No Bueno Torres

With only 1 goal in 18 league matches for Chelsea, Fernando Torres completes another poor game for the Blues this weekend, once again struggling to make any impact what-so-ever. A sad sight for me as  I absolutely  adore  the player, now more than ever for the fact he's not playing for Liverpool ( sorry..).  I remember his first goal for the Blues, for the sole reason that I have never been so excited for a Chelsea player to have scored. It doesn't matter what team he's playing for, I cant forget that hair-raising excitement felt when he buried all those magical goals for the Reds. Magical goals that have dried up completely of late at the West London club.

With lack of confidence that is apparent to see, Spanish National coach Vicente del Bosque left " the nino" watching their most recent Euro qualifier against Liechtenstein from the stands, and Torres started Chelsea's weekend fixture against Sunderland on the bench. Manager Andre Villas-Boas hopes that dropping the striker will inspire him to up his game, and get back in form. 

If you go onto google images and search Fernando Torres Chelsea, every image
is one of him scowling, upset, looking pissed and  unhappy...it's sad but brilliant!

If he were a  Native American, this would be the opportune moment for the out of form striker to make a vision quest, to find himself, becoming one with the pitch he plays on. We all know he has the skills in his locker, the tantalizing Torres, the tormenting and the terrorizing. This vision quest I speak of would come in the shape of Torres returning back to home town club of Atletico Madrid and starting anew. He needs to rediscover the hunger, and will to dominate that playing for passion, not money fuels. Since moving to Chelsea with a 50 million pound price tag, the expectation seems too much for the man, un able to cope with the pressure. Moving back "home," is the confidence booster that he needs. He will undoubtedly have to take a pay cut, or not if he still struggles for form. I cannot see him coming good anytime soon for Chelsea as he has only netted one goal so far. He has tried growing his hair long again, even highlighting slightly, but  his gorgeous locks have yet to help his finishing prowess. When that goal came  that rainy night at West Brom I thought the flood gates would open, the goal acting as a catalyst....but sadly this prophecy did not hold water.

In a recent interview with Spain’s Primera Liga website Torres has called out his fellow Chelsea teammates for being too slow, hinting at the fact that they are in part to blame for his misfirings. Torres has fired back, saying he has been misquoted and that he was not slighting his teammates. Whether actual or not it is water under the bridge as it's what's is done on the pitch that matters. Torres's past heights have somewhat masked his short comings of late, but manager AVB has made a strong statement by dropping Torres to the bench, one that Ancelotti never quite made. Torres has warranted a demotion, and I am actually surprised it has taken this long. All you have to do is look at the stats. one goal in 18 appearances, for a 50 million pounder, is not good enough.

Luis Suarez is pure BRILLIANCE!

Had to watch this feat of pure skillage again just for the fact it is pure brilliance. Taking precaution that I don't break my keyboard due to the drool that automatically secretes from my mouth upon viewing. After punting Man U in the last post I had to shove it right back into their face with this "un-doing," including 2 nutmegs, Raphael and Van der sar succeeded by a  Kuyt tap in...Brilliant


Man U v. Liverpool Oct 15 beware

Ashley Young Kicks It In Bins

Up's the Man U quite a bit, but given that it's Rio's Mag, it's not at all surprising. Freestylers Billy Wingrove  and Jeremy Lynch Tee- up Young to showcase his placing ability, in his backyard.

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So far he has looked one of the signings' of the season, showing once again Sir Alex's astuteness in the transfer market.

Enough Holding For Stuart Holden.

The influential American midfielder could be making his long- awaited return to Bolton's first team squad this Saturday as they they take on Manchester United. The victim of injury from Nigel De Jong flying karate kicks, Holden has been a missing link in Bolton's and the US National side's midfield. Much has come out since the USMNT fell at the hand s of Belgium, about who Jurgen is building the team around. Approaching 2014 the Bocanegra's and Donovans' will be elderly by that time, so making youth the focal point in the build up to the tournament is key. Jose Francisco Torres is a sweet passing center-mid, who looks the possible future lynch-pin in the US set up, an in-cahoots with Holden is a tantalizing prospect. Identifying your best players' is something Jurgen has not yet done, but picking those two consistently over the next few years could build that foundation Americans crave. This is assuming that Holden is not the violated by any more Dutch midfielders', which is a guarantee that I cannot make.


Holden has played a few matches in Bolton's reserve games, picking up some important  game time in his return to fitness. In this light, keep your eye on Bolton's bench come Saturday, for you should be seeing the bleached blonde locks of the American.

Liver n'Onions Survives The International Break...Barely

Putting on my Liverpool kit circa 2008 I am reminded of the roller-coaster ride of a season that saw us secure the second spot just 4 points behind Manchester United. That and the fact I haven't washed it for some time, but I digress. The ritualistic activity of wearing this kit as I sit down to write about the club I love, seems to percolate my creative juices even more, necessary when coping with a week of International play. 

  

Liverpool face a Stoke City fresh with new talent after a successful transfer window this coming weekend.  For the upcoming match I wouldn't expect to see any real changes to the line-up that  tormented Bolton on the final weekend of August. Suarez will most likely start up top supported by Dirk Kuyt, forcing Andy Carroll to sit, due to his lack of form. Just this last week international manage Fabio Capello has called out the 35 Million pound striker for his drinking habits and off field antics. Saying " He needs to be careful because he's an important player for England and Liverpool, If he wants to be a good player and a good sportsman, he needs to drink less than the others." A move of intent from the often soft England manager, made a statement by not selecting him at all for their recent game against Bulgaria. In all honesty Carroll does not warrant a place on the England bench as he has been less than mediocre when vying on the Anfield pitch, so the inclusion in the squad ageist Wales was a surprise to me. Oh but it's all good because  JT has come out to praise struggling Carroll, saying " I've been there, and have made my mistakes." The model professional that is John Terry recognizes the difficulty that some one at Carroll's tender age has in focusing on his job, with all the perks of being a professional footballer. I say  Grow-Up. Earn your price tag Andy! When bought for that amount you owe it to your club to train hard and devote yourself entirely.  If he can't cope with the distractions of being a professional footballer, dislodging his head from his shoulders, then he deserves his place on the bench. As a fan I remain unconvinced  and wait to see him prove his worth. 

As Carroll struggles to fit into the renaissance happening under King Kenny, fellow new-boy Stewart Downing has been a stroke of inventiveness on the wing, shining  In England's match against Wales yesterday, setting up Ashley Young's 35th minute goal. Carroll must seek guidance from fellow England International and level his head. I want to bring up a few of Carroll's potential high and low lights in the Red of Liverpool. so in his best interest I will rely on the solid bedrock of the old Pros and Cons.  This segment will be known as SpotKick's "Carroll" - oscopy:

PROS:

Strong build and height adds a powerful presence up-top, allowing for surrounding players to run on to knock downs and head-ons. Theoretically Carroll should be a huge target for Reina's cosmic kicks, but this has yet to be successful.

Aggression: simply fearless in the box, making more than 50% of headers his when present, body checks and an unbridled desire to win.

Powerful left foot shot shown in his debut v. Man City last year thundering one past Joe Hart in Liverpools  convincing win.

He's young. Really a pro and a con.  A Pro for the massive promise for club and country, with plenty room to get even better. A Con in all the things that come with youth. Drinking, partying, not focusing on fitness…you name it.

CONS: 

When Carroll is on the pitch he changes the way that Liverpool play,  which is something you hope of any player, but in the case of Carroll it's for the worse. Being a target man, he dosent really fit into the fluid-tivity of Liverpool's attack headed by Suarez. Everyone is moving with  Downing swapping wings with Henderson or Kuyt, Carroll's position tends to get lost in the middle.

Liverpool tend to play long ball when Carroll is playing, which is not in their nature and in what I have seen doesn't work well at all.

Kuyt has looked fantastic linking up with Suarez, so the addition of Carroll pushes Kuyt out to the wing, restricting this link up. A player with the engine of the Dutch workhorse can motor all over the place so he will not get lost, but the link up Suarez and Carroll is yet to be determined.

Along with my last point the combination of Big man, Small man has been a tried and true formula for success from Di Stefano and Puskas to the most apparent Ian Rush and Kenny Dalgleish in the 1980's. This clear link should not build a false sense of hope for Liverpool fans, for the Suarez- Carroll partnership is promising but to bet your house on it mirroring the fore-mentioned ones would be unwise.

Carroll has been struggling with fitness so there is a bit of ambiguity in assessing his impact, but It just seems that the team is much more creative with Suarez as the focal point in attack.

Continuing to look froward in the business sense Liverpool's director of football Damien Comolli has been mustering up a deal with Uruguayan side Nacional, after recognizing the talent abundant in Uruguay. In my last Liver n' Onions post I addressed the signing of defender Sebastian Coates from Nacional, the first example of this deal in action so to speak. Liverpool are looking to establish a partnership offer the next 4 of 5 years, growing the sides academy and developing footballing standards, giving Liverpool the pick of the bunch in signing some.  The Merseyside club now has two players from the Nacional academy, in Coates and Suarez making Liverpool that much more of an attractive destination for Uruguayans to apply their trade. 

Next week I will preview the return of skipper Stevie G ( - insert Darth Vader Theme here- ) as he targets the game against Tottenham to mark his return. 

Thanks to Alan Duffy@ Who ate all the pies for Capello quotes.

Fifa 12 Gameplay trailer released.

For all you that have been working out your thumb's and phalanges in wait of the epic epic-ness that is the yearly release of  EA's Fifa, your almost there. The official release is the 30th of September so mark your calendar and load that ice box full of cold beer. It seems that every year the new Fifa is the "best" ever created, making some sense with all off the new improvements that can be developed in a year.  Fifa 12 promises the most fluid gameplay, newest showboats, De Jong scissor kicks and even Wayne Rooney's advancing hairline, can't wait!

Official Trailer

USMNT vs. Belgium preview and thoughts.

When the USMNT takes the field against Belgium, in Brussels on Tuesday night the pain associated with the loss against Costa Rica will have dissipated, and it will be on again. The US now faces a far more difficult opponent in the shape of Belgium, where a win is absolutely crucial. This friendly marks the 3rd test for new coach Klinsmann and I demand a result. he can only work with the players he has at disposal, and after a grueling travel schedule it's likely that not all the big names will start. Reading various sources from around the web, it seems that  the  prospected line up will be:

                                  ---------------------Altidore---------------------------

                                  -----Shea-----------------------------Dempsey--------

                                  ----------------------Torres----------------------------

                                  ----------------Edu----------Beckerman--------------

                                  -- Spector----Bocanegra-------Goodson---Cherundolo

                                  -----------------------Howard----------------------------

As you can see the line-up sets up on the defensive side, and given the attacking weapons in Belgium's arsenal, having Edu and Beckerman sitting in the hole is a necessity in  quelling the threat that will be evident with Lukaku running at the back line. The US will need to be defensively sound, so starting Castillo should not even enter the German's mind. Looking brittle, on the verge of collapse against Costa Rica, Castillo left the right flank wide open, inviting forays forward from opponents. 

On an attacking standpoint, I'am disgruntled with the fact that we find our self with Altidore being the only logical option up-top. As much as I hate it, he is the only option. Altidore has been scoring freely for his club side in Holland, but with the responsibility of doing it on the National Team level, he lacks the clout. Not sure if it is the pressure of being center stage, or being marooned alone,  but he cannot stick it.  He's a better option than Buddle and young  Agudelo, but he's in no way the answer. Instating Torres into the no. 10 position gives the US attacking creativity, with his smart passes and possession retention. Torres looked good against Costa Rica and deserves the role against the Belgians.

For my prediction: I have to go  against my team, regretfully. I am not feeling the conviction in the US squad, and with the stresses of travel I am going with a 2-0, or 2-1 to Belgium.