Tortilla9

Didn't Drogba learn from Torres red?

Understand a forward needs to be sacrificed but not quite sure I agree it's Sturridge who should be sacrificed.

Good Lord! Luiz dumb foul results in a PK and a goal. Now this. How the hell was that a red card? I don't even understand that at all. On the other hand, where is the attack and offense by Chelsea?

November 2011 magazine but he references "the miss" so pretty recent. http://conlaroja.wordpress.com/2011/10/22/fernando-torres-at-esquire-espana/

Fernando Torres At Esquire Espana: We Spanish players have taken a step forward. It’s evident that we weren’t afraid to go abroad. Real Madrid and Barcelona have also placed their bets on national players, which helps a lot. Now the national team draws not only on players from the Liga BBVA, but also from the Premier. The team has acquired another dimension. If you manage to have a good number of players who know the football of different countries, the richness, variety and competitiveness of the team multiplies. Everything began with Luis Aragonés. As the national team coach, he was the one who was brave enough to call up los pequeños, to play them together, to conform to a style. It functioned and from that time on, Spain has had a style, something that it never had before. People always talk about la furia and la pelea. But now Spain is something else. It’s a team that wants the ball, that plays well and beautifully, and it shows that’s how it wins. My goal in Vienna? That was only one step on a long road of successes. The most expensive Spanish footballer? That’s just a number. The only thing I know is that opportunities such as the one Chelsea offered me cannot be turned down. The important thing is the confidence they have in me. Liverpool was going down a strange path. Personally, I believe the departure of Xabi Alonso to Madrid was a clear message that something was changing. I have the ambition to improve and Chelsea could offer me what every footballer desires: titles. My childhood idol was always Kiko. When I debuted with Atlético’s first team, he was still there. We shared a locker room and spent a year together. It was the closest thing to a dream come true for me. From that time on, life has taken us down different roads, but we’re still in contact. I can say that we’re good friends. Un crack. I’ve passed through three teams throughout my career: Atlético de Madrid, Liverpool and Chelsea. What I haven’t changed is my sponsor, Nike. I’ve been with them since I was 14. The relationship started when I played for Atlético’s cadete team, precisely in the 1998 Nike Cup in Italy. The best player of the tournament was given the option to sign a contract and Real Madrid’s Tello and I were chosen. Sadly, he hasn’t had the same luck in his career as I have. One’s destiny in football is always unpredictable. In England, sports are experienced in a special way. Football is to be enjoyed in detail, and English people are the only ones to to do this. It’s not that they’re better or worse than those in Spain, it’s just different. We have distinct cultures. If we try to apply this philosophy to our country, it probably wouldn’t fit with how we are. It’s a way of watching football, of understanding it and of admiring the players on your team that Spaniards don’t do. Everything that surrounds football in Spain conditions your way of life. In England, you can live after the training session or the game, enjoy the city where you reside, go to any place, train without cameras, get to your car without anyone stopping you… Here, there are no press conferences or mixed zones. When I was in Madrid and the team lost, people would constantly remind me of it, no matter where I was that week. It’s as if I had to always show that I deserved to wear this escudo. In England, the players that wear the shirt of a club are untouchable for their fans. When they criticize you, when you’re playing badly, when you’re sent off, when you miss an easy goal… that’s when they support you the most. And that’s how you improve. That’s something that we can learn. Liverpool and Chelsea are completely different clubs. They have no similarity, neither in their past nor in their present. My adaptation process for each has been completely distinct. Chelsea is in London, a huge city. I come from Madrid, also a great European capital, but this is much more of everything, for good and for bad. It’s been difficult for me to adapt here compared to when I arrived in Liverpool, a more comfortable place, smaller, where I was surrounded by Spanish teammates. In the end, the important thing is to try and organize yourself as quickly as possible. That’s what I’m doing… I can’t say that what I’ve achieved is like a dream come true, because I never dreamed of getting this far, or to where I am today. Everything that football has given me has been un extra permanente. I give thanks for that.

After doing some in-depth research I've discovered the key to Torres' recent positive form: the short-sleeve shirt. Torres likes to wears a long-sleeve shirt when playing unless it's really warm. Noticed against Leverkusen he wore a short-sleeve shirt. 2 assists. Short-sleeve shirt against United (1 goal), against Swansea (1 goal), against Valencia (no goals but he played well and Alves had one of those games), against Genk (2 goals). Heard it was cold at SB against Genk but still wore the short-sleeve shirt. The combination of new boots, longer/lighter hair/hairband, pre-game blessing, AND short-sleeve shirt = positive Torres

20 years old starting with a top club in the CL. Had to be quite a moment for the young guy. Probably wouldn't happen for him at Barca. Having two friendly Spanish voices doesn't hurt either.

Hell has officially frozen over. Lipton praises both Chelsea and Torres. http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Chelsea-5-0-Genk-Fernando-Torres-at-the-double-as-Blues-cruise-to-victory-article815844.html

Loved the moment in the first half when Luiz had the ball, doing his normal marauding forward thing, and threw in a few step overs and some fancy footwork. When's the last time you saw a CB do that? Some of his tackles make you cringe but damn he is fun to watch especially if he plays for your side.

I'm sure standing on the pitch listening to the CL anthem, Oriol realized that's not a moment he'd be having at Barca at his age.

You can tell by the tone of the match report it was fun to report. Love the tough 90 minute battles. Also love the butt-kicking matches too.

All I know is on Wednesday night Fernando Torres, Raul Meireles, and the boys in blue were playing in the CL and tore Genk a new one. Meanwhile the "true English fans" with the God-given right to winning and championships were watching and hoping to someday participate. Past glories can only keep you going for so long.

Scouse relegation would be nice but I just don't see it happening. There are other teams out there worse than them. I laugh that some actually think Carroll will replace Torres and/or Carroll will be as good as or better than Drogba. True delusion right there.

Compared to the abuse Torres received for 9 months, Carroll's media focus has been like a love fest. I don't feel sorry for him at all probably because the constant Kenny defense is irritating as crap. The scousers could console themselves that Torres was a bust and they got the better end of the deal. I never believed Torres was a bust (although some days he made it hard). I'll never believe Carroll will be as good as Torres or even close. Now that Torres is starting to look better, play better, the scousers are realizing their new emperor has no clothes. My dream scenario is May 5, 2012 we see Liverpool needing a win to keep their CL hopes for next season alive. We also see Chelsea needing a win to wrap up the PL title. Torres scores a goal (doesn't even have to be the winner) and Chelsea celebrate the title at Anfield while John Henry, Kenny, Gerrard, all watch.

Killing time waiting for a conference call to start. Went over to RAWK to see what the delusional had to say about Torres and Meireles today. 1. They are torn over Carroll. Carroll should not be judged by his 35M pricetag according to Kenny and his followers but it's ok for Torres. Half are convinced Carroll will come good and are trying to compare him to Drogba's early Chelsea form. Ok.... morons. Half are convinced LFC owners sold them a bag a sh*t when they sold Torres and bought Carroll. 2. Chelsea fans plastic, flag wavers. 3. Torres was never going to stay sh*t but he'll never be what he was with us because we loved him. 4. CL is boring. 5. Meireles scores, can't believe we sold him (no, he asked to be sold), Torres scores, Raul's hair is sh*t, both are c**ts 6. Why do I smile when Torres scores, it's f'd up sh*t 7. Raul is good enough to play middle for Portugal and Chelsea but not for Liverpool. F'ing bullocks. 8. Torres and Raul f'd us over. 9. Meireles to Torres 3-0. F' this sh*t. 10. The more he scores the more my hate grows. 11. We don't care about Torres because we're moving forward and quickly. 12. I'm guessing the drought is now behind him and we can all start finally getting f'd off at having to sell one of the best strikers in the world then. 13. I still say this through gritted teeth, but he's still one of the best strikers in the world. Premier league defenses are f'd once he's back to his best. 14. This one was the one that made me laugh the most: "God, the Champions League is soulless without us." Bottom line, the scousers have not gotten over Torres at all. They miss Raul but they share their love/hate for the blonde one and they seem concerned that he's back.

I don't want to panic but it would be nice to see Josh get more 1st team (not reserve) playing time whether its with Chelsea or with another PL team on loan. I think of Wigan with Martinez who wanted him earlier and tries to play a style that would be good for Josh. Maybe Bolton where there is a relationship with Chelsea.

On Anelka, it was a quiet night (and I'm not saying it was a poor night either) but I appreciate he's playing a slightly different role for the team. He's not selfish, Malouda cough cough, and seems to be accepting of his role on the team. Whether he likes it or not I don't know but I appreciate he's a solid player when he gets out there.

The goals were definitely nice for Torres. One play I thought defined his play last night: about the 40th minute, Chelsea defender (maybe Ivanovic ?) cleared the ball, Torres was hanging around the circle, won the high ball, dumped the Genk player on his butt, ran aggressively and confidently toward goal, played a nice pass to Lampard who held it up nicely for an oncoming Anelka, meanwhile Torres kept running and was at the top of the box when Anelka took a shot. It was aggressiveness, confidence, team play, not giving up on a play, everything you want to see from him.

Luiz will carry on touching his teammates for luck. Sources say gesture is a lucky ritual not a prayer. I like how Luiz did whatever it was and I like how Torres stood there and accepted it. Speaks of a positive team relationship. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/oct/20/chelsea-david-luiz-touching-luck?newsfeed=true

He's exactly what a DM should be - solid, unafraid to tackle, willing and able to cover when others advance (Luiz). He makes it look easy because he doesn't seem frazzled, appears very calm and comfortable with or without the ball, good reading of the game. Nice to see him play in the CL and play well. Good for him.

according to jamiereidUEFA "Wouldn't even stop 4 them tonight. Sometimes players just not in the mood. It's a shame, fans want to hear". Moody brat. Not like CTV is going to make life hard for him. I seriously don't care as long as he's playing well and scoring goals.

Can anybody see the picture above? My work computer is crap.

You gotta love Sideshow Bob.

Some post game thoughts from AVB. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/oct/20/andre-villas-boas-fernando-torres

Beside the two goals and the very good movement, was happy to see decent touch from #9 tonight. There are times when his touch is but tonight it didn't let him down. I know AVB tries to deflect all talk away from Torres positive or negative, but whatever he's doing behind the scenes with him is showing positively on the pitch.