dodojojo

Everyone gives the same advice as Wilkins but we rarely see it in the games. And I don't believe Ancelotti will drop Drogba after having a good game on Saturday. Give me strength if he starts Malouda.

Like I mentioned, he would have gotten it back sharpish at Liverpool. He probably passed out of habit and sometimes old habits die hard.

My stream kept dying today so I missed most of the Torres stuff. The problem right now is the sharpness is happening in mostly non-goal scoring areas. He really needs a good shot on goal opportunity because the wonder goals aren't happening for him. Would be great if he just got one good pass in front of goal one of these days.

Madmax, good one, it would be a lot of fun to see Torres and Drogba training. Wonder what the relationship is like. I do wish they'd get on because they would both get goals but honestly, I haven't seen it click at all.

I wouldn't mind watching a training session, it would be fun to see them do stuff not often pulled off in games. Tricky Nando

If nothing else, the midfield needs an overhaul this summer. There's enough quality for the team to hold on and nail down a CL place. I'm not sure about the QT against United now. Really bizarre for Ancelotti to kill the midfield with his subs. You could see Stoke with more and more quality possession. Problem for Wednesday is that Ancelotti can't bench Drogba after this game so does he with Anelka again? Or Torres? As much as I want it to work, I don't see DD and FT playing together. I know they haven't had a lot of quality time but even though their styles are different, they both want to occupy the same space in and around the box.

My god Luiz has had a terrible game. Cech has made some great saves but he's been dodgy in coming out for anything resembling a cross.

Malouda has incriminating photos of Ancelotti right?

Torres came on as a sub at Blackpool and started Man City. Think Ancelotti is using the same rotation for this week. I expect to see Torres and Drogba/Kalou against Utd unless Drogba and Anelka have a scorcher today.

Don't think it's a big deal--unless he's benched for Utd game as well. You know the media and Liverpool fans will gloat that he's been benched. Think it's just a strong indication he'll start the "bigger" game on Wednesday. Same thing happened with Blackpool and City.

Good interview with Alvaro Arbeloa, Nando's ex-Liverpool and current national teammate with some good insights on Nando. Sounds like Torres had to get out of the city! Think his new home is probably around Cobham. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/apr/01/small-talk-alvaro-arbeloa-madrid

Chelsea would be pretty solid even if it's just bringing in a top playmaker and a winger. It's creativity and width that's the achilles heels right now. The 3rd priority would be RB. A secondary striker who can play with Torres would be a luxury. But really, 2 players who can bring creativity and width to the team could be enough--if RA decided he can only spare 60M rather than 100M.

Only following text but apparently Spain is playing well with Llorente. Torres won't be happy with losing his spot to Llorente, but selfishly I hope Nando doesn't come off the bench. The pitch is atrocious and I'd rather he come back without injury.

Where did you see this? I'm glad his teammates are backing him even if Del Bosque isn't. Xabi Alonso said a great player is still a great player even if he hasn't scored a goal in reference to Torres. He's getting slaughtered in Marca and AS after last night's performance. Villa has said he loves playing with Torres. And demonstration of that was in the opening game of Euro 2008 when Torres unselfishly served up a sitter for Villa's first goal. Villa went on to get a hat-trick, with the 3rd after Torres had been subbed. After the 3rd goal, Villa ran by his teammates on the pitch and the ones on the bench to hug a slightly surprised Torres to thank him.

They are three different players and have their strengths and weaknesses. Iniesta is a great player and I don't see the point in comparing him to the other two. I like Xabi very much but disagree with Del Bosque's usual 2 holding midfielders formation, especially against weak teams. It's too cautious and yes, they are World Champions, but the fluidity, speed and flair of the Euro winning team is in hibernation most of the time. I think Del Bosque should stick with Busquets and then go with Cazorla, Silva or Fabergas if he's willing to help out in the midlfield. Spain made the decision to go with tika-taka when they lost to France in WC2006 even though they had played brilliant exciting football. It was of course the right thing to do for Spain but not so great individually for Torres' game. You can see how he looks more and more awkward with the national team as the play becomes more and more pensive. In 2008 the tika taka was much faster and incisive. Del Bosque's version is so much slower. It worked well enough for the World Cup but Germany is going to be much better in 2012 and the Netherlands may be better too. I can see Del Bosque's cautious and slower approach failing if the rivals are improving rapidly.

The Torres thread had about 50% more posts than the one for their hero, Saurez over at RAWK. A bit embarrassing so the thread has been locked. Only way to get the historians to stop talking about Torres.

Is that the famous scouse wit? He's absolutely delighted with himself.

Apparently Del Bosque said this about Torres: "De él depende su futuro en la selección. Él nos dirá el guión a seguir. Le hemos apoyado siempre pero su futuro depende de él". Google's translation doesn't really make sense but some Atletico fans are upset by it because it sounds like Del Bosque is warning Torres to improve or his place on the national team is in jeopardy. Can anyone provide a better translation. If it's true that DB meant it, then that's awful thing to say in public. A coach has to keep that behind closed doors and back his player. And if he's not good enough, you drop him but why say it when he's still on the team?

True. But Villa was playing extremely well and Nando wasn't. Yes, I had heard he's not been on form. Even the greatest Spanish striker can go through a bad patch. There's hope yet for the return of Torres' form. Seriously?

Well, in this particular game,, who would you pass to, Torres or Villa? If Iniesta chose Busquets before Torres in a scoring situation, then I would question it. Nando didn't play well. He's already no longer an automatic starter and he may soon lose is first off the bench status too. Who knows what it is. I hope it's confidence thing because if it's a physical issue then that's irreversible. He's playing too meekly, needs to get some swagger back. Even his shots on goal come off tamely.

Torres came on as a sub today against the Czechs and Spain went from 0-1 down to win 2-1. That's the good news. Villa was brilliant. Nando, though, I hate to admit, was pretty awful. Cost Spain possession and was very hesitant in the box. I don't like Del Bosque playing Villa as a central striker with Iniesta and Navas (or Pedro) wide. Villa isn't a really a lone striker nor a central one, he really benefits from having a Torres or Llorente on the pitch. After tonight's performance, I wouldn't be surprised if Torres is benched again but Del Bosque switching back to having two strikers with Llorente partnering Villa next Wednesday. Cech did make a good save against Torres at the very end. Don't know if it was on target to go in though as Nando was shooting well wide of the goal.

Found a video with English translation.

Oops, the second link is the Spanish version of his site and there's a video of the ceremony honoring him. Sorry I don't know Spanish myself. I use google translate for the text. If you click on the British flag on the upper right hand corner, you'll go to the English version of his site and there's an article on his day but no video.

Ah, forget it. Torres had a big day today, he was awarded by his hometown, visited the sports complex which bears his name and he's joined up with his Spanish mates. He'll be alright. The goal will come sooner or later. He's a pro and he get through this. Meanwhile enjoy all the media attention he's gotten today. http://www.fernando9torres.com/index.php?p=4490 http://www.fernando9torres.com/index.php?lang=es

Can he not prove his point by being a good midfielder, like actually providing service to the strikers and staying out wide instead of clogging up an already congested middle?