04/18/24
February 01, 2011
Chelsea Spends $72 Million on Torres Transfer: Chelsea has paid a $72 million transfer fee to Liverpool to acquire striker Fernando Torres and now must reach a deal with him. Torres, who joined Liverpool from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2007, has scored 65 goals in 102 Premier League games.
I have to say with his form since before the World Cup, I'm happy to get 50M pounds and get rid of Babel for what could turn out to be a couple consistent scorers. It's too bad we didn't get Charlie Adam, but we didn't need him as bad as we needed Suarez and Carroll.
posted by Ricardo at 03:05 PM on February 01, 2011
It's too bad we didn't get Charlie Adam, but we didn't need him as bad as we needed ... Carroll.
I'll take misguided optimism for $100, Alex.
posted by owlhouse at 08:40 PM on February 01, 2011
*laughing at owlhouse*
Bingo. I really hope I get egg on my face and I'll take all the accusations of a being a jaded, cynical old Liverpool fan and be delighted to be proved wrong, but Carroll is not only some way short of being the kind of world class player Torres was, he's a liability.
And why did we need Charlie Adam? We already have plenty of lazy midfielders to spray it all over the place and then not track back. Fourteen million quid we apparently offered for him. We only paid 20 for Torres.
Getting 50 million for Torres was like theft. He might have a swan song in him, but I think his edge was always his speed - over the ground and of thought - and he's not where he was on either metric anymore. He reminds me of a downhill skiier who skis on for years after recovering from a bad crash, but just hasn't got the edge needed anymore to compete. He's hesitant where he used to be deadly. He's uncertain where he used to be sure.
He'll probably score a hat-trick on Sunday against Liverpool now.
That said, Carroll's no replacement. Who is going to feed him? He needs balls played in to him all day and we've got no one left in midfield who can complete a bloody pass since we sold Alonso and G decided he likes the physio's room more than the pitch.
posted by JJ at 06:09 AM on February 02, 2011
I think there's serious potential, once Carroll heals up, and I think Michael of Zonal Marking has the answer in this ESPN piece: line up in a 4-3-3. Suarez, Carroll, Kuyt (occasionally spelled by Rodriguez or Cole) up top, Mereilles, Gerrard and Lucas in the middle and Kelley, two of Agger, Skrtel, Carragher and Johnson in front of Reina.
For all the bad results so far this season, the Reds are seventh in the league and if the new strikers gel we should finish high enough to play in the Europa League again next season.
Of course you know I'm blindly optimistic, but this seems reasonable to me.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:16 PM on February 02, 2011
I meant we needed Carroll as a result of offloading Torres. He's done well for the Magpies so far this season and if he can carry it over into Anfield we should win a few more games.
We've been sorely lacking at forward for quite some time now and we knew what we had with Torres (lots of flashes of brilliance punctuated by giving the ball away nearly every time he touches it ala Ryan Babel) but now we have the promise of two good strikers. They may or may not pan out, but neither will be any more of a hinderance than Torres has this season. His only good run of form seemed to be the last few weeks leading up to the transfer.
posted by Ricardo at 02:36 PM on February 02, 2011
Encouraging from Suarez last night - scored within 16 minutes of coming on in the second half, despite not playing since November (because he got suspended for biting an opponent) and not being allowed to train with the team since arriving because of a work-permit problem.
Still, El Hadj-Diouf also scored on debut, so let's not get too excited just yet.
posted by JJ at 08:45 AM on February 03, 2011
The Rangers fans are loving the Hadj-Diouf signing, I can tell you.
They're split pretty much 50/50 between those who don't like him and those who don't like him, but are glad he'll upset the Hoops.
Manager Walter Smith said "there's serial killers who get better press than Hadj Diouf." No word on whether he'll be signing any of them though.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 10:31 AM on February 03, 2011
Don't be picking on Ryan Babel, yo! How many of you have scored Champions League goals with your booty?!?!
posted by billsaysthis at 12:02 PM on February 03, 2011
The goal from Suarez was an amazing piece of play from Kuyt who looked fantastic last night. I am hoping for great things from Suarez but the goal itself was poorly taken. Bit of a whiff with not enough power to get past the oncoming defender who should have cleared it from the line. I will withhold judgement for now.
posted by Ricardo at 01:04 PM on February 03, 2011
I like the Fiver's take on the Carroll and Suarez partnership:
"Fighty and Bitey".
posted by owlhouse at 08:56 PM on February 03, 2011
So pissed at Liverpool for selling Torres to Chelsea. Shooting themselves in the foot IMO. But I guess this means Drogba is going to go to Spain in the summer.