Demba Ba

[robsblubot 3,502]

How so? When Ba isn't scoring the goals, he still gave just that little bit more than Torres to the team. He still make threatening runs in and around the opposition's defence and offer better off the ball movements (think how he got into positions to score but just didn't). And not to mention, his hold up play is so much better than Torres's in helping us keep the ball, win free kicks and bring others into play. With Torres, he's like a statue upfront who doesn't move and more often than not, get bullied off the ball far too easily.

Too easy for people to completely missed these aspects just because Ba hasn't scored a lot. It's just like how people are wanking over Torres because he scored a few goals past average to poor oppositions in the Europa League and Confederations Cup when in actual fact, his performances have hardly even been average to say the least. His goals has masked his poor performances such as when he did play in the Premier League against better oppositions, he hardly ever looked like scoring and of course, he went 4 1/2 months before knocking one past an opposition!

Yeah, sorry, I just don't see it. I see him as a good striker for a mid size team and one who should be nowhere near Chelsea starting XI. He's so poor on the ball for me; his first touch is poor, as is his link up play. Yes, he is a good finisher, which includes movement and positionion, but that's about it.

We keep going back to Torres every time we talk about Ba, which should be very telling. Neither is good enough, and we are going to sell the one that can be sold, so our younger (huge) prospect gets more games; it's that simple.

[Jase 43,479]

Truth is Ba is at the bottom of the pecking order of our strikers atm, therefore it's not really a surprise Jose is looking to sale him, should we buy another forward. Lukaku did a fantastic job in WBA to deserve his place in our squad for this season, while Torres is kinda untouchable with his wages, which I doubt we'll find a team that is willing/have the ability to match them.

Actually Ba isn't being sold because he's bottom of the pecking of our strikers at the moment. It's because of the reason you mentioned with Torres there. Nobody would be willing to pay his wages and fees while Ba is on lower wages and wouldn't require a high fee to get him.

Yeah, sorry, I just don't see it. I see him as a good striker for a mid size team and one who should be nowhere near Chelsea starting XI. He's so poor on the ball for me; his first touch is poor, as is his link up play. Yes, he is a good finisher, which includes movement and positionion, but that's about it.

We keep going back to Torres every time we talk about Ba, which should be very telling. Neither is good enough, and we are going to sell the one that can be sold, so our younger (huge) prospect gets more games; it's that simple.

Nobody is saying Ba should stay be our No.1 ST in the starting XI. People are basically saying he will be a decent option as 2nd or 3rd choice to use against lower rank oppositions but the tragic thing here is Ba will probably be sold only because it's easier to do so compared to Torres.

It's funny how people go on and on about Mourinho will improve Lukaku, get Torres back to somewhere near his best form but yet, nothing similar or same is said about Ba. He has showed what's he got at West Ham and Newcastle. Ba didn't suddenly just become a bad player because he joined us or like some of his games made it out to be. Someone like Mourinho can get more out of Ba especially when you consider he isn't a washed up striker like some flop blondie.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

good point, but we know we are stuck with Torres. And TBH Torres has better technique, even though not as good as goal scorer (as Ba). Yes, we did win a few matches with Ba, until he stopped scoring, in which case his contribution to the team is worse than Torres'.

Lukaku is too good a prospect not to give him games. So, Ba is going to go because we can sell him and we need to sell one of the two 'not good enough' strikers we've got.

But I don't think that one has to go. Jose can rotate them just like he rotated Dorgba, Crespo, Gudjohnsen in the 05-06 season.

[Strike 7,217]

Yeah, sorry, I just don't see it. I see him as a good striker for a mid size team and one who should be nowhere near Chelsea starting XI. He's so poor on the ball for me; his first touch is poor, as is his link up play. Yes, he is a good finisher, which includes movement and positionion, but that's about it.

We keep going back to Torres every time we talk about Ba, which should be very telling. Neither is good enough, and we are going to sell the one that can be sold, so our younger (huge) prospect gets more games; it's that simple.

when chasing a game, more often than not, it comes to target-man tactics. would keep him around to throw on as a late- game changer. add a bit of presence up-front.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Besides Rooney at United and Dzeko at City, Ba is, by some distance, the next-best second-choice striker in the Premier League. We haven't even given him a real shot, yet. I genuinely think he could do a job for us as an option from the bench, or to be rotated alongside Lukaku and Torres. He brings us a different dimension as he is very, very good as a long-ball target.

[Stingray 9,441]

Actually Ba isn't being sold because he's bottom of the pecking of our strikers at the moment. It's because of the reason you mentioned with Torres there. Nobody would be willing to pay his wages and fees while Ba is on lower wages and wouldn't require a high fee to get him.

Exactly .... Why not ship of Torres to Russia?

Ow yes .... it may be too cold for him....

Damned. I want him at Anzhi.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

The love and backing torres gets sometimes is truly baffling.

[robsblubot 3,502]

^^ fact we bring Torres so much into this discussion is not good for Ba.

Actually Ba isn't being sold because he's bottom of the pecking of our strikers at the moment. It's because of the reason you mentioned with Torres there. Nobody would be willing to pay his wages and fees while Ba is on lower wages and wouldn't require a high fee to get him.

Nobody is saying Ba should stay be our No.1 ST in the starting XI. People are basically saying he will be a decent option as 2nd or 3rd choice to use against lower rank oppositions but the tragic thing here is Ba will probably be sold only because it's easier to do so compared to Torres.

It's funny how people go on and on about Mourinho will improve Lukaku, get Torres back to somewhere near his best form but yet, nothing similar or same is said about Ba. He has showed what's he got at West Ham and Newcastle. Ba didn't suddenly just become a bad player because he joined us or like some of his games made it out to be. Someone like Mourinho can get more out of Ba especially when you consider he isn't a washed up striker like some flop blondie.

Fine with your other points, but disagree on Ba's potential.

What you see is what you get with Ba. As bad as Torres has been, Torres was, once, world class, which is something Ba will never be. I don't need a season or two with Mourinho to find out our 27-28 squad player cannot develop much further. I'd be more willing to believe, however unlikely, in a Torres' return to form than on Ba becoming a world class striker.

Lukaku is 19/20 how much he can develop is unknown to most people--not really comparable to the other two.

I don't even rate Ba that highly as a Target Man; he goes to the ground too often and does not cause enough trouble, physically, to opponent's defense.

If we rotating Ba, that means he'd be starting matches, which is exactly the problem IMO.

[Magic Lamps 11,653]

Ba might be average, but Torres is far worse. We would be selling the wrong, cheaper and much more useful striker

[Jase 43,479]

Fine with your other points, but disagree on Ba's potential.

What you see is what you get with Ba. As bad as Torres has been, Torres was, once, world class, which is something Ba will never be. I don't need a season or two with Mourinho to find out our 27-28 squad player cannot develop much further. I'd be more willing to believe, however unlikely, in a Torres' return to form than on Ba becoming a world class striker.

It's not about potential here. It's about Mourinho getting Ba back to what he did best for his previous clubs and extracting just that little more out of him. Yes, he wasn't a world class player like Torres once was but Ba is effective at what he does - scoring goals(and more) - like he has shown in the past. Unlike Torres, Ba has a good mentality and strong character. It will be easier for Mourinho to work with him and get him back to his previous form, even as a squad player. Many managers have come and gone failing to get Torres into any sort of form or consistency throughout a season. Mourinho is great but not god. He can't do much if a player like Torres is already well on a decline and showed many signs that he can't be helped anymore.

[robsblubot 3,502]

It's not about potential here. It's about Mourinho getting Ba back to what he did best for his previous clubs and extracting just that little more out of him. Yes, he wasn't a world class player like Torres once was but Ba is effective at what he does - scoring goals(and more) - like he has shown in the past. Unlike Torres, Ba has a good mentality and strong character. It will be easier for Mourinho to work with him and get him back to his previous form, even as a squad player. Many managers have come and gone failing to get Torres into any sort of form or consistency throughout a season. Mourinho is great but not god. He can't do much if a player like Torres is already well on a decline and showed many signs that he can't be helped anymore.

I see absolutely no evidence of him having good mentality, and by that I mean winning mentality. Actually, I think he is WAY too nice when he plays... A guy of his build should be making the life of defenders a living hell, if for no other reason to help his teammates find space. Yet, when I watch him play I see a player who plays fair, composed, but does not go the extra mile to help his team. He also goes to the ground way too often.

That's not the type of player you need to win the big matches. I'd be extremely surprised if Mourinho uses Ba in any significant way next season. Hardly a player of the caliber or characteristics he's been using lately.

[Jase 43,479]

I see absolutely no evidence of him having good mentality, and by that I mean winning mentality. Actually, I think he is WAY too nice when he plays... A guy of his build should be making the life of defenders a living hell, if for no other reason to help his teammates find space. Yet, when I watch him play I see a player who plays fair, composed, but does not go the extra mile to help his team. He also goes to the ground way too often.

That's not the type of player you need to win the big matches. I'd be extremely surprised if Mourinho uses Ba in any significant way next season. Hardly a player of the caliber or characteristics he's been using lately.

No offence or anything but I'm not sure if you watched the right Ba or you have just confused yourself with Torres...

[DustinC 136]

I'd much prefer to keep Torres over Ba. And before anyone starts in in me, no I don't think Torres is the ideal first choice striker. But I much prefer what he adds to the team over Ba.

[Tomo 21,733]

The run for the goal against Manchester United, is the difference between Ba and Torres.

Ba makes himself available, moves around. The chance against Villa is another example, ok he missed but he made the movement and put himself in a position for the pass, when do we see that off Torres?

Ba is not perfect and should not be #1 forward for us, but he is better than Torres and that shouldn't even be debatable.

[DustinC 136]

Well, we're on a message board. So just about EVERYTHING is debatable friend. I guess we'll be disagreeing on this one.....

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

The run for the goal against Manchester United, is the difference between Ba and Torres.

Ba makes himself available, moves around. The chance against Villa is another example, ok he missed but he made the movement and put himself in a position for the pass, when do we see that off Torres?

Ba is not perfect and should not be #1 forward for us, but he is better than Torres and that shouldn't even be debatable.

Why is his goal versus ManU indicative of his general play when he played 14 Premier League games and scored only 2 goals and had 0 assists? You can't pick a season highlight and say "that's the way he is" anymore than you can say Torres' goal against Arsenal is indicative of HIS play. I think Ba would be a good (always second) striker to have for a team that tries to cross the ball in the box a lot because he is quite strong, but his play outside the box (defensive effort, crossing, holding up the ball, etc...) is generally quite poor. T

[Jase 43,479]

Why is his goal versus ManU indicative of his general play when he played 14 Premier League games and scored only 2 goals and had 0 assists? You can't pick a season highlight and say "that's the way he is" anymore than you can say Torres' goal against Arsenal is indicative of HIS play. I think Ba would be a good (always second) striker to have for a team that tries to cross the ball in the box a lot because he is quite strong, but his play outside the box (defensive effort, crossing, holding up the ball, etc...) is generally quite poor. T

It actually isn't only against Man United, but also against Stoke(A), West Ham(H) for example. Yes, no doubt he should have scored more goals from those chances that he squandered but in those games, as Tomo has alluded to, Ba actually offers better off the ball movement by constantly making runs in behind the opposition's defence. This doesn't just only help provide threats to them but also pushes the opposition back and in turn, open up spaces between the lines and midfield for us to cause more damage. With Torres, you won't see that happening considering he's a statue upfront and he expects people to play the ball into his feet without making much effort to receive it. We hardly saw Torres made such runs last season and Ba basically trumped him in that aspect in just 5 months.

[bluesman2610 1,341]

This torres is a statue thing is very overrated imho.. i watch just as many chelsea games as you lot with torres playing and he makes the same runs ba does and just like ba he doesn't always get spotted by our midfield players... and now im not saying he not getting service cause that horse has been beaten to death but they do the same things... what you say ba did in his few months at SB was ok but when torres does it its not good enough..

Hey listen i'd rather keep Ba just cause he is cheaper.. but you can't sit here and say torres doesn't move this is not his first season with us and actually after rafa torres movement became a lot better making runs into the channels and so on...