The Chelsea Thread

[Alcaraz]

Used to play wide for City at times, and he is 24, needs to be getting these things down.

Agree with you. He needs to improve on these aspects of his game if he wants to become a complete player. I think the main problem for him is the fact that he still feels he has a shot at playing through the centre, he should just accept the fact that we want to use him as a winger and retool his game accordingly. I hope to see him improve next season for sure

Also some interesting quotes were said by Torres' agent yesterday, not sure if they were posted.

Fernando has another four years on his contract at Chelsea and the situation there has changed for him.

With (Andre) Villas-Boas he was not considered, but the arrival of Di Matteo on the bench has seen him rediscover his confidence


I have no idea what to think of these quotes. Under Villas-Boas, Torres was in-fact the most used striker so the fact that he was not considered does not make sense. However, Torres run of good form which originated as soon as Di Matteo took over does not seem like a coincidence to me. Perhaps this is just a cheap shot at AVB but its certainly interesting as to whether Torres actually felt the confidence he needed from AVB

 

[BlueHeart26]

I saw that, but what does "the situation there has changed for him" mean? Is he not happy at Chelsea or it just means that Sir Andre hasnt considered him as a part of his long term "project"?

 

[zzeezzy]

Agree with you. He needs to improve on these aspects of his game if he wants to become a complete player. I think the main problem for him is the fact that he still feels he has a shot at playing through the centre, he should just accept the fact that we want to use him as a winger and retool his game accordingly. I hope to see him improve next season for sure

Also some interesting quotes were said by Torres' agent yesterday, not sure if they were posted.

Fernando has another four years on his contract at Chelsea and the situation there has changed for him.

With (Andre) Villas-Boas he was not considered, but the arrival of Di Matteo on the bench has seen him rediscover his confidence


I have no idea what to think of these quotes. Under Villas-Boas, Torres was in-fact the most used striker so the fact that he was not considered does not make sense. However, Torres run of good form which originated as soon as Di Matteo took over does not seem like a coincidence to me. Perhaps this is just a cheap shot at AVB but its certainly interesting as to whether Torres actually felt the confidence he needed from AVB

Sorry I think that is absolute nonsense, he used Torres by far the most out of his strikers and Torres has been poor ever since he joined Chelsea (with Ancelotti in charge) including last season, so in no way is Torres form relative to AVB. He was just as bad under Ancelotti.

 

[Jak]

I saw that, but what does "the situation there has changed for him" mean? Is he not happy at Chelsea or it just means that Sir Andre hasnt considered him as a part of his long term "project"?

that article that was linked last page said that he was still part of the long term project so I don't think its that. Perhaps the players actually trying now that AVB is gone has helped Torres play better (Although he was starting to get better under AVB, just not scoring)

 

[BlueHeart26]

that article that was linked last page said that he was still part of the long term project so I don't think its that. Perhaps the players actually trying now that AVB is gone has helped Torres play better (Although he was starting to get better under AVB, just not scoring)

Dont know what to think. I'd feel bad if Torres wasnt happy at Chelsea and was looking to leave. I dont know what to believe anymore.

 

[CJACKO11]

Plus all the silence over rumours of rifts between the two is almost as damning as coming out and saying it directly. If Frank had really supported AVB, he would have publicly said "there's no is problem with me and Andre." He didn't, yet you'll notice AVB tried numerous times to quash the rumours but he came off as looking desperate because Frank never backed him.

But Lampard doesn't suit the typical 4-3-3 because he's a box to box. Torres explicitly needed the furthest member of the midfield trio to be a creator and Lampard couldn't fulfil that role. His pass wasn't quick enough, his touch not steady enough etc. Frank's a fine player but he didn't suit what we needed so he was dropped.

Lampard has played in that role since 2004 scoring 20+goals every season so if that dosen't suit him then where should he be playing? On AVB and Lampard not getting on there is nothing wrong with it, you will always get people not liking each other. But when you cross that white line you play to the best of your ability. And although some may say Lampard didn't neither did anyone else at that time. Everyone lost confidence in the manager because of his actions, thats my take on it.

Nail on the head, Carl mate you really need to open your eyes on this.

There's a huge difference between not taking the option to talk, and not having the option to talk.

Like i always say and will continue to say and many others say when it suits them these stories are in the written press... Nothing more....I keep my opinions until i am proved wrong by something more concrete.

 

[Mike.]

I saw that, but what does "the situation there has changed for him" mean? Is he not happy at Chelsea or it just means that Sir Andre hasnt considered him as a part of his long term "project"?

AVB definitely considered him a long term key part. He told Roman just as much,as we know from the article i posted. So far, this hasnt changed under Di Matteo either, so his agent is just stirring.

 

[Mike.]

Agree with you. He needs to improve on these aspects of his game if he wants to become a complete player. I think the main problem for him is the fact that he still feels he has a shot at playing through the centre, he should just accept the fact that we want to use him as a winger and retool his game accordingly. I hope to see him improve next season for sure

Also some interesting quotes were said by Torres' agent yesterday, not sure if they were posted.

Fernando has another four years on his contract at Chelsea and the situation there has changed for him.

With (Andre) Villas-Boas he was not considered, but the arrival of Di Matteo on the bench has seen him rediscover his confidence


I have no idea what to think of these quotes. Under Villas-Boas, Torres was in-fact the most used striker so the fact that he was not considered does not make sense. However, Torres run of good form which originated as soon as Di Matteo took over does not seem like a coincidence to me. Perhaps this is just a cheap shot at AVB but its certainly interesting as to whether Torres actually felt the confidence he needed from AVB

Torres played, even when people said he shouldnt, he openly spoke about Torres. So dont really know what his agent is saying, unless he is just trying to cosy up with whoever comes in. Pretty smarmy behaviour to be honest

 

[CJACKO11]

There is a running theme with Chelsea and especially strikers we sign who don't score as much as people expect them too. Sutton, Crespo, Kezman, Shevchenko and now Torres. Not one of them were boo'd and all of them are well thought of at Chelsea (maybe Sutton being the exclusion) and why??? Because they were triers, if they wearn't scoring they were helping the team in other ways. Besides, football is a team game is it not.

 

[Jak]

Dont know what to think. I'd feel bad if Torres wasnt happy at Chelsea and was looking to leave. I dont know what to believe anymore.

He probably just feels under immense pressure to do well due to the price tag and unhappy due to him not living up to the price tag. I wouldn't say he wants to leave and now that he seems to be improving, he could become more determined than ever to live up to his price tag

 

[BlueHeart26]

AVB definitely considered him a long term key part. He told Roman just as much,as we know from the article i posted. So far, this hasnt changed under Di Matteo either, so his agent is just stirring.

dont know what to think.

 

[Alcaraz]

AVB definitely considered him a long term key part. He told Roman just as much,as we know from the article i posted. So far, this hasnt changed under Di Matteo either, so his agent is just stirring.

But Mike. the article does not state how big a part AVB thought Torres would play in his long-term project. It could be that AVB was just persisting with Torres due to the price tag and the fact that he has no one better to turn to. Its highly possible that Torres may not have felt the trust and confidence from AVB which he needed

 

[BlueHeart26]

There is a running theme with Chelsea and especially strikers we sign who don't score as much as people expect them too. Sutton, Crespo, Kezman, Shevchenko and now Torres. Not one of them were boo'd and all of them are well thought of at Chelsea (maybe Sutton being the exclusion) and why??? Because they were triers, if they wearn't scoring they were helping the team in other ways. Besides, football is a team game is it not.

Thats why I love Torres, he tries and he works for the team's sake. I will keep backing anybody as long as theyre doing that.

 

[BlueHeart26]

He probably just feels under immense pressure to do well due to the price tag and unhappy due to him not living up to the price tag. I wouldn't say he wants to leave and now that he seems to be improving, he could become more determined than ever to live up to his price tag

I hope your right.

 

[CJACKO11]

Aston Villa 2 – 4 Chelsea | FootyRoom - Latest Football Highlights

 

[Mike.]

But Mike. the article does not state how big a part AVB thought Torres would play in his long-term project. It could be that AVB was just persisting with Torres due to the price tag and the fact that he has no one better to turn to. Its highly possible that Torres may not have felt the trust and confidence from AVB which he needed

You only need to look at the games he was picked for. For the most part he was picked, and backed time and again in conferences about his non scoring. And the article does state:

Fernando Torres, however, was one of the players Villas-Boas wanted to keep, despite the striker enduring the worst form of his professional life since arriving from Liverpool for £50m 14 months ago. Abramovich, too, is determined not to give up on a player he had been desperate to sign. The idea was to begin next season with Cavani, Hulk, Torres and Daniel Sturridge as striking options.

 

[Tyton]

Well, thats just nonsense, its was quite clear Torres had a lot of support, and not just by being picked for games, but on press conferences too.

It may as well be that sacking AVB and the major shift of media/fan attention that followed, as a sort of side effect took a lot of pressure of Fernando, who until then was for many months right in the center of shitstorm.

 

[BlueHeart26]

You only need to look at the games he was picked for. For the most part he was picked, and backed time and again in conferences about his non scoring. And the article does state:

Fernando Torres, however, was one of the players Villas-Boas wanted to keep, despite the striker enduring the worst form of his professional life since arriving from Liverpool for £50m 14 months ago. Abramovich, too, is determined not to give up on a player he had been desperate to sign. The idea was to begin next season with Cavani, Hulk, Torres and Daniel Sturridge as striking options.

Of course it depends on who our manager is, but still wonder if we can manage to get Cavani.

 

[Subtle]

Lampard has played in that role since 2004 scoring 20+goals every season so if that dosen't suit him then where should he be playing?

The thing is, he hasn't been playing that role, if anything the 20+ goals a season proves it because those are not numbers you'd get from a creator. I'm not saying that Lampard shouldn't be played as the furthest midfield player more that he shouldn't be played as a creator: think of Pirlo and Gattuso at Milan last year, they both play in defensive midfield but they're massively different players. Torres needed a creator, Frank is a box to box.

On AVB and Lampard not getting on there is nothing wrong with it, you will always get people not liking each other.

But mate you specifically said that Frank never came out and criticised AVB or complained about being on the bench.

And although some may say Lampard didn't neither did anyone else at that time. Everyone lost confidence in the manager because of his actions, thats my take on it.

I'd totally agree that it's unfair to single Frank out but as I've said in this thread before, that group of players has some real CFC legends in its ranks. They should have played to the best of their ability for the club and for us, regardless of whether or not they liked AVB.

Like i always say and will continue to say and many others say when it suits them these stories are in the written press...
Nothing more....I keep my opinions until i am proved wrong by something more concrete.

It's not quotes that have been twisted by the press though. If you read the full thing it's from, Frank is clearly unhappy about being left out and unhappy that Drogba, Mikel, Kalou and Malouda aren't getting a look in. It's pretty concrete because it's his own words.

 

[BlueHeart26]

Oh, I've missed that celebration.