Could Samuel Eto'o prove to be the bargain of the season for Chelsea?

Samuel Eto’o

When Samuel Eto’o signed for Chelsea back in the summer transfer window it was a surprise. Questions were asked if he still had it at this level. Could he end up being the bargain of the season?

Take yourselves back to last season, and the one real issue we had which cost us based on the season overall was our strike force. Fernando Torres had no real competition for places and for the most part, spent the first six months of the season playing week in, week out. Demba Ba came in last January and gave us another option but overall, we lacked goals and real competition for places, and it cost us!

This season we were all disappointed to see Romelu Lukaku leave on loan again. All of us had high hopes for him working under Mourinho after his performances for WBA last season. It seemed as though Demba Ba was off to Arsenal until it all fell through and he remains at the club.

Fernando Torres has started the season fantastically well, and recent performances have produced his best form for Chelsea so far in my opinion and without question at the moment, he is our number one striker.

What of Samuel Eto’o though? As I said, it was a surprise that he signed for Chelsea but the Mourinho factor played a huge part in the deal.

After spending time in the wilderness and picking up an astronomical pay cheque each week, many people questioned whether or not he could cut it playing at the top level again and in the Premier League.

It takes time for any foreign player to come here, settle down and get used to the power and the pace of our game. We always hear people talk about players taking at least a season for this to happen. Gary Cahill spoke the other night after Eto’o scored twice against Schalke and said:

“He’s done well. They [Chelsea players] are an easy bunch of lads to get on with and he has settled in well. He has not struggled in that respect and now he’s found his feet, he is getting involved and he’s looking sharp.

He has nothing to prove in regards to his career. But as a player you are always trying to prove things to yourself. He has come to the Premier League for the first time and wants to perform in the way that he has over the years.

He took his goal fantastically well and worked hard for the side. He has been on this stage many, many times; it’s great to have him in the squad.”

Samuel Eto’o has always been a class act and a thorn in Chelsea’s side over the years. We have all watched him from a far and have seen him victorious in THREE Champions League Finals!

Although he is older, he still has something about him, he still has the class and I believe is more than capable of doing a fantastic job for Chelsea this season.

OK, it’s taken him some time to settle down and has taken him a while to score his first Premier League goal but he’s now done that a couple of weeks ago.

Much of the focus post match after Schalke was about his first goal but I prefer to look at the quality of his second. His movement off the ball, his first touch was outstanding to get the ball out of his feet after Willian fired a pass to him was instant and his second touch was clinical, right into the bottom corner.

We’ve all looked around the squad we have and the players we have at our disposal last season and the beginning of this one and though to ourselves, “If we just had someone up top who could score goals week in, week out we would be up there fighting for the title!”. Now, with Samuel Eto’o giving Torres a run for his money, it seems as though we have that.

Could Samuel Eto’o prove to be the bargain of the season? What do you think about him?

Carefree & KTBFFH!