Fernando Torres

[Tomo 21,733]

Disagree.

The counter was messed up from Ramires positioning.

Eto is better than Torres, but Eto wasn't an option.

I wasn't thinking exclusively last night, more his career with us as a whole.

[lionsden 4,689]

I will like to see what people will blame our attacking deficiencies on when we buy a worldclass/top striker and the current problem of struggling to break down compact defences and inability to retain quality possession still persist. Some people are in for a rude awakening.

The only way I see this problem being neutralised is if we can somehow find a striker with 96-100 % efficiency rate, who would make the absolute most of every scraps he gets because that's what our strikers usually have to feed on/work with. such striker might exist on mars.

with the way we play football, I don't see a top striker changing much. the changes must come from the training ground which starts with a change of mentality, philosophy and direction.

We all watch football and how many times have we seen world class strikers struggle because they were left isolated, frustrated and deprived of quality services upfront leading to an ineffective attacking impact from these top strikers. It happens quite a lot especially in big games due to a tactical approach and set up that doesn't allow strikers to flourish.

[oldportblue 547]

I will like to see what people will blame our attacking deficiencies on when we buy a worldclass/top striker and the current problem of struggling to break down compact defences and inability to retain quality possession still persist. Some people are in for a rude awakening.

The only way I see this problem being neutralised is if we can somehow find a striker with 96-100 % efficiency rate, who would make the absolute most of every scraps he gets because that's what our strikers usually have to feed on/work with. such striker might exist on mars.

with the way we play football, I don't see a top striker changing much. the changes must come from the training ground which starts with a change of mentality, philosophy and direction.

so according to you, hypothetically, we could take our entire starting line-up as is, take out torres and put in any one of costa, suarez, aguero, cavani and the results for this season would be more or less the same? that we wouldn't score more goals? you're kidding right?

at this level, having a top level striker is an absolute must if you want to win trophies and having an absolute donkey up top is an insurmontable barrier... hell, even with eto'o who is getting old, the difference when samuel plays and when torres plays is like night and day! we would have actually had a good chance to get 2-3 goals yesterday with eto'o rather than torres/schurrle(not andre's fault, he's not really a striker)

[The Skipper 20,593]

so according to you, hypothetically, we could take our entire starting line-up as is, take out torres and put in any one of costa, suarez, aguero, cavani and the results for this season would be more or less the same? that we wouldn't score more goals? you're kidding right?

at this level, having a top level striker is an absolute must if you want to win trophies and having an absolute donkey up top is an insurmontable barrier... hell, even with eto'o who is getting old, the difference when samuel plays and when torres plays is like night and day! we would have actually had a good chance to get 2-3 goals yesterday with eto'o rather than torres/schurrle(not andre's fault, he's not really a striker)

I will like to see what people will blame our attacking deficiencies on when we buy a worldclass/top striker and the current problem of struggling to break down compact defences and inability to retain quality possession still persist. Some people are in for a rude awakening.

The only way I see this problem being neutralised is if we can somehow find a striker with 96-100 % efficiency rate, who would make the absolute most of every scraps he gets because that's what our strikers usually have to feed on/work with. such striker might exist on mars.

with the way we play football, I don't see a top striker changing much. the changes must come from the training ground which starts with a change of mentality, philosophy and direction.

We all watch football and how many times have we seen world class strikers left isolated, frustrated and deprived of quality services upfront leading to an ineffective attacking impact from these top strikers.

You're both right, a striker would've definitely glossed over some of our problems this season but at the same time we need a change of approach/mentality in some games.

[Sheva. 5,373]

No doubt we struggle to create chances, but at the same time, a top striker can turn half chances into something, and not lose the ball every damn time it comes to him.

Eto'os goal vs Arsenal is a good example. If it was Torres in that exact same position, no way in hell we would score there.

[lionsden 4,689]

so according to you, hypothetically, we could take our entire starting line-up as is, take out torres and put in any one of costa, suarez, aguero, cavani and the results for this season would be more or less the same? that we wouldn't score more goals? you're kidding right?

at this level, having a top level striker is an absolute must if you want to win trophies and having an absolute donkey up top is an insurmontable barrier... hell, even with eto'o who is getting old, the difference when samuel plays and when torres plays is like night and day! we would have actually had a good chance to get 2-3 goals yesterday with eto'o rather than torres/schurrle(not andre's fault, he's not really a striker)

I'm telling you that these top strikers have scoring ratio less than 25% most of the time and they are able to flourish and score as many goals as they do because their respective teams are usually very creative and they are constantly fed with top quality service to work with. The amount of chances Aguero, Suarez,Cavani miss is mindblowing but they are allowed to do that because they usually have plenty of opportunities over the course of the game to rectify their mistake.

How many dead easy/ clean through on goal/one on one/easy tap ins have our strikers had this season and missed. I bet it's not even up to 8 . but we are led to believe the team creates chances which our strikers often fail to capitalise on.

With our current set up and tactical approach any striker would struggle (by their usual standard) and wouldn't perform optimally because we do not provide the right conditions for strikers to flourish. it really is that simple.

We might score more goals but it will simply paper over the cracks.

We need to address the underlying issue first and foremost.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I will like to see what people will blame our attacking deficiencies on when we buy a worldclass/top striker and the current problem of struggling to break down compact defences and inability to retain quality possession still persist. Some people are in for a rude awakening.

Or we might be successful. Then what would you moan about (because you do fuck all else Alf).

With our current set up and tactical approach any striker would struggle and wouldn't perform optimally because we do not provide the right conditions for strikers to flourish. it really is that simple.

Then what would you do to fix it?

Or are you actually just that miserable old git that exists in every pub who simply moans about shit but never actually comes up with anything positive to say?

[Eligius 121]

I'm telling you that these top strikers have scoring ratio less than 25% most of the time and they are able to flourish and score as many goals as they do because their respective teams are usually very creative and they are constantly fed with top quality service to work with. The amount of chances Aguero, Suarez,Cavani miss is mindblowing but they are allowed to do that because they usually have plenty of opportunities over the course of the game to rectify their mistake.

How many dead easy/ clean through on goal/one on one/easy tap ins have our strikers had this season and missed. I bet it's not even up to 8 . but we are led to believe the team creates chances which our strikers often fail to capitalise on.

With our current set up and tactical approach any striker would struggle (by their usual standard) and wouldn't perform optimally because we do not provide the right conditions for strikers to flourish. it really is that simple.

We might score more goals but it will simply paper over the cracks.

We need to address the underlying issue first and foremost.

I agree.

The setup was never meant for a striker to succeed. However, with Mourinho, I don't think that will change in the near future, so, it will stay like this only we get a new manager.

[Las7 951]

People who keep saying how a striker would not make a difference - should ask themselves where Liverpool would be with a forward line of Ba/Eto'o/Torres.

They should ask themselves where PSG would be if they didn't have Zlatan/Lavezzi/Cavani and had our Eto'o/Ba/Torres instead.

Should ask themselves would United win the League last season if they had Ba and Torres instead of on form RvP.

[The Skipper 20,593]

People who keep saying how a striker would not make a difference - should ask themselves where Liverpool would be with a forward line of Ba/Eto'o/Torres.

They should ask themselves where PSG would be if they didn't have Zlatan/Lavezzi/Cavani and had our Eto'o/Ba/Torres instead.

Should ask themselves would United win the League last season if they had Ba and Torres instead of on form RvP.

No one is saying that though. What people are trying to convey is that a good strike force would just paper over the long term cracks - a good strike force would've definitely put us in a better position for trophies this year but the problems in the squad run deeper than that.

[Las7 951]

A great striker changes the system around them, he demands the ball and reliefs pressure from midfielders and defenders; he exerts confidence and boosts spirit.

Our issues within the squad are no way as bad as United's issues last year.

[The only place to be 11,313]

People who keep saying how a striker would not make a difference - should ask themselves where Liverpool would be with a forward line of Ba/Eto'o/Torres.

They should ask themselves where PSG would be if they didn't have Zlatan/Lavezzi/Cavani and had our Eto'o/Ba/Torres instead.

Should ask themselves would United win the League last season if they had Ba and Torres instead of on form RvP.

Because people want to lay the blame on Jose, or the lack of creativity. Others simply like to moan no matter how nonsensical it sounds (lionsden for example). Some just have an agenda against Jose (rubber bullets) whilst others have simply gone full-henrique.

It's why we have the stupid 'success or failure' thread when we're in a building process whose results won't be seen until next season. Spoilt, myopic fans who want everything now and don't understand that the mistakes of the past can't be solved overnight.

No one is saying that though. What people are trying to convey is that a good strike force would just paper over the long term cracks - a good strike force would've definitely put us in a better position for trophies this year but the problems in the squad run deeper than that.

And what others are trying to convey is that a competent striker completely changes the way teams play. EVERYONE on the pitch has more space, more time, more options when there is a legitimate threat up-top.

A great striker changes the system around them, he demands the ball and reliefs pressure from midfielders and defenders; he exerts confidence and boosts spirit.

Our issues within the squad are no way as bad as United's issues last year.

Spot on.

[Polo7 3,496]

We were piss poor second half yesterday. But on the rare occasions it looked like we could pull something off Torres ruined it. Dont understand the mentality of "oh a new striker would only paper over the cracks" No getting rid of Torres will improve us a 100 fold. He isnt our only problem but he is a big big problem.

[duo11bluecl 207]

We were piss poor second half yesterday. But on the rare occasions it looked like we could pull something off Torres ruined it. Dont understand the mentality of "oh a new striker would only paper over the cracks" No getting rid of Torres will improve us a 100 fold. He isnt our only problem but he is a big big problem.

What cracks? crack that we doesn't have a Vidal as our other CDM? Or Courtois over Cech? Because the rest of the team as far as I can see are up there along with top 10 starting 11 in Europe. Or is the crack the manager? Who is one of the greatest in history(albeit with annoying traits somewhat and sometime irritating tactics)

[lionsden 4,689]

To summarise it. Torres is crap but so is our build up play and attacking fluency/cohesion. A top striker will likely score more goals but will not necessarily solve the underlying issue. it's a tactical issue not an individual one. Although having the right quality/players does help to solve the issue.

[The Skipper 20,593]

And what others are trying to convey is that a competent striker completely changes the way teams play. EVERYONE on the pitch has more space, more time, more options when there is a legitimate threat up-top.

I'm not disagreeing with you.

[The only place to be 11,313]

To summarise it. Torres is crap but so is our build up play and attacking fluency/cohesion. A top striker will likely score more goals but will not necessarily solve the underlying issue. it's a tactical issue not an individual one.

The build up play is linked to the striker. How do you not understand this?

But even if we do have tactical issues we have the best man in the job to work on them, unless you want to start a Mourinho Out chant at the Bridge this weekend? Go on, money where your mouth is.

[Eligius 121]

A great striker changes the system around them, he demands the ball and reliefs pressure from midfielders and defenders; he exerts confidence and boosts spirit.

Our issues within the squad are no way as bad as United's issues last year.

WHAT......

Fergie built the system so RVP could succeed.

Messi is perfect for the barcelona system.

Cristiano plays in a system where it utilizes his best attributes.

City built a system for the strikers...

Liverpool build a system for Suarez/Daniel to succceed.

Sorry guys, Drogba was the exception along with Cavani and Lewandowski. Most teams play for the striker to succeed.