To be fair to Fernando Torres, one can understand his wish to move on. We are not in the Champions League and in all probability won’t qualify for next season’s competition. We’ve only been in contention for the Premiership in one of his four seasons at Anfield and with his 27th birthday round the corner, this is a footballer who should be now arriving at the peak of his powers. Torres has won only the Second Division Title in Spain with Atletico Madrid, whereas most of his colleagues in the Spanish team have a plethora of club medals. He would also have the chance to play Champions League football this season.
The previous regime made Torres promises of bringing new players, but with some poor signings and our continuing struggles this season, he is obviously disillusioned. The imminent signing of Suarez has given him an avenue to leave.
The problem with this is transfer request is the timing. Torres at his best is arguably the most complete striker in world football, so just how are we supposed to replace him with another player of a similar standard in the remaining time frame, considering that Liverpool have said and reiterated yesterday that Suarez was not a replacement for Torres? If Torres had posted his transfer request at the start of the month the club would have been in a position to buy replacements with a substantial kitty in the bank reserves. It also not beyond the realms of possibility that a resurgent Liverpool, with Torres and Suarez in tandem could grab fourth place with fifteen games to go, usurping Spurs and for that matter Chelsea.
King Kenny will have to work the oracle to keep not just keep Torres, but to have him stay with a happy heart, as it no good him staying if doesn’t want to be at the club. If he goes and is not replaced, then we are in a worse position with one top class striker at the club, but with no Premiership experience.
Lastly, whether is 40, 50, 60 or 70 million should we be selling to a Premiership rival? Why not say to Fernando, “Stay until the summer, if we don’t get into the top four you can leave, but not to a Premiership rival.” Any decision taken must be for the good of Liverpool Football Club. The club was here long before Fernando Torres and will be here long after he has gone.
KP
Saturday 29 January 2011
All the Liverpool fans this morning should have been waking to be excited about the prospect of seeing Suarez alongside Torres instead they are waking up to the news of a written transfer request from Torres and LFC rejecting this request.
ReplyDeleteWe should force Chelsea to come back with a major offer in the summer but accept a deal with Barcelona!!
His timing has been appalling for us as we now have new owners and new manager in place - they didn't make any false promises to Torres and deserve a chance to see what they can do to improve our situation.
No name on the back of a Liverpool shirt is more important than the crest in the front!!
So ultimately if the board accept any improved offer before Mondays close of the transfer window - I will support my team in the knowledge that LFC goes on with or without him !!!
This was the main LFC football news on 9th Jan 2011 - Spain international Fernando Torres has rejected speculation he could quit Liverpool and has called for supporters to get behind the squad.
ReplyDeleteThe Reds' star striker has been linked with a move away from Anfield following a poor season which has seen Roy Hodgson replaced by fans' favourite Kenny Dalglish.
The former Atletico Madrid man has been linked with an improbable switch to arch-rivals Manchester United, something he has quickly poured cold water over.
The 26-year-old marksman is contracted to the Merseysiders until the summer of 2013, with the option of a further year, and he insists he will see out his deal.
Torres admits the Reds have endured a below-par campaign and has called on everyone who supports the club to give their backing in a bid to turn around their season.
Commitment
"More than ever, we need to stick together," he told The People. "We must live in the present, from match to match.
"We need to add more points, win matches and improve our standing in the table.
"That is our challenge and I demand the total help of our supporters in doing that.
"My head is in Liverpool and on helping save our season. I am professional and I always fulfil my deals.
"I haven't considered leaving, although in football that depends on the club.
"Liverpool had a lot of success under Rafa Benitez and that is difficult for anyone to follow.
"Even if the ball hasn't always dropped our way this season, we have missed out in a lot of matches."
This statement was only 19 days before he put in his written transfer request - Fernando what has changed ? you owe the LFC fans an answer to that !!!
You have also shown a high lack of respect to a man Kenny Dalglish that you previously stated you held in high regard.
Over to you Fernando !!
I was saddened by Fernando's transfer request, more by the timing than anything else. I would have thought he would at least stay until the end of the season to put in his request. While we have not lived up to his expectations, I think he should have given the new manager and owners some time to see what direction we were going before making any decision.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, whether he stays or goes makes no difference to me now, as far as am concerned, Torres is dead to me and it will take something extraordinary from him for me to see past that
I agree Bala.
ReplyDeleteDisappointingly he claimed to understand the Liverpool supporters because they mirror those of his home town club Atletico Madrid - with the club belonging to the cummunity. Yet his decision smacked of very little thought for the supporters and was at best graceless coming from someone who Liverpool supporters adore and we thought vice-versa. The Liverpool fans share a special bond with their players and that's why Fernando's decision cuts to the quick.
If Torres wants to leave it would be only right for him to help us to get closer to the top of the table rather than leave us on the lurch now. Summer he can go. I think the fans will be happier with this and would respect his request to leave. Hitting 27 he should be playing at his best form, competing every year for major trophies and winning silver wear, yet his in a team of rebuilding a fighting for a possibility of 4th place an a English league.
ReplyDeleteThe club needs to convince him that Luis Suarez is an add on to the shooting barrel rather than a roll in roll out. Letting FT go would only limitation us attacking options again, for now we need both.
We know his not playing great on the pitch, tell buy his face reactions, but for the short term if we can come to some kind of arrangement for him to leave in the summer, I think he will be happier to play until then, as he knows he be leaving on good grounds. Plus give us more time to buy another striker. But as always a major part of all this is Money! We get the right price… then I think we have to let him go.....only abroad, can’t imagine him in another Premiership rival.
Fabregas wanted to leave Arsenal for Barcelona but wasn't allowed to, Rooney wanted to leave Man Utd but wasn't allowed to and Tevez wanted to leave Man City but wasn't allowed to - we need to continue to be strong and force Torres to stay and keep him to his contract !!! If we concede defeat today we are then admitting we no longer see ourselves as a force and lack the ambition to get where we all want to be. I just don't want him to play for a rival team so we need to stay strong until the transfer window closes!!! If Arsenal, Man Utd & Man City can stay strong through the test of their character I believe we can as well.
ReplyDelete