Thought this was interesting by Trevor Francis;
Trevor Francis reckons Fernando Torres has looked like “an amateur” since his £50million move to Chelsea.
Francis, who was Britain’s first £1m striker in the 1970s, has also insisted that the Spaniard's new team-mates Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka are better players.
Boss Carlo Ancelotti benched Drogba at Fulham on Monday night, only for Chelsea to fail to score for the second consecutive match with off-form Torres in the team.
The defending champions remain in fifth place. But the gap to the Champions League places could have risen to a worrying eight points by the time they play their next Premier League fixture.
Former England striker Francis insisted the record purchase of Torres was “a huge gamble”, even for Roman Abramovich’s club.
“If you want consistency, you won’t find it from Torres," he said. "He plays [up to his reputation in] one in every 10 [matches]. I don’t doubt his ability but his decision making when in possession of the ball is dreadful.
“At times, he does things when you think he’s a top player. Then he does things when he looks like an amateur. If you look at the transfer fee, I think £50m is a huge gamble.”
Francis, who moved from Birmingham to Nottingham Forest for £1m in 1979, added on talkSPORT: “We used the excuse in the World Cup that he was not fully fit. And we’ve continued to use that [excuse] this season.
“No-one doubts his ability but when you go to bed on Friday night as a manager you need to know what you’re going to get from your best players the following day, and I look at Torres and I wouldn’t have a clue what you’re going to get from him.
“Time will prove if he will be a success but it’s caused confusion, and I’d put Drogba and Anelka in front of Torres.
"I’d be concerned if I was a Chelsea supporter.”
However, former Blues striker Kerry Dixon backed the Spaniard to click.
“I still believe Torres is a class act and he will come good," he said.
“He’s only 26 and the best is yet to come, and I’m pretty sure Chelsea fans will see the best of Torres, and the best of this team under Ancelotti.”
If FA Cup holders Chelsea beat Everton at home in their FA Cup fourth-round replay on Saturday, their March 1 showdown with Manchester United will be rescheduled and their next league game will not be until March 7 at Blackpool.
By then, Spurs and Manchester City, two of the Blues' rivals for the Champions League places, will have played two more Premier League games.
Ancelotti is likely to remain in his job as long as Chelsea are in the FA Cup and Champions League. But former Blues forward Tony Cascarino insisted the Italian will be gone if the club do not finish in the top four.
“They’ve got a tremendous group of players, so Ancelotti will pay the price without doubt,” he said. “Abramovich is not going to pay all that money and then see his team struggle to get into the Champions League.
“He will make sacrifices, some will be players and if it doesn’t change then without doubt it will be the manager, I’d be surprised if he [Ancelotti] lasts much longer.”
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