Torres isn't working but there's a bigger problem at Chelsea

What on earth has happened to Chelsea F.C over the past few months? Last night in the Champions League quarter-final with Manchester United, they seemed a shadow of the side that emphatically won the double last season and were coasting at the top of the Premier League up until November 2010. Devoid of the attacking threat which saw them break goal-scoring records last season at a canter, the Blues seem to be lacking something, despite having largely the same personnel.

Clearly, the one major difference in personnel is Fernando Torres, more on his arrival later, but Chelsea's dramatic change in fortunes happened a fair while before El Nino turned up at Stamford Bridge. Ironically it was Torres himself, while a Liverpool player, that kicked off the Blues' horrendous run of form when his brace at Anfield consigned Chelsea to a 2-0 defeat. They edged out Fulham 1-0 at home in the next fixture but could then only manage one win in the next ten, in a run which included losing 3-0 at home to Sunderland and going down 1-0 to Wolves at Molineux. So what exactly went so wrong?

Firstly, there were a few injuries to contend with. With John Terry and Alex not ever present, a weakness in Chelsea's squad was exposed. Last summer Ricardo Carvalho and Juliano Belletti were sold and not replaced. With Frank Lampard missing, the decisions to offload Michael Ballack, Deco and Joe Cole and only bring in Ramires and the now-injured Yossi Benayoun perhaps didn't look like completely sound squad management. But this aside, the Chelsea players should have had more than enough firepower to win many of the games they were floundering in.

At St Andrews in late November, Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda laboured hard all game long but lacked the killer instinct of last season as Chelsea went down 1-0 to a side battling relegation. Terry was back soon enough, Branislav Ivanovic has stepped up to the plate and David Luiz has since been brought in to strengthen the defence but that doesn't really seem to be the problem. After all, Carlo Ancelotti's team boast the best defensive record in the division having let in just 25 goals in 30 matches. It is the ability to score match-winning goals that appears to have eluded Chesea.

Last season's Golden Boot winner Drogba only has eleven league goals to his name this year, that's one less than Newcastle midfielder Kevin Nolan, yet he remains the Blues' top scorer. Lampard's lengthy injury absence certainly deprived the team of goals, and the likes of Nicolas Anelka, Ramires, Michael Essien and Yuri Zhirkov haven't been weighing in with as many goals as players in their respective positions could do. Ancelotti proved last season that he has what it takes to manage in England, with a great double success, but his track record in Italy was inconsistent to say the least. Two Champions League successes with Milan were coupled with only one Serie A title across eight seasons at the San Siro. Is it down to the manager that the club are struggling? Potentially.

In late January, just when it seemed like Chelsea were finding goalscoring form again, with 4-0 and 4-2 successes at Bolton and Sunderland respectively, the £50m signing of Torres threw a spanner into the works. Whether it was Ancelotti's choice of signing, or as widely believed, the choice of owner Roman Abramovich is somewhat irrelevant as either way, there was another striker to incorporate into the team. And so far it hasn't worked at all. On Torres' debut, as fate would have it, against Liverpool, he was deployed alongside Drogba, with Anelka playing as a trequartista ahead of a midfield three. This hasn't been seen since, as Ancelotti has toyed with various combinations of a front two, including leaving both Drogba and Anelka on the bench and starting Torres with Salomon Kalou. But no matter what he seems to do, it isn't quite working with Torres. Chelsea's most convincing recent result was the 2-0 victory over Manchester City, but they laboured until Torres and Kalou were replaced by Drogba and Anelka. Chelsea have played a 4-3-3 for most of their recent successes, and Anelka is adaptable enough to play in a wide role. With Torres involved, Ancelotti has been forced to play with two up front each game and it simply isn't working for a team content playing a different formation.

But as I've explained, Chelsea were struggling before Torres joined the club, and my view is that it is down to a major imbalance in the squad. Chelsea seem to have too many experienced players in their starting line-up and not enough youthful energy to learn from and complement the older players. Terry, Ashley Cole, Lampard, Drogba, Anelka, Cech, Essien and Malouda have all been on the scene for a number of years and are very much of the same generation. If you look at the fantastic team that won the Premier League for the first time under Jose Mourinho there was some experience in the shape of Claude Makelele but the likes of Lampard, Terry, Damien Duff, Joe Cole, Drogba and Carvalho were all in their mid-twenties. A few youngsters like Arjen Robben and Glen Johnson complemented this. If you look at Arsenal's 'invincibles' side of 2003/04 they had a similar age spread from the older players (Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires), the mid-range (Thierry Henry, Freddie Ljungberg) and a couple of youngsters (Kolo Toure, Jose Reyes). To keep a squad competitive and fresh, there should be this spread of ages, and it is something that the current Chelsea squad doesn't quite have right. Unless a heroic performance at Old Trafford next week can salvage their season, then there will need to be a major overhaul at Stamford Bridge this summer to usher in a new era of success. Whether Ancelotti will still be there to oversee things remains to be seen...

The Super Six: Who should win Player of the Year?

For those of you who may have missed it in all the Champions League and Wayne Rooney swearing furore, the shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year awards was leaked yesterday. The six men nominated are Charlie Adam, Gareth Bale, Samir Nasri, Scott Parker, Carlos Tevez and Nemanja Vidic. Nani, Rafael Van Der Vaart and Dimitar Berbatov may all feel aggrieved to be omitted from this list, but the six who have been included are certainly worthy candidates. Here is my verdict on the men in contention:

Charlie Adam

The Scotsman has been a revelation for Blackpool in his first Premier League season. Incredible technique and creativity is his forte and he has been racking up both goals and assists all year long. He scored a free-kick in the play-off Final which sealed the Tangerines' promotion to the top flight and never looked back from there. A class act, the 25-year-old may be late on the Premier League scene but he is certainly here to stay.

Why could he win it?

He has been the talisman of Ian Holloway's lovable side who have confounded the critics for much of the season. Adam played a key role in the victory at Anfield in the Autumn which has been one of the memorable moments of this Premier League campaign. He has bought something different to the Premier League, a creative attacking midfielder of a different ilk to most of his contemporaries.

What might count against him?

Blackpool have been struggling of late, and may well still be heading back to the Championship. He also put in a transfer request in the January transfer window, in a bid to secure a move to Liverpool. The move fell through, but a mid-season transfer request always taints a player's image to some extent.

Gareth Bale

The Spurs winger finished last season on top form and carried that forward into his club's debut season in the Champions League. Launching his season with a stunning volley at the Britannia Stadium, Bale's crowning glory were his twin performances against Internazionale in the Champions League group stage. A hat-trick of the highest quality (recreated incredibly here http://www.runofplay.com/s/17571/) at the San Siro, followed up by a top showing in the return at White Hart Lane had the whole of Europe waxing lyrical about the Welshman. The no.3 has started to improve his goal output as well and has been linked with a mega-bucks move away from Tottenham.

Why could he win it?

Everyone has been talking about him all season long. His pace and athleticism, coupled with a new found killer instinct seem to have set him well on his way to global stardom. Two top performances against the European Champions certainly put him in good stead.

What might count against him?

He has suffered with injury problems since the turn of the year which have ruled him out of several big matches. Also, his biggest showings were in Europe and not the Premier League, which is what the Player of the Year award is really based on. Perhaps not his year but the 21-year-old certainly has time on his hands.

Samir Nasri

The Frenchman has developed into Arsenal's best player this season, after a couple of years adapting to English football. A player blessed with incredible technique, speed and a powerful shot, Nasri terrorised defences throughout the Autumn and Winter. The snood-wearing winger was largely responsible for keeping Arsenal in title contention during the injury-enforced absences of Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie and after being left out of France's World Cup squad is now seen as a key player for Les Bleus.

Why could he win it?

Arguably the most skillful of all the players on the list, Nasri has performed for a team near the very top of the table. His development in his three years at the Emirates Stadium has been impressive and Arsene Wenger's faith in him has paid off this year.

What might count against him?

Arsenal have been knocked out of all three cup competitions and are faltering badly in the league. Nasri's form does seem to have tailed off since February and he may not have done quite enough to warrant beating some of his more consistent competitors.

Scott Parker

The West Ham United captain has come into his own this season and if the Hammers manage to stay up it will be largely down to him. He originally burst onto the scene as a talented youngster at Charlton before an ill-fated stint at Chelsea and a mixed spell at Newcastle meant that his career to date has been strangely unfulfilled. The 30-year-old has become the heartbeat of his club side though, and reportedly bought his team-mates to tears with a rousing team-talk at half-time when 3-0 down to West Brom in February. His team turned the game round to claim a 3-3 draw and the box-to-box midfielder raked in the plaudits.

Why could he win it?

Parker's energetic and passionate style of play has seen him win over much of the media and fans have been singing his praises all season. A recent England call-up and decent performance against Wales also stand him in good stead in the run-up to the awards.

What might count against him?

He is playing for a team very much at the wrong end of the table, and has only really kicked on since the halfway mark of the season. In the first half of the campaign West Ham looked to be almost relegation certainties when Parker wasn't firing on all cylinders and he hasn't quite got the superstar qualities of some of his competitors.

Carlos Tevez

The Argentine striker has literally carried Manchester City this season. His energetic running and tireless appetite for goals has seen him become without a doubt City's key player and he is currently the bookies' favourite to end the season as Premier League top scorer (he has one less than Dimitar Berbatov but is likely to play more games). Tevez brings a rare combination of energy, strength, skill and shooting ability which make him the sort of player every team appreciates.

Why could he win it?

The diminutive forward has been exceptional this season, and without him, Manchester City would likely be much lower than third in the table. He brings goals and a cutting edge that the Sky Blues seem to lack when he is absent (Exhibit A being the Chelsea away game a few weeks ago). Undoubtedly a heroic player.

What might count against him?

Like Charlie Adam, a mid-season transfer request did him no favours in terms of winning over fans. Has been involved in controversies in the past, both with his transfer to West Ham and his departure from Manchester United to join their city rivals. Perhaps not the most likable personality in the world but will be a strong contender.

Nemanja Vidic

Appointed captain at the start of the season by Sir Alex Ferguson, the United centre-back has been back to his best for most of this season, following a slight lapse in the last campaign. A few important headed goals early in the season helped, but his main contribution has been marshalling a defence which has missed the continually injured Rio Ferdinand. The Serbian brings a never-say-die attitude, fantastic aerial ability and great positional awareness to his team and has become undoubtedly United's most important defensive asset.

Why could he win it?

With his club looking very comfortable in the title race, and still in contention on two other fronts, Vidic could prove to be the Red Devils' most inspired captain since Roy Keane. Vidic has won high praise over the last few years and featured on this shortlist back in 2008/09 as well. Certainly in with a chance.

What might count against him?

It is always harder being a defender as the strikers tend to get more of the limelight and pick up these accolades. Also Vidic's temperament has been suspect, getting needlessly sent off at Stamford Bridge last month and conceding a silly penalty against West Ham last weekend.

My choice:

For me, it has to be Carlos Tevez. The Man City striker has been the driving force behind his club's rise up the table, despite all the other multi-million pound signings. He has scored goals and put in man of the match performances consistently and probably deserves the recognition for this. Charlie Adam would be a close second as he has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water and brings a different quality rarely seen in British midfielders. Bale, Parker and Nasri haven't performed across the whole season and Vidic hasn't quite been at the highest level in some crucial games. Personally I am very surprised that Nani wasn't included as he has been astonishing for Manchester United this season, with 16 assists (5 more than anyone else) and 9 goals (the same as Adam and Nasri). But even if he was, 'Carlitos' would probably deserve the accolade due to his incredible work ethic, raw talent and number of goals. There hasn't been a clear-cut winner like in previous years (think Cristiano Ronaldo and Thierry Henry in the past) but the Premier League certainly still has some top class players and remains the most exciting league in the world.

Rooney is a troubled man, but we need to get off his back

Since bursting onto the scene as a lively sixteen-year-old and curling a fantastic winning goal past the Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman at Goodison Park in 2002, Wayne Mark Rooney has seldom been out of the spotlight. But recently it has been more and more for all the wrong reasons. Blessed with a natural talent that saw him (somewhat stupidly) dubbed the 'White Pele' at a young age, the then-Everton youngster first courted controversy when it transpired he had been visiting prostitutes in Liverpool, one of whom was in fact a grandmother.

Securing a big-money move to Manchester United in 2004, the young striker seemed to curb his temper over the following years, and a few flash-points aside (red cards at World Cup 2006 and against Villarreal in the Champions League) seemed to have grown into a focussed professional footballer. Come early 2010 and Rooney was being touted as arguably the world's best player as he had finally began to score goals for fun and was on course to land the PFA Player of the Year award. But since then it has all gone wrong.

As has been well documented, an ankle injury picked up in the Champions League tie against Bayern Munich saw him embark on a run where he failed to score a goal for Manchester United in open play for eight long months. But that's only the half of it. Firstly, he flopped badly at the World Cup, and vented his anger at the fans into the TV camera (sound familiar?). Then it was discovered he had cheated on his wife while she was pregnant, with a prostitute (familiar again?). Then, arguably worst of all, there was the 'transfer request' saga. In October, seemingly out of the blue, Rooney released a statement expressing his desire to leave Manchester United citing the club’s 'lack of ambition' as his reason.

For a United player to do such a thing, and seemingly risk the wrath of Sir Alex Ferguson, was unprecedented and seemed unbelievable. OK, Cristiano Ronaldo had said he would like to play for Real Madrid long before he left, but that was different, he wasn't questioning the club. To say that about the Red Devils, champions in three of the previous four seasons, European champions as recently as 2008, and still firmly in the title race at the time (now firmly in the lead) was bizarre to say the least. Regardless, Ferguson and Chief Executive David Gill successfully convinced the forward to stay and sign a new deal, but he had alienated himself from the fans and was clearly unhappy off the field.

In the few months since, Rooney has gradually clawed his way back to top form, with a wonder goal against Manchester City and most recently a hat-trick at West Ham confirming this. And it was after this hat-trick that his latest controversial moment hit the headlines. The Scouse striker 'celebrated' his third goal by shouting into the television camera and a couple of swear words were picked up by the microphone. He is now facing a two-match ban, at a crucial time of the season, from the FA.

Now, let's look at this objectively. Rooney has sworn into a TV camera. The real issue here is the TV camera part. Swearing is done on the football pitch, in the stands, in the pubs, in offices, at home, almost anywhere in the world these days, and it is certainly not seen as a punishable offence. Tasteless? Perhaps. 'Uncouth'? Yes. But worthy of a serious punishment? Certainly not. So what is the difference between simply swearing at someone and swearing into the TV camera? Not a lot, I would argue. Others may believe that it is wrong because he is swearing directly at the audience of the game, but whether Rooney meant that is hard to tell. He came out and apologised afterwards, insisting it 'wasn't aimed at anyone in particular'.

It is clear by now that Rooney is a very angry, frustrated man. He has received much abuse and aggravation from both the fans and the media in recent times, in my opinion rightfully so. But on Saturday, he had pulled off a top class performance in a vital Premier League game, and his outburst was simply a natural release in the heat of a very emotional moment. Football is all about passion. There is a reason it is the most popular sport in the world, there is a reason that more newspapers, websites and forums are devoted to it than any other sport. People care about football, and when people care about things, they often swear in excitement, or frustration. For a star player to face a ban for swearing at a camera, when it is the first time he has done so (yes he shouted at the camera in the World Cup, but he didn't swear then) seems a disproportionate punishment. A stern warning, with the knowledge that any repeat offence could bring a ban, would be more than enough.

The FA need to get their priorities right, Rooney would have been much more deserving of a ban a few weeks ago when he elbowed a Wigan Athletic player in the face. Physical violence is far more of a crime than uttering a few swear words into a camera which, let's face it, we've all heard before. The proximity of the camera to Rooney also didn't help, and perhaps that is something that the FA and TV broadcasters should consider. Football is a passionate game, and that goes hand-in-hand with swearing. OK, Rooney undoubtedly has a bad attitude, and he certainly needs to look at himself and try to manage his public image better. But the man had scored a hat-trick in a key game against a background of abuse, intense criticism and pressure. Rooney is a wonderful talent and I fear that if he isn't cut some slack soon, then his mental health, and career, may be damaged beyond repair.