Las7

This had the feeling of a friendly game, no intensity required from our lot. Hopefully this easy game doesn't make the players over confident for the Final because Corinthians are a tough nut to crack.

First half was forgettable apart of our goal. Luiz is alright in midfield but can't really draw too many conclusions from this first half. It's low intensity football mostly from us.

Poor ball ? It wasn't the best ball in the world but the control shown was awkward at best

What an absolutely classy goal by Mata! Oscar and Cole just ripped them apart.

I gotta say about (3), that CV is not a reason as proved by us getting Grant and RdM as short term managers. I'm certainly inclined to think that Torres was a major part of the reason why we got FSW, but if that's clear it will be proven by the type of striker we bring in in January. If we bring in some "prospect" or some 30 year old back up than I can state with 99% certainty Torres coming good was the major reason.

Disappointing we didn't put Sunderland under more pressure they constantly f**ked up at the back, should have been a far more comfortable second half but defensive subs allowed Sunderland to get back into the game and gain the momentum in the second half.

In the end two goals gifted by Sunderland's defense, some other decent chances not taken and midfield getting dominated 30 odd minutes by Sunderland. While RdM always left his subs far too late, Rafa is just making defensive substitutions

Lampard on for Hazard

Spot on giving Sunderland the initiative again

Luiz with an important header under pressure

Rafa really doesn't rate Marin

LoL second time Sunderland tried to assist Torres MAAATTAAAA!

Good first half by Torres, stepping up scoring I think his first penalty in England

LOL Torres even getting assisted by Sunderland defense, they must feel sorry for him

Complete spastic

Apr 23 2011 v West Ham: Second goal in easy 3-0 home win. Sep 18 v Manchester United: Consolation strike in 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford. Sep 24 v Swansea: Opening goal in 4-1 win, but awarded red card for two-footed tackle on Mark Gower. Oct 19 v Genk: Netted second and third goals in 5-0 mauling of the Belgian side. Mar 18 2012 v Leicester: Third and fourth goals in 5-2 FA Cup win to end his 24-game scoreless run. Mar 31 v Aston Villa: Last-minute final goal in 4-2 win at Villa Park. First Premier League goal in 20 games. Apr 24 v Barcelona: Injury-time goal to ensure we were not worried about our progress to Champions League final Apr 29 v QPR: Hat-trick in 6-1 rout although Chelsea were two ahead before his first. Aug 22 v Reading: Go-ahead third goal in 4-2 victory over newly-promoted side. Aug 25 v Newcastle: Netted second goal in a 2-0 home win. Sep 25 v Wolves: Fifth goal of 6-0 Capital One Cup canter at Stamford Bridge. Sep 29 v Arsenal: Opening goal at Emirates as Blues win London derby 2-1. Oct 6 v Norwich: Early equaliser as Blues go on to win 4-1 at home. Nov 7 v Shakhtar Donetsk: Blocks keeper’s clearance back into net for opening goal of match won by Victor Moses in stoppage time. Dec 5 v Nordsjaelland: Scored two goals one of which put us in front in a 6-1 victory over the Nords. Sturridge who apparently is not good enough had 9 goals last season which were either opening goals; equalizers; or put us in front I find it hilarious how people that don't think Sturridge is good enough for CFC are the same ones that keep defending Torres.

Why - because there isn't a striker in Europe who has played as many minutes as Torres. While 33% of his "fantastic" tally is against Nords and Wolves. There are 19 players who have outscored him in the league, and 31 players who have higher or equal tally to him. Out of those players you won't find a single one who has played as much as Torres, virtually everyone has a better goal per minute average other than Adebayor who has played 1/4 of the time Torres has and Balotelli who is 4th choice at City.

Virtually all of City's strikers have better minute per goal ratio - only Balotelli has the exact same minutes per goal as Torres.

Torres has scored a goal for every 239 minutes he has been on the field. Rooney has scored a goal for every 158 minutes he has been on the field. Balotelli has scored a goal for every 239 minutes he has been on the field. Tevez has scored a goal for every 172 minutes he has been on the field. Aguero has scored a goal for every 167 minutes he has been on the field. Dzeko has scored a goal for every 119 minutes he has been on the field Podolski has scored a goal for every 208 minutes he has been on the field. Giroud has scored a goal for every 236 minutes he has been on the field. Adebayor has scored one goal for 408 minutes on the field.

He has his own thread, just ask people's opinions there: http://www.theshedend.com/topic/21635-torres-the-groundhog-day-thread/

If the squad was actually burned out Mata; Hazard and Ramires should have been rested in the Nords game and Marin; Piazon given a run out - something which the FSW didn't do, so obviously it doesn't concern him that much and was just an excuse for the poor results in the League since taking charge.

Yeah if anyone says he is back after two goals against the Nords in a match where he had 10 shots towards goal a feat he usually manages in 5 league games is deluding themselves. He still managed to get dispossessed 9 times which in-itself is quite a feat against a make shift defense which failed to feature a recognized central defender after the 9th minute injury to Runje. I mean you cannot take this win without a pinch of salt, I doubt Hazard will be able to beat the whole Sunderland defense and lay off a pass like he did against the Nords, I don't envision Nando having more than 3 shots against Sunderland. Maybe I will be wrong but I still feel there is not enough evidence to expect that Torres's goal drought in the league will end against Sunderland.

Not just you, but Sturridge is more disliked than Torres without question. Best of luck to him, whatever he decides to do - too bad he was never given a chance here, but I have no doubts when given a run in a side he is easily a 20 goals a season player.

Did well tonight, but not reading too much into this result

Hollow Victory in the end but important to get it.