Former Liverpool player Jamie Redknapp commented on Fernando Torres’s first half performance yesterday:
“Fans will suffer to a certain extent when you give the ball away, but they won’t suffer a lack of effort. Out there for 45 minutes today he (Torres) has been terrible. He hasn’t got hold of the ball, he hasn’t chased, he’s got frustrated, he could have been booked; he’s been diabolical. I’m his biggest fan, and of course you have to give Johnson and Dann credit, but he’s shown no appetite for the game. He’s looked frustrated, sloppy, and lethargic. I know people talk about his rustiness, but he looked fed-up.”
For me, these were extremely harsh comments made by Redknapp over Torres’s display. There could be many mitigating circumstances that could explain a sub-par performance from the Spanish striker:
Frustration over tactics – Fernando Torres may have looked a frustrated figure yesterday because of the nature of the tactics employed by both Birmingham and Liverpool. The Reds employed two holding midfield players in Christian Poulsen and Lucas Leiva, neither which looked to get forward too often. It left Fernando and Gerrard both isolated up front, and his frustration over a lack of service and time on the ball clearly showed on occasion. Birmingham players were always in his face too and Torres was relatively easy to mark because of the lack of support he had up front. On the occasions he did get the ball, he did miss-control the ball and snatch at some shots, suggesting to me other factors were also at play.
Fitness levels – Martin Tyler in his commentary for Sky Sports yesterday offered another reason for Torres’s lack of spark. He said that he had talked to team-mate Dirk Kuyt about Torres and the Dutchman believes that the Spaniard’s recovery from his knee injury will take a great deal of time. A lot was made about Torres’s poor performances during the World Cup but it was clear his fitness levels were not very high after being sidelined for months with an injury. The frustration and lack of energy against Birmingham could be because of the fact he is yet to recover fully.
Club situation – The ownership and uncertainty around the club could also be a factor. Torres clearly loves the club but the lack of investment in the summer and the belief it may be some time before the Reds are challenging for the title again could be concerning him. Does he believe the players around him are capable of performing to the required level?
Form – Like all footballers, Torres could just be suffering from an ailment that every player will be troubled by. Despite the world class finish against West Brom two weeks ago, Torres has not been on the greatest of form since his return from injury. He had a poor World Cup, and like any human being, he maybe suffering from a crisis of confidence, and he may just need a few goals in a few games in a row so we can get back to seeing his great first touch, fantastic speed, composed finishing and great link up play.
What do you think is troubling Fernando, if anything at all?
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1. redknapp’s a dick ignore.
2. torres is a hero.
3. torres is still not back to fitness and hasnt been for at least 4 months.
well, all the things written there says it all. i think the most influential factor is the tactical frustration. i don’t find it useful to have two defensive midfielders. we are lack of creativity in the middle. last 5 mins of the game was so much alive when meireles brought into the game replacing lucas, and mighty gerrard was playing slightly behing him. we really need players like xabi and benayoun to bring torres to his actual figure. YNWA!
Probably something to do with playing in Argentina a few days before the game?
Well done Batfink on the nose … one word Argentina
batfink he didnt even play against argentina and came off after 60 mins against leichenstien
1. torres is a legend and will be back
2. jamie redknapp is a absulte dickhead
torres will now come good because cole is back from suspension now and will create lots of chances for torres and gerrard coming from a more deeper position, things will get better just give it time
yeah torres didn’t play against argentina, but he did fly to buenos aires. some might say… but reina played against argentina and he had an inspired game… but reina had a shocker against argentina and had a point to prove.
nando suffers from a lack of inspiration! hodgson needs to remember he’s in charge of liverpool, not fulham and that 2 defensive mids in a flat 4-4-2 won’t cut it at a fortress like st andrews!
he is allowed not to score in the odd game, i know its just not fair, two a game should be compulsory
He may have only played 60 mins v Argentina but it’s about a 20hr flt to Buenos Aires. The human body is not designed to make these sort of trips then be at full fitness within a day or two. It was a trip for the Spanish FA’s sponsors who demanded the game. FIFA should not endorse these fixtures during a season
There was one run Torres had late in the 2nd half, slaloming past several Brum defenders. Once he got into a shooting position, a normal Torres would have scored (like he would have done from Johnson’s cross early on.) So yeah, I’d say it’s a form thing more than a plane trip thing or a tactics thing. The weird thing is he seems to lack confidence – will that return with his form, or will Roy’s man-management be able to give him that back sooner?
Torres has 2 main problems:
1) Jamie Redknapp – for stirring up the media
2) Roy Hodgson – for playing a ridiculously defensive game when it’s obvious that 3 points are worth fighting for (and yes, worth risking a loss for if that’s what he’s so paranoid about).
Torrew needs another attacker next to him and he needs Stevie G to play CM.Poulsen and Leiva are crap.He is a loner there
what he needs is to warm up, do a few lollypops in the final third, get himself to the back stick, win the second ball situations,show some box to box movement, play off the last man, and watch a zone dosnt score from a corner, then warm down.
or just be fernando torres and score 30 plus goals – simple kuk
Red2Death well said mate you’ve got it bang on there. 1) Redknapps just got some more Liverpool fans who hate him added to the ones who already do, he talks utter rubbish i think Andy Gray has rubbed him up, most the pundits that sky have on chat rubbish about Liverpool Souness, Gullit etc…..2) I know its not in the Liverpool DNA to criticise our managers at games where always a loyal bunch, but i think alot of fans will stop coming to watch if we keep playing the same formation and Lucas and get the same performances that we’ve been getting……He should have got some decent wingers if he wasn’t ga get a striker they wouldnt have had to be world class just for a season to do a job. No wonder Torres is suffering and always getting injured we rely on him too much and Gerrard to find the balls to him, the wingers shud be doing alot of that Torres main job should be to get on the end of crosses not doing our doggy work which shud be done by the midfield. Why not play Johnson right wing he isnt that good at the back any way and just look at Gareth Bale for Spurs hes been moved forward on the left wing i think their similar players both good goin forward half decent not the best at the back btu they do come back and help the defenders out it makes sense. Since Mcmanaman left every pundit has mentioned how we lack width everyseason, i think our width is more important than a striker although i do think we need a striker aswell……YNWA
I hope you are all right, i really do but i just have this nagging feeling that our nando is like a really pissed off housewife who is staying in a bad marriage simply for the sake of the kids but really wants a divorce! god i hope i am wrong and it’s just like what most of you say!
on the redknapp debate, i think jamie’s assessment of nando yesterday was spot on! sky pay him to give his opinion, what’s he to do, LIE? i also think that nando, should he stay for the season, will once again prove to be our outstanding player (if my initial fears are unfounded) so i am not going to slaughter him for what could well be simply a “bad day at the office” nor will i slaughter JR for doing his job and being honest but i will criticize the gaffer for his negative line-up and tactics, i thought those days were gone with rafa!
yes i agree he needs to get a divorce or he will be suffering alot look at him now he plays awful
As Daft as it may seem
just like Samson its the hair
We want our blond Torres back.
Torres has speed and shooting ability but nothing else. He can’t dribble past defenders and can’t hold on to the ball. Jerome of Birmingham looked so much better than Torres.Jamie’s critism is right. So many diehard fans just support him blindly.
hodgson has to stamp his influence and style on the team him better not make it a habit playing two defensive midfielders or else liverpool will surely sink this season
i think its abt the formation…l’pool play defensive game when c.poulsen and lucas on the ground…they both are defensive midfielders,but once r.meireles came on as substitute for lucas,l’pool’s game start to change…
torres need support from gerrard and gerrard need support from another midfield…none of them produce this well…its all abt teamwork….
hodgson should stick to 4-5-1…
where :-
reina
glen carra agger konchesky
poulsen(def) meireles(attacking)
j.cole gerrard(back up striker) jovanovic
torres
this is the best 11 l’pool
or play meireles(def) gerrard(att) kuyt(right wing) j.cole(back up striker)
agger is very good in going forward….he should get into 1st 11…
im sure l’pool will be back the top soon…
l’pool should not show their fighting spirit once they’re losing…try to live up the game from the start…i want to see the miracles again….
the istanbul and fa cup magic…that’s the best l’pool we need right now…
get to top liverpool!!!!!
YNWA
Torres is not fit a the moment anyone should be able to see that, looks bit over weight also, seasons before he was more slender!!