The Fernando Torres Project - Time to scrap it?

When Roman Abramovich spent 75 million on the last day of January 2011 as if there was no tomorrow, Chelsea fans rejoiced. The much adored and loved player of a rival was stolen away from them at the last moment, to the tune of 50 million pounds. “Haste makes waste”, as the old saying goes, and it was evident everywhere. While Liverpool pocketed an undeserved 50 million, they wasted 70% of it on an unproven English center forward. As for Chelsea, the investment is yet to be made felt worth it.

The moment that stunned English Football

There was no doubt that the signing was one of Roman Abramovich’s fancies. One must have felt he had learnt from his mistake in the past, with a similar project involving Andriy Shevchenko. Such thoughts have partly been put to rest now, some good performances here and there contributing to saving face. The owner’s marquee signing hasn’t lived up to it. Excuses have been given, but now, we are running out of them. This article is by a Chelsea fan whose patience is wearing thin.

The excuses for Fernando Torres’ performances

Excuse 1 – Style

Ever since he signed and for the ensuing half season that followed, which yielded only one goal (and ultimately the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti), it has been written that Chelsea’s style of play wasn’t suited to Fernando’s. At Liverpool, he could get inch perfect through balls from the likes of Gerrard and Alonso, while Chelsea’s slower build up play and long balls made him less effective. When one changes clubs in the middle of the season, he is bound to take some time to settle in – this is a well known excuse. Fans agreed and this excuse for covering up his shoddy performances on the field was completely accepted.

Excuse 2 – AVB did not start him regularly

Form is Temporary, but ultimately, that is what matters while picking the team

AVB has been known to be a bold manager, and the very act of taking up the Chelsea job in the first place is testament to that. He made it perfectly clear at the start of the 2011-12 season that he would pick his squad based on merit, and not on past reputations. While Torres was struggling to get his first goal in the blue shirt at the end of 2010-11, Daniel Sturridge was scoring regularly for Bolton in his loan spell. This convinced AVB to prefer the returning loanee over a yet to fire striker. While Daniel Sturridge started games and continued the form he was in at Bolton, Torres found himself more on the bench than on the pitch. For the limited time he got on the pitch, he was unable to seize the opportunity.

Excuse 3 – Di Matteo did not play him much either

Out went AVB and in came RDM. The story of the transformation Di Matteo brought about is for another day, but what matters here is that RDM brought the veterans Lampard and Drogba back into the starting line up. Sturridge was used less frequently by Di Matteo, and so was Torres. In spite of FA Cup and Champions League medals to show for his efforts, Fernando Torres did nothing much in the 2011-12 season to justify the enormous price for which he was bought. Perhaps, the only memorable moment (and I mean the one on a positive note, as we all remember what happened at Old Trafford) was his goal at the Nou Camp. “The goal worth 50 million”, as a commentator put it. Torres did not feature at all in the FA Cup final, and also didn’t start the Champions League final, appearing as a late substitute in normal time.

By now, he was clearly becoming frustrated, as one and a half years had gone by. He came for trophies and he got them, but was still to hit the form he knew he was capable of. He would get on a run of 4 or 5 goals, but a long goal drought would follow, the most infamous one being under AVB, where he suffered 1000-odd minutes on the pitch with no goal to show for it. He had lost some pace too, which had helped him get the better of the best of defenders in the past.

But in spite of the lack of goals in 2011-12, Torres raked up an impressive number of assists for his teammates, one particularly memorable was the Juan Mata goal at Stamford Bridge against Manchester United in a crazy 3-3 draw. This led to opinions that Fernando Torres had transformed himself. He was being more of a playmaker than a lethal finisher. We could see him dropping back deep, going out wide and supplying some good crosses. Throughout the AVB/RDM season, his overall contribution was improving in the limited time he was getting, while the goals that were expected to fly in, still proved to be elusive. Add to this the immovable Didier Drogba, who offered more physicality on the pitch and set an exemplary example of commitment with the body language of a great leader.

Excuse 4 – The shield of “Form is Temporary, Class Permanent”

This popular statement has come to his rescue for every poor performance he gives. But can a class player be out of form for such a prolonged period? It would be very foolish of me and downright risky to even question whether he had class to begin with, and I would not do it. But what can be safely said is that the class, the quality of touch he once showed, the brilliant acceleration to beat the defender, has diminished.

2012-13 season – the story so far

Torres was not happy with Di Matteo ignoring him for the penalty shootout in Munich, and sought clear-the -air talks to clarify his position. He was assured that he would be the main man come the 2012-13 season. This was supposed to be the season when everything would go right for him. Having won the Champions League, Roman Abramovich reminded everyone who was the boss in the transfer market as he beat the Manchester clubs and other competitors to the signature of the much sought after Eden Hazard. The spending spree continued with Oscar, Marin, and Moses arriving to strengthen the midfield. Another 75 million was spent in the summer of 2012 on swift and short playmakers in an attempt to create a Barcelona at Stamford Bridge, and prevent the 50 million project from failing.

This was to be the season where Fernando Torres would finally justify his transfer fee with a holy trinity of potential future superstars in midfield, who would provide him with the “through balls” which he was believed to thrive upon. But he continued to look a bit isolated, though not as much as before. The holy trinity of Oscar, Hazard, and Mata were running the show all by themselves. However, Chelsea again went into their annual mid-season slumber. Fans could not contain their horror, as their beloved RDM got the boot for the UCL debacle, and in came the “fat Spanish waiter” Rafa Benitez. According to many, this was the last gamble taken by Roman Abramovich to make his poster signing come good. Torres went on to score 7 in 6 games, his longest scoring streak in a Chelsea shirt, but has now stumbled upon another goal drought, not scoring since his 3rd minute header in the 8-0 demolition of Aston Villa.

So should Fernando Torres leave Chelsea? Sadly, I am sorry to say, I believe his time is up. Here are the reasons.

Reasons for Fernando Torres to go

Reason 1 – Fans’ patience has been tested

Ever since he arrived, Torres has been backed to the fullest by the Stamford Bridge crowd – standing ovations when being substituted, or loud cheers when coming on as a substitute, no matter what his performances. Be it while celebrating his first goal, which may have been mistaken outside the ground for a trophy celebration, or pardoning his Old Trafford horror, they have stood by the player. But, for the last few months, the patience of the fans has been tested. In a season which was supposed to be THE season, one where he would turn it around, it has not happened yet. Demba Ba scored as many goals in his first 61 minutes in a Chelsea shirt, as Fernando Torres did in 7 months. In the League Cup defeat to Swansea (9-1-2013), fans sang “We want Demba Ba” (who was on the bench) during the second half. They got their wish, as the ineffective Spaniard made way for the Senegalese, and for the first time in his Chelsea career, Torres was booed off by the home crowd. Adding insult to injury was that it was his 100th appearance for the club. Ba won a header out of nowhere immediately, and even scored later, which was wrongly adjudged offside. His replacement contributed more than what he had done in 80 minutes.

Reason 2 – Fragile confidence, and he has not looked genuinely happy

At the start and during the course of this season, he has expressed how he had felt in the past while sitting on the bench, even saying that there was a time when he did not care whether the team won or lost if he was not playing. This was the first sign of him being frustrated and feeling sorry for himself.

The hat-trick against QPR and the goal against Barcelona last season were the only instances where we could see instant and genuine joy on his face. Gone are those celebrations where he would sprint towards the fans and jump up in joy. These days, a Fernando Torres goal celebration has more expressions of relief than anything else. Sometimes, his body language is frustrating, as he makes no effort to close down opposing defenders.

Most recent instance – Demba Ba scored his second Chelsea goal against Southampton in the FA Cup. Torres, on the bench was clearly not happy with it. It is evident here for all to see.

Reason 3 – Comparisons with Robin van Persie

What Torres did to Liverpool, Robin van Persie did to Arsenal. The little boy inside van Persie convinced him to dump Arsenal and screamed for Manchester United. In spite of changing clubs, RVP has continued from where he left off last season, scoring goals for fun at Manchester United. Both being of about the same age, this invariably draws comparisons – even van Persie had to join a club with a different style, had been plagued by injuries in the past, had drawn fans’ ire as he believed he could not win trophies at his old club. The circumstances are similar, while the present situation is different.

What should Fernando Torres Do?

Even though they booed Torres off against Swansea, most Chelsea fans would be sad to see Torres go. A permanent transfer now in January can only do more harm than good. Fans would get a feeling of incompleteness, while the player would have to endure another high profile January move. Thus, there are two options – to go out on loan to a smaller club till the end of the season and rediscover himself, or stay and fight for his place, now that fans want to see more of Ba than him. If the situation does not improve even after the end of the season, then he must accept this as a failed move in terms of personal form, and move on elsewhere.

What has Fernando Torres cost Roman Abramovich? What must the owner do?

That is simple, isn’t it? Everyone knows it is 50 million pounds of transfer fees and who knows what wages! On a more serious note, keeping unwavering faith on him has cost Roman Abramovich two managers in Ancelotti and AVB, a potential star in Daniel Sturridge, and frequent comparisons with Andriy Shevchenko.

Same Story?

This is a tricky time, as Fernando found form in December, but has failed for 10 days in January. Would the owner be happy with these kind of dodgy performances, and ‘almost there’ promises? Would he accept that the 50 million gamble has flopped?

For all that we can speculate, Fernando Torres may even hand in a late transfer request, claiming he isn’t happy and is in the better interest of all parties to move on. Then we all know who Abramovich has in mind to replace him – Radamel Falcao, followed by Edinson Cavani. But what if another royal splash fails?

Hence we come to the point of debate…