dodojojo

Well good. That means Mata has gotten that out of the way, he'll start this one. Hmmm...maybe that's where it went wrong with Torres.

http://www.sportyou.es/blog/futbol/2011/09/07/la-encrucijada-de-torres-2-362970.html Let's look at the numbers behind all the punditry, the moaning, griping and hyperbole. You would think Torres is the worst striker ever for Spain and has failed over and over again for Del Bosque and thus he needs to dropped. Or maybe is it something more mundane, like he's been okay, could do better, could use more minutes to show it and a few more starts would be nice. Right now, Negredo is doing well and starting. That's great for him, deserved. But does Torres need the whole of Spain (and elsewhere) to shit on him from great heights? Meh. Check out the minutes to goal ratios. Torres has started ...wait for it, wait for it...TWO games for Spain since the World Cup. Two--one he scores a brace and the other he leaves early with a concussion. The longest he's been on the pitch is 57 minutes. Two starts, the rest are sub appearances. Again, meh. Nothing there tells me Torres has been horrid for Spain. If Del Bosque feels he can do better than Torres, that's fair. He's the boss and he can start whoever he wants. I just wish the gross exaggeration of Torres effectiveness would abate. He's having a horrible time at the club level of course but his national team numbers aren't anything that deserve public humiliation. I'd be happy with a striker who scores every 98 minutes on the pitch. Meh, a mountain out of a molehill. Unfortunately Torres has to put up with the press and certain fans blowing it all out of proportion.

He is of course in much better form than Torres. Perhaps I shouldn't have used "form" but reading the Marca comments, many of them were about how great Negredo for scoring 2 against Lichtenstein whereas Torres did the same thing in their 1st qualifying game and there was nary a peep about how great that was. And that while recovering from his World Cup injury. But after that game, it was mostly, ah he only scores against the minnows. Anyhow, it was a petty gripe more to do with fickle Spanish fans.

I have to add this, I know it's a little petty...Torres scores a brace against Lichtenstein, he bullies the weak teams. Negredo scores a brace against Lichtenstein and he's in the form of his life and unquestionably the best CF for Spain.

Let's face it, this is Spain. Aside from defense, they've got multiple top class players for each position. Torres wasn't going to stay on the team forever with his recent form. Yes, still a shock to actually see Torres dropped off the team but logically it makes sense. I'd have preferred Del Bosque to keep his democratic rotation of CF's (meaning it was Llorente's turn to start and Torres to sub since he didn't start the last game) and given Torres some easy chances to notch a couple of goals. Any team Del Bosque started tonight would have won 6-0 against Lichtenstein. But obviously Del Bosque was all business and treated the game properly as a Euro qualifier. Anyway, it's better early for Torres to get a warning from Del Bosque rather than to get it by being dropped right before Euro 2012. He'll have the whole season to fight for his place. It's not just Torres, Silva will have to look out for Mata now. Llorente is under the same pressure from Negredo.

Just because he's got a ton of tattoos, it doesn't mean he's Roy Keane, Marc Von Bommel, Rino Guttuso or Patrick Veira. He's not a 'hard man' at all. Hope this manages people's expectations. He's a solid all-around footballer with reasonable skills and technique. Understands pass and move football and finds good space.

As a former NZ resident, I'm rooting for the All Blacks of course, but am afraid they'll find a way to choke. Hopefully being in NZ will help rather than add in pressure. Best haka and response:

Hope AVB will shed his conservative (so far) starting line-up selection and go with Meireles, Mata and Sturridge. It can't be any worst than what we've seen in the first 3 games. He can talk about up tempo all he wants, but he can back it up with putting in the players who can play that way.

It means Capello has set the precedent of dropping Lampard and maybe ease the way for AVB to drop him every once and awhile.

For now, he's absolutely right about the slow tempo. And I think it's more than difficult for players to somehow play faster. It doesn't just happen overnight. AVB really does have to change up the starting team to spark the pace. Don't think it'll happen gradually with some of the players.

Having rewatched the incident, the EPL (ex too) boys conducted themselves well. You could see Reina, Fabergas and Torres trying to keep the peace. Torres was staying out of the fray but as the game ended you could see him come back and take Victor Valdes away and keep him out of trouble. It's always the Barca and RM ones who lose their cool. No wonder all their games end in fights.

To be fair, Chile plays pretty hard, bordering on dirty. And it was Iniesta who kicked it off and he's usually very calm so it takes a lot to tick him. It was Arbeloa and Busquets who turned it into handbags. Torres fixed his hair and then stuck a hand in to chill out a Chilean

Mata didn't come on. Maybe he will play on Tuesday. I expect Llorente to start as CF since he didn't play today and Torres to sub on if needed. That game is an Euro qualifier so only 3 subs will be allowed.

Yes, the end was embarrassing, especially for a 'friendly'. Busquets as usual was an idiot. Did you see him charging in? Torres as captain should have stepped in more to keep it calm. He was keeping the peace but in his typical low key way.

It was weird that Torres ended the game with the captain's armband. When Xavi left, Ramos got it. But somehow Torres ended up with it even though Ramos was still in the game.

It wasn't a sitter, but it was a fantastic pass from Fabergas and Torres controlled the ball wonderfully but missed it wide from the edge of the box. I think he was trying to curl it into the corner but couldn't quite bend it so it looked like a bad miss. He played well enough if a bit isolated. Obviously with the MF that Spain has, Torres never has to drop deep for the ball so he doesn't get a lot of touches. There were a few crosses and passes that didn't reach him. Spain was dominant in the 2nd half. I hope VB sees how much better Spain is without the double pivot and just plays Cesc or Iniesta in the MF. Those two saved VB today.

Oh my, how did you miss that...Torres

Fabergas and Torres to come on, damnit.

Spain, so much more dynamic without the two holding MF system.

Iniesta, brilliant again. Wish VB would drop Alonso and play Iniesta in the MF which where he plays for Barca.

I just hope he doesn't bring on Mata and Torres to chase the game. I'd rather they play the easy game next Tuesday.

He has had since 2010 to blood in younger and faster defenders as Puyol's been oft-injured since the WC. Yet he's persisted with Albiol and Arbeloa along with playing Ramos as CB when he's awful in that position. And today, he made the same mistake by playing Javi Martinez out of position as CB. He also could have played Fabergas, Thiago, or Iniesta in the MF but instead went for caution by playing Alonso and Busquets. Alonso is too slow to help out the defense.

Del Bosque's defense selection is being demolished. Oh well they can't blame this one on Torres.

Albiol done in again.

Spain's defense is so thin--without Puyol and Pique, they're toast. Why does Del Bosque persist with Arbeloa and Albiol who don't even start for RM? Why not choose defenders who actually play every week for their clubs?