Tortilla9

No doubt. That pitch was an injury waiting to happen. Sidenote: RVP injured his knee in the Dutch game. More good news for Arsenal.

Following on ESPN3.com. Torres luck he'd go out for 12 minutes on that crap pitch and pull a hammy after sitting for 45 minutes. Spain up 2-1.

I love Torres but he can have a tendency to look like a moody teenager with Liverpool, with Spain, with Chelsea. That's him. On the other hand, I think he has tried too hard not to rock the boat as the new guy that certain players have acted like petulant asses on the pitch. The longer Torres goes without scoring AND playing, I'm sure the more the resentment is building with certain players. But..... Chelsea is winning and getting 3 pts.

Yep, I agree and said it here. He needs to go see his family, have a drink or two, talk to Pepe, laugh a little, see the missus, do his thing, and try again. It wasn't his worst game ever, he had two chances on goal, but it wasn't good. God forbid, maybe he needs to call Rafa or better yet, Xavi Valero. Intl Games

TBF I don't think Torres had a great game (and you know I'm a Torres homer). He didn't play like crap but he's not firing on all cylinders right now. It's kind of like when you get a bad tank of gas and your car runs off for awhile. He's just a nano (no pun) second off. The best moment was Torres and Cech laughing at the end. Torres probably asking why Cech couldn't let him have that. Cech had a good game.

No Goals for Villa in 5 games (I know its goal.com but I couldn't find the other link) Maybe the Spaniards are a little tired.... Or maybe all the Spaniards stink? I had to turn off my Google alert because every other alert was Torres is a Flop, Liverpool happy to have Carroll, blah blah blah

I'm with you there. I think it's pressure on Torres to score, pressure on the entire team for Torres to score, and pressure on Carlo to get him on the scoring sheet. I personally believe once he scores, the pressure will be off of everybody and normal service can resume... whatever that is.

So does that mean Drogba won't be starting Sunday since he played all 90 minutes today? What does it say that Drogba started today? I'll be in Las Vegas for the weekend so I'll have to try to follow via my phone.

How long before the rags spin this into a serious problem because too many are too lazy to read? Or have no reading skills to begin with? Carlo joking

Funny because they think he already has regrets and second doubts.

There would go the credit card again. My daughter loves the little bald man. His free kicks are sheer genius not that that's all he's about.

A few things that may have translated slightly different, Spanish to English: Atletico cannot compete with Real Madrid or Barcelona. It's not so much the other La Liga teams have gotten worse, those two have gotten that much better. Doesn't follow the internet, busy with his children. Usually only reads Spanish media (probably for the best). Fans have been great. They want him to score more than he does. Yossi wasn't pulling the strings to make the move happen. Yossi made the move and transition easier for him. He was surprised how light-hearted the Chelsea dressing room was with the superstar players. The atmosphere isn't as tense as Liverpool. The professionalism comment is implied that the players are professionals and don't need to be micro-managed by a manager. Possibly intended to Rafa who was a notorious micro-manager. The loss of players like Alonso followed by no replacements made him think Liverpool was more about selling and less about competing for titles. The sale of the club and the inability to do anything because of it combined with Rafa's departure made the Liverpool situation unstable. He felt like it was Atletic all over again.

Cue RAWK meltdown.

I don't quite understand the "5 games, he's a flop" logic but to each his own. The 50M tag - he didn't decide that. Liverpool did (and indirectly Newcastle) and Roman agreed to pay it. The media and everybody and their brother continue to focus on it. The Torres supporters will think its unfair and the tactics and service haven't served him well. The Torres detractors will continue to use the 50M tag and lack of goals to support their argument he's a flop. Nothing more than instant goals would change that opinion. Neither side is likely to change the opinion of the other side. It is what it is. I continue to have faith and focus on 5 1/2 years and not on 5 games. I hope he proves his detractors wrong which unfortunately seem to include Chelsea fans.

I doubt Drogba and Anelka are giving him wedgies. More likely having Malouda do it while they watch. I actually understood this interview. I remember his first interviews in English and those were difficult to understand and I've been around a lot of ESL (English as a Second Language) speakers. It goes back to I think he's deferring a little too much although the timing of the move and the run in make it difficult.

I noted when he had the ball and what he did with it so I could take off my pro-Torres glasses. I personally believe two shots on goal in a 90 minute match isn't good enough for any forward, Torres, Drogba, Villa, Tevez, etc. I also don't believe he received the ball in spaces where a goal was even a possibility except for those two chances. How many goals must a 50 million score? What would make him a non-flop?

I finally managed to watch the Chelsea TV interview (3/4/11) with Torres prior to the Blackpool game. 1. He said as long as Chelsea are winning and getting 3 pts that's what really matters, more important than his first goal 2. He knows he needs to score because he's a striker and that's the job of the striker 3. He's the last one to come so he needs to understand the way the team plays 4. It's one thing to play against a team, another to play with 5. Needs to adapts himself to the Chelsea style of play, movement of teammates, training 6. Feels more fit, sharper 7. Waiting for the first goal 8. Good players should be able to play together 9. Anelka, Drogba, Torres are different types of players and it's a good problem for the manager to have to decide lineup, formation 10. Dressing room has been good and teammates have been welcoming His English has really come a long way since he left Spain and he seems more comfortable.

Was the 4-4-2 to accomodate Torres or to accomodate Torres and either Drogba or Anelka? I ask because others seem to think no matter what Carlo will keep playing Torres along with another forward to keep the peace (somewhat).

I have to admit my knowledge of Terry has been watching him against Liverpool (Torres) for the past 3 years and for England. My view was also skewed a little by the whole Bridge thing added to a little of the England controversy. I also realize now the English media is something else. Having watched the last 5 Chelsea games I have to admit I am surprised how much Terry seems to settle the back, inspire team confidence, and get it. Some say he's too old, he's lost it. I don't know but my two eyes tell me he's still valuable to the team. Being a leader comes naturally to some and it appears that's the case with Terry.

Daughter: Why are they booking Cole all the time? Just because he shot someone? T9: Well, he did shoot someone Daughter: It was an accident, not like he pointed a gun in his face T9: still, he's a grown man, you don't do stupid things like that Daughter: whatever. still don't understand why they're booing him. He plays for England and he's one of the best on England. Not sure whether I should have been appalled or not by her attitude.

My 16 year old daughter thought they were acting like a bunch of girls. She said "that's how you act when a new player comes in who plays your position or your friends". She thought only girls did that.

By all accounts he's pretty much a quiet guy who prefers to spend time with his family and group of close friends from Spain. He's got a little bit of nerd in him - he likes to play video games. He always looks a little pouty, bored, uninterested, whatever you want to call it on the field. Looked that way at Atletico, Spain NT, and Liverpool (good and bad days). I think it's just his nature so the whole body language thing is just a media spin. He can look like a spoiled brat one minute and then perform a piece of magic the next. That said I'm not feeling sorry for Torres (much as I love him) because he's a grown man, making millions of dollars, and the choice was his. A lot of people see that baby/pretty boy face and think he's a lightweight. I think there's a ruthlessness and ambition to him that keeps him going. He stayed at Atletico when the white part of Madrid hated him and seemed to enjoy thumbing his nose at them. He left to Liverpool for a CL and trophy chance even though Atletico was his first love. He left Liverpool where they loved him for a CL and trophy chance. He himself said he understood the decision and ramifications and still made the choice. I believe Torres will come good for Chelsea. I think the goals are coming but when? Who the hell knows. I personally don't think the 4-4-2 suits his best attributes unless he's at the top with the other forward supporting him. Chelsea have seen him for 3.5 years. They know what type of player he is and how he's the most effective. Does Chelsea make the decision to use tactics that get the best out of him? Yes, then Chelsea get their investment back. No, then there's going to be a lot of bashing of Torres to come. He did seem genuinely happy for the team after each goal. He only seemed to be frustrated at the end when Malouda was doing whatever the hell Malouda was doing. Again, this is all psycho-babble from the recliner chair experts isn't it? I watched the match last night and posted earlier Torres touches during the game. My daughter came home from practice and watched it so I watched a little here and there with her. Halfway through: Daughter: Do they not like Torres? Tortilla9: Why? Daughter: they never pass to him T9: the passing overall isn't that good Daughter: I thought only girls did that (she plays GU16)

Torres said last week that he needed to adjust to Chelsea and Drogba and Anelka. I think he was trying to defer to the two big dogs and not rock the boat more than it already has been. From all accounts he's pretty quiet and shy off the pitch. Maybe he has deferred a little too much and needs to show a little more arrogance and demand for the ball. Will that work this season during a push for CL qualification and a run through the CL? Maybe not the best time. On the other hand, Roman isn't going to throw 50M down the toilet either. Torres is the future and maybe the adjustment period for all is that they start to realize that. Maybe that begins this summer.

I was watching ESPN3 while trying to work so I got bits and pieces. I came home and watched the match beginning to end on DVR. Those who know me know I'm a huge Torres homer so I was ready to burn Malouda's shirt (joking) and run him out of town. I tried to be objective and took my Torres colored glasses off. I missed the first ten minutes on DVR because of ESPN or DISH reception. 21 - Drogba played Torres in, Torres held the ball up waiting for the support, then had a poor cross. Supposedly to Lampard but I didn't see anybody in the tv shot. 22 - Torres a decent shot blocked in the 22nd after making good movement off a Ramires/Bosingwa run/pass 31 - on the break with Torres in acres of space to the right, Drogba passes to Zhirkov instead. Not a bad decision at all. 33 - Bosingwa clears, Torres collects, dribbles, then deflects off defender. 34 (I think) - Torres wins the header, flicks to Drogba's area, Drogba doesn't move, Blackpool get the ball 43 - Essien tries to pass to Torres, pass picked off by Blackpool 46 - Essien to Torres, Torres to Zhirkov, buildup leades to Ramires shot attempt Second half: 46 - Drogba flick to Torres, Torres passes to Cole 52 - good movement by Torres, he receives the pass (from Ramires I think) but he's off 55 - Terry to Torres, Torres to Ramires 57 - Bosingwa to Torres, header to Kalou. Commentator: haven't engineered a single chance for Torres 58 - Terry passes to Torres, Torres passes to Cole 59 - Lampard shoots and gets a corner kick. Could have possibly laid the ball off to Torres. 61 - Zhirkov to Torres who tried to find Cole, Kalou gets the ball instead, gets the penalty 63 - Break, 2 on 2, Kalou finds Torres on the right, Torres tries to cross back to Kalou, intercepted by Blackpool 65 - Essien to Kalou to Lampard. Goal. If Lampard hadn't got to the ball first, Torres might have been in for a tap in. Can't complain about the play or the goal. 67 - Torres won the ball, pass to Cole, pass to Zhirkov. Corner 70 - Kalou looked to layoff to Torres but Zhirkov stepped up instead and shot blocked 75 - Kalou to Torres, Torres dribbled, shot with the outside of his right foot, no power. Fans singing for him (kudos!). 79 - Chelsea passing the ball around, Kalou to Torres, Torres to Bosingwa 79 - Lampard tries to find Torres on a little flick on the box, keeper easily gets it 82 - Kalou receives the ball from a defensive clearance, Torres makes the run to support and pressures the defender. Nothing comes of it. 83 - Malouda shoots at a difficult angle. Could have tried to pass to either Kalou or Torres who were in the box. 84 - Malouda dribbles, dribbles, loses the ball in the box. A wide open Torres moving and waiting for a layoff. 87 - Torres gets the ball on the touchline from a defensive cleaance, off Torres, out of bounds 91 - Luis to Malouda, Malouda shoots at acute angle. Either Kalou or Torres were open. 92 - Malouda good ball to Kalou, Kalou shoots over, Torres also in good position in the box. First half neither Torres or Drogba received the ball much. Midfield was very narrow and it wasn't pretty. There didn't seem to be a lot of service to either forward. It was a dull first half except for the Terry header. Second half, Torres received the ball much more. Was it because Kalou came on and the movement and space between the two was better? Chelsea moved the ball much better as a whole except for 5 or 10 minutes when they took their foot off. I've seen games where Torres is just standing there looking like a poster boy. Today he had good movement and worked for the team. He didn't hang out waiting for the ball but came back looking and moving, trying to get involved. It wasn't until the 80th minute on that he seemed to be a little frustrated (do I really know though?) but he kept making runs. From my calculation he only had 2 decent chances. IMO you need to have a few more than that. I don't know if it was unwillingness to pass to Torres or inability to move the ball well as a team. The ball went sideways or backward a lot and the passing was slow and lumbering at times. It would have been nice to see Chelsea move the ball quicker and with more attacking intent. Maybe then Torres would have been more involved too. Maybe because Chelsea overlooked Blackpool a little.

Thanks - I should have realized. Been talking to a lot of people at work about GMT and that should have clicked.