Torres

[Bailo]

This is not criticism of him before anyone starts.

 

Noticed tonight the snarly, arguing Torres was playing - he's only been out a few times in his time here, but it usually correlates with a poor performance. Was it Lescott's early challenge that pissed him off, frustration at our play, frustration at his lack of match fitness or what?

 

He seems so laid-back normally, just wondered if there's something else at play here. To me, he seems like he's still carrying some injury. No f***ing way should we be letting him play for Spain.

[Chili Palmer]

This is not criticism of him before anyone starts.

 

Noticed tonight the snarly, arguing Torres was playing - he's only been out a few times in his time here, but it usually correlates with a poor performance. Was it Lescott's early challenge that pissed him off, frustration at our play, frustration at his lack of match fitness or what?

 

He seems so laid-back normally, just wondered if there's something else at play here. To me, he seems like he's still carrying some injury. No f***ing way should we be letting him play for Spain.

 

 

Evil Torres only comes out at Everton.

 

That pit would make anyone angry.

[smithdown]

If he'd got sight of goal he'd have smashed it in and ran in front of the gwladyses again.

[Swipe]

Yeah, he looked pissed off royally.

 

Think after the euphoria of Chelsea, the lack of match fitness caught up with him. The early tackle seemed to bother him - perhaps more mentally than physically.

 

He looked wrecked (despite the commentator willing him to be injured!).

 

Have to say though, Jagielka (sp?) has handled him well over the last few games. I'm sure a sharp Torres would give him a much tougher test, but the defender did well and Torres didn't look like he enjoyed playing against him. He's used to being quicker and stronger than most defenders!

 

Also surprised he didn't get booked. He was mouthing off at every decision that went against him. Also clattered into Neville at one point!

Edited February 5, 2009 by Swipe

[Hieronymus Bosch]

He appeared frustrated that he wasn't getting any change out of Jagielka (or the ref, for that matter) and it seemed to affect his decision-making. Too often he tried to run down dead-ends rather than play it simple (it didn't help him being isolated after Lucas got set off, mind - the big man up top role doesn't suit him). He's going to have to get used to being a marked man domestically.

Edited February 5, 2009 by mrshah

[Bailo]

Have to say though, Jagielka (sp?) has handled him well over the last few games. I'm sure a sharp Torres would give him a much tougher test, but the defender did well and Torres didn't look like he enjoyed playing against him. He's used to being quicker and stronger than most defenders!

He did, but to me it seemed every time Nando got the ball, he turned into the tackle rather than away.

 

I've also not noticed Jagielka being pacey before, which suggests to me Nando wasn't really opening up last night. Hope that's just temporary lack of match fitness.

[sean]

He was owned last night. 'Jags' is the new Bobby poxy Moore. Come on Nando lad, get it going.

[Leo No.8]

Rafa infuriates me with his substitutions.

 

The number of times he's took off players I've wanted him to leave on, then last night (particularly after the sending off and playing up front became just running round after Everton's back four) I was imploring Rafa to take Torres off.

 

He was clearly knackered, possibly carrying an injury and was getting kicked everywhere. We weren't providing him with any service so it was absolutely pointless leaving him on.

 

If he doesn't start at Portsmouth I'll be f*cking annoyed. He needs playing time but that clearly wasn't doing him any good at all last night after about 70 minutes.

[Hieronymus Bosch]

Rafa infuriates me with his substitutions.

 

The number of times he's took off players I've wanted him to leave on, then last night (particularly after the sending off and playing up front became just running round after Everton's back four) I was imploring Rafa to take Torres off.

 

He was clearly knackered, possibly carrying an injury and was getting kicked everywhere. We weren't providing him with any service so it was absolutely pointless leaving him on.

 

If he doesn't start at Portsmouth I'll be f*cking annoyed. He needs playing time but that clearly wasn't doing him any good at all last night after about 70 minutes.

Fair enough; Torres was clearly shot to pieces. But Rafa probably feels that he can't win - take your out-of-form match-winners off, he gets slated; keep them on, he gets slated.

[Leo No.8]

Fair enough; Torres was clearly shot to pieces. But Rafa probably feels that he can't win - take your out-of-form match-winners off, he gets slated; keep them on, he gets slated.

 

Know what you're saying, but I just felt last night was the right match to take him off in bearing in mind:

 

 

The player's contribution, it didn't look like his night and he looked tired from the first half

 

The game itself and the way it was going, very scrappy, few chances

 

The opposition, very physical defensively and likely to cause him an injury

 

The competition which is third on our list of priorities.

[Valleys Red]

Noticed tonight the snarly, arguing Torres was playing - he's only been out a few times in his time here, but it usually correlates with a poor performance.

 

[MFletcher]

And if he'd taken him early he'd have been slated by some for taking off our only genuine goal scoring threat - the line of argument going he 'only needs one chance to win the game'.

 

He can't win.

[JRC]

And if he'd taken him early he'd have been slated by some for taking off our only genuine goal scoring threat - the line of argument going he 'only needs one chance to win the game'.

 

He can't win.

Copyright - Wigan; evidence apparently of Ridiculous Rafa cracking up - and a game we actually were winning at the time, remember

[Minder78]

Clive "name on the cup" Tyldsley was putting my bangers away last night. He wanted Torres injured so he could get the boot into Rafa & as for Jagielka, he played well but its not as if Torres was picking the ball up and he was beating him with superb positioning, tackling etc. Majority of the time Torres was chasing lost causes/aimless punts and Jagielka was beating him to it. You would have thought according to Tylsdley you were watching a souped up Franco Baresi.........

[Mr Makaveli]

Fair enough; Torres was clearly shot to pieces. But Rafa probably feels that he can't win - take your out-of-form match-winners off, he gets slated; keep them on, he gets slated.

 

Exactly. Liverpool fans everywhere are losing perspective... I think Torres should have come off sooner. It is the feckin league we 'want to win more than anything' right? All these people slating Rafa for playing him for so long will be up in arms if he doesnt make the full 90 minutes in our next league game alright.

[Molby]

And if he'd taken him early he'd have been slated by some for taking off our only genuine goal scoring threat - the line of argument going he 'only needs one chance to win the game'.

 

He can't win.

 

 

so what?

 

he should have taken him off as he wasn't going to get a chance that he didn't create himself

 

and he wasn't in the right shape to do that yesterday

[matty]

If Jagielka makes one decent tackle on Torres in a match, he gets the MotM award. For this is the new law of football.

[Bootle Buck]

If we look back over Torres career last season was a bit of a one-off with the amount of goals he scored. I'm sure coming into his second season he expected tp prove himself again. However, with a long Euro 2008 and his niggling injuries, this season must be considered a let down for him. I can see his frustration as he has returned to a team lacking in confidence from a month or so ago and his fitness levels are certainly not at 100%. Now with Stevie out and Keane gone there is more pressure on him to come up with a peice of magic in every game. We have no real goal threat apart from him right now.

Edited February 5, 2009 by Bootle Buck

[Swipe]

If Jagielka makes one decent tackle on Torres in a match, he gets the MotM award. For this is the new law of football.

 

Carra and Skrtel were far better during the game. Especially considering we played a long time with 10.

 

But lets remember it's Jim Begln who gives out the award.

[Guest PaulMcC]

He was wrecked.

[Hieronymus Bosch]

Carra and Skrtel were far better during the game. Especially considering we played a long time with 10.

 

But lets remember it's Jim Begln who gives out the award.

Remember, Jagielka and Lescott are second only to Ferdinand and Vidic as the best centre-back pairing in England.

[CaptainXabi]

He's frustrated, and rightly so. Coming back from injury and having to chase long balls is not fun and he's just lost his best and only consistent source of chances.

[Swipe]

Remember, Jagielka and Lescott are second only to Ferdinand and Vidic as the best centre-back pairing in England.

 

Made me laugh, that bit!

[abc]

Made me laugh, that bit!

 

Didn't he quote Moyes?

[Earl Hafler]

He's frustrated, and rightly so. Coming back from injury and having to chase long balls is not fun and he's just lost his best and only consistent source of chances.

 

 

We can be really poor at supporting the player with the ball - players tend to stand still and expect him to work miracles. Benayoun did alright last night after trying to create an opening whilst everyone else just stood and watched or ran to the back post.