Whilst furious at first I'm beginning to think this was not a bad deal at all.
As far as he is concerned I don't blame him for moving on, he gave 3 years here and in that time we've been getting gradually worse, both in league position, in personnel, in managers (excluding Kenny's arrival - which still isn't confirmed as a permanent one) and in style of play. For any world class player (inc. Stevie & Reina) it must be excruciating to be on the pitch and unable to make a major difference because of the dross around you. He could have stuck around but he's 27 in a few weeks and maybe, if he waits on more promises, then his chance will have gone and a player of his calibre really deserves to have something to show at the end of his career ( he didn't really deserve to be a World Cup winner and I think he knows his performances didn't really add much to Spain's efforts). I can understand after having been through the H&G regime that maybe he would be a little more skeptical this time around.
Yes, the timing was crap but I would put that down to his agent and Chelsea's planning - though it's not as if it was totally unexpected and then we went and did the same, if not worse, to Newcastle. Though the speed at which we moved for Carroll indicates to me at least that plans were already drawn up well in advance to install his replacement. I don't believe for an instant that Kenny & Comolli would endorse a panic buy.
As far as his going to Chelsea is concerned, well there are only 5 or 6 clubs that could have afforded him and three of those are in the PL. I guess it's better than his going to Manchester. If his injuries do reappear then it may indeed actually end up being helpful to us as we roar past them !
I also genuinely believe that we have seen the best of Senor T orres. He seems slower, much slower if I am honest - I'm surprised at how many defenders have kept up with him (or beaten him) in one on ones recently - and it seems those hamstrings are taking a huge toll on his speed, confidence, and ability to actually use his God given talents. The 2011 version of T orres is still a superb player - but maybe not the genius of a couple of years ago. And that susceptibility to injury .... and just as importantly the time he takes to recover and get back up to 'match fitness' was as often detrimental to our performances as the times when he demonstrated his occasional genius with something sublime and pulled a rabbit from a hat. We may not have admitted it but I'm sure many of us thought it.
I'm expecting the usual suspects and immature teens to vent here but for the rest just sit back and consider what this gives us. Two much younger and highly valued players have arrived. We made bids on a number of others ; Adam, Young & Warnock for certain, Richards was strongly rumoured too. Now Mark Mc hits we will be shopping at Harrods in the Summer - and we certainly seem to have the money in the bank to do it. There also seems to be no doubt now that Fenway are keen to get us back up there and in contention and are prepared to spend big to do so. Personally if 2 or 3 players of the calibre of those we've just bought arrive in each of the next 2 or 3 windows then we will be back around the top within two seasons ..... and considering where we were just a few months ago I'd have ripped your arm off, for even the possibility, last year.
I am not taking this negatively at all .... I believe we have just made a huge statement and shaken up those sitting in their armchairs, with a wineglass in their hands, from Manchester to London and beyond. A lot of concerned eyes will be watching our transfer activities next Summer.
n.b. I do wish whoever childishly made a forum Autocorrect of T orres to El Cunt would switch it off.
As far as he is concerned I don't blame him for moving on, he gave 3 years here and in that time we've been getting gradually worse, both in league position, in personnel, in managers (excluding Kenny's arrival - which still isn't confirmed as a permanent one) and in style of play. For any world class player (inc. Stevie & Reina) it must be excruciating to be on the pitch and unable to make a major difference because of the dross around you. He could have stuck around but he's 27 in a few weeks and maybe, if he waits on more promises, then his chance will have gone and a player of his calibre really deserves to have something to show at the end of his career ( he didn't really deserve to be a World Cup winner and I think he knows his performances didn't really add much to Spain's efforts). I can understand after having been through the H&G regime that maybe he would be a little more skeptical this time around.
Yes, the timing was crap but I would put that down to his agent and Chelsea's planning - though it's not as if it was totally unexpected and then we went and did the same, if not worse, to Newcastle. Though the speed at which we moved for Carroll indicates to me at least that plans were already drawn up well in advance to install his replacement. I don't believe for an instant that Kenny & Comolli would endorse a panic buy.
As far as his going to Chelsea is concerned, well there are only 5 or 6 clubs that could have afforded him and three of those are in the PL. I guess it's better than his going to Manchester. If his injuries do reappear then it may indeed actually end up being helpful to us as we roar past them !
I also genuinely believe that we have seen the best of Senor T orres. He seems slower, much slower if I am honest - I'm surprised at how many defenders have kept up with him (or beaten him) in one on ones recently - and it seems those hamstrings are taking a huge toll on his speed, confidence, and ability to actually use his God given talents. The 2011 version of T orres is still a superb player - but maybe not the genius of a couple of years ago. And that susceptibility to injury .... and just as importantly the time he takes to recover and get back up to 'match fitness' was as often detrimental to our performances as the times when he demonstrated his occasional genius with something sublime and pulled a rabbit from a hat. We may not have admitted it but I'm sure many of us thought it.
I'm expecting the usual suspects and immature teens to vent here but for the rest just sit back and consider what this gives us. Two much younger and highly valued players have arrived. We made bids on a number of others ; Adam, Young & Warnock for certain, Richards was strongly rumoured too. Now Mark Mc hits we will be shopping at Harrods in the Summer - and we certainly seem to have the money in the bank to do it. There also seems to be no doubt now that Fenway are keen to get us back up there and in contention and are prepared to spend big to do so. Personally if 2 or 3 players of the calibre of those we've just bought arrive in each of the next 2 or 3 windows then we will be back around the top within two seasons ..... and considering where we were just a few months ago I'd have ripped your arm off, for even the possibility, last year.
I am not taking this negatively at all .... I believe we have just made a huge statement and shaken up those sitting in their armchairs, with a wineglass in their hands, from Manchester to London and beyond. A lot of concerned eyes will be watching our transfer activities next Summer.
n.b. I do wish whoever childishly made a forum Autocorrect of T orres to El Cunt would switch it off.
