Chelsea change attack: exit Torres, Lampard

Fernando Torres works his socks off. That is not what he, Chelsea fans and we are pretty sure neither does Roberto Di Matteo want to him to be doing.

They only want one thing from Torres. To score. In every game.

Against Stoke on Saturday, once again Torres worked his socks off – harrowed defenders, chased down lost balls, even defended. However, when his chance came to do what he is meant to – score, he fluffed the easiest of chances.

Last season, there was the issue of Torres not getting enough of service.

With a midfield that comprises Juan Mata, Eden Hazard, Oscar and Ramires, surely those days are gone – as Mata proved with a beautiful pass to set up the Torres one-on-one with the Asmir Begovic in the Stoke goal.

Which brings us to Frank Lampard and his role in the near to short-term Chelsea future.

Add John Obi Mikel to the above midfield mix and suddenly ‘Mr Chelsea’ Lampard will probably look to come off the bench even more.

That Lampard can play a decisive role in Chelsea’s dual attack on the Premier and the Champions League is not in doubt – it is just a case of what that role will be.

On evidence yesterday, an all-out attacking minded Chelsea, the kind of team owner Roman Abramovich has always wanted will perhaps need Lampard to close a game down, as he was brought on yesterday to do against Stoke.

Matteo needs to watch his back to ensure he does not antagonise the ‘player powers’ that legendary at Stamford Bridge and have played their part in previous managers finding the exit faster than anticipated.

However, for all practical purposes, Chelsea have the most creative and deadly midfield in the Premier League right now. Without Lampard.

The winning goal did not come from a forward, even though Victor Moses looked much more likely to score than Torres.

It came from the midfielders setting up a defender to score.

Is it time for Torres to go?

NANDO, GOALS TO ORDER

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