Sunday, December 9, 2012

Fernando Torres: The Reasons Behind His Recent Improvement


Fernando Torres managed to end yet another infamous goal-drought against Nordsjaelland in the Champions League. On Saturday he followed up his Champions League exploits with a well-deserved double against Sunderland in the Premier League. And while his goals in the Champions League didn't help Chelsea in any way (we were knocked out of the tournament regardless of the win) his double against Sunderland helped Chelsea win their first League game since October (yes, it's been that long). It was also Rafael Benitez's first win as interim manager.

4 goals in 2 games for Torres.... cue the traditional "Torres is back" comments from various people. However, Chelsea fans know better: this isn't the first time we've witnessed a false dawn from our False 9! All jokes aside (he's obviously not a False 9) he has looked a lot better in his last 2 games. The Express were quick to use the term "The Rafa Benitez effect" to explain Torres' recent goal surge. While that catchphrase makes for wonderful reading, it doesn't really explain anything. The fact that Torres has been scoring is down to the football he's playing, not some magic Benitez has worked on him (even though Torres has credited Rafa for his recent form). But what exactly are the reasons behind him finding the net once again?

Firstly, he's managing to link up well with other players. Previously he only seemed to be able to link up well with his compatriot Juan Mata. Lately he seems to be on the same wavelength with Eden Hazard and Victor Moses as well. One of the main reasons Chelsea went all-out and purchased an enviable arsenal of attacking midfielders during the summer was to ensure that Torres got plenty of service. It took a bit of time to happen, but we are now seeing the results of Torres finally being able to link up with other players.

Secondly, he's running in behind defenders and demanding the ball when he's in a good position. Having people like Hazard and Mata play behind you is well and good, but they won't be able to provide the correct passes for Torres if he doesn't make the correct runs and demand the ball when he's in a goal-scoring position. This was best demonstrated in the build-up to his first goal against Sunderland: he positioned himself between two defenders and demanded that Hazard cross the ball. Hazard duly obliged and Torres duly converted. His runs are an essential part of his game and if he doesn't make them, he will naturally go AWOL during the match.

Thirdly (and I can't even begin to stress how important this is) he's shooting a lot more. Torres had developed a tendency of mentally freezing out when he was in a shooting position and either losing possession or passing the ball to a team-mate. Against Nordsjaelland he shot 9 times and he wasn't shy to shoot against Sunderland either. Since he's started shooting more, there is a marked rise in his confidence level which has in turn led to goals. The fact that he's more confident than before is evident from the fact that he volunteered to take the penalty against Sunderland. That penalty was the first one he had scored in five and a half years.

However, despite everything that's been stated above, I still stand firm in my resolve that Torres is not 'back'. For him to truly get back to goal-scoring form, he needs to score regularly. For that to happen, he needs to stay on his game. He needs to keep making his customary runs and demand the ball when he feels he's in a good position. Guys like Hazard, Mata, Oscar, Moses, Marin (whenever Benitez decides to give him a run-out) will happily pass the ball to Torres if Torres himself is confident that he can score from the position he's in. Lastly, he needs to keep shooting whenever he gets the chance for he's not going to score otherwise.

Also, he needs to hit the gym in order to make himself more of a presence upfront, and that's something even Benitez has acknowledged. I'm not saying he needs to become as solid as Drogba or Lukaku but Torres is as light as a feather. During a match he seems to spend more time on his bum than he does on his feet. The best strikers in the Premier League (Wayne Rooney, Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero, Robin Van Persie) are well-built and don't allow defenders to effortlessly boss them around. Torres needs to ensure that he is well-built so that he can stay on his feet more often, for he is of absolutely no use to the team when he's down.

Torres has improved a fair bit, but there's still work to be done before he's among the goals again. That being said, it's not a futile exercise. Despite his from being indifferent this season, he's already scored 10 goals in all competitions (the goal he scored in the Community Shield doesn't count as the Community Shield is a pre-season match). If he keeps working hard, he can easily score 30+ goals a season.

Shayne Dias 



23 comments:

  1. Very truthful article! :) He can easily score 30+ goals this season if he keeps playing like this. His confidence is key and Rafa has delivered it to him!

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  2. Well said mate! Good job Shayne

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  3. Also an important thing i observed ws da fact wth rafa bringin in moses and making him and hazard play wider da crowd in betwn is reduced and torres is able to find space in da ryt spot unlike before wen torres ws crowded and we found our mazacar in those goal scoring positions nw a wider play means dey cn cross easier as well as da stress da full backs are under wen dey pushed forward to cover for mazacar is reduced meaning better defence

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  4. Also an important thing i observed ws da fact wth rafa bringin in moses and making him and hazard play wider da crowd in betwn is reduced and torres is able to find space in da ryt spot unlike before wen torres ws crowded and we found our mazacar in those goal scoring positions nw a wider play means dey cn cross easier as well as da stress da full backs are under wen dey pushed forward to cover for mazacar is reduced meaning better defence

    ReplyDelete
  5. Also an important thing i observed ws da fact wth rafa bringin in moses and making him and hazard play wider da crowd in betwn is reduced and torres is able to find space in da ryt spot unlike before wen torres ws crowded and we found our mazacar in those goal scoring positions nw a wider play means dey cn cross easier as well as da stress da full backs are under wen dey pushed forward to cover for mazacar is reduced meaning better defence

    ReplyDelete
  6. tampoco es para exagerar el equipo danes no era la gran cosa y el sunderland tampoco , saeb que se acerca el mercado de invierno y cavani y falcao estan haciendo goles

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  7. I saw Torres these last 2 games that he was trying to stay in opponent's penalty box more often & keep pressuring the CBs until the end of 90mins.
    The resurgence of Torres, MAZACAR, Moses, Romeu & Luiz was the vital key for us. Under Benitez, direct-play helping Torres, MAZACAR & Moses having good possession but release good passes with fast & attacking more wide open compare to under RDM, we could see until MAZACAR did not know what to do with the ball they have.
    However, my view is not saying that Torres is back, but when he does score in big games or scoring regularly only then I agree to say Torres is old days El Nino of Liverpool.
    I hope we are going to win this FIFA Club World Cup so that it will erase our terrible memory after lost to Atletico Madrid in UEFA Super Cup.

    #From Malaysia with LOVE. KTBFFH!

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  8. guess have to bunk office on thursday :P .. game is at 4 pm IST :O

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    Replies
    1. bro which channel is it being aired in india?

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  9. Good article .... but lets no keep our hopes too high for him to crash on them down yet again ....lets leave the dude alone for sometime ... fingers crossed thou

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  10. And guys one thing lets just be behind RAFA instead of all those CHARTS---> "RAFA OUT".... If Rafa can make us the EPL champs, i know all of will forget what he has said to us in the past. so for that to happen we need tobe behind him and the players. One more its nice to see Torres in the score sheet. Keep going Spaniard... KTBFFH!!! LETS ROCK JAPAN and bring the cup home. We need a CHRISTMAS gift CFC :)

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  11. I think you'll find Torres is doing what a striker should be doing, getting into goalscoring positions. He's looking more confident and linking up well with the team. He isn't coming deep for the ball or going out wide as much and isn't isolating himself from the team like he has done numerous times since we've bought him.

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  12. Improvement???? "he's running in behind defenders", "he is shooting a lot":I think this is what a striker must do. So nothing new! We played against 2 teams who we expect to win. Let see against Everton or a serious team. He is a crap player who must leave this team if Benitez expect to win anything.

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  13. 1.he shud continue to shoot more often on target.
    2.he shud avoid holding on to the ball longer wen in the box.
    3.He shud continue to make himself available to recieve the ball.
    4.He shud kip up the same confidence hes had in the last two games and realise he is the top man avoid back passes when he can easly turn and shoot.
    5.he shud always know what to before he even recieves the ball so that wasting time he can quikly pick his spot.bottom corner,top corner,far post,under the cross bar or even direct at the keeper.it myt just go between the keeper,s legs or hands and BANG its in.the same way he scored the first one and HIT the upryt against sunderland more like RVP.

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  14. I believe a player like torres still have one more grateness in him, hope it happen at chelsea, but if he shows a sign of dip in form then it is best we sell him, wishing chelsea success in the club world cup.

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