ElNinoSemper

Didn't get to see the match yesterday but this worries me. There most certainly will be changes to the team over the summer but all the transfer rumours suggest we're focused on even more strikers. Not the answer to our problems surely. I honestly don't know if the Torres/Drogba partnership can ever work and I'm not sure a pre-season should be spent/wasted trying to find out if it can.

That's the million dollar question isn't it? There was a glut of strikers having a barren run at the same time Fernando was, but nary a peep was heard about them. One ESPN columnist wrote an article a few days back bemoaning the fact that he couldn't rag on Torres anymore. And how much he'd enjoyed doing it before his goal on Saturday. Something to do with putting the arrogant Torres in his place. Fernando, arrogant? Don't see it myself.

And that right there is the nail on the head. I too think that this is precisely the reason why months after his departure, they are still as embittered and hateful as ever. They care so much about him that they can't even focus on their recent thrashing of Birmingham; instead they're trolling forums and YouTube videos about Fernando by the thousands. It's actually pretty startling if you think about it. They are obsessed with Torres. What sticks the knife in even more is how SB reacted to the goal. They were all feverishly believing the stories about him being an unliked, unsympathetic character at Chelsea and yet the euphoria and wild joy that his team-mates demonstrated blows that crap out of the water. So now he's scoring for Chelsea, like they all knew he would despite the mockery, AND he's popular? The 'pool fans can't swallow that. Agreed, that goal was just pure striker's instinct. For once,he wasn't thinking about the goal, about his timing, his approach, he just reacted. That tells me he hasn't lost a bit of what makes him so special. It'll do wonders for his confidence, even if he's not getting much playing time. Yes, it is just goal. It's easy to get carried away but I'll be happy if he can score one more before the season ends and has a few more assists. Torres' will flourish next season but it's more important for the team to keep momentum right now. I have little faith Arsenal can take Man U down, but you never know. We certainly have to play our part and not allow any silly slip-ups.

'Pool fans are the lowest of the low. Still so full of rage and bitterness. They trounced Birmingham today but all they can think about is Torres and his first goal for Chelsea. That tells you all you need to know right there.

Guess he didn't need ninety minutes after all. Still, would be nice though.

Fan-freaking-tastic! I've been screaming myself hoarse since Torres scored. So, so happy for him. And the team. That was the best goal celebration ever!

I will just be happy if he gets a full ninety minutes on the pitch. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think that's happened yet. For a striker that's low in confidence, being substituted at every turn most certainly does not help. I understand that with other players such as Drogba playing their way back to form, Torres cannot be an automatic starter. The team needs the goals, the points and therefore the striker on form should rightly start each game. But do think Ancelotti hasn't done a good enough job with Torres. Starting him against Liverpool was a massive mistake. He started off on the wrong foot and has never really recovered. Giving him ten minutes against easy sides when we were coasting was also a colossal blunder. Instead, Torres will probably play against a rival top team when the spotlight will be at its harshest. I don't understand how and why Ancelotti thinks this is the way to manage Fernando.

Liverpool fans are still so butthurt about his departure. LOL.

Don't agree with you. Don't believe 4-3-3 is the only formation we can play. Today Kalou played as a center forward didn't he? So why not Torres? As far as not playing under performing players, what about Malouda, Lampard, Essien even? They've hardly set the world on fire with their respective forms in recent months. Or what about when Drogba was under performing? Or is it only Torres that should be given this 'special treatment'? I think you're looking at things very narrowly. Benching the out of form player now might be a short term solution but in the long term is no solution at all. Again, I bring up the Man U./Rooney comparison. Torres is here for five years, how long do you think Drogba is here for? Their Chelsea careers are going to overlap so the club must make it a priority to get them gelling. How many ninety minute games have they played together? Hell, how many ninety minute matches has Torres played? There's been precious little time for them to connect on the field so we really have no idea what formation can work with both of them. A game like this against a struggling side with a poor defence would have been an ideal time to really give their partnership a go I thought.

Exactly! Drogba was great today and Ancelotti was right to start him, but he won't be great forever. The sooner Torres gets off the mark, the better for him AND the team. No one will benefit more from his form than Chelsea FC. So yeah, it's kind of important. But it's easy not to care now I guess.

Listen, I get it. Fernando is off form. And I'm not suggesting starting him over Drogba. But why not alongside him? I honestly don't see how it benefits anyone, club or player, to keep him benched. Just when does he get to play his way into form then? Btw, I completely disagree that he is worse than Anelka. I see more effort from Torres than Anelka these days. So what is this, the second disallowed goal for Fernando then? He just can't catch a break can he? For the measly ten minutes he was given, he almost scored. Pity that won't be what the papers are talking about tomorrow though.

Can't understand it myself. Already the pundits are talking about yet another match without a Torres goal and he got TEN MINUTES! It's ridiculous. I'd rather Ancelotti hadn't played him at all. Even if he's now to "earn his place" as someone put it, surely ten minutes isn't the way to go? Anyway, turned out to be a great game. Drogba was great, and Mikel ObI was superb. In fact, an all round better team performance than we've seen in a long while.

Such a shame Carlo only gave Torres 10 minutes. Against this West Brom side of all teams. Sigh.

Great. Luiz and JT asleep there.

I wish Carlo would show a little more imagination with his line up. For instance, how about 'resting' Lampard and giving Josh a start? If he's not going to do it against West Brom when will he ever? It doesn't have to be for the whole match but Lampard starting yet again, despite his form, rankles. As does the constant choice of Malouda. Baffling.