Three and in – not just another football blog

Pea-shooter a deadly weapon
18 goals from 37 appearances would be more than good enough for Javier Hernandez in his first season in English football. When you factor in that of those 37 games, only 20 have been starts, his record become even more impressive. The fact that the Premier League’s top scorer, Dimitar Berbatov, has fallen behind Hernandez in the pecking order speaks volumes for the Mexican’s potential.

It could get worse for Torres…
…in the short-term. Ultimately, it will get better. Form is temporary, but class is permanent, and there’s no doubting the Spaniard has that in bags. Last night, however, he seemed to crumble under the weight of expectation. Not only was Chelsea’s entire season in the balance, but the fact he hasn’t yet scored in blue is clearly strung about his neck like an obese albatross, and judging by his impact as a sub Didier Drogba would almost certainly have been a better bet. Not even facing his favoured opponent Nemanja Vidic could revive the Spaniard. I suspect we may not see the best of Torres until United have the title in the bag too and the pressure is well and truly off. Only then he can he concentrate fully on integrating in to the side.

It’s too soon to sack Ancelotti
If you believe some of the rumours on Fleet Street, not even a victory last night could save Carlo Ancelotti’s job. I have to say, I find the idea of sacking a manager who won the double in his first season after a solitary trophyless campaign ridiculous. Ancelotti has experience of reigniting ageing sides at Milan. There have been signs in recent weeks that he’s capable of doing just the same at Chelsea.

This “average” United side could win a treble
I have to admit I’ve been waiting all season long for this United side to come a-cropper. Now they’re odds-on to win the Premier League, and in the semi-finals of both the FA Cup and Champions League. It’s a huge testament to a winning mentality instilled in the culture of the club by the manager. If he is able to claim all three prizes once more, 12 years after the Nou Camp, would Alex Ferguson finally decide to go out on a high?

Player idolised by the fans ups and leaves. It hurts. I get it. We all get it. But burning your club’s shirt? No. Just no.

Burn Fernando, burn

It might have Torres on the back but on the front is the Liverpool crest. Kenny Dalglish said:

Players leave the club and players come in, though more have come into this club than gone. It’s no different now. People move on. The most important thing is the club.

It might be a symbolic gesture but anyone who thinks they’re doing anything other than disrespecting the club is entirely wrong. Protesting citizens setting fire to the flag of a warring neighbour or an oppressive regime, fine. Torres was a Spanish footballer (not genocidal despot) who scored lots of goals for Liverpool FC and on whom they have just made a profit of £30m. I fully understand fans feeling a bit betrayed by him  but to go as far as to set fire to the shirt is frankly pathetic.

Beyond that I think Liverpool have taken two big gambles in Carroll and Suarez. South American strikers who make a Premier League impact are few and far between. Those who have failed more than outnumber those who have not. He has a lot to do to prove he’s not the next Alfonso Alves or Matej Kezman, players who score a bucketload in Holland but flopped miserably in England.

Yes, he looked exciting in the World Cup but then Liverpool fans won’t need reminding that so did El Hadj Diouf before he joined.

As for Carroll, I’m just flabbergasted that anyone can think £35m on him is anything other than massively overpriced. Sure, there’s potential and Liverpool are making an investment in that, but when you spend that kind of money you expect the finished article. He has half a season of decent performances under his belt, a suspect temperament and a history of off-field issues.

It will require Steven Gerrard to supply him with the kind of service he got from Joey Barton at Newcastle. Whatever you think of the cigar-man his dead ball delivery is up there with the best. Dalglish can teach him a lot too but Carroll at £35m+ is the ultimate example of the ‘English tax’. Transfers of English players between two English clubs rarely represent anything like their real value.

In a world where David Villa is sold for £33m, Edin Dzeko for £27m, there’s just no justifcation, other than desperation, for the Andy Carroll fee. I’m not saying he can’t do a job at Anfield, but with that kind of a price kind comes expectation and responsibility and I don’t think Carroll can fulfill either of them well enough.

How different things are at Chelsea these days.  The time has been that all they had to do was click their fingers and Europe’s top talent would come running.  The lure, at first, was money.  Later, the opportunity to win trophies and work with luminary talent like Jose Mourinho swung the balance.  But money, lots of money, was always at the heart of it.

With the Financial Fair Play rules on the horizon, Chelsea have tightened the purse-strings somewhat in recent years.  However, this January, with the team struggling to keep pace with Manchester United and their Champions League place under threat, Roman Abramovich is seeking to invest once more.

Problem is, they can’t.

First Steven Pienaar opted to join Tottenham instead.  Then, within the last 24 hours, a bid for Fernando Torres was rejected and the mooted deal for Benfica centre-half David Luiz collapsed over the proposed payment structure.  There’ve also been less convincing reports of a double bid for Sergio Aguero and Diego Godin, similarly turned down.

Chelsea, it seems, are paying the price for their previously luxuriant spending. When the Blues come a-calling, clubs hold them to ransom.  Abramovich might be intent on downgrading his outlay, but it doesn’t mean he’s run out of funds – and clubs know that.  He set an expensive precedent, and now Chelsea have to foot the bill.

Superseded by Manchester City in both the wealth stakes and the league standings, it’s an awkward period for Chelsea and Abramovich.  The few days between now and the end of the transfer window might tell us just how much his pride has been hurt – and, crucially, how far he’s willing to go to do something about it.

Genuine question for Liverpool fans – why didn’t Fernando Torres take the penalty yesterday?

The club’s best player, star striker and surely the man who could be relied on stood aside allowing Dirk Kuyt to take the penalty? Was it pressure? Is Kuyt ahead of Torres in the penalty taking pecking order?

It just seemed odd to me that he didn’t want it. We hear all the time about big players standing up to be counted and how they can make the difference. with just two goals in his last ten games why didn’t he demand it, why didn’t he want it?

As for the game itself, some thoughts:

- Liverpool’s defensive weaknesses need to be sorted above everything else. Rumours of a move for Luis Suarez are all well and good but until they find at least one centre-half and a left back they’re going to struggle.

- Leighton Baines turning his back on the ball cost Everton the first goal. I know it’s the natural reaction when facing a shot but if it means taking one squarely in the nuts or the face to stop a goal then that’s what you’ve got to do.

- Unfortunately, for both teams, lower mid-table is an accurate reflection of their form this season. Disappointing for both sides but the table doesn’t lie.

- Seamus Coleman and Martin Kelly look genuinely exciting prospects. It’ll be interesting to see if they can hold be held onto if the current form of both sides doesn’t improve.

- Marouane Fellaini’s hair is ridiculous – how can he head the ball properly?

And as for Sky’s risible ‘Return of the King’ montage at half-time, they have surpassed themselves with their cringeworthy mawkishness.

For a tough Scotsman from Govan Alex Ferguson is surprisingly sensitive.

He’s cancelled press conferences as he’s unhappy at the way the media portrayed his comments about Fernando Torres after the United Liverpool game. According to the Guardian:

A few newspapers interpreted the comments as an accusation that Torres was cheating and Ferguson does not like that, prompting his withdrawal from all press-conference duties.

What he said was:

I’ve watched it. Definitely, Torres made a meal of it, an absolute meal of it. There’s no doubt he tried to get the player sent off.

He may not have used the word cheating but that’s exactly what he meant. Some might say that he’s well within his rights not to speak to the media if he feels hard done by but he’s hardly been badly misrepresented here.

Other managers find their words twisted much more often and in much more damaging ways yet they still meet the press every week. When you add this to Ferguson’s continued refusal to speak to the BBC United fans will be hoping Sir Alex sets himself up with a Twitter account so they can hear what their manager has to say.

It’s all a bit unseemly and petty from a man who is experienced enough to know better. He’s well able to deal with silly questions from the assembled hacks, it’d be much better to see the United manager take someone to task in the public arena than seemingly hide away.

His comments about Torres held little weight considering the actions of one of his own players on that day, but he’s too experienced and too clever a man to throw a strop like this over something so trivial.

Fair play to El Niño, he had a dreadful World Cup, though in fairness he was never fit, culminating with a snapped hamgroin in the last minute of extra time.

That hasn’t stopped him acquiring a new agent. And not just any old agent. No sir. He’s got the scorer of the winner in the World Cup final, Andrés Iniesta, to represent him. The ghostly pale Barça player says:

Fernando was fully focused on Spain and we didn’t even talk about his future until last night. He is going to take a break with his wife and daughter, speak to Liverpool and take things from there.

Any club that has him is lucky to have him.

Fantastic. Except for one thing. Iniesta really shouldn’t be talking about the future of a player who is under contract to another club. Everyone knows his future at Liverpool is somewhat in the balance. It’s hard to keep one of the best strikers in the world when you’re going to play Europa League football in the coming season, but Iniesta should mind his own business and refrain from commenting.

Then again, it’s quite clear that wearing the Barcelona shirt means you can say and do what they like with no regard for the club or the employee in question.

A little overdue – this write-up looks at the semi-finals and the pointless yet entertaining third/fourth play-off.

WINNERS

Diego Forlan
A loser in the semis but a winner across the tournament.  Almost certainly the single individual who has exerted the greatest influence over his side.  Two more great goals take his total to five, and his reputation to an unprecedented high.

Carles Puyol
Scored the crucial goal in the semi, but was also extremely solid at the back to deny a freescoring Germany side.

Wesley Sneijder
Might just be wondering if his name is on the Golden Boot after another jammy goal against Uruguay.  Sneijder had an extraordinary domestic campaign with Inter, and if he can help Holland lift the World Cup at the third attempt then he’ll be the favourite to win World Footballer of the Year.  And, more importantly, he’ll have pissed off Real Madrid something mighty.

LOSERS

Miroslav Klose
Quiet in the semi and injured for the third-place play-off, Klose failed to score the one goal required to match the all-time World Cup record held by the original and fatter Ronaldo.

Fernando Muslera
Uruguay’s keeper was beaten from long-range twice against Holland, then made a hash of a simple cross against Germany to gift Marcell Jansen a goal.

Fernando Torres
Dropped for the semi and denied a simple tap-in by Pedro’s selfishness when brought on as a sub.  It will hurt a player of his quality to begin on the bench tonight.

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The biggest winners and losers of this World Cup might yet be decided today.  Come back tomorrow to see who they are.

WINNERS

Miroslav Klose
Two more goals takes Miroslav ever Klose to Ronaldo’s World Cup scoring record of 15. Yesterday he moved past another Brazilian, Pele, to within one goal of joint top billing. He might not be everyone’s cup of tea – club manager Louis van Gaal included – but you can’t argue with his stats: 51 goals in 100 international appearances.

Bastian Schweinsteiger
Remember the petulant winger who irritated fans everywhere with his poor-man’s Ronaldo stepovers and terrible haircut? Me neither. Schweinsteiger’s transformation to pivotal central midfield player has demonstrated remarkable maturity from a player who is still just 25. Yesterday, he was imperious.

England
It happened to Argentina too, it seems. Don’t feel so bad. Maybe the Germans are just a bit good.

David Villa
Spain’s hero, yet again. Barcelona’s €35m signing is beginning to look an absolute bargain.

LOSERS

Diego Maradona
A day after Luis Suarez took the ‘Hand of God’ from him, Maradona may now be set to lose another prized asset: the title of Argentina manager. It’s no disgrace to look comparatively disorganised next to a German team, who tend to make the Beijing Opening Ceremony guys look a bit of a shambles. That said, when faced with their first serious test, Argentina’s “playground” formation finally came a-cropper. They swarmed after the ball in numbers, leaving themselves vulnerable to Germany’s counter-attacking style. Maradona has provided the tournament with loads of entertainment, but is likely to pay the price for this crushing defeat with his job.

Penalty-taking
It’s not been a good couple of days for the art of spot-kicks. Yesterday there were three penalties within as many minutes in the Spain v Paraguay game. Only one was scored, and that was disallowed for encroachment. Paraguay’s Oscar Cardozo was left to wonder what might have been.

Fernando Torres
Withdrawn without a goal yet again, there must now be serious questions over the suitability of Torres to start the semi-final against Holland. The Liverpool striker is out of both form and luck, and his characteristic confidence looks to have deserted him. Moving Villa to a more central role and dispensing with Torres seems a more sensible move with each passing game.

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Your own Winners, Losers, Drawers and Abdicators are, as ever, welcome.