I am starting to believe Torres has to work himself into a "I'm being persecuted" mental state, where he feels the whole world is against him, to galvanize his fire..

 

If that's the case just, he couldn't have a better manager.

Hell of a shift from Torres today, great to see that Swindon wasn't a total one-off.

 

Definately must start in the CL next game.

What's the odds on his red card getting appealed? If so when will we know?

Yeah I liked Torres aggression today. Thought he was just going to crawl into hiding, but he did well. Fair play to the lad

There is a drastic improvement in Torres from when he first signed, that much is clear. It's nice to see him finally looking like he gives a s**t. He's out for the next league game which I hope doesn't affect his stride. We may not see the Torres that played in red but we can see a brilliant player, still.

 

I was really impressed with him today. Terrific performance. Pace, quality passing, unlucky not to get a goal. I just wish he'd curb his temper enough to not end up getting himself sent off. He has a really great game and then that happens, despite it being a harsh decision. Dunno what scratching Vertonghan's face was all about.

For 25 minutes he rolled back the years, credit to Jose's half time team talk - a different player turned up for the second half. Should have been subbed off before getting send off though. Fact is that in those 25 minutes he made as much happen as he usually does in two, three matches. 

Wow on holiday in the Shetlands, so only saw brief highlights, was he that good, some surprising +comments from some usual detractors, good stuff folks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFhHeUNY4jk

Made Dawson look like a donkey when he skipped past him.

I agree with some of the other comments that Torres really looked like he had a fire under his ass in the 2nd half, he looked outstanding.  I'd also agree that we looked quite threatening and it was only a matter of time to crack Lloris' goal a second time, fair play to him he made a couple great saves in the second half.  Dean got the call completely wrong on Torres' second yellow, both players led with the arm and went for the ball but that dick Vertonghen clearly and intentionally slapped Torres in the side of the head AND then proceeded to yank him to the ground by his shirt AND THEN had the audacity to roll around like he'd landed on a mine.  Rubbish call and honestly a red card that I hope is appealed and rarely do I see much need for that as generally the calls are close enough that they aren't going to be overturned but the video evidence on this one couldn't have been clearer in my opinion.

 

All that said, I don't think a draw on a day with both Manchester clubs losing is the worst result but remember in 2010-11 these early season draws are what killed us at the end of the season when we stormed up behind United to challenge for the title.  Maybe our traditional midseason slump has come early?

thought Torres was brilliant and if he plays lkke that Jose will continue to play him. he absolutely needs to start against steau in the cl. then hopefully etoo or ba can fill in well next weekend in the league.

Fair play to him. He has reacted to the signing of Etoo. His finish against Bayern was superb and he was excellent today.

But we've seen many a false dawn. I'm not getting carried away just yet.

I don't think his red can be appealed as he received 2 yellows, not a straight red.

I don't think his red can be appealed as he received 2 yellows, not a straight red.

Absolutely correct.

Torres always plays better when hes angry. He needs to show more aggression in his play - including when he shoots.

I also think Mike Dean knew he made a mistake earlier in the game for the scratch and not sending him off. He compensated for it by giving a soft yellow.

One of his best performances in a Blue shirt.Looked very sharp almost assisted Oscar for the equalizer and almost scored one himself.I know that ''almost'' means nothing in football but a big improvement on his usual poor form.Hope he keeps it up but i won't get my hopes high.

Torres always plays better when hes angry. He needs to show more aggression in his play - including when he shoots.

I also think Mike Dean knew he made a mistake earlier in the game for the scratch and not sending him off. He compensated for it by giving a soft yellow.

while it obviously wasnt a foul when seen on the replay, in real time it did look like torres had gone in aggressively and with his arms up. It was a bad decision, but i can see why it was made. i think it was a very hard one, and as Jose pointed out Vertonghen's reaction probably made the ref's decision for him

Was I right in hearing that even AVB thought Torres shouldn't have been booked again/sent off for that?

I dont know what it is about Fernando but even though hes never produced his best i love the guy....Id be sad if he left....Especialy when he was being given sh*t by spuds on his way off the pitch and he turned to us as we sang his name and clapped

Fast off the mark, can use both feet and pick out a killer pass. Maybe a future Number 10 in the making ???

while it obviously wasnt a foul when seen on the replay, in real time it did look like torres had gone in aggressively and with his arms up. It was a bad decision, but i can see why it was made. i think it was a very hard one, and as Jose pointed out Vertonghen's reaction probably made the ref's decision for him

My thoughts exactly. I'm not angry at Dean because when I first saw the challenge I thought it was a nasty collision, possibly of the heads. We get the replays, he has to make a decision based on the one viewing and I can see why he thought Torres was at fault.

Damn I loved that sh*t from Torres today - I want more anger and aggression, soft yellow, should never have been sent off. Soon as he's legible back in the side... 

He genuinely looked like he gave a s**t. I just wish he looked like that more often. Two games playing brilliantly so far. Let's see if he can keep it up. I think he feels genuinely threatened he will lose his place in the team with World Cup year coming up. That's what's spurring him on. I wonder what would have happened had we signed Rooney?

Fast off the mark, can use both feet and pick out a killer pass. Maybe a future Number 10 in the making ???

 

We could definitely use one!

Graham Poll calls for a 3-match ban for Torres:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2437633/Fernando-Torres-disgrace-Chelsea-v-Tottenham-GRAHAM-POLL.html

It's a shockingly one-sided piece that exudes all the bias against Chelsea and our players that this tosser displayed when officiating our games. I actually agree that Torres was a twat for grabbing Vertonghen and could easily have seen red, but it's the tone of the article that really grates on me. He defends Dean for getting two major decisions wrong - including the second yellow - and claims that Torres's supposed trip (which is at worst an accidental coming together when we were about to win a corner) was 'petulant' and 'probably caused by Torres’ frustration at being shackled so effectively by the Belgian'. Yeah, cos Torres did nothing all game and Vertonghen was fabulous.

He comments on the simulation that led to the second yellow by saying 'the defender’s reaction did not help Dean in determining what disciplinary action was correct', but makes no condemnation of it. And he overlooks his blatant dive and ridiculous confrontation of Torres which led to the scratching by saying 'The defender should be complimented for not reacting during the first incident.' and adds 'it is a pity he did not do the same after the second as, by going to ground in dramatic fashion, he gave ammunition to Mourinho'. Which leads him to take a major pop at Jose, thereby giving ammunition to those of us who were convinced he had an agenda against our players and manager when he used to ref us. Remember the farce of that free kick when he told Eidur to retreat 10 yards, before conspiring with Henry to let him take a quick free kick - for which players are not required to retreat 10 yards. And remember the second yellow he dished out to JT for no apparent reason at 3 point lane, a mysterious decision that led directly to invented stories on a Spuds forum about a supposed racist remark (as they couldn't work out why he was carded either) - malicious lies that have unfairly stuck to JT for years.

 

 

 

 

Poll hates Jose. He mentions Jose's smokescreens but has never once mentioned Fergie's, reason being he was under Fergie's thumb.

 

Poll's agenda is so transparent it's almost comical.