DYC.

You keep saying excuses.. I hope you're not implying I'm coming up with excuses as that's not true. I'll say it again, his poor form is up to him. But the fact that the we play in a way, slow build-up (sometimes too slow which brings us into trouble), which doesn't suit him doesn't help. Torres was bought to be our new main goal scorer and he cost a lot of money so you better do what you can let him shine for those two reasons (It's like Stoke buying Zidane and expecting him to shine in the their long ball style of play). Just like we've played in a way which suits Drogba best all these years. A line-up which suits Torres? Not much needs to be changed but it's obvious we need new wingers and a creative player in midfield. Maybe something like this: Cech Ivanovic Luiz/Alex Terry Cole Lampard Mikel Pastore(?) A. Johnson(?) Torres Mata(?) But it's not even about line-ups though, it's about the mind-set. Look to go forward and attack whenever you have the ball and look to play Torres on early and quickly (that way there's actually space for him to run into). Wingers providing width so Torres can run into the spaces left between the fullbacks and the centrebacks and others also looking to make runs behind the opposition defence. Obviously you won't always have the chance to do so but the players should be looking for it. But I think it's best we stop here as I don't think we're going anywhere with this discussion .

But what is 'our' style? The way we played under Mourinho, under Scolari or the way we played under Ancelotti? And his poor form is down to him, but what's wrong with playing in a way which suits the player who was bought for 50 mil best? And there's nothing he can do about losing pace btw, nobody wants to lose pace but it happens.

Yeah 'Euro 2008 Spain' were a better and more attractive side than the one in the World Cup. Villa didn't start? Forgot all about that. Audacious move by Aragones. EDIT: Just read in your post below mine he was injured.

It's not like we've had a certain style of play all these years under Abramovich though. Every ('permanent') manager came with their own style. Let me add that I'm not saying Torres' poor form is because of the way we play. That's all on him. But playing in the way which brings the best out of him, would of course help him a lot.

There's a difference between direct football and counter-attacking football. Utd play direct football, '09/10 Inter' played counter-attacking football.

Yeah that's what I said, doesn't mean Pastore is that player though. You thinking he can be that player doesn't change that but I hope you're right if he joins.

Possibly, hopefully. Even though I don't rate him as highly as a player as many do, Sneijder would probably be the perfect guy to play behind Torres as that's the thing he's absolutely great at. He loves to play balls behind the defence very quickly and is absolutely class at doing so. Though now that I'm thinking about it, Fabregas would be even better. Can't think of a player who's better than him in playing the killer pass, at a very high frequency, in European football.

I've kept quiet until now on the whole Torres issue, because I find it an annoying topic, but for me it's very simple. The only way he'll succeed at Chelsea is by changing the way we play. Torres needs space to run into so slow build-up needs to be replaced by (very) direct play. We need a player(s), preferably playing right behind him, who's great at playing the ball quickly behind the opposition defence. I don't see him succeeding in another style of play. If that happens, he'll score at least 20 goals in all competitions. Torres is a pure goal scorer, you don't lose that. The old Torres would for sure be a certainty for more goals but that Torres is gone (well that's what I think).

:tophat:

Now I get ya .

Yup, he's so good. Wish we bought him but he doesn't get enough hype for us to be interested.

I'm confused, what are you trying to say? You never said anything about those players being youth products. And if that's what you meant, Wilshere's the only youth product out of that list. And what has Bendtner achieved really?

What spending? City have only bought Clichy and the talent Savic. We used to, still actually, get linked to a lot of players too.. doesn't mean much. You can only criticize on those they actually buy. Like zolayes already mentioned (didn't use similar words), go back 7, 8 years in time and you could easily replace 'City' by 'Chelsea' in this piece. (And please replace Bendtner by Van Persie)

Nothing's changed BlueLion.

Santi's left Villarreal for Malaga .

Can my name be changed to '' DYC. '' please? Thanks in advance .

Hahaha. Mario, Mario, Mario... So much potential, so little intelligence. Love the guy though .

Team Larissa :dude:

That would mean instant Champions League glory.

He is, he said so himself. But Ajax and Roma still can't agree on the transfer fee (Roma wants to pay 5 mil, Ajax wants +/- 10 mil).

My thoughts exactly. It's too boring.

That remains to be seen.

I went with the last one. Simply because it looks the best imo.

Thanks.