Football Update: Why Fabregas and Torres aren't worth their asking price - Comparing the playing records of Messi, Torres and Fabregas
They are three of the finest players of their generation, playing for three of the best clubs in the world and have transfer agents hovering around their houses on the merest of hints that they want out.
However, there remains one detrimental fact that separates them and that is their fitness record. Of course, they are sublime talents, that are capable of winning a match all by themselves and have even done so on more occasions than one in their careers but that is when they rise above their fitness problems and be in the line-up.
Lionel Messi is currently touted as the best footballer on God’s green earth and no matter what the price is, he just cannot be bought. Even a whopping 208 million pound buyout clause in his contract is rendered meaningless. Barcelona just won’t sell the footballing God of Catalunya.
At the same time, the debate surrounding the future’s of Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas and Liverpool’s Fernando Torres, will as certain as death and taxes reach fever pitch between now and the end of transfer window in august.
Ironically enough, the events at this summer’s world cup emphasized the issue concerning the three players being talked about.
Messi, without a doubt suffered the curse of the Argentinean number 10 shirt, no player wearing the umber has scored at a world cup since 1986. However, despite the goal drought his mesmeric displays, breathtaking creativity and lightening fast runs on the wings were apparent for all who could see.
Some goals would definitely have added gloss to his campaign but even a player of his stature might not have been able to save them from the fate that they suffered at the hands of the Germans in the quarter finals.
Spain on the other hand were deservedly crowned the champions of the world – but within that illustrious campaign two of the world’s best players were mere squad members, rather than some stalwarts, who played a pivotal role in the teams triumph.
The Fabregas saga has now been going on for months – but did someone notice the fact that in the presence of sitting tenants Busquets, Iniesta and Xavi, he was confounded to a role on the bench.
Fernando Torres’s lack of form after a domestic campaign plagued with injury was a petty sight in South Africa and it ended in tears for El Nino.
Tears of joy as Spain won the world title and tears of pain, frustration and agony as he suffered a thigh muscle strain in the Final.
That is perhaps the key to all this courting the sublime talents who are so injury prone.
Bob Praisly, the legendary Liverpool manager once uttered the golden words “Players need to stay fit, they are paid insane amounts of money for training as well as turning out in the games”
Wily old Bob expected value for money from his stars and always checked on their fitness records before signing anyone.
For instance, look at the case of the injury ravaged El Nino. Nobody can ever doubt his goal scoring skills and pedigree. When he goes out on the football pitch – between his injury lay-offs – you can bet your house that he will score goals and you won’t ever be homeless.
However, the cause of concern for Liverpool – as City and Chelsea contemplate on signing the player – is that season after season he is missing more and more games.
Torres has now spent three seasons at the Kop. In the 2007-08 campaign, he featured in 59 of Liverpool’s 60 fixtures. That’s a 98 per cent record.
The following season that dipped to 69 per cent – he played in just 38 of Liverpool’s 55 fixtures.
Last season Torres’s numbers got even worse. He could only muster 32 appearances when he had the chance to play in 56.
During his tenure with the Los Rojiblancos (Atletico Madrid) he had a terrific goal scoring record but there were always concerns about his fitness and since coming to Liverpool those problems have only gotten worse, no doubt that he has scored some unimaginable goals for the merseysiders but his tenure has been littered with untimely injury layoffs.
Then there’s the curious case of Arsenal’s brilliant midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
Of course, there are times when Arsene Wenger enforces his rotational policy and rests the star midfielder but three seasons ago, Cesc started in 78 percent of Arsenal’s games accumulating 45 appearances. In 2008-09 the tally was down to 54 % and last season when he suffered a broken leg his appearances stood at 63%
Then there is Lionel Messi.
Performance wise they all fall in the same bracket that is when they are playing but spending in excess of 40 million pounds on a player that is not even guaranteeing starting 80% of you team’s games is just unacceptable.
If you have money to burn and are looking for a scintillating talent, a mega star, buy the one that is fit for the purpose and that is one and only Lionel Messi, but unfortunately he is not for sale even the Abrahamovic’s rubles and Sheikh Mansour’s Dirhams combined, cannot buy the smiling assassin.
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