Everyone remembers the buzz around the country when Fernando Torres arrived in England at the start of the 2007-08 season as Liverpool’s new number nine. Everyone remembers that youthful zest that he seemed to personify every time he pulled on the red shirt.
And everyone certainly remembers how quickly the Spaniard made an impact in the Premier League. Shooting out of the blocks like a bronco leaving its stable for the first time, ‘El Nino’ quickly wiped out any lingering doubts about whether he would adapt to the pace and intensity of the English game. His first goal for Liverpool (against his current employers Chelsea) was a super finish, which was followed by many more (65 in 102 games) in a remarkable spell on Merseyside. So, what now? What happened to that blond-haired, blue-eyed, bushy-tailed striker that used to terrorise defences week-in week-out?
Well, it’s hard to pinpoint this really. But we’ll go from the start, or at least try to. On Deadline Day of last January’s transfer window, Torres completed a £50 million (yes, £50 million!) switch from the red of Anfield to the blue of Stamford Bridge and a fresh new challenge at Chelsea. The transfer was a hot topic and Torres’ name was on everyone’s lips. Would the Spaniard light up the capital like he lit up Merseyside? It’s safe to say that after more than 12 months and a meagre three-goal return in that spell that the answer is a simple ‘no’.
It would be harsh on Nando to say that he’s completely lost it; he hasn’t. The man still possesses a number of essential attributes – pace, link-up play, technique, movement. There’s just one ingredient sorely missing – goals! Maybe the problem lies in the system that Chelsea play (compact midfield, three-man attack) – with no player in the hole (a la Gerrard at Liverpool) sat behind Torres some would say that Chelsea aren’t playing to the striker’s strengths. Maybe the problem lies in the fact that he is simply suffering a barren spell and that he’ll come good once he scores again. However, all good strikers can adapt and a 12-month dry spell in front of goal is very, very dry indeed.
Last weekend, Chelsea hosted Man United in an absolute humdinger of a game. The Blues raced into a three-goal lead before United fought back and rescued a point in a dramatic 3-3 draw. At one point during the second half – with Chelsea still ahead – Torres bore down on goal, took a moment to steady himself, then… had the ball swiftly took away from his foot by the recovering Antonio Valencia. This was a moment which stuck with me. A moment which showed the severe lack of confidence that Torres seems to have in his shooting boots. He took one touch too many and missed his opportunity to shoot, instead opting to take more time, by then it being too late and United clearing the danger. You would’ve hedged a safe bet that the Torres of two years ago would’ve absolutely smashed it in.
Chelsea’s number nine is a victim of the dreaded price tag. Surely he is. I mean, £50 million is a crazy amount of money. Ask Andy Carroll (he who went in the opposite direction) who cost Liverpool £37 million. The pair of them cost a combined amount of nearly £90 million between them – absolutely insane money. And what have they got to show for it? A combined goals tally that barely breaches double figures. Very poor returns indeed. Anyway, I digress.
Fernando Torres, once the most dangerous striker in English football (ask Nemanja Vedic) is quickly becoming one of the most timid. And that’s a darn shame. Has he completely lost his goalscoring touch? I’d say no, not just yet. Form is temporary, class is permanent and all that. But Nando, you need to start being selfish. Really, really selfish and really, really quickly. Otherwise, you’ll be the most expensive flop in Premier League history.
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