The sale of Liverpool talisman Fernando Torres for £50 million is sure to prove a tactical and financial nightmare for both sides as they prepare for the latter stages of the season and the next few years.
The purchase of Torres is no doubt manager Carlo Ancelotti’s desire to add pace, quality and attacking energy to a side that for patches of this season has really been lacking.
Ancelotti no doubt has a beady, conscious eye and one of his famous raised eye-brows (that he seems capable of keeping up for entire interviews) on the aging state of Didier Drogba and Nicholas Anelka.
However, if Torres were to move to the West of London how would Chelsea play him? In Chelsea’s current 4-3-3 formation Drogba is best used as a lone striker with Florent Malouda on the left-wing and Anelka on the right.
Taking into account that Fernando Torres, like Drogba, prefers to play alone up-front with support coming from penetrating wingers, it brings into consideration the obvious question: tactically, how can this work?
This sort of move would require Chelsea to move back to their old 4-4-2 diamond formation if they wanted to play the two strikers together. In this formation Drogba formally played a semi-holding role due to his strength, both in the air and on the carpet, and Anelka played off him due to his pace and ability to finish.
This system was scrapped due to its dysfunctional nature and Ancelotti’s knowledge that Drogba was a more reliable goal-threat than Anelka and preferred to play alone up-front.
If Torres arrived, Chelsea would have to repeat this tactical system, where Drogba would be required to play the same holding role and Torres would have to play off him due to their similarities in height and the obvious fact that Drogba is the stronger player and Torres the faster and arguably the better finisher.
Taking into account that both players are best suited to playing alone, this is going to reduce their impact as it is. To further exacerbate the situation, playing Drogba in a holding role means you effectively negate his pace and power. As a result, this will have an adverse effect on his goals to games ratio as it did with the previous formation.
On the other-hand, keeping the 4-3-3 formation Chelsea currently use, one player would be used in favor of the other, which realistically, is a waste of wage bills and talent, but would allow Chelsea to replace the declining Nicholas Anelka with Soloman Kalou or Daniel Sturridge on the right-wing who are both extremely talented, young and sprightly footballers.
Didier Drogba, despite his 33rd birthday fast approaching, is still close to the peak of his powers and has a good few years before he is scrapped from the starting line-up.
Unlike Torres, he has been at the centre of Chelsea’s style of play and the various changes of formation for years. He is, effectively, the attacking foundation of the team. Replacing him with Torres in Chelsea’s current system would be suicide, as opposed to a calculated risk.
To add weight to the lack of benefit in the deal on Chelsea’s behalf, Anelka, despite rumours he would be a make-weight in the Torres deal, has not left.
There is a possibility then, that Chelsea will be required to buy a more versatile right-sided winger who is both a good attacking player and defensive player, and more of a true winger unlike Sturridge or Kalou who prefer to sit much further up the pitch around the byline and leave the defending to Essien and Ramires who sit behind them.
And it’s best not to dwell on how much a £50 million pounds loss could be regardless of the owner.
This deal, however, also severely hinders Liverpool.
For years Liverpool did not have the funds to buy a world-class attacking player who could assist Torres and penetrate from the right-side. Ryan Babel never reached the heights he was touted of reaching and when Liverpool were ousted in midfield, Torres was isolated up-front.
This January, Liverpool were finally able to bring that world-class attacker into the team in Luis Suarez. A move that could be a masterstroke by manager and legend Kenny Dalglish and Liverpool’s ticket back to the top. However, this move was overshadowed by Chelsea’s interest in Torres and a formal written transfer request handed in by the player.
In this deal, Liverpool are to acquire a huge sum of money and effectively the ability to buy anyone they want in six months time when the Summer transfer window opens.
However, it effectively contradicts the whole idea of buying Luis Suarez and leaves Liverpool without a credible strike option for six months.
Anelka must have been considered for the role. He had a short stint at Anfield where he scored 5 goals in 22 games and managed to get into an altercation with captain Steven Gerrard during that period. Perhaps this is why the rumoured move did not occur.
Also, Anelka’s ridiculous wage demands and the alarming fact that he is also approaching his 32nd birthday, and is unlikely to stay more than a year if the move goes through, raises questions about whether the deal should take place at all.
Another crucial fact is that an in-form Torres is one of the finest marksmen in the world and not even £50 million pounds could buy you a player of such quality. Although Torres has been far from this sort of form, the addition of Suarez to the line-up is expected to prompt a change in form for Torres.
To conclude, Chelsea should keep their 4-3-3 formation. They should sell Anelka in a separate deal and look to replace him with Daniel Sturridge or Solomon Kalou. They should also look to replace Drogba with a prodigy who can take over the power-forwards responsibilities in the long-term and gradually work his way into the team while Drogba is in his twilight years.
The player that springs to mind his 17-year-old Romulu Lukkaku of Anderlecht.
The Belgian not only looks like Drogba but plays like him. He’s as strong as an ox, lightning fast and has a great tactical knowledge of the game. He’s also a proven goal-threat despite his age with 25 goals in 54 games in the Belgian Pro League, meaning there aren’t many worries about him fulfilling his potential.
Although the player is high in demand, he’s a Chelsea supporter and a reasonable offer for the youngster is expected to end in a deal.
The amount Chelsea would pay for Lukkaku would also be partly recovered with the sale of Anelka and would not go close to the £50 million Liverpool were asking for Torres.
As a result, this would allow Chelsea left-over funds to cover up their well-know defensive frailties.
Liverpool on the other-hand should have kept Torres. They could have made the calculated risk that he’ll gel with Suarez once he settles in. Due to Torres’ age, even if he fails to recapture his form, Liverpool will still be able to conjure a substantial amount from his departure if he is sold some time before his contract expires.
Liverpool also shouldn’t worry that Torres has handed in a transfer request, as he has enough love for the club to continue to battle it out in a period that, refreshingly for the Kop, looks the brightest it’s been in years.
Aborting this deal and finding alternative options and arrangements could effectively be the defining moment in these two giants rise back to the top.
Colin N
Guest
Bt Mateja Kezman scored a lot of goals for PSV (in fact, according to wiki, 105 goals in 122 games, which is staggering) and Afonso Alves scored a lot for Heerenveen (45 goals in 39 games). Look how they turned out in the English league. I remember watching an Ajax game (it must have been fairly early in his Ajax career) and the commentator was raving about him, but I thought he was rubbish. His technique was terrible, his first touch pretty average. He had movement and pace, and you can see he's an intelligent footballer, but English football's much quicker and he will get less time on the ball. If he proves me wrong then fair enough, but I've never been a fan.
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
goongerry Arsenal have not won a single trophy in 5 seasons and the best chance they have this season is the League Cup, not exactly the top of pops trophy wise in England. Arsenal always get exposed by physical sides late in the season and that will prove to be the case again this year. Wenger then always resorts to the same excuse, we are a young team! Chelsea on the other hand having been doing this exact thing for the past half dozen seasons and will keep doing so while Abromovich keeps his interest, it just makes it all the better seeing them lose and struggle, same goes for Man City. In the End Man U have been the most consistent and successful side since the inception of the Premier League and once again lead the way and still involved in the FA Cup and Champs League, and they possibly have aless talented squad than both Arsenal and Chelsea
preciouspress
Guest
Arsenal and Torres would have been a very good fit. Someone who could convert all the wonderful movement in and around the box which too often comes to little. Wenger certainly coaches a beautiful game but allowing Toure and Gallas to leave indicates he doesn't always get his priorities right. Unlike a certain Glaswegian who gives away less but wins lots lots more.
preciouspress
Guest
Other than paying 20mill more than he is worth for Carroll, this is a good deal for Liverpool. Torres is a great player but prone to serious form lapses when something doesn’t suit. Carroll + Suarez is more than a good swap. As for Chelsea, why would you pay 50mill for Torres when you have Anelka, Drogba and a much underused Sturridge, They need backup defenders not strikers. Watch out for Sturridge at the Reebok. He will score lots feeding of Kevin Davies. I had a feeling Ferguson might have picked up Adam who would be an interesting replacement for Scholes. Lets see how the transferees go.
oly
Guest
When was Arsenal's last trophy? Oh... Also enjoy for 100 pound ticket for Emirates.
betamax
Roar Guru
It's true £35m is a lot for a relatively unproven player, but hey, that's the Jan transfer window. Generally panic buys. When you consider Villa went to Barca for something like £34m it kind of puts things into perspective. Still, its a gamble that just may pay off big time. I would have preferred Benzema, but he's not going anywhere at the moment. I'm sorry but Chelsea do have a rep for paying over the odds and warehousing players. There is no way Torres is worth £50m at the moment. He has an ongoing injury list as long as your arm and has lost a yard of pace in the past couple of years. When he's on fire, he's unstoppable, but these moments are interspersed with months on the sideline. Love the guy, but it was time to get rid. Your problem now.
Georgie McHugh
Guest
Roger, there is no doubt that it is ridiculous money. But, are all the players that you have mention up for sale at the moment, or is your analysis based on the price for which they were purchased?
goonergerry
Guest
Here we go again, Chelski trying to buy the title with panic buys. They are obviously worried about the new Uefa financial fair play rule. They have an ageing squad and now this current era of trophy buying is coming to an end they are going for it again. Really makes me laugh. They are so crap compared to the mighty Arsenal that they out spend us BY £400 million POUNDS and more yet are still behing us in the league while we remain in 4 competitions and challenge on all fronts... ALL WITHIN OUR OWN RESOURCES!!!!! Chelski are nothing more than glory hunting wannabes who rely totally on a corrupt russian to bankroll them. What a truly crap club. Arsenal will finish above them this season and that is a true reward for a proper club run the proper way. Liverpool are just a club hanging onto a by gone era of the 80's. A club in decline... GO YOU MIGHTY ARSENAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Georgie McHugh
Guest
Torres has been either out of the team with injury or out of inspiration for two years. Liverpool bought Torres for £20m and sold for £50m. I thought that Liverpool should have considered selling him in the off season. However, with injury and poor form in the World Cup, waiting until the transfer window has proved to be a great move to push up his value. I really don't understand why Chelsea would pay that kind of money. Obviously they have so much that they just don't know what to do with it. The money is ridiculous for Carroll; but, with Torres's sale price, they could afford to take the gamble. It means two genuine strikers with age in their favour and one with size. On paper it creates far more scoring avenues and flexibility than Liverpool have had for the considerable part of a long time. Let's just see how the move pans out. King Kenny may just prove to be a genius ... again. It is not a panacea, as Liverpool have real problems at the back and they have still not successfully replaced Alonso. But, who knows: with a rejuvinated front line and if players like Agger, Insua and Aquilani are fit an hungry, it may not be anywhere near as bad as the experts predict.
Art Sapphire
Guest
Colin - Re: Suarez 157 games for Ajax 109 goals - 68 assists 33 games for Uruguay 11 goals - 7 assist He's just turned 24. It must be his handball skills that you are not a fan of :)
Colin N
Guest
Suaraz = overrated. I've never been a fan. Not sure about Carroll. I did predict he would be in the England squad - after Newcastle got promoted - by the end of the year, but for 35 million...........come on.
Art Sapphire
Guest
King Kenny has just bought a new version of Ian Rush (Carroll) and Kenny Dalglish (Suarez) for the cost of 7 million pounds. Looks like good business.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
Nothing like a bit of inflation in the Feb window - neither player is worth the sums touted ... Torres is a shadow of what was when he first arrive and Carrol is most certainly not the second coming of Shearer ... mind you the madness started with the Bent deal to Villa ... Now that Torres is at Chelsea - what price Drogba being off to Real M in the summer
Roger Rational
Guest
Are you mad? £35m for a kid who's played just half a decent season in the EPL and has a few off field issues (putting it mildly) is a fantastic bit of business? £20m would have been over the odds. £35m is complete lunacy. Or put another way: Carroll = £35m Szczesny-Clichy-Djourou-Vermaelen-Sagna -Nasri -Walcott -Fabregas -Song -Wilshere - RVP = £44m Bonkers.
Lima
Guest
Erm, Anelka is going nowhere, he is staying at Chelsea. Liverpool has already spent £35m of the Torres loot on a player with half a season of EPL experience. Okay, the amount of money involved from all corners is stupid, but on Liverpool's valuation of Carroll, well, Chelsea is miles in front.
Slippery Jim
Guest
Chelsea have 'as expected' paid way over the odds? I'd rather my club spend £50m on one of the best strikers in the world rather than £35m on...erm...Andy Carroll, he has not even played a full year in the premier league.
whiskeymac
Guest
agreed - revitalised the Reds squad - two good players in,one (who wanted away it seems) out. Chelsea will always (well until Roman goes) buy themselves talent - altho they have a good academy no one seems to have made the grade from there. They have a big name signing and a good talent who wants to shake off the last 9 months or so and win something. He is free for the Champs League. Win-win i think.
betamax
Roar Guru
I can't see how this is bad business for Liverpool. Torres had arguably 2 good seasons, and since then has been made of glass. No one likes letting players of his calibre go, but if he's crocked half the season it's not value for money. Chelsea have, as expected, paid way over the odds. In Torres they have a striker who occupies the same space as Drogba and plays an identical poaching game. Drogba is a notorious sook and won't relinquish his position easily. He likes playing up front by himself, as does Torres. Can't see it working. Liverpool have just signed Suarez and look to have landed Andy Carroll from Newcastle, so Anelka will more than likely have to be content with a supporting role, where he belongs. Carroll is an exciting prospect, with youth on his side. Bit of a hothead, but Dalglish will snap that out of him. Fantastic bit of business from Liverpool in my opinion.
James Gray-Foster
Guest
Bit late, but oh well.