There has been a lot of debate as to who is at fault for Chelsea’s difficulties this season, but let’s get one thing clear before we start – it isn’t Frank Lampard. Despite starting the season on the bench, Lampard has tallied a team high 12 goals in the Premier League this season.

The problem is hard to find on paper. Chelsea have scored the second most goals this season (61) and conceded the second fewest (33). Only when you look deeper do you start to find inconsistency.

Chelsea have played in as many games in which they didn’t score as games in which they’ve scored four times.  Consistency is their problem. This leads to the first player on the list: Fernando Torres.

#1 Fernando Torres

Torres must go. Forget how much Chelsea paid for him, forget the predator he used to be, and forget the fact he works hard on the pitch.  Every title winning team needs that star forward to rely on every week, and Torres isn’t that guy.

He will be no use to Chelsea off the bench  as he isn’t an impact sub.  He needs the full 90 minutes to make a difference.  Roman Abramovich needs to get rid of a good striker to make room for a top class striker before the 29-year-old loses more value.  Torres to Atletico as part of a Falcao deal, anyone?

#2 John Obi Mikel

The long time backup to Michael Essien has finally had his chance to start for Chelsea this season.  There’s only one problem: he isn’t Michael Essien.  Don’t get me wrong, Mikel is a solid player – the type every top manager could use off the bench when holding a one-goal lead.

Today’s top defensive midfielders don’t need to score (thankfully for Mikel, who averages a goal about every six years), but they are able to do just about everything else – just look at Yaya Toure and Michael Carrick.

Mikel is the kind of player who scores a 7/10 in all categories of his game, which just isn’t good enough for a team trying to win every trophy.  I fancy Ramires moving back into defensive midfield next season, which will make them less one dimensional and predictable.

#3 David Luiz

This one is tough, because Luiz is a world class player.  The only problem is that he is an average centre-back, where Chelsea tend to play him.  The latest reports show Barcelona ready to offer £35 million for him, which is a massive, massive amount of money.

He would thrive at centre-back in Barcelona’s Ticki-Taka/Total Football style of play, but only at Barcelona.  He is a true defensive midfielder, and could be adequately replaced for far less money than he would be sold for if Chelsea are looking to spend big while also abiding by UEFA’s financial fair play rules.