Premiership 2010 / 2011

[Regs]

At this point, good riddance to Torres.

He may feel the club is not rebuilding fast enough but as a supporter, I'm not exactly happy with the pace of him re-finding his form.

Added benefit on this development is more reason to detest Chelski. Too bad he didn't go to ManUre.

 

[Rangerforever]

Fcuk me.
Andy Carroll and Suarez going to Liverpool with, I hear, possibly Anelka coming to Anfield as well to sweeten the pot for Torres?

Torres is way, way, way overrated at that level if you got those three studs in return.
Carroll & Suarez easily actually, but Anelka too?

I hope the 'Pool pull it off and get Anelka.
What a strike force they'd have.

 

[Walks]

We don't want him either Regs ...... we've already got one overpaid, under achieving striker

Plus, I think selling a player of that calibre between the clubs will probably never happen

 

[bulljive]

Fcuk me.
Andy Carroll and Suarez going to Liverpool with, I hear, possibly Anelka coming to Anfield as well to sweeten the pot for Torres?

Torres is way, way, way overrated at that level if you got those three studs in return.
Carroll & Suarez easily actually, but Anelka too?

I hope the 'Pool pull it off and get Anelka.
What a strike force they'd have.

I don't see Anelka going to Liverpool as Daniel Sturrage is off to Bolton apparently. Although I could see Suarez and Caroll having an excellent partnership as they are both very aggressive hard working players. If they can also manage to get Charlie Adams away from Blackpool these 3 will breath some serious new life into Liverpool. I'm surprised at Man Utd lack of movement because despite their record they are missing a few players of that extra quality.

 

[johnnybluenose]

I hope Adam is sold on too, Rangers stand to get 10% of his fee!

C'mon 8 million quid!

 

[Regs]

Kinda off-topic, OK, a lot off-topic but from the beeb:

DONE DEAL Reading have confirmed the double signing of Canada's under-20s captain Ethan Gage and American youngster Erik Opsahl.

Reading... isn't that where Leonard Bobbaduzzi started?

 

[johnnybluenose]

Yessir, considering he played all of around 200 minutes of sub duty for the ussf/nasl Caps last year he must have impressed at that trial (and Bobaduzzi must have convinced someone there on reputation) over the last 2 weeks... he hasn't really kicked a ball outside of the Canada U-20 team of any real consequence over the last year or so.

 

[Chelsea4life]

Has the Torres Deal been set in stone yet? or are they just in neggotiations? Anyway you look at it, he will do well there. Him and Drogba together will not even be fair.

 

[Walks]

Done deal.

TORRES JOINS CHELSEA | Latest Chelsea News | Team & Transfer News | Chelsea FC | Chelsea

Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Fernando Torres on a five-and-a-half year contract.

The move to bring the Spanish World Cup and European Championship winner to London from Liverpool for an undisclosed fee was completed on Monday evening.

Speaking at Stamford Bridge after finalising the move, Torres said:

'I am very happy with my transfer to Chelsea and I am looking forward very much to helping my new team-mates this season and for many years to come.

'Having played against Chelsea many times since coming to England, and in some very big games I will never forget, I know there are many great players here and I will work hard to win a place in the team. I hope I can score some important goals for the supporters to enjoy this season.'

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said: 'This is a very significant day for Chelsea, capturing one of the best players in the world with his peak years ahead of him. We have long admired the talents of a player who is a proven goalscorer in English football and Fernando's arrival is a sign of our continuing high ambitious. I hope every Chelsea fan is as excited as I am with this news.'

Chief executive Ron Gourlay added: 'Signing a player of the stature of Fernando Torres benefits the club on many levels. Carlo Ancelotti was keen to add his talents to the squad as we continue our quest for three trophies this season, we are delighted we have succeed with that wish, and this signing will undoubtedly aid the club in realising our worldwide potential.'

Torres's scoring pedigree in English football is without doubt. The 26-year-old netted 65 goals in 102 league appearances for Liverpool and 81 in 142 games in all competitions.

He moved to the Premier League aged 23 having spent the previous 12 years at Atletico Madrid, a club based a few miles from the town of his birth on the outskirts of the capital city.

In his time at Atletico, 'El Nino' (The Kid - his nickname in Spain) was the club's youngest player and youngest captain. His debut came aged 17 and he took the armband two years later.

His first full season was a quiet start with just six goals from 36 league appearances but that became 13 from 29 games the next year and the 20-goal mark was reached in 2003/04, Torres's most prolific season in Spain and the year of his debut for the national side.

The player's subsequent emergence on the international stage and 75 goals in 174 Spanish top-flight games meant many clubs across Europe were after his signature but he chose to work under compatriot Rafael Benitez at Liverpool.

The transfer in July 2007 was valued at approximately £20 million, Luis Garcia going the other way, and Torres's first goal for the Merseysiders was against Chelsea at Anfield, opening the scoring in a 1-1 draw after getting the better of Tal Ben-Haim. It was the first of seven goals in seven games against Chelsea. It is his best return against any English club.

He scored three hat-tricks on the way to 33 goals in his first season in England, becoming the first Liverpool player since a previous wearer of the number 9 shirt, Robbie Fowler, to break the 30-goal mark in one season.

His second season returned 17 goals (injury reducing his number of appearances) as his side finished second, three points and one place above Chelsea in the league table. Last season, despite Liverpool dropping down the table to seventh, Torres accumulated a very healthy 22 goals in 32 games.

He headed to the World Cup in South Africa already a winner of the European Championships at senior international level.

In his teenage years, Torres had achieved top-scorer status for his country in both the Under 16 and Under 19 European Championships and he scored his first goal for the senior side against Italy aged 20, seven months after his first cap.

In the 2006 World Cup in Germany he scored three times in the group stage but Spain were beaten by France in the first knockout round. However there was no stopping his nation two years later at Euro 2008, Torres scoring once on the way to the final and the only goal in that match in Vienna as Germany were defeated. It was Spain's first major piece of silverware since 1964.

Last summer in South Africa, Torres struggled for full fitness and form during the World Cup having undergone surgery in April. As a result, Barcelona's Pedro took his place for a semi-final triumph over Germany.

Coach Vicente Del Bosque also left Torres out of the starting line-up for the final. Instead he came on in extra-time in the 1-0 win over Holland although he tore a muscle before the end.

Back in England this season and before joining the Blues, Torres made 26 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 11 times including both goals in Chelsea's November defeat at Anfield.

 

[Sir M]

This is good news for Chelsea, and better as he has not played any Champions League with Liverpool this year, so he is eligible to play Champions League with Chelsea. A loss for Ajax losing Suarez, he will be joining other ex Ajax guys like Babel and maybe I think Kuyt, but he is a big gain for Liverpool, I thought he was one of the most dangerous strikers in South Africa last June. Chelsea would be well served to sell Anelka if they can determine Torres is on form and fit.

Speaking of Ajax, did Stekelenberg go to Arsenal as rumoured?

BBC Sport - Football - Torres makes record move from Liverpool to Chelsea

Sir M

 

[4thplacetrophy]

This is good news for Chelsea, and better as he has not played any Champions League with Liverpool this year, so he is eligible to play Champions League with Chelsea. A loss for Ajax losing Suarez, he will be joining other ex Ajax guys like Babel and maybe I think Kuyt, but he is a big gain for Liverpool, I thought he was one of the most dangerous strikers in South Africa last June. Chelsea would be well served to sell Anelka if they can determine Torres is on form and fit.

Speaking of Ajax, did Stekelenberg go to Arsenal as rumoured?

BBC Sport - Football - Torres makes record move from Liverpool to Chelsea

Sir M

Arsenal bought nobody. Suarez will not be joining Ryan babel tho. Also is he eligible to play in the champs league? Doesn't the roster have to be admitted before today? Was that not the problem with arshavin a couple years back?

 

[4thplacetrophy]

i just seen on fox sports world that torres is eligable for the champions league. Does anyone really think 35 mill for carroll is a good deal? I mean he wasn't even top scorer in the championship last year, not to mention liverpool just bought a striker in suarez. I know carroll is good but he has had off field issues and it's only his first year playing at this level. especially when you see a guy like darren bent go for 18 mill when he has proved year after year he can handle the premiership and is pretty good in terms of staying fit. I think if liverpool really wanted another striker they should have looked to real madrid and put an offer in for benzema as he isn't getting the side over there, and he is just as young as carroll (22). IMO i believe liverpool have over paid and are gonna suffer losing torres but only time will tell. hope i'm wrong cause i don't mind liverpool really.

 

[Sir M]

Heres a list of all of the transfers. Some other interesting ones...

BBC Sport - Football - Transfers - January 2011

 

[Captain Shamrock]

Kinda off-topic, OK, a lot off-topic but from the beeb:

DONE DEAL Reading have confirmed the double signing of Canada's under-20s captain Ethan Gage and American youngster Erik Opsahl.

Reading... isn't that where Leonard Bobbaduzzi started?

I think so.......but when they were in division 7

 

[bergamascho]

Done deal.

TORRES JOINS CHELSEA | Latest Chelsea News | Team & Transfer News | Chelsea FC | Chelsea

Here is a great addendum...

Chelsea lost $113 million last season despite Premier League title - ESPN

How long can this go on???

 

[Walks]

How long can this go on???

As long as Abrahmovich is still digging for oil apparently

 

[bergamascho]

As long as Abrahmovich is still digging for oil apparently

With ManSheikty and Chelski spending like it's Fantasy Football I really wonder how UEFA's impending measure will affect the Prem and if UEFA has the minerals to enforce them. This is totally unsustainable and a blight on the game of Football.

 

[johnnybluenose]

It's already ruined the game in places where the TV Deals weren't there to support the spending.

If every team operated within their budget based on the income they generate it would be fine. If Abramovich dies tomorrow and his estate has nothing allotted for Chavski, the club is dead.

 

[bergamascho]

It's already ruined the game in places where the TV Deals weren't there to support the spending.

If every team operated within their budget based on the income they generate it would be fine. If Abramovich dies tomorrow and his estate has nothing allotted for Chavski, the club is dead.

Another good read...

Soccer: Is European football eating itself - ESPN

*sigh* If only the beautiful game weren't so sullied...

 

[mikey_c_9]

Does anyone really think 35 mill for carroll is a good deal?

I personally don't think anyone is worth that amount of money, but I've always said he would eventually be a 40mil forward. But to say he's worth 35mil already is nuts. OK he has had a good start to this season, but 35mil already is way too premature.

This signing makes him the most expensive English player in the history of football.