Topic: Torres: Seriously, What Happened To Him?

[Appreciator of former strikers]

He was great, and to be honest he didn't win anything whilst here and wanted to go win something as many players do at the end of their career. Thankfully he won't win shit and we might next week.

Also, his transfer fee from althetico was 20 mil. his transfer fee to Chelsea was 50 mil.I think he made 5 mil a year whilst here and he was here four seasons.
so we made 10 mil and got 81 goals? I'll take it.

[Matt8Pie]

He scored 81 goals for us.

EIGHTY FUCKING ONE.

What sort of complete twat abandons that to play for a fucking club like Chelsea? Absolutely mental.

I look forward to the day when it all comes out why he felt the need to go. It still doesn't make sense to me over a year on.

[rafathegaffa83]

The day he left I said he regret this decision like Owen did. Their career paths are now awfully similar, if not worse on Torres' behalf. Both have had awful advice at a key stage in their career and left a club near the end of a window during a rebuilding stage. I think at Atletico and Liverpool, he enjoyed a supportive environment. Even when he was sulky and moaning, the Kop backed him to the hilt. The system was built around him and it worked in his favour. When he played for Spain, Villa was often the scorer. Torres sometimes looked ill-equipped to play alongside someone else. At Bayern Munich, the system was built around Ballack. When he moved to Chelsea, he didn't perform as well, as he wasn't the pivot of the midfield; Lampard was. I think Torres' injuries, coupled with his confidence being increasingly ebbed away at by a) the notoriously cliquey Chelsea dressing room b) the expectation to perform immediately and c) the fact he was competing with Drogba, a player who for whom much of the front line attack is built around at Chelsea, for a berth.

[The Fletcher Memorial]

Ryan M, fair play. You must not have seen Rush (still the best for me). Fowler was better than Torres, more natural finisher.

Torres worked hard to get where he did, he earnt his place with us. But then he believed his own hype, and now his ego has took a massive bite out of his arse.

I think i'd have him back in a heartbeat (for the right price), because I believe with us he "clicked" I believe he knows that. I believe he would click again. But would I have him back to see Carroll on the bench all the time? Would I fuck!

[corkboy]

The day he left I said he regret this decision like Owen did. Their career paths are now awfully similar, if not worse on Torres' behalf.

Worse. Owen did pretty well at Madrid when they played him, and ok at Newcastle, 30 goals in 70 games. Torres will have to start scoring pretty soon to catch up.

[Rohit]

Honestly think having to play against his former team as his first match for those plastic twats pretty much determined how his career would go. There was so much pressure on him that day to show much better it was to be with his new club while his old club would just go on a downward spiral. He had to score that game and didn't, he ended up getting subbed only for us to score the winner as he looked on in regret.

Don't buy the crap about injuries getting rid of his pace, still think he has it just think he's confidence is shot. Plus this chelsea team is so slow and turgid any movement he does make will get ignored.

It's his own fault, all he had to do was give us 6 more months to see where we was heading but no and now he is one of the worst transfers in the history of football.

[Fordy]

Why we talking about this knob?

Seriously don't get why some bother with him...

[corkboy]

Of course, we might all be missing the obvious.

[Cpt_Reina]

It's his own fault, all he had to do was give us 6 more months to see where we was heading but no and now he is one of the worst transfers in the history of football.

This is the crux of the matter.

Torres is a selfish prick who decided to jump from what he determined was a sinking ship. Fucked off all those who supported him, even when he was sulking and shite. And fucked of Kenny at the same time.

He's as classless and plastic as the club he now represents.

[Tepid water]

Of course, we might all be missing the obvious.

Dagger broke Torres?

[muyuu]

Don't think I've ever been as gutted for anything related to footie as when he left. And I was in my 30s already. I genuinely thought he was one of us, like Rafa or Reina. Or even Little Luis, Arbeloa and Alonso. The whole lot of Spaniards seemed to get the club.

[rafathegaffa83]

One of the things I've never understood is why Chelsea? Surely, if he was looking to a team on the up who were interested in him, City was the club to be at. Everybody with a modicum of knowledge about PL football would recognize that Chelsea are a team, who like ourselves, were going to have to undergo a rebuilding project. Except, given the age of Chelsea's core and FFP restrictions, their rebuilding process was more likely to be more painful and caustic. Whoever advised him was as short-sighted as he is. He'll be back in Spain next season.

[Kopite72]

This is the crux of the matter.

Torres is a selfish prick who decided to jump from what he determined was a sinking ship. Fucked off all those who supported him, even when he was sulking and shite. And fucked of Kenny at the same time.

He's as classless and plastic as the club he now represents.

Hmmmm....sinking ship eh? I just wish I could see his face when Liverpool are walking out at Wembley to play in a Cup Final on Sunday...if he still harbours any regrets at all...they'll hit home big time if/should we win, and he sees the club he stabbed in the back celebrating with a trophy.

[Kopite72]

Dagger broke Torres?

Of course, we might all be missing the obvious.

Dagger : My ball...fuck off you wimp....smell my elbow.

[Rohit]

One of the things I've never understood is why Chelsea? Surely, if he was looking to a team on the up who were interested in him, City was the club to be at. Everybody with a modicum of knowledge about PL football would recognize that Chelsea are a team, who like ourselves, were going to have to undergo a rebuilding project. Except, given the age of Chelsea's core and FFP restrictions, their rebuilding process was more likely to be more painful and caustic. Whoever advised him was as short-sighted as he is. He'll be back in Spain next season.

City had just bought dzeko for 27million and they weren't in the market for another striker so it ruled them out. Arsenal would never have gone for him and united were out of the equation. He didn't want to move abroad and in spain he wasn't what barca wanted and real madrid weren't an option either. He saw chelsea being slightly better than us and thought its got to be better than it is at liverpool and jumped shipped.

[corkboy]

City had just bought dzeko for 27million and they weren't in the market for another striker so it ruled them out. Arsenal would never have gone for him and united were out of the equation. 

To be fair, he did say he would not move to OT out of respect for the Liverpool fans.

[The Fletcher Memorial]

Well he made his bed, didn’t he? The feelings people have towards him are akin to someone cheating on you. This is where reality gets lost in faith. A question of loyalty; commitment. Can you imagine changing your loyalty so readily? You wouldn’t/couldn’t, would you? Or would you?

Of course not. But that’s us, not him either maybe? What are we talking about here then? What are we comparing?

He’s just a football player. We imposed our faith and ways and beliefs on him. And for as long as he scored goals and appeared to give that love back, our faith was rewarded, justified.

But you have never been in his place and you never will. Did he have that loyalty in the first place? Who knows?

This is nothing new, get over it and understand the strange, unique love and “faith” we have in our idols. This is what we do.  What we will continue to do.

We love those who make us dream; we hate those who would make our dreams seem a fraud.

I don’t know Fernando Torres; I used to think I did, he made my dreams come true, made me believe. And for those times I will always love him. Now though, he’s just Fernando Torres, a Chelsea misfit.

The end.

[Mr Dilkington]

Fuck sake. Watching that video on page 3, and now I'm feeling melancholic.

Still miss him. What a big jessie I am.

Don't think his departure is as clear cut as people are saying either.

[MidwestWool]

How's winning trophies working out for you, Nando?

[Ryan M]

Fuck sake. Watching that video on page 3, and now I'm feeling melancholic.

Still miss him. What a big jessie I am.

Don't think his departure is as clear cut as people are saying either.

I have my questions more on the timing. He could have left in the summer, but never, however he did leave in the winter, despite us being in a better position than the summer. As I said before, I think he had wanted to leave for ages, but maybe was asked to wait till new owners come in because his fee would have extended Hicks & Gillett's reign. More than likely, I'm wrong, but it makes sense to me for that reason.

Maybe in ten years time we will all find out.

One thing that never used to get mentioned out of his 81 goals, non were penalties or free kicks, which is quite amazing.

[Chivasino]

1021, decent post that lad, and some interesting points.

Bottom line is Torres was world class and is now no longer. It's all gone, but in his head only, he still has all the qualities there, in my opinion. I'd put a lot of money on this; if he were offered a move back to us he would bite your fucking hand off and as a result his mindset would change, he would feel his old self again. And you would see the lad we used to adore.

But, and this is a massive BUT! Would any of you have him back?

I would.

[stevenseagal]

Its clear that Rafa knew exactly how to get the best out of Torres and I'm sure Rafa probably went through the tiniest of details about defenders that Torres would face, giving him ideas and telling him where to run, when to run etc etc. Gerrard as well was his supply line and us as fans were totally in love with the player and that helped him I'm sure.

Basically, he needs players who play the game to get the best out of HIM and Chelsea don't play that way. The likes of Lampard, Sturridge and Drogba don't strike me as big team players who would pass on personal glory for the sake of the team.

Torres will never be the player he was, though I'm sure he could be effective in the right team. Would have loved him to have stayed and played with Luis - but thats all in the past now...

[MidwestWool]

1021, decent post that lad, and some interesting points.

Bottom line is Torres was world class and is now no longer. It's all gone, but in his head only, he still has all the qualities there, in my opinion. I'd put a lot of money on this; if he were offered a move back to us he would bite your fucking hand off and as a result his mindset would change, he would feel his old self again. And you would see the lad we used to adore.

But, and this is a massive BUT! Would any of you have him back?

No, not because of what happened, but I think he's done as a player. Our current style of play doesn't suit him either.

[MagicB8all]

Would you have him back though?

Not without Rafa who would need some money to spend.

He scored 81 goals for us.

EIGHTY FUCKING ONE.

What sort of complete twat abandons that to play for a fucking club like Chelsea? Absolutely mental.

I hear ya. But what you discount are:
He never won a trophy with us and he's desperate for one...he'll never get one.- Gerrard etc have tries with us.

G & T promised they'd spend money and spent 2 years starving the club of investment - meant he needed to see Fenway spend money quickly to believe they were different.

Hodgson didn't play football that was bringing the best out in him. to be honest, seems only Rafa knows how to do that.

I think because of the above he panicked and is regretting that especially as we now have a chance of a cup.

[eirwen]

I have my questions more on the timing. He could have left in the summer, but never, however he did leave in the winter, despite us being in a better position than the summer. As I said before, I think he had wanted to leave for ages, but maybe was asked to wait till new owners come in because his fee would have extended Hicks & Gillett's reign. More than likely, I'm wrong, but it makes sense to me for that reason.

That's exactly what happened. Pepe pretty much said so. He wanted to leave in the summer too but was told to wait.

[MagicB8all]

Its clear that Rafa knew exactly how to get the best out of Torres and I'm sure Rafa probably went through the tiniest of details about defenders that Torres would face, giving him ideas and telling him where to run, when to run etc etc. Gerrard as well was his supply line and us as fans were totally in love with the player and that helped him I'm sure.

Basically, he needs players who play the game to get the best out of HIM and Chelsea don't play that way. The likes of Lampard, Sturridge and Drogba don't strike me as big team players who would pass on personal glory for the sake of the team.

Torres will never be the player he was, though I'm sure he could be effective in the right team. Would have loved him to have stayed and played with Luis - but thats all in the past now...

I've said a much earlier. Torres may still be effective in a team like Spurs with Rafa, but certainly not at Chelsea.

[Juan Loco]

He's lost a lot of it physically, and most of it mentally.

I've banged on about this before because IMHO exactly the same thing happened with Owen. Once he lost that bit of extra acceleration, the bit extra he had that allowed him to actually beat a man, he wasn' t the same player. Torres wasn't as good a finisher at Owen, but he was better at beating men. Neither were the same player after that burst went. Owen must've lost it at 21/22. He was still a good striker after that, but never the same as he was at 18. He used to run at players with the ball, but once that ability went, he was very one dimensional. Still quick enough so that you couldn't catch him if you played the ball in behind for him, but nowhere near as dangerous as he was.

Same is true of Torres, or was in his last year and a half with us. If you played through and he got goal side you couldn't catch him. But he was never the same player he was in that first season or two where you could give him the ball whilst running at a defence. Still scored goals like, but very one dimensional after that ability to beat a man with the ball had gone. That goes for both of them. Far too one dimensional to bother persisting with. Both had exactly the same flaw of forcing the team into a one dimensional style as well. Always play it early. Always.

Fuck that. We've got a better striker. Let Chelsea sort the problem out.

[exiledintheusa]

Hope he enjoys watching on Sunday.

[Vork+The Knights of Good]

All feelings towards Torres aside, his downfall really is quite staggering. He was the best striker in the world in his early to mid-twenties and within a few years he is a shell of himself. I think the root of his demise is far too complex to put it down to any one thing. The loss of Gerrard and Rafa is certainly a big factor. Injuries have undoubtedly taken a toll and he simply doesn't fit into Chelsea's system as he did here. But for me, the biggest factor in his subpar play has to be the yips. You can see it any time he takes the pitch in that god awful plastic kit: he's thinking too much. He can feel the eyes on him, the cameras following him, the price tag on his shoulders. It's almost like instead of just going out there and playing the game, he's trying to remember how he used to play at his peak and then mimic that. Whereas his football at Liverpool was a ballet, at Chelsea it's an assembly line.

[Cruiser]

Hope he enjoys watching on Sunday.

He'll be kicking himself

[Upinsmoke]

I dont think it would matter if they paid 50 mill or 1. I cant remember a player to of fell off so much. Talking about a player that was THE best striker in the world. Its mind boggling. He doesnt even look PL standard.

[U13]

Still miss him. What a big jessie I am.

Don't think his departure is as clear cut as people are saying either.

[Mr Dilkington]

He's lost a lot of it physically, and most of it mentally.

I've banged on about this before because IMHO exactly the same thing happened with Owen. Once he lost that bit of extra acceleration, the bit extra he had that allowed him to actually beat a man, he wasn' t the same player. Torres wasn't as good a finisher at Owen, but he was better at beating men. Neither were the same player after that burst went. Owen must've lost it at 21/22. He was still a good striker after that, but never the same as he was at 18. He used to run at players with the ball, but once that ability went, he was very one dimensional. Still quick enough so that you couldn't catch him if you played the ball in behind for him, but nowhere near as dangerous as he was.

Same is true of Torres, or was in his last year and a half with us. If you played through and he got goal side you couldn't catch him. But he was never the same player he was in that first season or two where you could give him the ball whilst running at a defence. Still scored goals like, but very one dimensional after that ability to beat a man with the ball had gone. That goes for both of them. Far too one dimensional to bother persisting with. Both had exactly the same flaw of forcing the team into a one dimensional style as well. Always play it early. Always.

Fuck that. We've got a better striker. Let Chelsea sort the problem out.

His form is so bad though, that I'm almost certain it's something deeper than that.

Even last January under Kenny he looked brilliant in the few games under his management.

[soberphobia]

That's exactly what happened. Pepe pretty much said so. He wanted to leave in the summer too but was told to wait.

Makes sense then why he looked dis interested over the last 6 months with us. I think it is a combination of things but the main on is he played here in a system that suited his game perfectly. He was the ideal striker to play in 4231 never a 433. Also our wingers were more guys that would pass into his feet rather than cross and this just amplified his strengths. Gerrard was his perfect partner and everything was made for him.

Goes to Chelsea and they play to the opposite of his strengths. He has other centre forward types playing alongside him. He was never a muscler like Drogba or Carroll. Loses confidence and gets the yips. Interestingly his finishing at Madrid was always thought to be hit and miss and even nearly on for us he missed a lot of shots but he got given so many chances that many went in and his confidence and his finishing soared.

I don't hold as many grudges against him as others because we don't know how many lies he endured from the cancers. It is just a shame to see him in a shirt that isn't red with Liverpool written on it.

[Tepid water]

That's exactly what happened. Pepe pretty much said so. He wanted to leave in the summer too but was told to wait.

I suppose actually we should be grateful that he didn't go in the summer..

The £50m would have been sent straight to the banks...actually, we would have got less as everyone knew we were utterly desperate for cash...


Maybe him staying for 6 months was a act of compassion to us?

[Cochise]

He'll be kicking himself

He'd probably miss.

[eirwen]

I suppose actually we should be grateful that he didn't go in the summer..

The £50m would have been sent straight to the banks...actually, we would have got less as everyone knew we were utterly desperate for cash...


Maybe him staying for 6 months was a act of compassion to us?

Of course we should be thankful he didn't leave during that window. The money would have been all gone.

I forgot if he said it or Pepe said, but they were told nobody was allowed to leave then, but in the end Mascherano did leave which they found a bit ridiculous apparently.

[beardsley4ever]

For all the stick that Andy Carroll gets in the media, it's pretty clear that we've ended up with the better striker AND £15m.  Nice bit of business that.

[iamrobk]

For all the stick that Andy Carroll gets in the media, it's pretty clear that we've ended up with the better striker AND £15m.  Nice bit of business that.

Despite Torres's struggles, 3 or 4 weeks ago I'd disagree.  But now... I am definitely feeling good.

[anfieldanfield]

Just watched his goals again.

Left foot, right foot, header, tap-ins, screamers, volleys, all sorts. Incredible.

What a fucking player he was. Why did he leave ?

I hope he goes back to Spain, then I'd like to see him scoring goals again. I think he's a c*nt for leaving, but we've all made mistakes, haven't we? We've all made awful decisions in our lives at some point down the line.

I feel very sorry for him.