We need a Goalscorer !

[Mustafa 885]

Chelsea Football Club have had a pretty decent start to this campaign. Right from the start with our 2-0 win at Wigan, we looked sharp and looked very professional defending a two goal lead for 80 minutes. We showed our courage and fight in an enthralling 4-2 win against Reading at the Bridge followed by a comfortable 2-0 victory against Newcastle to wrap up August.

But in our visit to QPR, we showed what ultimately is going to be our downfall in our bid to win the League title. In our lack luster 0-0 draw at Loftus Road we looked as if we were playing without a Center Forward. Torres could not influence the game which forced RDM into making putting on Daniel Sturridge in his place but the youngster couldn't get on the score-sheet either.

Next was a visit of the Potters. Now, we all know what they're like and they're very hard to break down. But with our trio of Oscar, Mata and Hazard, breaching the Stoke City defense was inevitable. But with the injury of Daniel Sturridge and a misfiring #9, its not so easy. It took us till the 85th minute for Ashley Cole to finish off a flowing move to give us a narrow win. Our next game was a big one at Arsenal. One of our bigger wins so far this season. Goals from Fernando Torres and Juan Mata got us the three points. Torres got himself on the score-sheet once more in a 4-1 rout vs Norwich.

In out next game, we faced off with AVB and his new-look Spurs side at "3-point-lane". With Daniel Sturridge back on the bench after recovering from his injury, Nando got the nod but it was his Spanish compatriot who stole the show. His 2 goals were enough to put us back in the lead after trailing 2-1. Daniel Sturridge was subbed on in the later stages and got himself a goal. This goal was intriguing for me as both Torres and Sturridge were in the box in virtually the same position when Mata knicked the ball off Kyle Walker on the touchline, but Sturridge was just hungrier than Fernando and got himself in the better position to receive the cross from Mata and finish off the opportunity.

Shortly after that Gianfranco Zola was quoted saying, "He has good spirit, but doesn't love Chelsea, you can buy his services but you can never buy his love for Liverpool." This was an example of what Zola was talking about. Torres' lack of desire and determination out on the pitch may cost us dearly in the long term. And personally I don't feel like Daniel Sturridge will be quite up to the task of scoring 20+ for us over the course of the season. But neither is our £50mil man! We currently sit 3rd in the league table, and our major title contenders are Manchester United and Manchester City. With their attacking options, they will score goals, and lots of them. And at the end of the day goals win games and games won, win you trophies.

Robin van Persie = 37 Goals in 48 Games (0.79)

Rooney = 33 Goals in 44 Games(0.77)

Chicharito = 12 Goals in 36 Games (0.33)

Welbeck = 12 Goals in 40 Games(0.3)

Kun Aguero = 30 Goals in 48 Games (0.63)

Balotelli = 17 Goals in 32 Games (0.53)

Edin Dzeko = 18 Goals in 42 Games (0.43)

Carlos Tevez = 4 Goals in 14 Games (0.3)

Fernando Torres = 11 Goals in 49 Games (0.22)

Daniel Sturridge = 13 Goals in 43 Games (0.3)

(Goal-scoring Stats from 2011/2012)

[Spike 12,049]

Goal ratio means nothing if they score five against a team like Bolton. If a striker score 12 goals a season and all 12 goals are winners against strong teams, I'd be happy.

Remember Berbatov when he won the golden boot? He scored 20 goals that season but scored something like 9 of them in 2 games.

[Kojo 4,676]

Torres = not good enough a must get rid of

Sturridge = very special talent, and very underrated by a lot of fans on here. But he's not a CF, Danny needs to realise he isn't a striker, and if he wants to play as a striker he wont ever get to play like that for a top team, his strengths are out wide or behind a striker. It was stupid relying on him for backup striker. We haven't got one forward in our team besides Torres, that says it all.

I think we need a hard worker and team playing striker, one who can make use of space as well as more phsyical in the air, as we seem to really lack that. I really hope we go for Edin Dzeko, as he wants to play first team football, he's said this on match of the day interview himself he wants to play. We might be able to use that as an advantage for getting him a lot cheaper, should definitely try for that one anyway.

[Thor 2,716]

Sturridge's stats are skewed since he barely gets to start at striker, and even when he was he was on the wing. He needs to be given a chance.

We need to stop catering to Torres and try and find something that's better for our team. If it doesn't work out with Danny after a few games, then by all means put Torres back in until we find something better. Torres never seems to shoot. We need someone more selfish there. I can't remember the last time he shot outside of the box. He always tries to walk his way into the goal it seems.

[Strike 7,492]

The goal ratio is rather worrying. Our midfield and defence scores a lot of goals but the responsibility of goal-scoring should be handled by the striker. In games where we don't create lot of chances, that's where Torres should score. Torres' goals this season have come from set-pieces, offside tap-ins etc. maybe the goal against Newcastle was the only goal where he genuinely converted a half-chance whereas van Persie, Tevez, Ba etc are converting half-chances for their teams with ease. that usually makes all the difference in the league. I am still waiting to see Torres take charge and bully the opposition defence in a Big game

[Strike 7,492]

Options we need to explore

1. Edinson Cavani - Beast

2. Radamel Falcao - Beast 2.0

3. Robert Lewandowski

4. Edin Dzeko

5. David Villa (?) - short term loan

[BlueLyon 9,359]

6. Jovetic

7. Suarez

8. Bony

[bitee 12]

yes i hope falcao

[Stats 7,147]

yes i hope falcao

Most sensible thing you have said since joining this forum , thanks God!

[Reddish-Blue 2,509]

6. Jovetic

7. Suarez

8. Bony

Jovetic, hell yea.

Suarez...he won't leave Liverpool yet..

Bony would be a good option in January..my only question: Is Bony clinical enough for a top club like Chelsea?

[nachikethas 1,154]

i feel jealous for all the teams who have good strikers. evryone has got atleast one and what we have a shit nando....its just not fair.getting rid of drogba infavour of torres was the biggest crime in football.

[BLionheart 516]

BH

The football philosophy has been really affected by spain and barcelone , so now most of the great strikers are actually 9 and a half players , second strikers , e.g. Rooney , Teves , Messi , Aguero ,Suarez etc.....

Great classic strikers are very rare nowadays , currently Falcao , Cavani , Van persie are the only world-class classic no.9s that i know of !!

Getting ourselves a striker is needed but finding ourselves a good classic no.9 is gonna be either very expensive or very hard.

Edit:BTW IMO Lewandowski is our best option right now.

Edited November 15, 2012 by BLionheart

[meetdoscar 335]

Best in england=RVP, Best in spain=falcao, Best in italy= cavani. Best in big games(in finals, vs top clubs)= FALCAO. Best finisher=FALCAO. Most inconsistent= cavani. Who is most likely to replace drogba=Falcao

[manpe 10,861]

So basically this is another thread where people can salivate over the likes of Falcao and Cavani and moan about our strikers

[Spike 12,049]

So basically this is another thread where people can salivate over the likes of Falcao and Cavani and moan about our strikers

If people stop talking about Torres he dies.

[Styles 9,790]

Yes and no.

We need a goalscorer but we also need a player that brings more to the table than just finishing off moves. We need a forward that is technically good and able to be part of the build-up, can pass and assist. Think of somebody like Anelka here.

Our options up top are so weak one player isn't enough. We need two players, with one being an out-and-out striker and the other being an all-round type forward would be ideal. Look at the variation Utd and City have; Dzeko, Aguero, Tevez, Rooney, Van Persie, Hernandez etc. All different type of players who bring something different.

[Beirut_Blues 306]

Radamel Falcao

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

So basically this is another thread where people can salivate over the likes of Falcao and Cavani and moan about our strikers

Damn, and I was just about to start the following threads:

1) Which Colombian striker would best fit Chelsea?

2) Fernando Torres-is he to blame for everything? Yes!

3) We need to spend 50M on a striker with a proven track record from Athletico Madrid because there's no way that would ever not work out.

If Torres does go, I wonder who will get the blame when we don't win. There always has to be a player or two that fans blame for everything. Last year it was Kalou and Malouda. This year, it was Lampard until he got hurt. Mikel is always a popular choice. If Torres goes, it will certainly be RDM to get the fans' fickle hatred. You can already see the signs.

[Las7 951]

Give Sturridge a crack for a few matches in row before the Transfer window.

Unlike Torres, Sturridge actually has a reason to be unhappy, he has waited 3 years for a chance to play 2 games in a row in his favourite position - the position he has trained for his entire life. He went out on loan to Bolton to prove himself good enough for a shot at playing up top for us. He outscored our combined strike force in the second part of the season - returned still wasn't given a fair crack as CF even as Torres went 24 hours without a goal and Drogba was out at ANC and was not playing any better than Torres in the League.

This season he has had ONE match up top for us from the start, he didn't play particularly well but got us a goal - give him a few more matches, see how he does and if he doesn't do any better we can think about who is available for us to sign in the winter.

[Leif 6,006]

Only Cavani can match Drogba's work rate and threat/defending abilities when it comes to set pieces from the strikers we've been linked with.

The best finisher is Falcao.

I've no idea how people think Jovetic could be good enough to lead our line. Remember Arsenal being 'scared' of Drogba? Drogba 'bullying' defenders etc?

I know we're supposed to move on, but little Jovetic isn't exactly the most intimidating or motivational figure... which is what we need up front to compliment our silky smooth passers. He scores a bit, he can dribble well and can pass well - but can he hold up the ball? Can he use strength vs. defenders to his advantage? Can he be an aerial threat?

I laugh when people think we'll get Suarez. Liverpool have one striker (Borini) aside from him. Do you think Liverpool are stupid enough to sell their best player also?

Dzeko is a very underrated player IMO. He's quite all-rounded. If you use him correctly, he will score. . . but he isn't exactly a safe option. . . and from what I see, we're definitely not the team for him. How many crosses do we send into the box which he could take advantage of? Exactly. He looks good when coming on as a sub, but that's often due to the opposition being too tired to properly mark and track such a big, strong player. He'd be great at a team like Manchester United, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund etc. Team which properly use wing-play.

Villa would be a cool short term option. He does what we've wanted Torres to do most of his time here.

To move forward as a team with a new philosophy but also while retaining some of the qualities which make Chelsea 'Chelsea', I think Cavani is honestly the best option.

It's so annoying how people can't see that the reason Falcao scores so much isn't just because he's a great finisher, but the team plays around him. The players play for him. He is the man in the team... but not with Colombia. As we saw last night, when he's not the clear main man with everyone doing everything to suit him, he isn't exactly the 'best striker in the world' which so many on here claim he is.

It's just so fking irritating how short-sighted people can be.

"IF WE SIGN FALCAO WE KEEP CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TROPHY FOREVER BECAUSE WE WIN EVERY YEAR. HE MAKE US FIXED. WE BUY FALCAO AND OUR DEFENSIVE PROBLEMS GO AWAY AND WE NO LONGER ONE-DIMENSIONAL. YAY." no.

(I'm such an arse when I haven't eaten yet, I'm aware.)