Tortilla9

Liverpool game was never going to be good unless he scored a hattrick. LFC pumped up to play him. They were the wronged spouse facing off against their cheating spouse (in their minds and the media). Think it would have been better to bring him on as a sub. Let the Chelsea fans cheer for him as he warmed up. Spilt milk now. Fulham game yesterday. He had bursts of pace, good movement. Unfortunately his pace and movement were canceled out by his bad touch. He'll have those games where his touch is bad, he's pouty, etc. Then he'll score a goal where you wonder where that came from. Keep the faith.

Funny thing about Torres is Atletico Madrid youth coaches noted his less than spectacular first touch. It's always been an issue. He's overcome it with his use of space and movement, speed, and finishing. Unfortunately yesterday's poor touches made it impossible for him to use space, movement, speed to finish. I love Torres as much as the next Torres fan. I'm not blind to his faults as a player. It's his moments of soccer beauty that make the flaws easier to ignore, forget. I believe those moments will come for Chelsea. Luiz was a revelation. My daughter was talking about him the entire match. Halfway through "when I can get a Luiz jersey", "he's so cool", "love his hair". He was fun to watch and a young defender like that is going to be a godsend for Chelsea. Now if there was somebody wide and somebody to lead the attack from the center.

I hope for Torres, Carlo, and the team's sake, Torres scores soon. The longer he goes without scoring the longer the media will be on their feeding frenzy of negative Torres/Chelsea crap. It'll take pressure off everybody involved and hopefully the team can move forward.

Torres touch was typical for him - awful at times without the occasional moments of beauty to make you forget the awful. His movement and positioning were good, agree. Also promising to see bursts of pace. Benitez and Xavi Valero, former LFC keeper coach, worked with him constantly on finishing. Both he and Reina give Valero a lot of praise. Why not throw the kitchen sink at Fulham for the last 15-20 minutes, Drogba and Torres together. Could it have been any worse? Plus Torres can't play against Everton so you're not saving him.

And they love him because 1) Roy didn't like him and he was banished to the bench even though part of it was due to another injury; and 2) Kenny seems to love him so anybody Kenny loves, the Kop love. I've quit reading the media crap this week because it's been more nonsense than usual. The only way Torres was going to get anything other than negative press was if he scored a hattrick and Chelsea won. Since neither happened the media has been in a feeding frenzy. I hope Torres gets going and scores a goal. The longer he goes without scoring (and I realize it's only been 1 game which is so ridiculous) the more the media will spin negative crap day in day out. I hope Ancelloti figures out how to get the best of Torres, Drogba, and Anelka if he persists in using them all together.

I get what you're saying and I can understand your view. On the other hand, Torres is home in Madrid. While the white side of Madrid think's he's the devil incarnate, the Atletico side loves him and never wanted him to leave. They would welcome him back in a heartbeat even at the age of 32/33. He joined the club at 11 years old and grew up through the ranks. It's only natural the media is going to be asking him questions about leaving LFC, joining CFC, and will he come back to Atletico. When he left Atletico, Atletico gave him the opportunity to say goodbye to the fans. Atletico offered him a director's box when LFC played at Atletic. Torres declined because he was injured and wanted to recuperate at LFC. They love him and it's only natural that the minority Atletic reporters would ask him about Atletico. Now that the move is over, the LFC game is out of the way, the Spain friendly is done, he can move on, bring his young family to London, and show Chelsea fans what he can do.

I love Torres but he owes LFC fans no more explanation than he's already given, if he even owed them that. If they're too dumb, deaf, or blind to appreciate the many times he saved their bacon then whatever. I think part of the problem is he's actually a decent kid whose trying to explain. On the other hand, after the furor dies down we probably won't hear too much from him. He doesn't do a lot of interviews and anything will be speculation or words from "those close to Torres". We'll probably see articles quoting Torres for a few more weeks and the quotes probably came from Friday's press conference or his radio interview in Spain today. Lazy journalists trying to keep it going. Andre Mariner has reported LFC bozos to the FA for throwing objects onto the pitch when there was a corner and Torres was in the box. Greatest fans? Sure....

I'm definitely not saying Ancelotti's should be replaced because I don't know enough to speak intelligently or stupidly about him and the team. I'm just observing and wondering do the majority of fans want a change and why? Do fans blame him, the players, injuries, World Cup, the moon, or what. All I know is what I saw Sunday and in the previous LFC vs CFC game. On Sunday, Liverpool parked the bus and played a very negative game. It wasn't pretty but it worked. It was a sloppy goal that shouldn't have happened. Chelsea on the other hand didn't do didly except for an opportunity here or there. Previous game in Nov (?), LFC scored off two moments of Torres brilliance. In the second half Chelsea was dominant and I couldn't figure out how LFC kept them off the scoresheet. Did Mourinho use young guys or was everybody young when he was here?

Maybe but he's in Spain right now and they're having a field day with him. Keep in mind in Spain, LFC because of the Spanish armada was a club that the Spanish media followed closely. Torres leaving LFC was a big deal to them.

I followed the Liverpool forums for a few months and the tone about Carlo reminds me a lot of the tone there regarding Roy Hodgson minus the screaming lunatics. The majority seemed to think Roy should have never been given the job, he wasn't a long-term solution, wasn't tactically smart, didn't want to promote youth, played players who shouldn't be playing, etc. I personally think Carlo is head and shoulders above Roy but it seems reading the posts there's some underlying angst here. While I'm not part of the Kenny love-fest that's invaded the PL, it does seem he has given them the kick in the pants they needed. Do you think a new manager is the key? New players? It seems to be a crossroad time for Chelsea. I read the thread about will we finish Top 4 or not and that seems so odd to me. Maybe that's the problem but I've always automatically assumed Chelsea was a Top 4 team. It would be weird to see them out of it. Maybe that's the problem - the club, manager, and/or players assuming Top 4 was a given. The rambling is done.

I think near the end everybody, Torres and Reina, were burnt out by the H&G regime which included Rafa and his battles with H&G. I agree, Reina seeing what fans did and said is probably wondering if they really are the greatest fans. He's now the last one left of the Spanish armada (I don't include Pacheco or Suso who don't play) that included Alonso, Arbeloa, and Torres. Another Spaniard who was behind the scenes and was missed by Reina AND Torres: Xavi Valero who was the keeper coach. Reina credits him with much of his success and so does Torres. Torres stated he told him how different keepers played, their tendencies, and worked with Torres on beating them.

Rumour is that Reina has a $20M buyout clause. The timing would be perfect for Fergie wouldn't it unfortunately. Reina, like Torres, was another who spoke out against H&G and wanted more talent. This shouldn't come as a surprise to Liverpool but they'll keep their heads in the stand and be "surprised, shocked, disappointed, how could he" when he leaves.

I'll defer to those of you who know Chelse and McEachran more. I know this isn't Arsenal and Carlo isn't Wegner but didn't Cesc start playing first team at about the same age? Reading the match reports and googling, he seems to be quite a talent and it's not as if the middle is getting any younger. Maybe not every game but couldn't he play here or there? Could he do any worse than what happened Sunday?

Don't have to worry about Bieber fever although his hair looks like it's going that way. Supposedly he's a big rap fan. Torres needs to go back to blond, longer hair, and that band thing. That'll get the best out of him on the pitch.

Scousers were complaining when he was out hurt and wanting to know when he'd be back. Don't remember hearing anybody saying "let's keep him out a little longer so he can actually get healthy". There was no long term vision. Knee surgery in Jan then again in April. Rumors that Torres was very unhappy with the way LFC handled his injuries with H&G wanting him back out ASAP. He kept playing until CL finish wasn't possible. Supposedly Rafa wanted to give him a little more time so he would be healthy for the WC once CL qualification was out. The second half of last season was a disaster for LFC and all the players.

If you google Torres you come up with pages and pages of stories. From his press conference Friday you can tell he's not an ass and he'll answer questions. He's going to generate interest and eventually this will die down. Being in Spain right now they want their spin on it from him. If you read RAWK (I know) they're in meltdown right now because of what Pepe said in a radio interview in Spain about possibly leaving.

You guys are the English experts so I'll ask why does that happen? Shrek has 20 apps and 5 goals this season. Until this week he only had 3 goals and I think 2 were pks. Why is he given a pass? If that was Torres he'd be flogged by the media, psychoanalyzed by every two-bit pundit out there.... oh nvm, that's already happened. If a player is stinking they're stinking. I don't get why one gets a pass and another the firing squad. Is it because Torres is prettier than Shrek? Maybe there's a hidden jealousy of Torres use of hair products. The media is currently in a Kenny love-fest so until they lose again it'll be a Torres is a flop, Kenny is a genius spin. I have to laugh because if Rafa had sent a team out yesterday like Kenny did, even with a win, the press and fans would have been screaming for Rafa's head because that's not the Liverpool way. Supposedly it's not just about winning but playing a certain way. The hypocrisy of the media and LFC fans is something to behold.

Like watching him play, quick as can be, great with the ball at his feet.

Running like a headless chicken = work rate = effort = goals in the mind of many. Typical Torres game against Aston Villa last season. Played 90+ minutes, wasn't a real threat, 90+ minute, Benny squeezes the ball into him, he runs onto it, clinical finish, win 1-0. When will Benny be back?

I agree but I'm not even sure he knew where to offer himself to be honest. 3 days of practice with a new team with a manager trying to figure were to put him. I don't want to kiss the feet of Kenny but maybe he was right to keep the biter out of this game until he got his feet wet with the team more.

He's never been a major workhorse. You're not going to see him pressure pressure pressure. That's not usually his game. That's why Kuyt was good for him because he did a lot of the dirty work. Yes he was too respectful. Normally that elbow would have pissed him off, he would have been raging at the ref. TBF Liverpool closed him down immediately but they weren't too dirty about it. The game is over, he can now completely move on from Liverpool and look forward.

My daughter watched the game separately. She's a youth national team player and she watches every League out there and she knows more football than I ever will. She said the game was hard to watch with Liverpool packing 5 in the middle. She said it was boring football and she can't below that's how they played. She also said Torres looked lost like he didn't know where he was supposed to be or his teammates. Sounds about right.

One positive from the game, I won't be on the internet googling Chelsea, Torres, Drogba, or anything similar for a few days until the media hype dies down. I'll actually be productive for a few days. Somebody else said it - the result stinks but this game is out of the way. Torres can now move on from LFC, assimilate into CFC (minus the days away for Spain), and Carlo can figure out what to do with him and the middle. He is better than he showed today. That formation today will make him look like Sheva II.

Why is a LFC fan allowed to post on here? I only ask because a CFC fan would be drawn and quartered and never allowed to post on RAWK. Or any other non-koolaid drinking team for that matter.

I don't know the Chelsea team as well as most of you but my two cents for what it's worth: LFC had a lot of players behind the ball and were quick to counter-attack when given the opportunity and they're not a quick team to begin with. Steve Clarke's effect on the defense and Carragher's presence today were key to their organization in the back. Torres is not a wide player, he is a play at the top of the attack player. That is where he is most successful. Half the time I couldn't even tell where he was. Whenever he did have the ball he was quickly surrounded by red shirts. I think his first shot attempt might have been better served dropping it off to Drogba in hindsight. That's probably being aware of each other. I thought Lampard was non-existent for most of the game. The Chelsea middle seemed to be missing but maybe that's just me. The ball seemed to die at the midfield line without any forward momentum. I also didn't think Drogba played particularly well and I'm a big fan of his. Maybe it's too much to expect him and Torres to click right away. Like most of you I like Luiz a lot. He seems quick and very comfortable defending and bringing the ball forward. Think he's going to be huge.