Fernando Torres is still top dog..

You can weigh the $50m down on his shoulders.. label him a flop.. make him out to be the worst player on the pitch every time chelsea take to the field but you cant take the prolific striker out of Fernando Torres.

Form is temporary, Class is permanent.

Torres being substituted after a disappointing debut against his former employers.

                        Named Atletico Madrid captain at the age of 19, Nando, as his friends affectionately call him, rallied the team around him and resurrected the side that was in the lower division a year before to being a team consistently securing the European berth. Atletico forever shadowed by the wealth and success of their neighbours Real Madrid, made a mark for themselves and Torres himself scored a few goals past their rivals in memorable matches.

                                  He proved to be Rafael Benitez’s best buy as he transferred to the Kop and started off in stunning fashion as he scored a debut goal against chelsea and finished the season with an astonishing 29 goals, a record for a debutant in the Premiership. His partnership with Gerrard flourished and Liverpool gave united a run for their money in the 2009 season and came closest to landing the scousers their first Premiership title in over 20 years.

                                                 His 50m move to Chelsea in the January transfer market infuriated Liverpool fans and chants of traitor and boos rang around Stamford Bridge as he was substituted in a muted Torres performance as Liverpool ran out 1-0 winners on the night. People forget that Torres is one of the best strikers on this planet, if not the best.. He came to England to be successful personally and at club level, as every player desires to. He showed Liverpool the respect they deserve, he stuck with them for many a season when they flattered to deceive. He extended his inevitable departure in hope of a resurrection that never really came. One could argue that Liverpool are a different side under Dalglish and he has indeed changed the attitude around Anfield and he has instilled belief into both players and fans alike, but Torres was destined to move to Chelsea in the summer unitl Roy Hodgson convinced him to stay. Liverpool were down in the dumps when Hodgson was sacked and Torres couldn see Liverpool fighting for trophies in the foreseeable future. Torres could have chosen a host of clubs who would have loved him, the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester city but as he himself mentioned he couldn out of sheer respect for the club. He gave his all for the club and his form had dipped, it was time for the change and he made the right move but maybe it could have been better timed, maybe this summer.

   Torres' miserable show in his blue shirt continues..

              And unlike many predicted Chelsea and Fernando Torres wasn’t a match made in heaven. It certainly doesn’t look that way yet. But it hasn’t been simply because Ancelotti(or Abramovich rather) made the wrong choice and Carlo has been too scared to change the Chelsea system that is built around Didier Drogba with Anelka and Malouda playing on either side of him. Chelsea’s successful seasons have been built on their 4-3-3 formation.

                              A typical old fashioned number nine striker who plays on the shoulder of the last defender, making runs between defenders making it hard to track him. And add to all that his blistering pace and composed finishing and you have ready, Torres, a complete striker and a nightmare to any defence. When you invest 50m in a player you should back him up and play the way that brings the best out of him. Torres isn’t a managerial buy. Abramovich forced the deal through. And Ancelotti isn’t willing to change the chelsea system, a system that doesn’t suit Torres and yet out of sheer pressure of the cost of the deal he doesn’t have the courage to put him on the bench either. Which has resulted in Drogba being benched in recent matches.

Fernando Torres looks like he has got weights attched to his feet. His confidence has been sapped, looks like a boy lost on the field and seems to have forgotten how to smile. The pattern of his stay at Chelsea has all the makings of the next Andriy Shevchenko. Ancelotti will be sacked at the end of the season. Abramovich isn’t known for his patience. He will chop and change every season that doesn’t bring him the Premier League at the every least.

                                  Torres isn’t your versatile player like Drogba or Rooney, who can both adjust their style to the way their managers want to play them. Chelsea have to show faith in Torres. Change the system, play him where he prefers to.. and the goals will flow.. the smile will return, the $50m forgotten and the  El Nino story will continue..