^ Shut up you. Nobody noticed.

erm...I think I did!

Determination 1

The best thing you could say about tonight's performance from Torres is that he tried hard. Again.

I've seen that movie many times before though and it has the same familiar unfulfilling ending with him on his ass, beaten by yet another defender to the ball and cursing the referee in Spanish over the fact that he forgot how to play football.

It seemed to take him getting pissed at the ref. there is definitely another gear but is it enough. I doubt it.

made a note to watch him yesterday. For approx 10 min during the 2nd half - he never made a run, tried to lose his marker, and twice when Chelsea were in posession, he hid!!!! He literally run behind company and made himself unavailable.

The fella is and embarassment! Sometimes your forward has to be the difference, the one who wins you the game. In 2 years Nando is no where near it!!!

Drogba on the other hand won back to back titles in his first 2 years and a leauge cup!

(and dont say Torees really played any helping hand in last years trophies, he was a bit part player at best - and they were the only trophies he's ever won during his career!)

Christ, Temberz.

For one moment forget about the service or the perceived lack of it. He cost £50 million big ones. He is supposed to be, (allegedly), world-class. When, oh when, is he going to make something for himself? When is he going to pick the ball up turn, sprint past a defender or two and get a shot away? When is he going to throw himself onto the end of a cross? When is he going to take a ball on his chest, out-muscle an opponent and send a screamer into the back of the net ala' Drogba against Tottenham/Everton/Liverpool? When?

Please. Stop with the excuses.

First things first, he has to put his boots on the right feet

The sooner January comes the better. If the board dont sign a new striker then we are in deep sh*t. The board sacked RDM because they were worried for the rest of the season well in that case Roman you need to ditch Torres and sign a striker who actually wants to play football and score goals.

The sooner January comes the better. If the board dont sign a new striker then we are in deep sh*t. The board sacked RDM because they were worried for the rest of the season well in that case Roman you need to ditch Torres and sign a striker who actually wants to play football and score goals.

I totally agree. The sooner RA realises that the signing of Torres has been a spectacular failure the better for everyone concerned including Torres.

First things first, he has to put his boots on the right feet

Surely he has to put one of them on the left foot? Maybe that's what he's been doing wrong!

Edited November 26, 201213 yr by moi

Yesterdays performance didnt do anything to add or subtract from any of the numerous arguments that have already been aired on multiple occasions.

I think that any striker in world football would have struggled with the service yesterday, in that our midfield was out battled and our ball retention was generally poor.

Despite the above, that is not to say that i saw many postives from Torres game. When the ball did come to him, he didnt do anything to convince me that he is about to turn a corner. He never looks comfortable in possesion, and always looks like he is seconds from losing possession or falling over. He appears to be a fragile shell of a player waiting to crack at any moment...

I think that any striker in world football would have struggled with the service yesterday, in that our midfield was out battled and our ball retention was generally poor.

The words "old chestnut" spring to mind. Can't we ban the word "service" from this thread? For two f**king years we've been hearing it.

Torres got ripped by Neville on Sky during the game and rightly so. He does not play off the shoulder, he starts his runs too deep, when he can be bothered to run, and his runs are predictable. He is not looking to get in behind because he does not have belief in his finishing and his pace, therefore he is hiding. It looks like he is trying, to the uninitiated, but he's not trying to do the things that matter. Defenders have an easy ride against him.

Edit: We need to get shot.

Edited November 26, 201213 yr by Davey Baby

MOTD yesterday saying his team mates weren't helping. Load of bollocks. Mazacar couldn't get forward in time to help because d**khead Benitez told defenders to play the long ball. Torres can't win flick ons or hold the ball up so there's f**k all point in booting it long to him.

Torres was crap and Benitez tactics, offensively, were sh*te. Man City are not playing well and haven't been all season. If we'd had a go I thin there's a strong possibility we could have grabbed a win.

I've always been a supporter of Torres as I'd always pointed out that he did make good runs and we hadn't played to his strengths!

BUT......................

Lets not kid ourselves, in the last 3-4 weeks, he has played poorly and I'm being polite when I say that!

He has played more than all of the other players, and (I can't believe I'm about to type this) it may be down to tiredness, but whatever it is, we need to get someone in to play up front for a couple of games at least that is going to offer us some movement and a threat!

In a way i admire your blind loyalty.

There was evidence yesterday that 'Mazacar' were trying to pass the ball out to Fernando a lot quicker and earlier than usual. However every time they did that Torres was easily cleaned out by Kompany and Nastasic (sp). Maybe Benitez can get Torres firing again but that'll be the only way to get the fans on his side.

Personally, I'm now at a point where I've lost faith in Fernando and I truly do not trust him to score. I wouldn't be too surprised if the players have given up on him too.

I doubt that we'll clinch that big name striker in January, the Cavani's and Falcao's of the world. We stand a better chance of recalling Lukaku and persevering with him and Sturridge for six months or going for somebody like Llorente / Huntelaar. Both are in the last six months of their contract so could go cheap. With Sturridge likely to leave anyway we need a new strike force.

As for Fernando, I feel it's best that we part in the summer. There's too much of a media storm around him now and a stint abroad may do him and us some good. Maybe one of the Milan sides with take him, or Juve.

The best thing all around would be to include him in the Falcao deal in January but I guess it would be up to Madrid if they actually wanted him back and if Torres would take a pay cut. If we included him in the deal then we could keep how much of a loss we've taken under wraps.

In a way i admire your blind loyalty.

Its not blind loyalty, earlier in the season he was playing well and contributing, now he's not, simple as!

The best thing all around would be to include him in the Falcao deal in January but I guess it would be up to Madrid if they actually wanted him back and if Torres would take a pay cut. If we included him in the deal then we could keep how much of a loss we've taken under wraps.

Falcao is part owned by a group who are looking for a return on their investment, so a player plus cash deal won't work for them, if we want Falcao and think he is the (next) big money answer to our problems, then I'm afraid that we will be parting with a very large lump of cash!

His buy out is 48 million isnt it? Seems like a fair price to me. Behind Messi and Ronaldo he is probably the best attacker in the world right now and Messi would be worth what? 200 million? Ronaldo 100 million? So 48 mill for Falcao isnt a bad deal i dont think.

As stupid as it sounds now with Rafa in we might not even consider bringing in a high profile striker.

If Robbie got the boot because he couldn't make Torres score I highly doubt Roman is buying Falcao or someone else clearly better striker.

Bringing Romelu back wouldn't help either.

He isn't scoring or creating any goals, but far worse than that, how much is his form affecting the confidence in the rest of the team ?

Yesterdays performance didnt do anything to add or subtract from any of the numerous arguments that have already been aired on multiple occasions.

I think that any striker in world football would have struggled with the service yesterday, in that our midfield was out battled and our ball retention was generally poor.

Despite the above, that is not to say that i saw many postives from Torres game. When the ball did come to him, he didnt do anything to convince me that he is about to turn a corner. He never looks comfortable in possesion, and always looks like he is seconds from losing possession or falling over. He appears to be a fragile shell of a player waiting to crack at any moment...

The words "old chestnut" spring to mind. Can't we ban the word "service" from this thread? For two f**king years we've been hearing it.

Torres got ripped by Neville on Sky during the game and rightly so. He does not play off the shoulder, he starts his runs too deep, when he can be bothered to run, and his runs are predictable. He is not looking to get in behind because he does not have belief in his finishing and his pace, therefore he is hiding. It looks like he is trying, to the uninitiated, but he's not trying to do the things that matter. Defenders have an easy ride against him.

Edit: We need to get shot.

Well, what i would say is that it is team game, and the actions of a persons team mates of course effects a players contribution, be it the service a striker recieves, the cover amidfielder gives to a defender or any other variable in the ganme .. Like it or not, all of our players rely on the service of other players to an extent.

As can be seen by by post in full (copied above), i am not defending Torres and have clearly pointed out the negative things that i saw in his game yesterday...however to say that Torres (or any striker) is not dependent on service is somewhat short sighted, and to dismiss service entirely out of hand is not conducive to giving a balanced overall view.

To be clear, I am of the opinion that even IF Torres got good service (which in my view he didnt yesterday), then i have no confidence that he will be in a position to take any chance created for him (or by

him) and i cannot see a way back for him here...Flogging a dead horse springs to mind.

However i maintain that the service that he recieved yesterday (or lack of it) played a part in a larger overall problem. It is one of many issues, however it is an issue all the same.

Edited November 26, 201213 yr by nonotnowjim

Thats my worry. Just another roll of the dice thinking Torres will change. I hope this isnt the case.

The team as a whole attacking wise was very poor yesterday, Torres or not that would not have improved our 3 creative sparks.

We know we need a new option but Roman has already spent £70 million in the summer, if people think another £50 mill is going to be spent on Falcao in Jan then I think some are in dream land.

Edited November 26, 201213 yr by RFC_CFC

We know we need a new option but Roman has already spent £70 million in the summer, if people think another £50 mill is going to be spent on Falcao in Jan then I think some are in dream land.

If you were supporting Chels before Roman, you will know that since 2003 we have been in dreamland, but somehow in the last few weeks I fell asleep, and now find myself in nightmare land.

If you were supporting Chels before Roman, you will know that since 2003 we have been in dreamland, but somehow in the last few weeks I fell asleep, and now find myself in nightmare land.

Freddy Kruger being Torres?

:D

I say bring back Lukaku from loan at WBA in January and start him every game. He's doing well there and he'll certainly perform better than Torres.

We should write-off Torres right now, bench him. Rafa will be gone in 6 months anyway, who cares if it incurs the wrath of RA.