Chelsea through the years - a reason for the 'forward' problem?

Ba provided a fresh option, a target man unlike Torres. Thus, despite all the promise, Chelsea were still casting glances towards their past style. As the season progressed, Ba would play the league games, Torres would play the cup games. The style was still nowhere as spectacular as it could have been. Di Matteo had learned that well enough, and you couldn’t blame Benitez. Being the hate figure, brought in to improve the defense and to do a steadying job, he had to get back to the old style again – “Do not lose” rather than “Win big”. He did it quite well.

The alternation between Torres and Ba had other consequences too. The line-up behind them remaining mostly unchanged, the team had to alternate two styles – the past and the future. None of the two got a regular run in the side, and as a result, neither could hit top form and claim their right on the position.

Mourinho arrived and it just couldn’t be understood what happened to the owner’s grand plan. It was back to square one. This time, Lukaku was to take Drogba’s position for obvious reasons. He was inexplicably loaned out again, and Samuel Eto’o took his place. So could Mourinho get the best out of Torres, Eto’o and Ba?

If he was intending to, Mata wasn’t going to be the man helping them. Despite being the club’s best player and the fans’ darling for two years, he wasn’t contributing to the “don’t concede” department. Thus he was benched in favour of Oscar, and ultimately sold. ‘Mazacar’ was changed to ‘Wilzacar’. So Mourinho was going to win by taking the opposition head on – using strength (Matic), pace (Salah), and experience (Eto’o) rather than simply technique. On the other hand, short term injuries and suspensions meant the order of favour of strikers was never properly settled.

But have the strikers contributed enough? Only in bits and pieces – Torres’ wonder assist and winner vs Man City and the brace at Schalke, Eto’o pressurizing the goalkeepers and scoring from the ricochet, and Demba Ba scoring when it mattered most vs PSG. In a nutshell, 21 league goals put together is a very poor return indeed.

Torres’ best match of the season so far – scoring the winner and providing a fine assist

There have been some positives too. Torres has improved leaps and bounds in holding up the ball and winning headers. He may have lost some pace, but his assist contribution is rather impressive. He has been sidelined on only four instances due to injury, all of them short term. As a player, from a touch wood roadrunner, he has transformed himself into someone more rough and tough. Demba Ba, meanwhile, has proved that he can adapt to any Premier League club and score goals if he is trusted enough.

So what next? Before answering that, to put it in short, here’s a summary of why Chelsea’s strikers have been misfiring.

Keeping transfer fee paid as the priority, Torres has been the number one for way more time than he deserves. A move on is the best solution. Daniel Sturridge should have been trusted more and not cast away – he had shown enough of his ability with Bolton and in the limited time he got with Chelsea.

Next, the changing of managers, all of them having their own styles and season objectives, has resulted in nobody getting a sustained run in the side and cementing their position. Finally, the shadow of Didier Drogba has still proved too dark for anybody to come out of.

Hence, for the future, with respect to strikers, Chelsea must be sure of the following: the longevity of the manager and his style, the compatibility of the player to the style, and the assurance of goals which they have been missing. We’ve had enough of the “he is back” moments of Fernando Torres, and it is best for him to leave rather than being forced out eventually.

Edinson Cavani has been linked with Chelsea for about a couple of years now, and that is too much of a drag for the transfer to ultimately happen. Besides, why would he leave PSG? This leaves Diego Costa as the only big name option. Following Falcao’s departure, Costa has taken La Liga by storm. Having played the season of his life, the big move is not too far away. But there are some questions still worth pondering.

The biggest risk with such players is the possibility of them being ‘one-season wonders’. True, Costa would take to Mourinho’s plans like a fish to water, but there are two major risks – injuries and the price. Mourinho’s style of primarily being defensive-minded would require the striker to be starved of service sometimes. He must be able to hold up the play, and if required, help out defensively. Haven’t we seen Didier Drogba dropping in to centre back and winning headers when required? Costa should be prepared to do the same. If signed, it is hoped that he conditions his body like the Ivorian – an incredible fitness record is a must.

Secondly, the price. Costa won’t come cheap. Big name strikers and Chelsea haven’t exactly been a marriage of convenience in the past. Shevchenko followed by Torres – is Costa going to complete the hat-trick? Hopefully not! Atletico may probably ask for Thibaut Courtois as well. Letting go of the future number one goalkeeper isn’t the wisest thing to do.

As of now, Costa is not the solution to Chelsea’s problems. The price is too high, and since it is Atletico they’re dealing with, Chelsea will be pestered towards selling Courtois. That isn’t a risk worth taking. If Costa can sustain his current form for another season then maybe Chelsea can think of signing him, but certainly not this season.

What Chelsea do not realize, rather shockingly, is they have their solution in-house. There is nothing left for Romelu Lukaku to prove. A successful season on loan at a mid table club followed by a successful season at a a Champions League chasing club should be enough for him to play regularly next season.

Romelu Lukaku needs to be trusted by Jose Mourinho

Again though, there is the problem of trust and price. Why trust Lukaku, who’s had two good seasons in the Premier League, and make him number one? He cost only a measly 18 million. Costa should be leading the line, shouldn’t he? After all, he is the leading scorer in La Liga and this is his first real season in the spotlight. Besides, he will cost a bomb.

This attitude of Chelsea must change. Supply shouldn’t be a problem considering the variety of their play-makers. What they need is a finisher who will come cheap. Someone who won’t be regarded as the messiah, but someone experienced enough in this league to silently do his job without anybody realizing it. If he starts, you know he will score. A player like Javier Hernandez, Edin Dzeko or Cristian Benteke. Maybe even train Andre Schurrle as a striker!

Chelsea do not need a big name striker. What they do need is the bravery to make Lukaku the main man. This season has proved that they can rely on the rest of the team for goals, so why not experiment for another year? They shouldn’t repeat the same mistake they made with Sturridge, which was principally, a lack of trust. Lukaku must be assisted by a poacher like Hernandez, Dzeko or maybe even Benteke. The latter would be the easier option since it’s a step up from Villa rather than a move from a club at the same level.

To conclude, I am of the opinion that Chelsea must not buy a big name big money striker this season since the club has had enough of covering up for the likes of Shevchenko and Torres in the past. Another failed striker and the club may become a laughing stock – the ‘graveyard of strikers’ tag might well become justified.

At the moment, it is best to thank Torres and Ba for their contributions and experiment with a trio of Romelu Lukaku, Cristian Benteke, and maybe Samuel Eto’o for another season.

It is only a matter of the coach showing some trust and bravery. I hope Mourinho is listening!