The curious case of Fernando Torres

Torres in Goal Shocker

Is Fernando Torres being world class just a myth? that must be the question on many Chelsea fans lips after yet another damp squib of a performance.

People like to lament on the fact that Wayne Rooney has been on admittedly poor form this season but at least on the whole he offers something to the team.

In the case of Fernando Torres, David Luiz, another January signing has proved more prolific in goal for his team, a worrying trend considering he is a defender.

Of course I offer a stilted view on proceedings being a United fan but I must admit looking enviously on at our arch rivals when Liverpool first signed Torres and United got a certain Bulgarian.

Now since his big money move to Chelsea the proverbial shoe is very much on the other foot. Berbatov is banging them in for fun, currently sitting top of the premier league goal charts, Torres is trying to net his first goal for his new club after 8 attempts...unfortunately trying does not seem an accurate word as he still gives off the impression he doesn't want to be there despite finding a new arena to showcase his 'talents'.

Lets look at some statistics shall we?

Berbatov signed for United for £30.75 million, His first season saw him pick up a Premier League winners medal, and 9 goals and 10 assists, something he was still slated for earning the label of a lazy player compared to the bulldog like mentality of Rooney and Tevez who left no blade of grass uncovered.

Berbatov is almost saying remember the face, pick me please!

It almost seems ironic when, after his best season to date for United, Berbatov can’t even get a game for them, having been benched for nearly all their recent games and yet Torres for 50 mil, has contributed 0 goals 0 assists and is getting played regularly.

Young Javier 'Chicarito' Hernandez puts them both to shame however having netted on 10 occassions in the league so far, not bad for a poxy £6 million, by rights Torres should net at least 55 going on his value, something the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have had no issues with doing at Real and Barca respectively.

If you compare the stats with his main rival in the Spanish time things look equally damning.

One Spaniard still finding the net is a certain David Villa

David Villa signed at Barcelona for 34 mil. 

This season he has played 28 games scored  in 17 of them and made five assists .

In total for club and country Villa made 52 appearances and  three as sub scoring 32 goals and making seven assists. 

He also netted five times during the World Cup.

Torres on the other hand made 35 appearances with eight as sub scoring 12 goals and making two assists.

He didn’t find the net once during the World Cup.

So is Torres being world class just a myth? Is this once again proof that there is simply not value in the market #cough  Andy Carroll going to Liverpool for 30 plus million cough#

I sincerely hope not as I admired Torres from a far while he was playing for Athletico Madrid (I owe my scouting prowess to Pro Evolution Soccer that introduced me to the likes of Torres, Tevez and co. long before they hit English shores), day dreaming of him teaming up with Rooney in what was to be an indestructible behemoth of a striking line up, scoring over 30 goals a piece.

On current form however Heskey and Crouch would make a more menacing duo in front of goal.