Can't we just plop Torres in the reserves so we won't have to see his sorry butt for the rest of his contract, and then cut him loose?

Meh, worth a shot!!

Maybe an extra striker, although I think Costa, Torres and Drogba is enough.

An injury to Costa and we have Torres and Drogba leading the line. That was a poor striker duo in 2011, never mind 2014

Torres will be brilliant this year.....this is "The" coming out of Fernando Torres in a Chelsea shirt, I can feel it.............................  

Edited July 26, 201411 yr by CFCCAN

In Bamford we trust? Lol.

why not? honestly, id rather have bamford than lukaku

why not? honestly, id rather have bamford than lukaku

Oh ffs!

Yeah lets not get ahead of ourselves here. Bamford isn't proven yet.

 

Lukaku is a solid player. But he is inconsistent and doesn't offer a lot beyond his goals. I believe given how desperate we were for a striker to score, we've been blind to his other failings. Something I think he is also blind to.

 

He isn't ready to lead the line here yet. I think he would still play regularly as an option if he did stay, but even if he didn't he could still benefit immeasurably from being around Costa and Drogba who are examples of the player he could be. 

 

It's not a crime to be 21 and headstrong and perhaps a shade arrogant. But he has work to do and in my mind here rather than at Everton or equivalent is where he should do it. You don't get pushed to get better being a big fish in a small pond. 

Oh ffs!

Lukaku hate is getting pretty ridiculous.

Lukaku hate is getting pretty ridiculous.

I don't think anyone actually hates him, I think fans are really disappointed in him. When he came here (well he was never actually here for more than a cup of tea) he was hyped to be the next DD but he didn't want to fight for his place and I think it was obvious for everyone to see that he was only a one way player and at times lazy so they sent him on loan; great, he goes away and scores in the PL for WBA where teams set up differently than us and he was allowed to be a one way player, hence WBA sat in bottom half of the EPL because as a team they couldn't defend; same with Everton, for the most part he was a one way player, still scoring but inconsistent at best and that is how many Everton fans saw him.  CFC is a different proposition its all about work, up and down the pitch, and although Torres can't hit a barn door he has learned that working hard defensively as well as going forward gets you in the side; Jose' said that about Torres on more than one occasion last year and the same with Ba, on top of that Lukaku has opened his big gob more than once to the media about his frustrations when he shouldn't have done so, even appreciating that the media will manipulate some words here and there to add to the controversy and that irks fans no end.  More than happy to have him stay but he needs to sort his attitude out and his understanding that this is a team game and to get in the team demands effort and a professional attitude, this a squad, not just an 11 man team, so he has to knuckle down and become DD 2 or piss off somewhere else where he can be a one dimensional footballer 

It's not as if he's giving daily interviews saying he's the 2nd coming of Pele and that he should be allowed to pick the team and Jose should be his assistant, he's gone out and worked hard for 2 years, he's a young lad getting a microphone shoved in his face all the time and has come across as confident and determined. People have just made a mountain out of a molehill for him.

Lane,

I admire your sententiousness.

It's shows how desperate we are for a decent striker that I would genuinely consider this transfer window a damp squid if we sell Lukaku (without a top quality replacement). Luis, Fabregas and Costa in with Eto'o, Ba and Luiz out are all fabulous pieces of business. But the release of Cole, signing of Drogba and retention of Torres are all bad decisions IMO. We should be moving forward, Torres and Drogba are not forward. I would have preferred to keep Ba or Eto'o than Torres. The only way Didi's signing makes sense is if he's there to placate Lukaku, Costa, Lukaku and Drogba looks formidable and a well balanced strikeforce, Costa, Torres Drogba looks slow, unproven, old, inconsistent and poor.

Costa is completely an unknown quantity, his strength is bullying defenders, in Spain, things won't be as easy in England, it will be interesting to are how well he does, Torres is a busted flush and should be sold, Drogba hasn't scored 15 goals in a season for 5 years, which includes stints in such highly competitive leagues as the Turkish PL and the Chinese PL. There's a reason we let him move on after his first stint and 2 years later they will have only got more pronounced.

Lukaku is a striker who after 3 years at the club has played 190 minutes of league football for us yet he holds the key to the transfer window happiness of most fans. Strange world. I ask Mourinho though, of not Lukaku then who is good enough to do the job?

Edited July 27, 201411 yr by Shotgun883

I don't think anyone actually hates him, I think fans are really disappointed in him. When he came here (well he was never actually here for more than a cup of tea) he was hyped to be the next DD but he didn't want to fight for his place and I think it was obvious for everyone to see that he was only a one way player and at times lazy so they sent him on loan; great, he goes away and scores in the PL for WBA where teams set up differently than us and he was allowed to be a one way player, hence WBA sat in bottom half of the EPL because as a team they couldn't defend; same with Everton, for the most part he was a one way player, still scoring but inconsistent at best and that is how many Everton fans saw him. CFC is a different proposition its all about work, up and down the pitch, and although Torres can't hit a barn door he has learned that working hard defensively as well as going forward gets you in the side; Jose' said that about Torres on more than one occasion last year and the same with Ba, on top of that Lukaku has opened his big gob more than once to the media about his frustrations when he shouldn't have done so, even appreciating that the media will manipulate some words here and there to add to the controversy and that irks fans no end. More than happy to have him stay but he needs to sort his attitude out and his understanding that this is a team game and to get in the team demands effort and a professional attitude, this a squad, not just an 11 man team, so he has to knuckle down and become DD 2 or piss off somewhere else where he can be a one dimensional footballer

I don't think anyone actually hates him, I think fans are really disappointed in him. When he came here (well he was never actually here for more than a cup of tea) he was hyped to be the next DD but he didn't want to fight for his place and I think it was obvious for everyone to see that he was only a one way player and at times lazy so they sent him on loan; great, he goes away and scores in the PL for WBA where teams set up differently than us and he was allowed to be a one way player, hence WBA sat in bottom half of the EPL because as a team they couldn't defend; same with Everton, for the most part he was a one way player, still scoring but inconsistent at best and that is how many Everton fans saw him.  CFC is a different proposition its all about work, up and down the pitch, and although Torres can't hit a barn door he has learned that working hard defensively as well as going forward gets you in the side; Jose' said that about Torres on more than one occasion last year and the same with Ba, on top of that Lukaku has opened his big gob more than once to the media about his frustrations when he shouldn't have done so, even appreciating that the media will manipulate some words here and there to add to the controversy and that irks fans no end.  More than happy to have him stay but he needs to sort his attitude out and his understanding that this is a team game and to get in the team demands effort and a professional attitude, this a squad, not just an 11 man team, so he has to knuckle down and become DD 2 or piss off somewhere else where he can be a one dimensional footballer 

There's more than one way to fight for a place. Going out on loan is another way of doing it. Some are happy to stay are hope they get their chance, others would rather play regularly out on loan to earn a place. There is no right or wrong way, placing value on those who stay and "shut up and get on with it" is silly.

 

I've yet to see a single thing Lukaku has said that's made me think "What a twat". Even his "frustrations" are comments you would expect from a confident 20 something year old. Shock horror, he wants a chance in the first team and thinks his loan performances have been good enough to warrant it.

 

As for your team player comment, well this is precisely what I'm getting at. Lukaku is a team player, he's always, always talking up his team in post match interviews/social media/whatever and does everything he can to work hard for the team (You say he was lazy at Everton but he was instructed to play like that by Martinez but that's for another discussion). You, and everyone else it seems like lately, have taken a few comments, most of which aren't as bad as people make out, and think you have his personality figured out by saying things like "he's got a poor attitude". I don't know about you but I find it hard to judge a players attitude just by looking at words on a page, especially without context which leaves it up to you to infer the meaning.

There's more than one way to fight for a place. Going out on loan is another way of doing it. Some are happy to stay are hope they get their chance, others would rather play regularly out on loan to earn a place. There is no right or wrong way, placing value on those who stay and "shut up and get on with it" is silly.

I've yet to see a single thing Lukaku has said that's made me think "What a twat". Even his "frustrations" are comments you would expect from a confident 20 something year old. Shock horror, he wants a chance in the first team and thinks his loan performances have been good enough to warrant it.

As for your team player comment, well this is precisely what I'm getting at. Lukaku is a team player, he's always, always talking up his team in post match interviews/social media/whatever and does everything he can to work hard for the team (You say he was lazy at Everton but he was instructed to play like that by Martinez but that's for another discussion). You, and everyone else it seems like lately, have taken a few comments, most of which aren't as bad as people make out, and think you have his personality figured out by saying things like "he's got a poor attitude". I don't know about you but I find it hard to judge a players attitude just by looking at words on a page, especially without context which leaves it up to you to infer the meaning.

Whilst I want to agree whole heartedly will the sentiment here, there's no smoke without fire and as we've seen with Mata and Luiz over the past year, smoke is usually combined with a roaring fire. I'm not going to get too attached to him until I see him and Mourinho in a press conference clearing the matter up, and even then I'd be dubious.

 Well Remodz we are all entitled to an opinion and I respect yours, unfortunately you like me have no idea who said what to who, and what instructions he was given at Everton unless you were stood next to Martinez and Lukaku, if and when any such conversation took place.  Unless you and anybody else on this forum has had a one on one with him or even Jose all we can do is speculate and make a judgement on what we read in the media and what we see on the pitch.  Yes he is a young lad in the terms of his age and he still has a lot to learn about life and the career path he has chosen with the God given talents he has been given.

 

 If he wants a place in this team then he needs to stand up and be counted IMO, yes I agree he is confident but he is not consistently good enough to make this squad, so it seems, let alone the first 11.  And yes IMO he has an attitude based on what I have seen and read,  but I hope to see him channel that attitude into hard work on the pitch and in training, but at Cobham not anywhere else, there is a different standard here and its higher than a large majority of other EPL teams including Everton and so are the  expectations, and yes I still think he is a one way player and he needs to work on his defensive side of his game to get into this squad and apparently Jose's into good books.  

I don't think he's leaving.

There's a few more twists and turns to come yet in Lukaku's Chelsea career.

 Well Remodz we are all entitled to an opinion and I respect yours, unfortunately you like me have no idea who said what to who, and what instructions he was given at Everton unless you were stood next to Martinez and Lukaku, if and when any such conversation took place.  Unless you and anybody else on this forum has had a one on one with him or even Jose all we can do is speculate and make a judgement on what we read in the media and what we see on the pitch.  Yes he is a young lad in the terms of his age and he still has a lot to learn about life and the career path he has chosen with the God given talents he has been given.

 

Exactly so I don't know why people give benefit of the doubt to the rags and not to our own player.

I don't think he's leaving.

There's a few more twists and turns to come yet in Lukaku's Chelsea career.

I still think ultimately it is down to Jose. He has a way with people. If he wants Lukaku to stay he will stay.

Exactly so I don't know why people give benefit of the doubt to the rags and not to our own player.

IMO Jose has the papers in his pocket. They seem to be well informed of our transfer dealings over the past year, Costa, Luis, Luiz, Mata, Drogba, Shurrle were all confirmed weeks (months) before we signed them. There is definitely some leakage to the press that The club are using to our advantage, I'm hoping this isn't one of them but I'm realistic.

 Well Remodz we are all entitled to an opinion and I respect yours, unfortunately you like me have no idea who said what to who, and what instructions he was given at Everton unless you were stood next to Martinez and Lukaku, if and when any such conversation took place.  Unless you and anybody else on this forum has had a one on one with him or even Jose all we can do is speculate and make a judgement on what we read in the media and what we see on the pitch.  Yes he is a young lad in the terms of his age and he still has a lot to learn about life and the career path he has chosen with the God given talents he has been given.

 

 If he wants a place in this team then he needs to stand up and be counted IMO, yes I agree he is confident but he is not consistently good enough to make this squad, so it seems, let alone the first 11.  And yes IMO he has an attitude based on what I have seen and read,  but I hope to see him channel that attitude into hard work on the pitch and in training, but at Cobham not anywhere else, there is a different standard here and its higher than a large majority of other EPL teams including Everton and so are the  expectations, and yes I still think he is a one way player and he needs to work on his defensive side of his game to get into this squad and apparently Jose's into good books.  

Not saying you can't have an opinion, I just think people are going too far, I've seen people here turn on him in a matter of months. He's one of us, we should be giving him the benefit of the doubt rather than lapping up everything we read in the media. Has anyone actually watched any of his interviews where the papers are getting this stuff from? I doubt it.

 

As for Martinez, it's not speculation. He said it in an interview. His words were something along the lines of "I didn't want Lukaku wasting enegry chasing after lost causes, I wanted him to save enegry to be explosive in the attack".

Our own manager has said about him liking to shoot his mouth off. “Romelu likes to speak,” Mourinho said. “He’s a young boy who likes to speak. But the only thing he didn’t say is why he went to Everton on loan. That’s the only thing he never says. And my last contact with him was to tell him exactly that. ‘Why do you never say why you are not here?’?”

 

He has shown this side of his character many times, his involvement in the 'quenelle Anelka incident' being one of them. I feel he is being badly advised by his agent at present, either that or not taking his agents advice to be neutral with controversial questions directed at him. What I would like him to come out with , is how this upcoming season he is now going to knuckle down to being a top striker at Chelsea work hard at his game and challenge himself to improve. That type of comment would get all our fans onboard with him again and counter any negativity he has previously portrayed.

Lukaku now being linked to Real Madrid, for £20m. Everton also confident of signing him. 

 

He is definitely going, isn't he. 

I agree with Remodez he gets a hard time on here. I want him to stay 100% and I'm not too bothered about what has or hasn't been said in the media.

However the writing appears to on the wall for him. I dont think Mourinho fancies him.

In terms of him being one dimensional, he's 21! Plenty of time to improve his all round game. The 'one dimension' he has, is scoring goals, and I would take that over Torres' work ethic, which there have been plenty of times, when that was as none existant as his goals.

Out of curiosity, why do people feel it is so different playing in chelsea's set up, compared to Everton?

We averaged nearly the same average possession last season, and just like ourselves, everton only sat deep and played on the counter a handful of times.

Lukaku managed to score goals in whatever system he played there, and despite not doing a pre season with the team to get to know the player, and also having to deal with his first real injury, he still managed nearly 1 in 2.

Out of curiosity, why do people feel it is so different playing in chelsea's set up, compared to Everton?

We averaged nearly the same average possession last season, and just like ourselves, everton only sat deep and played on the counter a handful of times.

Lukaku managed to score goals in whatever system he played there, and despite not doing a pre season with the team to get to know the player, and also having to deal with his first real injury, he still managed nearly 1 in 2.

The pure difference is that teams don't attack Chelsea. The only teams who thought they were our equals (ie. the top 6) we were undefeated against. Everyone else's didn't believe they could score so sat back and we struggled to break them down. Everton don't have this problem, although they are a decent side they aren't solid like Chelsea.

Interestingly the reason I believe Liverpool scored so much is because they conceded so many, teams knew they could score so didn't sit so deep because they had belief behind them.