dodojojo

Cheers to the away fans for their support of Torres. With everyone slating him, it's a credit to the away fans that they're still cheering him on. If you believe some people, they claim Chelsea fans are too plastic to support a struggling Torres.

He was barely on, probably just needed to settle. If he had been offside the first 10 minutes of the game and then settled in for the other 80, no one would remember the offsides. But of course you don't have that luxury when you come on at 81st minute.

Ah, thanks. Have you watched both a bit? If so, do you think they'll match up well with Torres? I'm not sure Chelsea will be able to afford both. I hear some prices for Sanchez and think they're unrealistic. I can see his price go way up if City and supposedly Liverpool are interested.

I haven't watch Neymar play but is he really a winger? What if he comes in and wants to be a striker? What if he won't track back to help the midfield? Torres is an out and out central striker so he's not going to play anywhere else. Neymar sounds like a wonder talent but is he really the winger Chelsea needs?

Argh, another "what's wrong with Fernando" article...yes! This one does try to avoid the hysterical tone and provide some analysis though nothing we haven't heard already. The most interesting aspect is that along with Alan Shearer, the other "expert" is Torres' youth coach at Atletico Madrid. BBC

This makes sense but if it's true Ancelotti is on his way out, next season isn't his concern. And he doesn't have to care about incorporating Torres into Chelsea's future, he will only worry about results for the rest of this season.

A whole can of worms there. First, I'm not sure they left on good terms. If you read an Irish Independent article on Torres transfer, it sounds like Nando was on the fence about Rafa unlike Reina (love RB) and Gerrard and Carragher (not so love RB). Second, if it goes public then there will be tab headlines about Torres ousting Ancelotti and championing Benetiz. And Benetiz wasn't known for his man management so it's not like he's going to say anything that will make Torres feel better. Credit to Benetiz, he has said nice and supportive things about Nando since the transfer (things that contradict the slime PR on Torres around the time of the transfer). I was a little surprised that he didn't play to the Liverpool crowd and join in on the boot kicking.

Kwalitee

How about two pigtails for the West Brom game?

Because he needs the extra training? Or to keep the world away? This is the worst patch of Torres' career, there's no denying it. And right now it doesn't look like he can unlock it. But let's keep things in perspective, it's not the end of the world yet. Rooney went 9 months, not 9 weeks, nine MONTHS without scoring from open play for either club or country. Trust me I was wondering why Ferguson and Capello stuck with him. Look at the situation now, Man U are still in it for 3 major trophies and Rooney is hitting top form. Luckily for Rooney, he takes penalties and he didn't have to endure the goal drought game count that Torres is going through. Not fair is it? David Villa, Spain's greatest national team scorer, starting forward for the best team in the world and backed by midfielders/teammates who also support him on the Spanish team, has gone 9 games without a goal. He also doesn't get dropped and subbed the way Torres does either. People have noticed his drought but has he even received 1/10 of the criticism and scrutiny that Torres has gotten? I'm not saying Torres' bad patch isn't worrying and frustrating but shit happens for strikers. The big difference between the three strikers is that the first two did and are backed emphatically by their managers and were/are being handled well. Ancelotti says nice things about Torres but then comes out questioning if it was a mistake to start Torres. Come on, even if it's true, you don't say that as a manager. It looks like Ancelotti likes Torres personally but his man management of Nando has been pretty poor.

He should have something in his hand too. A daisy, a wand or a purse. Any talented photoshop people here?

No, please no. If Carlo uses that, Drogba should start. Torres can go on vacation.

Ah you big thief, your avatar is brilliant :champions:

EDITED Balague again...is theorizing the boy was wrecked emotionally by the transfer and it's affecting his game. Talksport interview

Who says he isn't worth 50M? You can laugh or cry, I'm going to go with laughing for now...

Don't be sad, Nando isn't...

Thank the lord, Spain has declined the invitation to play in the Copa America this summer. Torres wouldn't have gotten much playing time anyway but still he would have trained with the team, spent over 3 weeks in S. America and missed the pre-season with Chelsea. First summer off since 2007!

Nothing against Drogba's quality and his contribution to Chelsea's recent successes, but essentially this is it. The cycle of Drogba and Lampard is coming to a close and it's better to err on the side of remolding the team one year too early rather than one year too late. Ideally they would stay and take on Giggs/Scholes roles but do you see that happening? If Chelsea starts the next season with Torres and Drogba still vying to be the starting center forward, it's going to be the same story. One of them is going to be playing a system not suited to them. You'll have a team in the state of football philosophy flux and the result is a middling product--like this season, 3/4 place and final 8 in the CL. Good for most clubs but good enough for Roman Abramovich's billions? Maybe Torres isn't the answer, but it's less about rebuilding around him and more about clinging onto players well into their 30's. It's not like Drogba and Lampard just turned 30 either. They'll turn 34 next season. Still can play of course, but the club's blueprint should no longer revolve around them.

Poor Nando, it's really not working for him this season. Hopefully, he won't play a single minute of football this summer, rest up, clear his head and comes back strong. Keep prancing El Nino. So apparently Ray Wilkins said that Ancelotti did want Torres. Wonder how true it is? Guess there wouldn't any reason for Wilkins to lie about that. If that was the case, why has Ancelotti made such a hash of handling Torres?

I think this is it in a nutshell. It seems like the players like but don't fear him. I'm not saying he should be a tyrant but Ancelotti doesn't give the impression that ultimately he owns the dressing room. Jose Mourinho's players love him but you also sense that they wouldn't dare cross him. The dynamic has to change; probably through a combination of breaking up the player power base in the dressing room, Ancelotti asserting himself and receiving backing from RA. How likely are all 3 things going to happen?

Yossi and Nando showed some sparks together on Saturday and yet they don't play together at all today. A bit strange, would be interesting to hear Ancelotti's reasoning. Very disappointing day.

Malouda, please pass the ball to Torres...you don't have a choice, he's the starting striker, so please just do it. Anelka, please move about quickly, and though I'm sure you care...play like you do, show some quickness and urgency. Torres, just go with instinct...don't put on the thinking hat Nino and forget the hesitations. What else, what else...bring on Yossi quick if the passing is dire.

And they say he's not happy at Chelsea! Lots of training photos today and there were quite a few where he's having fun with Boswinga (?, had his hoodie up so it's hard to tell). There are also photos of him and Side Show carpooling after Man U game. He'll settle in.

CFC Press Officer: People think you're unhappy here Nando. Nando: Really? I'm not. What should I do? CFC Press Officer: Prance, Fernando, prance!

I just don't get how shit they can be for one game and so good another. It's really bizarre the range of their form. And no matter how frustrating it is to follow Chelsea, it could be worse--you can be a City fan. All that money and they fall to pieces without Tevez.