Fernando Torres, Spanish, twenty seven. The basic information of a footballer who was once considered one of the best strikers in Europe, but who is now considered just plain old average. A few years back, at international and at club level, he had every defender shaking in their boots. Pace, power and prowess. What every striker needs to succeed at the highest level, something he did do for a period of time. But over the past eighteen months, he's left it all behind, leaving us all asking the same question, is it ever coming back?
Today marks the day where Fernando Torres has been left out the Spanish national side, once again, for the friendly against Venezuela. He was once an integral part of the side, scoring the winner in the 2008 Euro final against Germany. Now, no-one seems bothered. He just isn't doing it anymore. Not being included in Spain's second to last friendly before the Euros is a worrying sign that even his own national team manager has no faith in him.
Torres has put away just four goals in twenty nine games so far this season. For Chelsea's fifty million pound striker, the return has been seriously below par. During his last season at Liverpool and in South Africa, he had been plagued with injuries and was also still trying to rediscover his form. But all front men dip in form, and before this bad patch, Torres' goal return was second to none. Due to his early statistics in his Liverpool career and his time at Atlético Madrid, Chelsea paid over the odds for him expecting him to pick his game up. But he hasn't.
Pundits, fans and players all thought with Drogba going to the African Cup of Nations, Torres would settle into the side more. This was the last chance, if Drogba departing for a few weeks couldn't improve Torres' performances, nothing would. In return it didn't happen. Daniel Sturridge stole the lime light and was much the preferred striker due to his unseen good form.
No-one can explain why it has all gone down the drain. It’s hard to imagine that a player of Fernando Torres’s ability would permanently lose all his potency in just a few months. Yet, has his confidence finally been dealt an unrecoverable blow?
Football blog discussing everything to do with European Football.
Friday 24 February 2012
Thursday 23 February 2012
Pearce makes bold changes
Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard have been left out of the England squad for the forthcoming friendly against Holland. Tom Cleverly, Frazier Campbell and Micah Richards have all been included which is a surprise to many. Out with the old and in with the new.
The current England caretaker manager and England Under-21 manager has made some bold changes, leaving out vice captain Ferdinand and loyal servant Lampard for those to be replaced with inexperienced youth. Players such as Daniel Sturridge, Adam Johnson, Danny Welbeck and Phil Jones have also been included in the twenty five man squad. Pearce has included the younger players he is familiar with, working with them in the Under-21 squad and has implemented the changes we've been crying out for since our failure in South Africa. With the inclusion of these confident, younger players hopefully we can see more spark in the England performance against Holland with each of them eager to impress. However, where is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain?
Goalkeepers: Scott Carson, Joe Hart, Robert Green
Defenders: Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Leighton Baines, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Micah Richards, Chris Smalling, Kyle Walker
Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Tom Cleverley, Stewart Downing, Adam Johnson, Steven Gerrard, James Milner, Scott Parker, Ashley Young, Theo Walcott
Forwards: Darren Bent, Fraizer Campbell, Daniel Sturridge, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck
The current England caretaker manager and England Under-21 manager has made some bold changes, leaving out vice captain Ferdinand and loyal servant Lampard for those to be replaced with inexperienced youth. Players such as Daniel Sturridge, Adam Johnson, Danny Welbeck and Phil Jones have also been included in the twenty five man squad. Pearce has included the younger players he is familiar with, working with them in the Under-21 squad and has implemented the changes we've been crying out for since our failure in South Africa. With the inclusion of these confident, younger players hopefully we can see more spark in the England performance against Holland with each of them eager to impress. However, where is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain?
Goalkeepers: Scott Carson, Joe Hart, Robert Green
Defenders: Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Leighton Baines, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Micah Richards, Chris Smalling, Kyle Walker
Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Tom Cleverley, Stewart Downing, Adam Johnson, Steven Gerrard, James Milner, Scott Parker, Ashley Young, Theo Walcott
Forwards: Darren Bent, Fraizer Campbell, Daniel Sturridge, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck
André Villas-Boas was always a gamble
André Villas-Boas has only been a manager since the 2009-2010 season, and now he's currently in charge of one of the biggest clubs in Europe. It was a huge gamble and whether or not it was successful, will be determined over the coming weeks.
A very good season in charge of Porto last year landed him the Chelsea manager's job. A huge gamble. Roman Abramovic only accepts success and has a history of sacking managers within a season or two of not winning anything. Scolari, Grant and Ancelotti are prime examples of this, and unless Abramovic has changed his ways, it must almost be time for André Villas-Boas to go.
Currently 3-1 down on aggregate to Napoli in the Champions League awaiting the second leg, and facing a replay against Championship side Birmingham in the FA Cup. If both these ties are lost, and with André Villas-Boas conceding the Premiership title not so long ago, it is almost certain that their is going to be a job vacancy as manager at Chelsea to finish off the rest of their dying season and start fresh for next.
On day one of the season they were serious title contenders, now they are struggling to get into the top four. It looked promising in August with Chelsea hopeful of Torres to be firing on all cylinders, the signings of Mata and Luiz to also help aid their attempt at glory. It's just not worked.
The price paid for André Villas-Boas' services is a talking point, "Why would Abramovic get rid of him when he paid £13.3 million to get him here in the first place?" A sentence many fans have said and also André Villas-Boas himself has also been quoted to have said this. But that figure is nothing like what was spent on a very under performing striker in Fernando Torres by Abramovic, he isn't afraid to splash the cash out, as we know.
If Chelsea beat Napoli, beat Birmingham and pick a few points up in the table, the pressure will be released. André Villas-Boas will be able to breath a little and try to progress further on. I'm sure winning the Champions League, FA Cup and finishing 3rd is an extremely good season to any Chelsea fan? It can still be done. However, the next few weeks are vital to André Villas-Boas and Chelsea's season.
A very good season in charge of Porto last year landed him the Chelsea manager's job. A huge gamble. Roman Abramovic only accepts success and has a history of sacking managers within a season or two of not winning anything. Scolari, Grant and Ancelotti are prime examples of this, and unless Abramovic has changed his ways, it must almost be time for André Villas-Boas to go.
Currently 3-1 down on aggregate to Napoli in the Champions League awaiting the second leg, and facing a replay against Championship side Birmingham in the FA Cup. If both these ties are lost, and with André Villas-Boas conceding the Premiership title not so long ago, it is almost certain that their is going to be a job vacancy as manager at Chelsea to finish off the rest of their dying season and start fresh for next.
On day one of the season they were serious title contenders, now they are struggling to get into the top four. It looked promising in August with Chelsea hopeful of Torres to be firing on all cylinders, the signings of Mata and Luiz to also help aid their attempt at glory. It's just not worked.
The price paid for André Villas-Boas' services is a talking point, "Why would Abramovic get rid of him when he paid £13.3 million to get him here in the first place?" A sentence many fans have said and also André Villas-Boas himself has also been quoted to have said this. But that figure is nothing like what was spent on a very under performing striker in Fernando Torres by Abramovic, he isn't afraid to splash the cash out, as we know.
If Chelsea beat Napoli, beat Birmingham and pick a few points up in the table, the pressure will be released. André Villas-Boas will be able to breath a little and try to progress further on. I'm sure winning the Champions League, FA Cup and finishing 3rd is an extremely good season to any Chelsea fan? It can still be done. However, the next few weeks are vital to André Villas-Boas and Chelsea's season.
Wednesday 22 February 2012
Harry Redknapp for England, surely not?
Fabio Capello resigning as England national team manager has got every English football fan on their feet, chanting 'Harry Redknapp for England'. Understandable though, the best English manager at the moment and after recent foreign failure every fan wants an Englishman.
Harry Redknapp isn't used to winning trophies. Harry Redknapp has only ever managed one season in the Champions League. Harry Redknapp wouldn't be able to buy and sell players, one of the things that have made him such a succesful manager in recent years. Redknapp's wheeling and dealing has made him such a respected, reputable manager. Luka Modric for example, wouldn't be the player he is today without Redknapp's guidance. A revitalised Rafael Van der Vaart also, as well as several others. But none of this would be needed in the England job.
Despite Mr.Redknapp's plus points, he's also never managed internationally. So what? Some of you might say, but Fabio Capello also hadn't managed internationally before and we are left with very few, if any, positive memories of Capello's reign. The manager before Capello, Steve McClaren, which we are left with even worse memories, failing to qualify.
All in all, England's fans are impatient. Desperate for a trophy, or even a semi final. Our forty year plus wait for some glory is becoming increasingly unbearable. Indivudually, we have the players to challenge the very best and have done for some time. Harry Redknapp managing after the Euros would be a more sensible idea, otherwise I can see the mountain of expectation this summer destroying our chances once again, something we have seen time and time over. It should be about dealing for the future, with the youngsters being settled into the side. Combine Harry Redknapp's rushed appointment with England's impatient fans, Harry Redknapp could just be another forgotten manager this time next year if he fails in the Euros just like McClaren. The things said about Paul Scholes coming back to international football is just another backwards step as well, but that's another story. To me, it looks like we haven't learnt anything from our 4-1 thumping from Germany in 2010.
I believe we should open our eyes a bit wider and look at the other options avaiable. Hiddink, international managing experience. Mourinho, won trophies everywhere and also previously managed in England. Pep Guardiola, arguably in control of the best Barcalona team of all time with him also mentioning he would like to manage in England sometime. I think the FA should just look further a field and the fans should calm down a bit, sit down and relax. We will get there in the end.
Harry Redknapp isn't used to winning trophies. Harry Redknapp has only ever managed one season in the Champions League. Harry Redknapp wouldn't be able to buy and sell players, one of the things that have made him such a succesful manager in recent years. Redknapp's wheeling and dealing has made him such a respected, reputable manager. Luka Modric for example, wouldn't be the player he is today without Redknapp's guidance. A revitalised Rafael Van der Vaart also, as well as several others. But none of this would be needed in the England job.
Despite Mr.Redknapp's plus points, he's also never managed internationally. So what? Some of you might say, but Fabio Capello also hadn't managed internationally before and we are left with very few, if any, positive memories of Capello's reign. The manager before Capello, Steve McClaren, which we are left with even worse memories, failing to qualify.
All in all, England's fans are impatient. Desperate for a trophy, or even a semi final. Our forty year plus wait for some glory is becoming increasingly unbearable. Indivudually, we have the players to challenge the very best and have done for some time. Harry Redknapp managing after the Euros would be a more sensible idea, otherwise I can see the mountain of expectation this summer destroying our chances once again, something we have seen time and time over. It should be about dealing for the future, with the youngsters being settled into the side. Combine Harry Redknapp's rushed appointment with England's impatient fans, Harry Redknapp could just be another forgotten manager this time next year if he fails in the Euros just like McClaren. The things said about Paul Scholes coming back to international football is just another backwards step as well, but that's another story. To me, it looks like we haven't learnt anything from our 4-1 thumping from Germany in 2010.
I believe we should open our eyes a bit wider and look at the other options avaiable. Hiddink, international managing experience. Mourinho, won trophies everywhere and also previously managed in England. Pep Guardiola, arguably in control of the best Barcalona team of all time with him also mentioning he would like to manage in England sometime. I think the FA should just look further a field and the fans should calm down a bit, sit down and relax. We will get there in the end.
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