TorresBlue9

Sorry, I disagree. From what I saw, Hart had absolutely no need to come off his line like that. That City defender whose name I can never remember had it covered, he nodded the ball towards Hart and all Hart had to do was catch it, but inexplicably he came off his line and ended up colliding with the ball, allowing it to bounce past him and for Torres to move past him and score. It was entirely Hart's fault which is why City have finally dropped him. Like I said, brilliant for us, and I would never put down Torres's performances, I think he's been magnificent for us lately, and it's all very promising. I was just pointing out that he has been outstanding against Spurs and City yet in those two games scored one goal that was entirely down to a ridiculous error. I don't believe he forced it at all, but of course others may disagree with me. In any case he certainly deserved the goal. It's not important now, anyway. We got the three points and Torres is working hard for the team whether he's scoring or not. Even today he worked like a horse, he just wasn't getting the service.

Not really. I was just stating a fact. I'm not putting him down or belittling his performances in those games in any way whatsoever, he was outstanding in both games. However, were it not for that mistake by Hart, he would not have got a goal in either of those two games where he played out of his skin. I say this not because I have anything against him, I don't at all, I love the guy, I say it because it's true. He didn't force Hart to make that mistake at all. Hart is just an idiot. Thankfully though that worked in our favour that time around.

Nah we'll be fine. We've got Jose back and Torres is back in form. Let's not panic. All is good.

He's a bit of alright, is our Portugese God.

Sadly I can't see him winning the Golden boot. He did score against City and it was a great goal but it was handed to him on a plate, and that was only his SECOND league goal of the entire year. Considering the league games he has played for Chelsea in the whole of 2013, that's actually pretty dire. It's a good job you can't fault his workrate. The only competition he seems to not be able to stop scoring goals in is in Europe. He had his best game in a blue shirt against both Spurs and City and were it not for that calamitious mistake from Hart, probably would not have scored one goal in either game. Suarez, Sturridge, Van Persie, Rooney or Aguero will get the Golden Boot. Torres will get between 10-15 league goals though, for sure.

Jose Mourinho is such a tactical master I get the feeling I could waltz into Cobham and he'd turn ME into a 20 goal a season striker. *I'm a woman, by the way!

I think he meant to say 34. Although I think that was in all competitions in his first season for LIverpool, not just the league. Could be wrong though.

To be fair it was only down to a defensive howler by Hart that we won the game. We certainly were the better side that first half but the second half I thought City had us on the ropes a bit. I was certainly willing to take a point by full time until Torres struck with that well deserved goal, but let's be honest, it was gifted to him. But three points is three points and I certainly wasn't complaining, at the win or Torres's performance. I would however, like to point out that I've always thought Mark Lawrenson was a d**k who has no idea what he's talking about.

I think Torres will have fond memories of all the clubs he played for. I don't pretend to think that he doesn't have good memories of his time at Atletico and Liverpool, despite the fact he never won anything there. He certainly made his mark at both clubs, and fair play to him. It's what he does at THIS club for us now, that matters though. Once his career is over he will be able to look back at the good times with all three clubs, I suppose, and be thankful he finally managed to fulfill his trophy dream with us.

Complete panic buy, mate. He was playing really well for Newcastle and scoring goals and Torres had, to be fair, left Liverpool in the lurch with not much time left in the window.

After 2012 I don't believe anything is beyond us, to be honest. If we can avoid Barca or Bayern in the earlier stages, we can reach the final of the CL. Then we can take that game from there. But I genuinely believe we can win the CL. Why not? We have a fantastic manager, a pretty solid defense and a striker whose hitting top form and confidence- and if the rumours are true that Mourinho is going to go in with a 35 million bid for Rooney in January, even better- we stand an even bigger chance of success. I would prefer us to win the EPL though, if I had to choose one or the other. It's been four years since we won that, or at least it will be next May. Time to celebrate with the trophy again.

Yes, I find this thread interesting to look through just to see how quickly people's opinions have changed since he started actually remembering he's a striker. There are people who have always been behind him and hoped he'd eventually get back to his best, even though they have been aware how poor he's been in the past, and there are people who have slated him at every opportunity and called him for everything, who are now kissing his backside cos he's playing like the old Torres. Should he go back to playing mediocre, however, I'd be very interested to see how this thread takes another turn. So I say, keep it. For the entertainment value.

I think there is a vast difference in the way he played in a red shirt to the way he has played for us. My dad is a Liverpool supporter so more often than not I sat there and watched Liverpool games with him if there was nothing else on. Back then I craved Abramovich to sign Torres cos I just thought he was the best in the world. The way he took the p**s out of defenders, scored with his back to the goal, scored 40 yard curlers, scored when he had absolutely no right on Earth to score. He terrified defences and looked completely formidable to play against. If you saw his name on the teamsheet you knew it was going to be a rough ride. How many goals did he score against us for Liverpool? And looked pretty s**t hot doing it, unfortunately. His performances lately I have definitely seen glimpses of that form, but I'm only pointing out that he definitely isn't 100% back to the Torres of 2007-2009 Liverpool. That Torres was expected to score every time he touched the ball, and more often than not did. I have every faith in him, though. He's pushing 30 so isn't the same youthful striker he was back then but I know he has it in him to be fantastic again. He is already nearly there.

I was once again very impressed with him today. He got a deserved start and Jose was right to keep him on. He should have doubled our lead with that stunning smash against the bar so it was only right he got that goal at the end. It was gifted to him by Hart but who cares, a goal is a goal. Hopefully he can build on from here. Still not quite the Liverpool Torres but slowly but surely we are seeing glimpses. Well done to him today.

Thank you!! That was my point exactly. This is exactly why I was a little apprehensive about starting him against City. Yes, he's in form. Yes, he's scored a few goals, but these were in Europe! He gave us a brilliant performance against Spurs, the best in a blue shirt to be honest, yet he still didn't score. I don't know where it's going wrong for him domestically but if Jose does start him tomorrow and he scores I will certainly give him the benefit of the doubt and continue to use him over Eto'o or Ba. I do think Eto'o and Ba deserve game time, though. They are doing well currently, too.

I think he scored around 80 goals for Liverpool in his three and a half seasons there. He's definitely going to surpass games he played there here, though. He was always missing about five games at a time injured at Liverpool. It was just that there he managed to bang in back to back hat tricks regularly. Something I'd love to see him do for us. Having failed that, consistently scoring, in EVERY competition, would do.

Torres is probably thanking his lucky stars we didn't manage to sign Rooney. Yeah, fair enough, I say start him. He may aswell play consistently to keep his confidence up. I really do think Jose will rotate, though, and start Eto'o.

No i'm not saying I would prefer Ba in general over Torres, at all. But Saturday is not a Euorpean game, it's a league game. We could very well have a brilliant Torres up front, but how often has he replicated his European form domestically? If he starts, fair play, he deserves it. He may very well impress us again. But I would start Eto'o or Ba, and bring Torres on later on.

My logic was that yes, Torres is playing well but if he keeps getting played in every game whilst Ba and Eto'o sit on the bench then a) Ba and Eto'o will both get frustrated b) neither will have the opportunity for gaining some better form and c) Torres may actually burn out. He is in excellent form at the moment but for how long? It does appear to look like he's returning to his old self now but how many times have we all said this after he's gone on a s**t hot run? Personally, I would start Ba or Eto'o against City, and bring Torres on after an hour if we are in need of a goal. For the reason being that Torres seems to thrive more in Europe than in the league. If you don't count that brilliant performance against Spurs, of course. It would be unfair to say that Ba and Eto'o aren't promising strikers at the moment, too. Ba did everything but score a goal against Norwich and Eto'o scored a belter against Cardiff and is looking threatening again. Or, why not do what Jose has tried before, and start TWO upfront? I would have no problems with that, providing he doesn't put David Luiz in the back 4 cos that man is not a defender. He's stronger in midfield.

He's never really been injured for us before though, has he? He's had suspensions, but never injury before this month. Our training methods must be different to Liverpool's cos he was injured for weeks at a time there. If anyone watched the interview with Mourinho after the game last night, he wasn't quick to single out Torres's performance, even though he did mention he has faith in him and was very happy with him, which goes without saying. But he also said that he is happy that all three of our strikers look to be coming into form and they will all get to play. I have this feeling he will start Torres against City. I just hope he can finally take that European form into the Premier League because like I said before, the Spurs game aside, his domestic form is nothing like his European form. He looks absolutely unplayable against European sides. The game against Spurs was the best I've seen him play for us in the league. He's usually quite indifferent, or plays decent but tends to disappear when there's a scoring opportunity.

Yes, he was superb. He IS in Europe. That was my point. He's decent in the league, but no better than Ba and Eto'o. Incidentally, Eto'o is the only striker to have scored for us in the league so far. My point is, surely one game break isn't going to halt Torres's form. An injury hasn't even done that, so I'm guessing he will still be on fire when he plays again should he miss the City game. Of course it makes sense to play an in form striker, but how are Eto'o and Ba going to find form if they're forever being dropped in favour of Torres? What happens if Torres has a stinker and Ba and Eto'o are rusty from not enough game time?

He's looked absolutely superb- in Europe. For a while now. It's the league where he just doesn't convince me. The Spurs game aside, his league performances haven't been the best of, and to be honest I still think Eto'o or even Ba should start against City. Eto'o scored a stunner last weekend and Ba had a great game against Norwich. The reason both these strikers aren't showing their best is that they aren't being given the chance hardly because Torres is always being picked to play. Yes, he's regained confidence and looking good but I would like to see Eto'o and Ba for a bit now, because ideally we need more than one striker.

I hope you're right but best not to tempt fate.

I believe so, and he's happy here. I can actually see us offering him a new contract if this season goes well.