Chelsea: 5 Things David Luiz Is Doing in Place of Fernando Torres
Chelsea broke the English transfer window record by paying 50 million pounds to Liverpool for the services of Fernando Torres on the final day of the January transfer window. In the shadow of the Spanish international marksman was the 21-million-pound signing of David Luiz from Portuguese club Benfica.
Torres stole the spotlight with controversy and criticism, as Liverpool fans burned his kit on Sky Sports and fans protested outside of Melwood for the club having sold a player that the fans had welcomed into their hearts deeper than many others in the last few years.
It was a feeling of betrayal that was soon forgotten, as Torres made his debut against his former club and failed to live up to any of the expectations. As of late he is still failing to live up to the hype or his price tag. However, his fellow final-day arrival has eclipsed him in more ways than one and is quickly making people wonder not only if Torres was worth the money, but he might not even survive the summer at this rate.
Luiz is quickly becoming a fan favorite and is making the arrival of Torres seem like it wasn't what was needed. With that in mind, here is a glimpse of what he is doing that is displacing Torres as the Blues' best signing of the January window.
Shaking Things Up
1 of 5
Fernando Torres was thought to be the spark that the Blues needed. He was supposed to come in, put a fire under the attack's arse and lay waste to all opposition that got in his way.
The majority of the time he has been in attack for Chelsea so far, all people have heard is crickets, and all they have seen is a shadow of what he was even during his lesser times at Liverpool in the last two seasons.
The attack for Chelsea is still not truly baring its teeth with Torres in the lineup. However, Luiz has been a welcome addition. His marauding runs from the back have added an additional attacking threat to what Ashley Cole brings from the left when fully pushed up in attack.
Putting the Ball in the Back of the Net
2 of 5
Torres came to Chelsea expected to deliver goals aplenty. Luiz arrived believed to be a great centre back for the future.
Well, both ring true, but only if you are talking about Luiz. The young Brazilian hasn't just been scoring, but has also scored when it meant the most.
His strike against Manchester United guaranteed the victory over the league leaders, and his 85th-minute strike against Manchester City on Sunday did the same before Ramires put the game out of sight just before the whistle.
Torres has hardly put a shot on goal that was on target since his arrival. Many attributed his lack of form to being at Liverpool. However, the more time drags on, the more it appears self-induced, as he is now at a "big club," as he would like to say.
Winning over the Fans with Determination and Class
3 of 5
David Luiz has done nothing but show up to play since he put on the Chelsea blue. I can truly appreciate someone that works their socks off for their club.
Not only does he put in the shift at the back, he also finds a way to get into the action in the attacking third. His bicycle kick against Fulham showed some early signs of the kind of quality that the Blues fans will continue to be entitled to for the next several years.
Rarely does a defender have the touch or passing vision that Luiz has brought to Chelsea, and it has been a welcome addition to their attack, unlike his counterpart newcomer.
Torres is yet to do anything highlight-reel worthy. He has looked more out of place at Chelsea than he did at Liverpool for most of the time. He was handed a debut against his old club with a chance to truly make a name for himself, and his only effort was right at Pepe Reina. He has then failed to impress in any match since and is still aimlessly looking for his first goal in blue while jogging back and forth getting little done in the process.
His first touch hasn't been right since last season, and his defense-splitting bursts of speed and pace seem to have gone the way of Andy Gray from Sky Sports. The skills that made him the 2008 European championship-winning goal-scorer look long gone at this point.
Making the Most of a New Opportunity
4 of 5
Torres has not scored or created a goal since he has joined Chelsea. He has been handed six starts in his seven appearances for the Blues, and in his six Premier League matches for his new club, he has had only one shot on target, which was in his debut and as stated before was a fine reflex save by Reina. No wonder he has been substituted in four of those six league starts.
During his time at Liverpool the Spaniard threatened to be the best centre-forward on the planet, and now he has to compete just to be regarded as a super substitute for the rest of a season.
Once again it all looks self-inflicted, and if he doesn't get it right, I could see him making a quick trip away from the Bridge in the summer, in the same likes of Robbie Keane getting the six-month boot from Liverpool. Torres wanted a new start, but it doesn't seem like either Liverpool or Chelsea have been the problem.
Luiz has capitalized at all turns since pulling on the Chelsea shirt. He has impressed at every chance during his five appearances at his new club and has only been substituted once. He wanted the chance to prove himself a player for the big stage as opposed to playing in Portugal, and he got his wish and has never looked back.
Living Up to His Potential and His Price Tag
5 of 5
Torres cost a British record fee of £50 million while Luiz cost only £21 million. At the moment Roman Abramovich might have been happier just to have spent £71 million on David Luiz alone because he has done the job of both players for the lower cost.
Luiz was brought in to bring youth and vigor to an aging and injury-laden back line, but he was not expected to bring goals with him. He has provided not only the defensive spark, but also the offensive spark that Torres was bought for. Luiz looks to be a steal for the Blues at his price and could eventually be worth much more to the club.
Wayne Veysey of Goal.com compared the young Brazilian to Arjen Robben as the only other person to have the capacity to deliver such unexpected moments during his time at Stamford Bridge.
Fernando Torres should be in his prime at 27 years of age compared to Luiz at 23. However, it seems the 10 years of first-team action he has already had have taken a toll on his body and psyche. His early peak may now be over and done with as he continues to spiral out of form. If he continues down the path he is currently traveling, Torres not only will be a failure in terms of price but in natural potential.
The striker that scored 30 goals in his first English season for Liverpool looks a distant memory. He looked to have started to find himself again under the tutelage of Liverpool attacking legend Kenny Dalglish in early January, but he has done nothing but regress under Carlo Ancelotti and continues to look like a wasted talent since joining Chelsea.
Perhaps the controversy over his departure and the backlash from the fans were more than he bargained for or knew how to mentally handle.
.jpg?w=600 "🚨 Giants Picking 5th and 10th")
