Topic: All I want for Xmas is a fit fernando

[smartyboy80]

Where would we be,, with his presence up front in all these games we have drawn...

I believe we could have been about 6 points clear...

all the best fenando hope to see you soon

[AndrewFitz22]

We would have beaten Hull and the Hammers for sure....

[killer_heels]

We would have beaten Hull and the Hammers for sure....

Yeah, just like we would have beaten Stoke if he was in the team.

Oh, wait a minute....

[LFCfan4Life]

We would have had much more of a chance but it wouldn't be nailed on because as killer_heels says Stoke kept him out

[Ultimate Bromance]

I think a Fit Nando would be on every Redmans wishlist.

[Oingy Boingy]

what if what if what if.......this is up there with the we should win our next five matches easy shite,since when did football become so black and white and easy to read and predict.

[rossipersiempre]

Yeah, just like we would have beaten Stoke if he was in the team.

Oh, wait a minute....

Hmmm, but that wasn't the 12-cylinder-firing Torres we know and love on the Anfield pitch that afternoon.

Whilst I accept there's no guarantees, I'd say the law of averages would suggest a fit Torres playing would have turned at least two out of the subsequent 3 home draws into wins. Pointless speculation mind you, but hard to imagine otherwise. We didn't drop these points by playing badly, just woeful in the final third, no quality and chance after chance wasted by the likes of Keane, Kuyt etc.

[killer_heels]

Hmmm, but that wasn't the 12-cylinder-firing Torres we know and love on the Anfield pitch that afternoon.

Whilst I accept there's no guarantees, I'd say the law of averages would suggest a fit Torres playing would have turned at least two out of the subsequent 3 home draws into wins. Pointless speculation mind you, but hard to imagine otherwise. We didn't drop these points by playing badly, just woeful in the final third, no quality and chance after chance wasted by the likes of Keane, Kuyt etc.

Yes obviously Torres would make a difference. But I dont think its that clear cut because I dont actually think we create as many chances as people think we do.

Until we get some genuine quality at full back and on the wings, we will continue to struggle breaking teams down and rely on players in central areas of the pitch.

[west_london_red]

Yeah, just like we would have beaten Stoke if he was in the team.

Oh, wait a minute....

Stoke were the most negative of the 3. Hull and West Ham were both more open and it would have been easier for Torres to put one away in either of those two then against Stoke. However its all conjuncture.

We do look quite shit without him though.

[its cold in the stands]

Yeah, just like we would have beaten Stoke if he was in the team.

Oh, wait a minute....

everyone could see he had a hangover from the euro`s, he didnt have a proper pre-season because of it.
he was just starting to find his feet around the time of the derby (where he scored an hatrick imo) and the city match but then the curse of the hamstring struck again.
if torres strings about four or five games together he`ll be back firing on all cylinders, and to be honest he`s on a different planet to the likes of kuyt and even keane in terms of leading the line, he can outsprint defenders for a start which neither of those 2 can do.

[GBF]

All I want for Xmas is a goal galore Keane  

[scouser4eva]

Hes already fit.

[rossipersiempre]

Yes obviously Torres would make a difference. But I dont think its that clear cut because I dont actually think we create as many chances as people think we do.

Until we get some genuine quality at full back and on the wings, we will continue to struggle breaking teams down and rely on players in central areas of the pitch.

You know my thoughts, like yours, about our need for some creative AM and W players. Still, I think the Torres question is more clear-cut than you admit, as one of the most dangerous things about Nando is his ability to create his own chances. How many times out of the 33 did we see that last season? Too many to mention.

[liverpoolfcmike]

All i want for Christmas is the two front strikers (fit, creating and scoring goals).

[aggerdoo]

once torres returns our season will get going. torres playwill in front of gerrard in some games and keane will flourish with torres when they play together. kuyt will move to his more dangerous right midfeild position and we'll be a better side. keane and torres was beginning to work at the beginning of october. psv(home) and everton (away) at the end of september. people seem to forget this really.

people can't lose faith in keane because he was bought to play up top with nando, not be a lone striker. the way we havent been able to break down the smaller teams is not due to keane in my opinion. its down to gerrard playing too deep. when gerrard gets forward, as we seen yesterday, no team can handle him. west brom was a prime example of what keane can do with gerrard and the tottenham game which we were unlucky to lose.

[rafa forever]

All i want for Xmas is too be top of the league. Honestly. i'd be soo happy with that.

I'd cut my leg off to win the league and beat utd on their turf.

[CONFIAMOS]

whens he supposed to be back??

[rafa forever]

whens he supposed to be back??

Was Arsenal, but like you said, if he aint 100% will be newcastle.

[Art Vandelay]

I've got an image of our Nando sat under a christmas tree, smiling coquettishly...

[rafa forever]

I've got an image of our Nando sat under a christmas tree, smiling coquettishly...

Eye Eye, steady on now flower.

[Crouchy]

No one has played on the shoulder of the oposition defence since he's been injured, we've got the players to thread the balls through but no one to make the runs.  We need him back as soon as.  He could've finished the game off in the 1st half Yesterday.

[se9R.F.L]

Ifitadnabinfer..... Come on lets no go there.
There's no saying what would have happened if Torres had been ever present this season. we've done brilliantly (points wise) in his absence and when he comes back hopefully the mancs will have a mountain to climb to catch us, games in hand or not.
Get well soon Fernando

[Rotation]

Yeah, just like we would have beaten Stoke if he was in the team.

Oh, wait a minute....

No you're right. The best striker in the world wouldn't of scored in at least one of those games. Oh and since he didn't score in one game at the beginning of the season that proves your point that   Torres isn't going to score in tight games. Were you even watching last season

[Rotation]

I've got an image of our Nando sat under a christmas tree, smiling coquettishly...

Figured there would be an attachment in that post.

[killer_heels]

No you're right. The best striker in the world wouldn't of scored in at least one of those games. Oh and since he didn't score in one game at the beginning of the season that proves your point that   Torres isn't going to score in tight games. Were you even watching last season

2nd best

But what I was saying was that just because Nando wasnt there, it doesnt mean the result is a given. I still think there are other aspects to the team we need to improve and not just assume that Nando not being there was a cause of the draws.

[Crouchy]

2nd best

Who's the best then?

[killer_heels]

Who's the best then?

David Villa.

[Zizou]

David Villa.

Torres is wayyy more suited to the Premier League than Villa.

Villa loses credibility for his "beard" as well.

[killer_heels]

Torres is wayyy more suited to the Premier League than Villa.

Not really the question that was asked though was it.

Also, please dont say its because Villa is lightweight

[Crouchy]

David Villa.

I don't really watch Valencia much so don't know if they play 2 forwards or not but Torres played up on his own for much of last season.  For a striker to play up front on his own and to score 33 goals (no penalties) in his 1st season in England is something special.

Good shout though.

[BazC]

What the hell's going on with him? Rafa said it wasn't a pull or even a tear of the hamstring but it 'tightening' up. All is not what it seems?

Can't believe he's been out for so long- it's cost us a shitload of points for certain.

[Zizou]

Not really the question that was asked though was it.

Also, please dont say its because Villa is lightweight

Not because he's lightweight so much, just different amount of time given on the ball.

I'd still have him here like. Either way, Torres is better.

[carling]

I think it is very clear we are starting to miss him, and which team wouldn't?

We have proved we can do well in his absence, Man U being the prime example.

However him and Gerrard are our two best players, any team in the world would miss their two best players, especially when they are trying to play to the level needed to win the prem.

Look at the Mancs, they looked half the team without Ronaldo and that is why they picked some bad results early on, and were reliant on a few very questionable refereeing decisions in a few other games.

Staying at the top of the table without Fernando and without Keane firing on many cylinders is a fantastic achievement.  I feel though if we want to stay with the pace going into next year then we will need him back and doing what he does best.

[kopite_sg8]

GET WELL NANDO !!
we seriously need you for the rest of the season .... no offence made robbie ..... u keep tryin

[No666]

Why do I have the feeling that no one wants a fit Fernando for Xmas more than Gerrard?

[BazC]

You're all wrong. This season so far, Eto'o is the best striker- fucking epic record. In general for Barca he has 3 goals in 4 apperences. That's pretty amazing.

Villa v. Torres. Torres easily- no striker I've seen recently can match that elegance of Torres when he just 'clicks' into gear and goes for goal. Amazing finisher as well. Villa's probably more skillful but in front of goal Torres has turned into one of the deadliest players around. Although as the Torres rumours were starting (so at the point where people would laugh it off rather than take it seriously) I did say Villa was the better player, but Torres would be better for our team and league. Wish Rafa had gotten both...

[Bob Loblaw]

You're all wrong. This season so far, Eto'o is the best striker- fucking epic record. In general for Barca he has 3 goals in 4 apperences. That's pretty amazing.

Pah, i'd score for fun too in a side thats hammering sides by four or five goals every week. Anelka's record this season for instance is nearly just as impressive.

I'd take Benzema over all of them.

[killer_heels]

You're all wrong. This season so far, Eto'o is the best striker- fucking epic record. In general for Barca he has 3 goals in 4 apperences. That's pretty amazing.

Villa v. Torres. Torres easily- no striker I've seen recently can match that elegance of Torres when he just 'clicks' into gear and goes for goal. Amazing finisher as well. Villa's probably more skillful but in front of goal Torres has turned into one of the deadliest players around. Although as the Torres rumours were starting (so at the point where people would laugh it off rather than take it seriously) I did say Villa was the better player, but Torres would be better for our team and league. Wish Rafa had gotten both...

I think it can be argued either way for favouring Villa or Torres, but i dont think there is anything easily about it.

Villa is just as deadly in the games I have seen him play, when in front of goal he is just as leathal as Torres.

However where his game is better is in other aspects, such as his dribbling and his general team play which I think is better than Torres'.

[rafa forever]

Bring in Eto.

[BazC]

Pah, i'd score for fun too in a side thats hammering sides by four or five goals every week. Anelka's record this season for instance is nearly just as impressive.

I'd take Benzema over all of them.

Yeah but where's the causality? Is it Eto'o playing a big part in their successful attacking play or as you say- him just benefiting from the others?

I think it can be argued either way for favouring Villa or Torres, but i dont think there is anything easily about it.

Villa is just as deadly in the games I have seen him play, when in front of goal he is just as leathal as Torres.

However where his game is better is in other aspects, such as his dribbling and his general team play which I think is better than Torres'.

Yeah dribbling and team play he'll look better than Torres, but I still think Torres is easily the better goalscorer. Well, he was last season. Obviously completely subjective- as we're unable to take into account the league differences and team differences. Would love to be able to compare them next season as they line up for Liverpool week in week out.