances so far this season has been in that mould. No knee jerk from me, but it seems like he's enjoying football again, and vs Speds he actually played like he hated them and loved us. Never thought I'd see that day. Didn't Ferguson describe him as "a cunning player with that little bit of evil inside him"? Could be, could be...

 

It's a start, at least, and if anyone is to make it last it's Harry Potter.

Edited October 25, 201312 yr by Ozztheboss

the torres vs drogba stat is all well and good, but you have to remember that drogba was adapting to a new country/league/culture etc, whereas torres had several seasons of prem experience prior to joining us. makes the stats slightly skewed in torres' favour

the torres vs drogba stat is all well and good, but you have to remember that drogba was adapting to a new country/league/culture etc, whereas torres had several seasons of prem experience prior to joining us. makes the stats slightly skewed in torres' favour

Didn't Torres score over 60 goals for the dippers though in his first 100 games?

Stats mean nothing to me, but Torres record when he came to new culture & country outshines pretty much anyone else I can think of that has come to the Premier League.

Does that mean he's a better player than Drogba, does it bollocks!

I think he scored around 80 goals for Liverpool in his three and a half seasons there. He's definitely going to surpass games he played there here, though. He was always missing about five games at a time injured at Liverpool. It was just that there he managed to bang in back to back hat tricks regularly. Something I'd love to see him do for us. Having failed that, consistently scoring, in EVERY competition, would do.

Seems to be able to score in Europe and in cup competitions, just not the league.

Seems to be able to score in Europe and in cup competitions, just not the league.

Thank you!!

 

That was my point exactly. This is exactly why I was a little apprehensive about starting him against City. Yes, he's in form. Yes, he's scored a few goals, but these were in Europe! He gave us a brilliant performance against Spurs, the best in a blue shirt to be honest, yet he still didn't score. I don't know where it's going wrong for him domestically but if Jose does start him tomorrow and he scores I will certainly give him the benefit of the doubt and continue to use him over Eto'o or Ba.

 

I do think Eto'o and Ba deserve game time, though. They are doing well currently, too.

Drogba scored 41 goals in his first 100 Chelsea starts.

Torres has scored 39.

How's that for a flop?

 

 

Nope, Drogba had 41 goals in his first 100 appearances; Torres has 39 goals in 141 appearances. 

 

http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/18727/didier-drogba?cc=5739

Edited October 26, 201312 yr by Las7

I'm not convinced Torres is back to anything like his best but I am convinced he is improving and even though I think Eto'o is getting sharper I feel Torres is physically stronger and much more used to the pace of the premiership.

 

He looked good against Tottenham and has worked hard and been a pain in the arse to defences which even if he doesn't score, obviously helps give opportunities to the other boys and I think at the moment he looks like the harder to handle of our three options.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if Jose chooses to start Eto'o but if he gets muscled off the ball and drifts out of the game, a lot of people will be calling for Torres and saying Jose got it wrong.

 

I just hope whichever one starts gives it a real go and causes them problems, we need a player really up for it and chasing everything and for me, of late that player has looked surprisingly like Torres.

Drogba earner his spot in the team by being better than Crespo/Jimmy/Edgar he certainly didn't come here and to become automatic first choice striker. Lets just say that by the end of his third season Drogba had 66 goals for the club; 42 of which were scored in the Prem in 113 APPEARANCES not starts. 

Now it was only Drogba's third season at the club that he really became unquestioned first choice but he was banging goals in some regularity before that happened. Torres third season will be at the end of January - Torres has already played far more in those three years than Drogba played with us in his first three years and I'd even wager that Drogba had a larger percentage of sub appearances. 

 

But carry on rewriting history 

Whose rewriting history?

Stop throwing your toys around!

So comparing Drogba and Torres is perfectly reasonable and chalking out his sub appearances is also fine except Torres is the only player you'd do that for. 

 

Sheva had 51 starts and 15 goals I'm guessing he was a runaway success as well

Edited October 27, 201312 yr by Las7

 

Seems to be able to score in Europe and in cup competitions, just not the league.

I've noticed this as well.

I think it's because the majority of defenses in the league have Torres figured out because of his infamy at Liverpool.

 

European sides however are not used to going against him so he has a much easier time.

 

I think he should get the nod today though.

Las7-Calm down dear.

It was one person who presented the stats incorrectly and you have more than covered correcting them now with your 3 posts on it.

Edited October 27, 201312 yr by mclovin83

I'll give him one thing: it's never dull when he plays!

love you nando ...love you

Another great performance against a top team.

Keep it up Torres

Great stuff from Torres today!

Great performance by Torres today - needs to keep this up now, should start out next match. 

 

Jose is a miracle man doing what I though was impossible - Torres is looking good in a blue kit in the Prem scoring goals and not letting misses effect him. 

Every game he has strated this season he has played well. Easily our number 1 striker right now, great to see Torres with confidense.