dodojojo

Yeah, I'm gutted he's not available this weekend. Hopefully Dumbo won't be making any more stupid challenges this season.

Hopefully it's to ensure he doesn't walk away as a free and this is a tactic to get a good price. Please, please, please let this be true.

Scoreless draw with multiple red cards will make me relatively happy.

Think the treatment he got was much more traumatic than he let on. I think it did deeply affect him on and off the field. I think a big part of returning to form is letting this bit go. Sid Lowe mentioned that Torres was very angry and that there was a lot more to the story that he couldn't make public.

Nomar would talk as he was the first to get trashed as NESN/FSG got rid of him when they acquired the Red Sox. Good old humanitarian disguised as hedge fund owner, John Henry and his partners have a very recognizable pattern of smearing anyone who leaves. It was very easy to recognize the character assassination campaign against Torres the minute his transfer request was put up LFC's site. Really, it's a pity for LFC fans as they loved Torres and he gave them some great moments. Sure they have every right to be disappointed and angry but they fell for the Torres hate campaign way, way too hard. And many of them are still carrying on the hate. Some tried to trash Torres after he left Atletico too. But most Atletico fans aren't as gullible as the scousers and they still support him. See the difference, 'best fans in the world?' Wonder how Henry is going to trash Dalglish when he will need to be "retired"? It'll take a very deft touch but I have no doubt something will be done.

It's like he can't stop scori...oh wait a minute. That's not the type of scoring we want.

Or crop it to only show Torres' face.

Pretty sure Torres won't be coming on tonight. He's sat next to Casillas having a chat while the other 3 subs are warming up.

Bosnia Euro 2012?

Wow, Portugal losing to Denmark. Doesn't that mean Portugal loses the group and will need to go to the playoffs?

Silva is in extraordinary form. I wouldn't be surprised if Del Bosque forsakes center forwards and goes with a Barca-like midget front line of Villa/Silva/Iniesta/Mata/Pedro. It looks like to fit the tika taka better anyway. Having a traditional 9 in Spain's game seems superfluous.

Oh well, as soon as the Scots find out the Czechs are 2 up, this match will go from domination to outright slaughter as they lose all hope of a playoff.

Oy as if it wasn't hard enough, Scotland keeper gives up a very soft goal.

Spain: Valdes, Sergio Ramos, Puyol, Pique, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Silva, Santi Cazorla, Villa, Pedro. Subs: Casillas, Javi Martinez, Torres, Mata, Arbeloa, Llorente, Thiago. Thankfully Mata isn't starting and I'm hoping he stays on the bench. But I have a feeling he'll replace Silva or Pedro though since he's the only player on the bench for those two positions. A little worried about how much Mata has been playing. Chelsea relies so much on him. He'll have to be in top form to break Everton down this weekend. I don't think Torres will come off the bench as he started Friday and Llorente didn't play at all. He will either replace Villa directly. Or Silva with Villa going out to the left.

I'll take this to the Int'l football thread as we're interested in both Mata and Torres.

Hmmm...you and I share the same tinfoil hats?

Why is the English media reporting Torres is going to start tonight? DB just said he was happy with Torres but never said anything about keeping him in the starting lineup. I expect Llorente to get his turn tonight. He scored the winning goal in Hampden Park last year.

I'm not vouching for the accuracy of this translation but it's the only one I could find. Fernando: since we started this pre-season I feel very good, more secure of myself, more than anything and with Mata I think everything got better. We were lucky to bring him to Chelsea and he has shown what he’s worth in the games and what he can be for Chelsea in the future. (when they show the clip of the miss against ManU) Yeah, those situations you maybe only have once in your life, but yeah its inexplicable and they have to happen once in your life and we hope that’s it. During this week we were looking at things that were similar and we saw that Cristiano Ronaldo missed one almost identical, so that made me feel better. the new atleti I think it’s exciting. That the fans should be excited for the new players who had everything in their clubs and came to atleti.. I think that Atleti is starting to look like a club you want to go to. And just like every new team, they’ve had their ups and downs but they will be able to compete against Real Madrid and Barca, maybe in a couple of years. Falcao He surprised those who didn’t know him and I’m not surprised he’s doing it, I think he’s a very good player. And the Atletis are very lucky to have him. Would you return to Atleti? I’ve said it a lot of times, I would never go to retire in Atletico Madrid. I would go back if I had the will to go and do what I wasn’t able to do during my first time there. I have five years with Chelsea, I’ll be 32 then and I hope to finish them there. And in my plan is not to go back.

Torres even in his very best form was patchy for Spain. He could do the job generally but not dominate or shine like Villa. In the last year with his struggles, he looks so out of step with Spain. Yes, partly due to form but it really just shows how incompatible Torres is with Spain's possession game. The man is just not made for that game and as a Torres fan it's frustrating to watch. It also angers me when people just say 'aw, he's shit'. No, he's shit for that type of game. He is what he is and he's a striker who needs space and is perfect for counter-attacking football. When it comes to football he's so un-Spanish it's unreal. Basically he's been part of the Spanish team because coaches considered him a big enough talent to carry as a Plan B. At this time, I'm not sure if Del Bosque is going to continue to do this. It looks like he's giving Torres every opportunity to regain some form for Spain but I wonder if soon DB will say "basta" and move on with other CFs. Judging by the comments on Marca and AS, it seems most of the public have had enough. If Torres returns to form, it'll be with Chelsea, where finally the game is suiting him more.

Torres off, Villa on. Wish DB would have left him to play a full game but I'm guessing he wants Villa on for more possession.

Hmmm...Torres not having a good game. Looks typically out of place with Spain's game. Hope something good happens for him in the 2nd half. Spain is dominating, other than a couple of wayward passes by Xabi that led to some danger. Otherwise, lopsided for Spain.

Poor Czechs have hardly touched the ball. Alonso from Silva, 0-2. Torres fairly quiet. Lots of movement but hardly seen the ball near goal.

Mata! Pass from Xavi.

Marca confirming Spain starting eleven: Casillas, Ramos, Pique, Albiol, Arbeloa, Busquets, Alonso, Xavi, Mata, Silva and Torres .

Yeah. Cech's position for both club and country is secure. And more important, his confidence. Torres needs the goals. And I would love to see Mata establish himself as a starter for Spain.