Chelsea's strikers must be excused to concentrate on goals

Fernando Torres

Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba have come under increasing pressure and scrutiny from the media due to the lack of goals they are contributing to the team. I am asking YOU what your view is on them at the moment?

After a disappointing defeat at the hands of Stoke and conceding six goals in two matches, it was our defence that had taken the brunt of the negative press only yesterday.

Now today, the focus has turned onto our strikers after comments were made by Mourinho about our current front three. He said:

“I think they are players trying to give everything to the team, Working hard, fighting hard and when players try to give everything to my team, I can’t criticise.

If you tell me (Sergio) Aguero has scored already 10 or 12 (Manchester City) goals, (Alvaro) Negredo 10 or 12 (City) goals, (Edin) Dzeko four or five (for City), (Wayne) Rooney eight or 10 (for Manchester United), (Olivier) Giroud eight or 10 (for Arsenal), (Daniel) Sturridge eight or 10 (for Liverpool), (Luis) Suarez 10 or 12 (for Liverpool), if you ask me would I like my strikers to score eight-10-12 goals, yes.

If we had eight-10-12 goals (from the strikers) we would be top of the league. That’s a reality but my strikers give everything and the team works hard.

I can’t complain because everyone is working hard, everyone is trying to give their best to the team so I can’t criticise and I don’t.”

In an ideal world we would be playing fantastic football with a team that works hard all over the pitch and would be rewarded with strikers that would make a significant contribution by scoring plenty of goals! Unfortunately, it seems as though we can only have one or the other and not both!

Ask any Chelsea fan about Fernando Torres and they would mention his lack of goals but would give him credit for his work rate.

Samuel Eto’o has shown us glimpses that he still has that goalscoring touch but not yet on a consistent basis but again, works hard up front for the team.

Finally Demba Ba, who let’s be honest is third in the pecking order behind the other two, can only contribute when given a chance like he did the other night against Southampton but being given 10 or 20 minutes isn’t enough.

I wrote a post yesterday claiming that Chelsea have almost become selfish in the way we play at times and this is linked to the goal return of our front men. Without having to repeat myself fully, I have stated that due to the squad rotation, due to the fact that players want to impress to ensure they remain in the side, when we get into good goal scoring positions we have a selfish mentality and see players taking shots at goal when our strikers are standing in much better positions and are being ignored!

It would be really interesting to see what would happen if they were played in on goal and have chances put on a plate for them time and time again. Yes, I know Torres missed that sitter at Sunderland but given the chances he would score 20 a season and would score more goals in the league which is what is killing us at the moment.

I have written articles on a deal being in the pipeline with advanced negotiations being confirmed between Chelsea and Robert Lewandowski but that deal will not happen until next summer.

I have written an article the other day linking Chelsea with a loan move for Falcao but that is looking more and more unlikely after representatives from the French club have spoken out and stated that the player is happy in France and is not for sale!

Of course the situation with Lukaku isn’t ideal and I know that there is a split opinion amongst Chelsea fans about him being sent out on loan for the season. If he was still at the club, would you see the situation being any different or would Lukaku score plenty in this team?

It’s a difficult situation to face at the moment. We are creating chances but not taking them. We are being selfish when other players are in better positions to score goals and our strikers are working hard for the team but aren’t giving us the goal return we need to challenge for the title!

Another point that Jose Mourinho has made in relation to our current strikers is their age. Samuel Eto’o is 32, Torres 29 and Demba Ba 28.

When he was still talking of the strikers and their poor return he said:

“It is one thing to improve a player who is 20 years old, which you can. If you can tell me can you improve Hazard? Yes, I can. Can I improve a player who is 30 years old? How?

For me it has to be one or the other, work hard for the team tracking back and closing people down or concentrate on staying forward and getting into the right areas to score goals!

Think of the most prolific strikers in football and tell me one of them who works their socks off for the team first and foremost!?

The likes of Ibrahimovic, Ronaldo, Messi, Falcao, Lewandowski and the like! They are pure goalscorers and will put themselves into positions when they know their team mates more often than not will stick the ball on a plate for them to score!

Surely by telling our three strikers to focus on goals and to rely on the other ten players to track back and defend isn’t going to affect us as much as it is with them working hard and not scoring goals!

What’s your opinion?

Carefree & KTBFFH!