Fernando Torres

[dodojojo 510]

Just have to keep a level head and remember that it's one goal. There are only 4 games left so I'm not expecting ( but would love) a great scoring run. Especially if Ancelotti keeps him as a supersub. Ultimately there is still the core question of how much Chelsea's style of play can get out of Torres. I do expect him to play with a lot more confidence and joy now.

A miracle needs to happen in order for Chelsea to pass ManU....

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Arsenal with the Ashley Cole saga werent that much better either.

Only because he slated them in his autobiography. That's the only reason they boo/hate him.

Torres has done nothing to warrant such hatred. He has not bashed the fans, he hasn't dissed the club, he has kissed our badge or anything. He's kept his head low and got on with his job. Despicable.

[Steve 10,227]

He is a blue he was a red – Torres, Torres!

He left The Kop to join The Shed – Torres, Torres!

He used to go out on the rob

But now he plays with Side Show Bob

Fernando Torres – Chelsea’s number 9!

[spuz 143]

Only because he slated them in his autobiography. That's the only reason they boo/hate him.

Torres has done nothing to warrant such hatred. He has not bashed the fans, he hasn't dissed the club, he has kissed our badge or anything. He's kept his head low and got on with his job. Despicable.

But they're a massive club playing in the Europa league and haven't won the league for 21 years. (Happy 21st Liverpoo fans !!!,nearly catch us up on 50 before you know it,time soon flies).

They think they're better than everyone and everything. Clearly not that great or Sheik Monsour surely would have chosen to buy them instead of City. That's how shit they are,they've desperately searched for a big money investor for years and found nobody.

One more thing,John Aldridge is just a nob,plain and simple. Plastic paddy that would never get into the England team.

[Tortilla9 390]

I think this kind of sums it up pretty evenly.

Torres Scores

"But the hysteria and vehemence that people spewed forth in the following months was so over the top that I couldn't help but root for him. So to finally see him end football's longest statistical anomaly today—well, let's just say I was relieved." We all were!

"The drought was over, and now this likable but outlandishly persecuted figure could get back to doing what he does best: scoring goals."

[ElNinoSemper 18]

Sometimes when I hear about how Torres won't ever be loved like he was in Liverpool, I suspect what Liverpool fans really mean is that they'll never love another player like they did Torres. But that may be too difficult to admit so it's back to bashing Torres and going on and on about how they don't even care anymore.

Look at how Stamford Bridge celebrated Torres' goal. If he works hard and bangs in the goals, he'll do just fine. He doesn't have a celebrity personality or lifestyle but look at the attention he generates. It's not a coincidence that he's beloved at Atletico and was at Liverpool while he was there. He's a quiet one but he's got star quality. I have no doubts Suarez and maybe to a lesser extent, Carroll will do well at Liverpool. I'm not quite sure they'll generate the same type of adulation on a global basis like Torres did.

And that right there is the nail on the head. I too think that this is precisely the reason why months after his departure, they are still as embittered and hateful as ever. They care so much about him that they can't even focus on their recent thrashing of Birmingham; instead they're trolling forums and YouTube videos about Fernando by the thousands. It's actually pretty startling if you think about it. They are obsessed with Torres.

What sticks the knife in even more is how SB reacted to the goal. They were all feverishly believing the stories about him being an unliked, unsympathetic character at Chelsea and yet the euphoria and wild joy that his team-mates demonstrated blows that crap out of the water. So now he's scoring for Chelsea, like they all knew he would despite the mockery, AND he's popular? The 'pool fans can't swallow that.

After watching (and re-watching) Torres first Chelsea goal this weekend I had a few rambling thoughts:

[...]

The goal, that swivel turn and finish was instinctive finishing. That was the Torres I remember watching. He played with a swagger and purpose and it was fun to watch. Maybe the comforts of moving into a home and being with his young family were the missing puzzle. When he scored his first Liverpool goal this season he looked tired and relieved. When he scored his first Chelsea goal he looked ecstatic.

Frank on Torres

Agreed, that goal was just pure striker's instinct. For once,he wasn't thinking about the goal, about his timing, his approach, he just reacted. That tells me he hasn't lost a bit of what makes him so special. It'll do wonders for his confidence, even if he's not getting much playing time.

Just have to keep a level head and remember that it's one goal. There are only 4 games left so I'm not expecting ( but would love) a great scoring run. Especially if Ancelotti keeps him as a supersub. Ultimately there is still the core question of how much Chelsea's style of play can get out of Torres. I do expect him to play with a lot more confidence and joy now.

A miracle needs to happen in order for Chelsea to pass ManU....

Yes, it is just goal. It's easy to get carried away but I'll be happy if he can score one more before the season ends and has a few more assists. Torres' will flourish next season but it's more important for the team to keep momentum right now. I have little faith Arsenal can take Man U down, but you never know. We certainly have to play our part and not allow any silly slip-ups.

[steve5221 91]

The most encouraging thing is that he seems to have got his pace back, a major asset to his game..

[TomCFC 356]

Torres goal posted on the official site with no commentary - just the roar of the crowd!

http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~2346912,00.html

[Tortilla9 390]

Torres goal posted on the official site with no commentary - just the roar of the crowd!

http://www.chelseafc...2346912,00.html

That's a great clip. The crowd roars when Anelka slips the ball through to Torres, the sound decreases, then the incredible roard when he scores. Classic! Kudos to those at SB for the atmosphere.

[TomCFC 356]

Random fact - Torres' offside goal against West Brom was also in the 83rd minute.

[Tortilla9 390]

My resident 16 year old football expert has been a little bit a of brat lately and jumped on the Torres stinks bus (even after I bought her 3 Torres shirts, ungrateful brat). I told her we weren't watching any more games together. So Saturday came along, we came home after her Saturday game at the 87th minute. Saw the score was 2-0. I knew Frank had scored the 1st goal but didn't know about goal #2. We rewound the DVR and watched the goal. HAPPY DANCE! I told my daughter she could stay and watch and she said "That's the Torres I know. He played like a BAMF on the field like he is."

I said that was an instinctive strike. She was more impressed that he immediately made the run off Anelka after Anelka got his head on Cech's punt, kept his composure, and knew where he was on the field. She said that's harder than it looks to stay on your feet, know where you are in relation to the goal and defenders in that short timespan, and shoot on target. She was also impressed with Anelka giving Torres the great through ball. She said it's like they knew exactly what the other player was going to do and it's so simple, yet so hard.

Then she had the nerve to ask if she could have the new home kit. Brat. (I'm thinking about it. I'm a sucker)

[dodojojo 510]

I'd have sent her to bed without dinner and taken the three shirts back. What's her size by the way? I can PM you my address.

Random fact - Torres' offside goal against West Brom was also in the 83rd minute.

Carlo will have to make sure Torres is on the pitch at the 83rd against the Spurs then.

[Tortilla9 390]

I'd have sent her to bed without dinner and taken the three shirts back. What's her size by the way? I can PM you my address.

Adult small work for you?

We have Torres shirts from Atletico she got when she went to Spain on a school trip. My daughter said the affection and love they still have for Torres is so genuine.

We have Torres shirts from the Spanish NT in red and blue. After they won the WC she wanted the new one with the star. I had to finally say no to that.

We HAD Torres shirts from Liverpool. I was going to keep them even after the stupid scousers started burning his shirt. Once the media/Liverpool attack on Torres started I had to get rid of them. My daughter's friend was going on a mission with her Church to an orphanage in Mexico so we donated the shirts to them. Her friend said the shirts were a huge hit.

That said, I still can't believe the brat had the nerve to get on the bus even for a few matches.

[Tortilla9 390]

Going back to the game - did you notice Torres seems to be wearing the shirt and shorts looser? In my expert analysis I've decided that was one of the key factors.

Seriously, what is in the goal scoring water this week? Villa scored. Torres scored. Dzeko scored. Sure most of you don't care, but Donovan scored in MLS. But we all know nobody took as much flack as Torres. Even my bratty daughter wanted to know why everybody hated Torres so much.

[ElNinoSemper 18]

Going back to the game - did you notice Torres seems to be wearing the shirt and shorts looser? In my expert analysis I've decided that was one of the key factors.

Seriously, what is in the goal scoring water this week? Villa scored. Torres scored. Dzeko scored. Sure most of you don't care, but Donovan scored in MLS. But we all know nobody took as much flack as Torres. Even my bratty daughter wanted to know why everybody hated Torres so much.

That's the million dollar question isn't it? There was a glut of strikers having a barren run at the same time Fernando was, but nary a peep was heard about them. One ESPN columnist wrote an article a few days back bemoaning the fact that he couldn't rag on Torres anymore. And how much he'd enjoyed doing it before his goal on Saturday. Something to do with putting the arrogant Torres in his place. Fernando, arrogant? Don't see it myself.

[spuz 143]

I blame the rain sodden pitch. If the pitch wasn't drenched then Nando's first touch would have seen the ball get away from him.

Glad it chucked it down.

[Tortilla9 390]

<br />One ESPN columnist wrote an article a few days back bemoaning the fact that he couldn't rag on Torres anymore. And how much he'd enjoyed doing it before his goal on Saturday. Something to do with putting the arrogant Torres in his place. Fernando, arrogant? Don't see it myself.<br /><br /><br />

I think it was during the transfer there was some talk about Fernando and the press and the lack of press interviews he did. A lot of Liverpool fans referred to the interview Torres supposedly did with an English paper in December or January (can't remember specifically) stating he was staying in Liverpool. Based on this "interview" they said he was a liar and traitor. According to Torres' confidants he hadn't done a paper interview for several months. Torres didn't come out and deny anything which is his style.

Torres will give interviews to the club and let the club post online, etc. I think he trusts that the club will do what's right.

He'll do more interviews in Spain when on Spanish NT duty. But he doesn't do a lot of sit down interviews with the English press. Some say it was because initially he didn't speak English. Once he did learn English he still wasn't comfortable and the potential for misunderstandings between him or the reporter was there. While his English has come a LONG way, it's still his second language and I think he'd rather not. So because the media can't speak to him (or he won't speak to them), they're against him. Or they're just first class lazy pr*cks.

[dodojojo 510]

I nominate option "pricks".

Gosh there should be a primer about the transfer. There is so much BS and propaganda from that week that is still swirling around and I'm afraid that they will define "the truth".

The first one is this Fake Interview This interview is the one most like to bash Torres with--"he promised to stay and then handed in his transfer request three weeks later!" Except a few on the Liverpool boards did some checking to verify the story and no one could. Even the official Liverpool site wouldn't carry the article because they couldn't confirm its veracity. No one could verify an exclusive interview given by one of the most famous footballers in England. And why the hell would Torres talk to People? He didn't say these things post-game or a press conference where the entire media can report it, no he talked exclusively to People and the story was then repeated by all the other outlets.

And read some of the quotes, as if Torres talks like that in English?

He said: “Morally, it would be enormous to eliminate United at Old Trafford, ­although it will not be easy.”

“Who is culpable for our defeats? The coach and the players but it is possible to change things round.

So having pretty much sussed out the interview as fake, a handful of Liverpool fans posted this info on the boards. Not that it made any difference because you still have morons pointing to this article to justify their righteous anger over Torres' transfer. He said he loved us only weeks before!

David Maddock wrote a scathing article about how Torres wouldn't talk to the English press this season (can you blame him?). And he hasn't. He'll do the post-game chit chats for a minute or two, the team press conferences, etc but I can't remember the last time he did an exclusive interview with an English-based journalist. Just because they write ABOUT him doesn't mean he's talking to them on a one-on-one basis. No coincidence that the most comprehensive article about his transfer was written by Sid Lowe, who is English but resides in Madrid and covers La Liga. He is fluent in Spanish and has interviewed Torres many times before, going back to his Atletico days. The article wasn't an interview but clearly with the perspective and information that Lowe had, he obviously had direct contact with Torres and/or his management.

So, Liverpool fans, if you're pointing to a fake interview to back up your argument, it's pretty lame-o.

Tomorrow, we'll dissect point #2: "Torres only gave us 3 days notice!"