Wednesday 7 September 2011

Is Sergio Aguero the EPL's Next Fernando Torres?

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
(Bleacher Report) Despite Fernando Torres’ unfortunate lack of goals since he put on a Blue kit, he was once perhaps the most feared front man in all of the EPL when he was at his peak for Liverpool.

He came in on a massive transfer and delivered some of the best attacking play that had been seen on Merseyside in years, and eventually became the fastest Red to ever make it to 50 goals.

However, his form waned over the last two seasons as injuries took their toll on his body. Having been a first-choice attacker since he was 16 years old saw him have a load more games at the top level than most players of his age.

That said, no one can deny the effect he had in his first three seasons out of Atletico Madrid for the Reds before his relationship with the club finally just disintegrated and he transferred to Chelsea.

Sergio Aguero now looks to be the next 23-year-old striker to come out of Atletico with the hopes of setting the EPL goal nets alight after his big-money transfer to Manchester City.

While he is by no means a record fee for City, he comes with high hopes on his shoulders for success.

After already having a debut for the ages with a brace and assist in just over 30 minutes, he has continued his fine form through the first month of the season, ending his three-game tally at three goals and one assist.

Torres was on three goals and one assist after four games in the EPL, but did not score in his debut and had more total minutes in his first three appearances.

Even though the players have different styles—as Torres mostly looks his best as a lone striker while Aguero is great as either a front man or second striker—the two players share that same will-to-score pedigree and it looks to be serving Aguero well in his first EPL season so far as it did Torres.

Their total statistics at Atletico Madrid look similar, with Aguero having the edge overall. Torres scored 91 goals in 246 games for the Mattress men while Aguero collected 102 in 234 games.

Torres cooled off for a few games once the Reds started additional cup ties and UEFA Champions League action, but picked up once he got his feet rolling with a hat trick against Middlesbrough.

Aguero already has an upper hand in that aspect compared to when Torres arrived in 2007-08, as he has been involved with Atletico in major European campaigns.

His experience has seen more seasons with that daunting pace of games at nearly one every three days. In that climate of match congestion, he helped to fire his squad to the Europe Cup Final and lifted the trophy alongside his former strike partner Diego Forlan.

The true comparison will be able to be seen throughout the season as the Argentine international has a high bar set for what Atletico Strikers can do once they move to England, thanks to Torres.

It is not beyond the ability of the 23-year-old to score that many. His best goal haul in Spain was 27—which he completed twice. Once in 2007-08 at 20 years old when he filled the boots of Torres in the first team, making 50 appearances, and again last season when he only made 41 appearances.

If Edin Dzeko will allow his partner to have a share of the spoils, then I see Aguero scoring at least 20 goals this season as long as he keeps his place in the first team long-term.

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