Fernando's Hideaway ....and other whimsy

The transfer window closes in a few hours. K. Dalglish (I don't know him well enough to call him 'Kenny') had just declared on Sky Sport TV News from a press conference that Fernando Torres (you don't have to know somebody well to use their given name) is staying at Anfield. Nobody will believe this as there is still time, isn't there?
Where is Torres now? Training at Liverpool or at a hotel in west London about to be the most expensive incoming player in the EPL?

The possibility of a Torres move to Chelsea almost overshadowed the FA cup matches at the weekend, especially on Sunday when we heard that Torres had put in written request to be transferred. There is a difference between a club asking a player to move on and a player making a request. The latter tells his squadmates that he thinks they are not good enough. So, if he is unable to leave, Torres could be in bad odour at training and in the dressing room until he does leave......presumably after the season ends.

Related articles

• Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich lures Liverpool striker Fernando Torres with the promise of European silver (telegraph.co.uk)
• Chelsea's escape at Everton shows why they need dash of Fernando Torres (guardian.co.uk)

It seems normal now for the Premier League teams to play some of their less-used players in FA Cup matches. In the 4th Knock-Out round with 32 teams played last weekend, Man U started with Hernandez and Owen as strikers and went 0-1 down against a sprightly Southampton. In the second half Giggs and Nani were brought on, there was more movement and the two mentioned strikers each scored. Giggs is such an easy mover with a football that Ferguson must hope he will do his piroutte pieces for several seasons to come. What a player!

Chelsea played a first choice team away to Everton. I tuned in just after the start and immediately started to identify who was playing. Cech was obvious, couldn't find Terry for a few minutes but registered Bosingwa, Ivanovich's stocky figure, and Cole from the back four. I spotted two mid-fielders - Ramires and Essien, but who and where was the third?

Maybe, the unfamiliar black shirts didn't help. I quickly clocked two of the three front men: Anelka and Malouda.
Eventually I recognised Drogba playing deep, but it was a few more minutes before I got to the third mid-fielder of the 4-3-3: coming forward passing the ball approaching the box, Lampard!

Chelsea got away with a draw 1-1, Kalou, as he often does, came on as a sub and equalised the first half goal from Saha of Everton.

My player-spotting described above helped me identify what is wrong with Chelsea 'at the moment': they are the three players I identified last after watching the televised match for at least 5 minutes. They were Terry, Lampard and Drogba - none of them playing well. And this was the solid, energetic, powerful spine of the team that won the Premier League last season.


The bright spot of the fifth round of the FA cup will be Crawley Town, a non-Football League club, who will play in front of 75,000 at Old Trafford. If the vast crowd does not frighten them from the start, then the prospect of Giggs, Nani, or Rooney, coming on as a sub later might do it! (I assume the starting line-up will not feature either of those three)


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