Demba Ba

[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 21,751]

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 1,415]

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...

[edenhazard17 281]

This discussion about Torres - Ba could last forever. I prefer to give Lukaku a chance.

[yuvala 2,167]

Ba might be "average" but atleast I can trust in him to perform as a 2nd striker. Its not like with Torres, putting faith in him then cursing him, putting faith in him again ...

[different level 1,056]

I think the people who see Ba as a clearly better striker than Torres are just as deluded as those who are ready to jump in the Spaniard's defense at any cost. I wouldn't like to put myself into any of those extremes, but as someone stated above a Torres return to form is more believable than Ba becoming anything more than a squad player for us.

It actually isn't only against Man United, but also against Stoke(A), West Ham(H) for example.

Saying his general play was good in this match is quite a positive thinking considering his finishing was horrendous and he squandered 4 or 5 chances with only the keeper to beat.

[Jase 43,479]

I think the people who see Ba as a clearly better striker than Torres are just as deluded as those who are ready to jump in the Spaniard's defense at any cost. I wouldn't like to put myself into any of those extremes, but as someone stated above a Torres return to form is more believable than Ba becoming anything more than a squad player for us.

Why? That sounds like a comment made based on past reputation as opposed to who can actually give more in terms of the two. Think most would rather believe in Ba who can still perform decently enough and give him some chance than continuing to have blind faith and hope Torres will get anywhere near his best after 2 1/2 years of rubbishness!

Saying his general play was good in this match is quite a positive thinking considering his finishing was horrendous and he squandered 4 or 5 chances with only the keeper to beat.

Did you actually even read the full post of that before taking my point out of context?

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.

I acknowledged that he should have scored more goals from the chances he has missed but I actually also pointed out the good thing he did to even get in those positions in the place, unlike Torres.

[different level 1,056]

Why? That sounds like a comment made based on past reputation as opposed to who can actually give more in terms of the two. Think most would rather believe in Ba who can still perform decently enough and give him some chance than continuing to have blind faith and hope Torres will get anywhere near his best after 2 1/2 years of rubbishness!

Actually that's partly the case. You know Torres has (or has had) the potential that Ba (with all due respect) will never have. You praise Ba for his the way he moves off the ball and the great runs he makes occasionally, but they are not that often as you make it look like. Torres has had his good games too with his fair share of contribution to our EL victory.

Did you actually even read the full post of that before taking my point out of context?

I just don't think that showing some good movement excuses his poor finishing, that's why I said that match wasn't the best example of good general play.

[Fernando 6,585]

When Ba scores, he does not goes to the cameras and talks crap.

When Torres scores, he goes to the press and acts like he's all that.

For the team and how Mourinho is, Ba is better choice then Torres.

Torres another prima dona that requires a lot of attention.

Don't want that and don't need that no more in the team.