Torres doubtful

[Rosco]

Rafael Benítez has admitted he had no option but to push Fernando Torres through the pain barrier in the defeat at Fulham and he now acknowledges that the striker is a serious doubt for the vital Champions League match away to Lyon on Wednesday night.

Benítez had agonised, as he had done before the Manchester United game the previous weekend, over whether to start with Torres or use him as a second-half substitute against Fulham and he said that injury problems elsewhere in his squad had forced his hand. The manager, for whom the situation is impossibly delicate, also suggested that inquests would potentially have been stoked by Torres's omission from the starting line-up.

"The question is, if you don't play Torres from the beginning, you will be talking about why he is not playing so it's a difficult decision," said Benítez, who pointed out that Torres had needed "four days to be ready" again, after playing 80 minutes against United. "We decided to start with Torres at Fulham because he could do a proper warm-up but after, we knew we needed to take him out at a certain moment.

"We decided on 60 minutes because the last time, with 80 minutes, he needed four days to be fit. But still, he was not 100% fit. We decided to take him out around 60 minutes because we want to protect the player and because I don't want to lose a player for one month, especially an important player like Fernando."

Torres, who has endured pain-killing injections on the groin that he injured while on international duty with Spain last month, played for 63 minutes in Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Craven Cottage and had scored Liverpool's equaliser before he was brought off for Ryan Babel. Although he took his 10th goal of the season superbly he appeared some way short of peak fitness.

Benítez, who maintained throughout the early part of the season that he had sufficient back-up for Torres in the shape of Babel, Dirk Kuyt, Andriy Voronin and David Ngog, was asked whether he had been tempted to rest Torres entirely to give him a better chance of recovery. Only Ngog, of this group, was unavailable on Saturday.

"But the problems that we have now with injuries … you cannot play in too many games without [Steven] Gerrard, without Torres, without [Glen] Johnson, without [Albert] Riera and without a lot of other players," Benítez said. "If they are fit, you have to try and use the players."

Benítez faces an anxious wait not only on Torres for the Lyon match, in which defeat would probably put Liverpool out of the Champions League, but also on Gerrard. Like Torres, Gerrard picked up a groin injury on international duty last month and the club captain has since managed only 25 minutes, in the home defeat to Lyon. Gerrard could require an operation and is not likely to play at Lyon. "The most important thing for me now is to know how many players we have available and start preparing a team because [on Saturday] we had this problem and it will be the same this week," said Benítez, whose team have lost six of their last seven fixtures in all competitions. "Maybe Ngog will be available; Gerrard could be, we have to see how he progresses and we have to see about [Martin] Skrtel and [Daniel] Agger. Torres? We don't know."

Benítez has further concerns over Johnson, Fábio Aurélio, Alberto Aquilani, Riera and Nabil El Zhar. Liverpool's travelling supporters on Saturday could take a crumb of comfort from the sight of Torres completing the post-match warm-down but nerves abound. "If Fernando's injury had got worse at the end, then we would have virtually no one for Wednesday," said Jamie Carragher who, along with his defensive colleague Philipp Degen, was sent off against Fulham.

 

[Y1]

it does not rain but it pours

we are really in the storm!

 

[keniget]

Well, of course he is. I wouldn't expect any different from this season.

What a waste of money that contract extension was.

 

[rage]

he made a huge mistake rushing gerrard back for the european game and now feeling he had to play an injured torres against fulham demonstrates how badly he had bought in other strikers.

if he had any believe in his other strikers he would have used them instead of torres against fulham. this is a team that will do well to finish in the top 10.

it's all falling apart for him and even now he will not look in the mirror and ask why instead he will try to lay the blame elsewhere, as always.

 

[Fallon]

[quote author=Y1 link=topic=36882.msg976993#msg976993 date=1257147834]

we are really in the storm!
[/quote]

The golden sky is coming, just wait and see 😉

 

[Glock21]

[quote author=rage link=topic=36882.msg977006#msg977006 date=1257149604]
he made a huge mistake rushing gerrard back for the european game and now feeling he had to play an injured torres against fulham demonstrates how badly he had bought in other strikers.

if he had any believe in his other strikers he would have used them instead of torres against fulham. this is a team that will do well to finish in the top 10.

it's all falling apart for him and even now he will not look in the mirror and ask why instead he will try to lay the blame elsewhere, as always.
[/quote]

Spot on again Rage.

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=rage link=topic=36882.msg977006#msg977006 date=1257149604]
this is a team that will do well to finish in the top 10.
[/quote]

He's gone full retard.

 

[rage]

[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=36882.msg977032#msg977032 date=1257152298]
[quote author=rage link=topic=36882.msg977006#msg977006 date=1257149604]
this is a team that will do well to finish in the top 10.
[/quote]

He's gone full retard.
[/quote]

u see fulham competing for a champions league place farky?

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=rage link=topic=36882.msg977035#msg977035 date=1257152471]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=36882.msg977032#msg977032 date=1257152298]
[quote author=rage link=topic=36882.msg977006#msg977006 date=1257149604]
this is a team that will do well to finish in the top 10.
[/quote]

He's gone full retard.
[/quote]

u see fulham competing for a champions league place farky?
[/quote]

I thought you were talking about LFC, you'll forgive me for thinking that you were saying something that was hyperbolic, inflammatory, and stupid.

 

[Y1]

wow, rage and glock team is formidable!

i just wish the team and rafa will make them look ........ (fill in the blank)

 

[Fallon]

[quote author=Y1 link=topic=36882.msg977043#msg977043 date=1257153019]
wow, rage and glock team is formidable!

i just wish the team and rafa will make them look ........ (fill in the blank)
[/quote]

....like the hysterical wankers they actually are?

 

[Y1]

[quote author=Fallon link=topic=36882.msg977045#msg977045 date=1257153074]
[quote author=Y1 link=topic=36882.msg977043#msg977043 date=1257153019]
wow, rage and glock team is formidable!

i just wish the team and rafa will make them look ........ (fill in the blank)
[/quote]

....like the hysterical wankers they actually are?
[/quote]

Quite but hopefully when the team turns around and soon, these two torrents of negatives will go ballistic that rafa will have nothing to do with it. If Rafa does go, i wonder how elated they can become, no matter how the team fare.

 

[Fallon]

[quote author=Y1 link=topic=36882.msg977056#msg977056 date=1257153886]
[quote author=Fallon link=topic=36882.msg977045#msg977045 date=1257153074]
[quote author=Y1 link=topic=36882.msg977043#msg977043 date=1257153019]
wow, rage and glock team is formidable!

i just wish the team and rafa will make them look ........ (fill in the blank)
[/quote]

....like the hysterical wankers they actually are?
[/quote]

Quite but hopefully when the team turns around and soon, these two torrents of negatives will go ballistic that rafa will have nothing to do with it. If Rafa does go, i wonder how elated they can become, no matter how the team fare.
[/quote]

If he goes they'll be the first 2 people on my ignore list.

 

[Y1]

[quote author=Fallon link=topic=36882.msg977071#msg977071 date=1257154539]
[quote author=Y1 link=topic=36882.msg977056#msg977056 date=1257153886]
[quote author=Fallon link=topic=36882.msg977045#msg977045 date=1257153074]
[quote author=Y1 link=topic=36882.msg977043#msg977043 date=1257153019]
wow, rage and glock team is formidable!

i just wish the team and rafa will make them look ........ (fill in the blank)
[/quote]

....like the hysterical wankers they actually are?
[/quote]

Quite but hopefully when the team turns around and soon, these two torrents of negatives will go ballistic that rafa will have nothing to do with it. If Rafa does go, i wonder how elated they can become, no matter how the team fare.
[/quote]

If he goes they'll be the first 2 people on my ignore list.
[/quote]

Ignore buttons are for the broken records. But the deadly duo are byond that, we can read and laugh. It is more than a joke really.

 

[Fallon]

It is for now, and even if it came to that I would prolly take them back off ignore after a month, but I think they would be somewhat unbreable for a while there.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

Forget about Glock and Rage. I wish everyone would stop trying to muddy the waters by making the more extreme elements an opportunity to gloss over the real problems.

The trouble with all this is is that the core of their argument is becoming less and less palatable , as reality starts biting harder and harder.

In January I knew that Benitez and the owners would not leave us exposed up front with just Torres as a realistic option, I knew their priority would be a decent striker. I even trusted them not to commit possibly the biggest single act of negligence that I have ever witnessed in my time as a supporter.

How wrong I was , but how right I was.

I was wrong because it now seems all sides in charge were gambling with different agendas, and right because I knew what the miserable outcome of trying to survive with two from N'gog, Dirk , Babel and Voronin was going to be.

As I think Farky said in another thread, we don't know what went on in the summer between Rafa and the owners, but something does not add up .
Clearly agreements of some sort have been made between them, and whatever that may be has left us right in the shite.
Yes, we could go on a fantastic run and end up pushing United and Chelsea, or we could carry on stumbling through the season continuing with a succession of bad-luck and injuries.
Will we have our usual golden run in? I hope so , but if we don't I can really see us missing out on a top four slot. I am sure City will be splurging more money in January to make them an even bigger contender.
Banking on a best case scenario is all very nice and very loyal, but very naive.
Patience is wearing thin with the manager, the trouble is I don't think there is any magic wand to be waived he has to make the best out of a poor second string.
What happens , or does not happen, in January will be interesting.

regards

 

[gkmacca]

[quote author=Y1 link=topic=36882.msg977043#msg977043 date=1257153019]
wow, rage and glock team is formidable!

[/quote]

Yes. Twatman and Gubbins.

 

[gkmacca]

[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=36882.msg977122#msg977122 date=1257159928]
Forget about Glock and Rage. [/quote]

Quite right, and it's easy to do. I wish Ryan would post more.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=36882.msg977122#msg977122 date=1257159928]
Forget about Glock and Rage. I wish everyone would stop trying to muddy the waters by making the more extreme elements an opportunity to gloss over the real problems.

The trouble with all this is is that the core of their argument is becoming less and less palatable , as reality starts biting harder and harder.

In January I knew that Benitez and the owners would not leave us exposed up front with just Torres as a realistic option, I knew their priority would be a decent striker. I even trusted them not to commit possibly the biggest single act of negligence that I have ever witnessed in my time as a supporter.

How wrong I was , but how right I was.

I was wrong because it now seems all sides in charge were gambling with different agendas, and right because I knew what the miserable outcome of trying to survive with two from N'gog, Dirk , Babel and Voronin was going to be.

As I think Farky said in another thread, we don't know what went on in the summer between Rafa and the owners, but something does not add up .
Clearly agreements of some sort have been made between them, and whatever that may be has left us right in the shite.
Yes, we could go on a fantastic run and end up pushing United and Chelsea, or we could carry on stumbling through the season continuing with a succession of bad-luck and injuries.
Will we have our usual golden run in? I hope so , but if we don't I can really see us missing out on a top four slot. I am sure City will be splurging more money in January to make them an even bigger contender.
Banking on a best case scenario is all very nice and very loyal, but very naive.
Patience is wearing thin with the manager, the trouble is I don't think there is any magic wand to be waived he has to make the best out of a poor second string.
What happens , or does not happen, in January will be interesting.

regards
[/quote]

the owners it seems have looked at our second place finish and all but ignored the injuries to the like of gerrard and torres and ignored the vast sums of money man city have spent. to be honest I don't think the situation will change (them spending little money) even if we fail to secure a CL spot, they will seek to pull in their purse strings further to compensate for the loss of CL money rather than spend money to compete get back into the top 4.

 

[jan]

[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=36882.msg977122#msg977122 date=1257159928]
What happens , or does not happen, in January will be interesting.
[/quote]

I really hope Rafa goes for Pandev in January before another team gets him on a free at the end of the season, of course he could fail but he could as easily be a bargain.

 

[rebel23]

to go a whole year with Torres as the only fit striker is insane, they should have bought someone in the summer now we will have to get someone worse in January if we can at all, or we go another transfer window with just Torres as the striker

the player we get in jan probably wont be up to it so we have to sign someone else in the summer, if we can... i can't believe the yanks, they should have bought someone in the summer when good players were available like Negredo and Higuain, who the hell is available in January and they wont spend much especially if we're out of the CL

Bascombe wrote that we're trying to sell Babel so we can give Reina bigger wages, that leaves us a midfielder short to give someone a payrise? it's an insane way to run a club, gutting the squad like that. it wont be long until we have kids running round and I doubt Benitez and our top players will stick around for that (but of course it will all be blamed on the manager)

 

[mark1975]

There were stories about Rafa just missing out on a striker in the Summer for reasons beyond his control, but there was the possibility of him returning for the same player in January. Don't know how true it is, but it needs to be.

 

[rebel23]

I can't see it Mark, even players like Falcao and Chamach (sp) who were available for £5m would do but we're not linked to anyone, ANYONE . it's very fucking stupid and worrying

the owners have no clue what they're doing.

 

[keniget]

Toni might be available on loan or for a nominal fee.

Beggars can't be choosers.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

[quote author=Fallon link=topic=36882.msg977045#msg977045 date=1257153074]
[quote author=Y1 link=topic=36882.msg977043#msg977043 date=1257153019]
wow, rage and glock team is formidable!

i just wish the team and rafa will make them look ........ (fill in the blank)
[/quote]

....like the hysterical wankers they actually are?
[/quote]

Ha

 

[drizzt]

[quote author=jan link=topic=36882.msg977138#msg977138 date=1257162098]
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=36882.msg977122#msg977122 date=1257159928]
What happens , or does not happen, in January will be interesting.
[/quote]

I really hope Rafa goes for Pandev in January before another team gets him on a free at the end of the season, of course he could fail but he could as easily be a bargain.
[/quote]

Someone on the times podcast said in the interview Purslow did prior to the Manure game he mentioned that there would be no transfers in Jan as "Benitez doesn't work that way". So don't hold your breath.

 

[Niall K]

[quote author=drizzt link=topic=36882.msg977208#msg977208 date=1257171143]
[quote author=jan link=topic=36882.msg977138#msg977138 date=1257162098]
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=36882.msg977122#msg977122 date=1257159928]
What happens , or does not happen, in January will be interesting.
[/quote]

I really hope Rafa goes for Pandev in January before another team gets him on a free at the end of the season, of course he could fail but he could as easily be a bargain.
[/quote]

Someone on the times podcast said in the interview Purslow did prior to the Manure game he mentioned that there would be no transfers in Jan as "Benitez doesn't work that way". So don't hold your breath.
[/quote]

Benitez may not be working in "any way" come Jan if things dont get better soon.

 

[peekay]

[quote author=rebel23 link=topic=36882.msg977145#msg977145 date=1257163232]
I can't see it Mark, even players like Falcao and Chamach (sp) who were available for £5m would do but we're not linked to anyone, ANYONE . it's very fucking stupid and worrying

the owners have no clue what they're doing.


[/quote]

Falcao moved to Porto in summer. No way we are getting him. Chamakh is a good option. So is Toni. He is desperate to get out of Bayern. But Inter are favorites to land him. Goran Pandev is another good player available for 5 million. He is also desperate to move out of Lazio. Again, Inter are favorites to land him.

 

[rebel23]

[quote author=peekay link=topic=36882.msg977243#msg977243 date=1257175153]
[quote author=rebel23 link=topic=36882.msg977145#msg977145 date=1257163232]
I can't see it Mark, even players like Falcao and Chamach (sp) who were available for £5m would do but we're not linked to anyone, ANYONE . it's very fucking stupid and worrying

the owners have no clue what they're doing.


[/quote]

Falcao moved to Porto in summer. No way we are getting him. Chamakh is a good option. So is Toni. He is desperate to get out of Bayern. But Inter are favorites to land him. Goran Pandev is another good player available for 5 million. He is also desperate to move out of Lazio. Again, Inter are favorites to land him.
[/quote]

We could have got Falcao for £5m no?

We could have got Negredo, Higuain, numerous others

there will be some in January, Chamakh with 6 months on his contract, is the right age (25) and an international with experience. perfect if we can get him but my prediction is they won't stump up or we'll have to sell a player first

 

[rebel23]

[quote author=drizzt link=topic=36882.msg977208#msg977208 date=1257171143]
[quote author=jan link=topic=36882.msg977138#msg977138 date=1257162098]
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=36882.msg977122#msg977122 date=1257159928]
What happens , or does not happen, in January will be interesting.
[/quote]

I really hope Rafa goes for Pandev in January before another team gets him on a free at the end of the season, of course he could fail but he could as easily be a bargain.
[/quote]

Someone on the times podcast said in the interview Purslow did prior to the Manure game he mentioned that there would be no transfers in Jan as "Benitez doesn't work that way". So don't hold your breath.
[/quote]

if the little cunt Purslow is already ruling out transfers in January then he's basically saying there is no money available and that we have to make do even though there are a few options for a few million, which could ultimately secure us the CL place

he is a horrible, stupid little cunt.