Not sure I agree that that is the main issue, because I think Torres' problems are running deeper. Don't forget that he mostly floundered about at Liverpool for his last 10 or so months there, only rarely delivering the sort of world class performance that epitomised his first couple of seasons. And then there's his form for Spain, which, at last summer's World Cup, eclipsed spud'ead Rooney's in the rubbishness stakes.

His body language and apparent lethargy tells us his head's not right. But is this because his body's not right? His slump in form at Liverpool coincided with a run of niggly injuries, mainly around the hamstring area, followed by a knee op. Is this hampering him still? Does he keep getting twinges and therefore subconsciously unwilling to go all out? Certainly during his first two/two and half years at Liverpool his pace got him into goalscoring situations, but this seems lacking and he isn't breaking clear of defenders. This obviously impacts on his confidence, which in turn makes him second guess himself, stripping him of that instinctive sense of shooting that great strikers need.

He may recover his zip with a whole summer off to recuperate, but that's far from certain. If he can't, then he may well need to totally reconstruct his game. For that, and especially given his temperament and apparent mental sensitivities, he's going to need the right sort of coach/manager working with him patiently. So in that respect, John has it correct.

Like most Liverpool fans, I hoped he was a flop at Chelsea, for the way he turned his back on us. At first, his lack of goals and poor performances had me smuggly giggling. But last night's performance was car-crash uncomfortable. It's become not funny anymore and I feel sorry for him.

I don't subscribe to the view he may need to reconstruct his game. I think all he needs are the right players around him and the right system. He is tailor made for a deeper lying Modric and as a foil for VDV. Instead, he has to put up with an ageing glory hunting tool like Lampard. I can't actually remember 'Fat' Frank putting in a half decent performance of late.  

All entirely hypothetical of course because it will never actually happen.

The team I'd like to see tonight. Won't be the team we get though.

              Gomes

Kaboul Gallas Dawson Bale

               Sandro

     Lennon Thud  Modric

        VDV Pavlechenko

Can have no complaints about the result last night. Chelsea will end the season with exactly what they deserve. As to where we go from here, well, they need to sort out the behind the scene's problems that have caused all this. What with the loss of form so suddenly and the axe falling on RW its clear that something isn't right. Could it be the players ego's? some of them most likely. It could also be something to do with CA being RA's man. Players trying (of course with a certain JT Stoking the fire) to show RA who run's the club. Oh, and Shevcenko's brother wont work until they sort out the 'I'm the main man' tag attached to DD and Le sulk

One vulture is gathering over Chelski at least. This has echoes of Capello.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2011/04/13/2439640/marcello-lippi-admits-interest-in-chelsea-job-it-would-be

Chelsea made a huge mistake in getting rid of Ray Wilkins. As a player, he always gave 110% at every club he played for, and I'm sure that he was every bit as committed as a coach. We needs more honest, hard working guys like Ray in football today; the whole game would be so much better off if everyone involved was like him.

I agree 100%. Good post David !

Spurs CL campaign comes to an end... to come through the qualifying group was excellent but after the mare in Madrd there was only ever going to be one team ti make the semis in this tie. Last nights performance showed a huge difference in technical ability between the sides with possibly on Modric matching the Spaniards. The much over hyped Bale did a lot of running about but failed to produce anything too note in these matches is not just about power and pace, you need craft and technical ability. Hopefully Spurs will grab 4th place in the Prem and have another champions league campaign next season !

For starters, Bale should have been booked for diving. And that came back to bite us on the bum because the ref was less inclined to give a legit penalty (Modric). Apart from that I thought Bale had a good game against Ramos.

All of that counts for nowt when you have no strikers though.

There's a good chance that we will have an English team in the Wembley final this year, but I wish it wasn't Man Utd. (assuming they get past Schalke that is)

I think man will set foot on Mars before that happens.

Yep, looks likely. The form guide says they are going to get absolutely stuffed by Barca though, although you never know.

I can't see them being pipped for the league; Arsenal have buggered it up good and proper (whilst other so called challengers managed to trip themselves up in spectacular fashion a long time ago)

They only need to beat a fading Chiteh to face either Bolton or Stoke for the FA Cup

Should beat Shalke over two legs, and could easily fluke a win on the night against Barca (remember their wins against Bayern & Chelsea?)

The worst Man U side in years - a hardworking and very organised group, with only splashes of skill, playing mainly one-dimensional, 'odds' football lacking any flair - could end up with another treble.

This game is bananas.

I only wish this season Liverpool would have had the 2008/9 team - we'd have waltzed to the league title.

As far as I remember, Alan Hansen predicted during an edition of Football Focus on BBC1 in August 2009 that Liverpool would win the league last season. Not one of his finest predictions, a bit like when he said of Man Utd at the start of the 1995/96 season, "You'll never win anything with kids".

It's no big secret that future_is_orange, Gary L and myself all support Man U, but equally I think we're all genuinely surprised how well the class of 2010 has done........maybe an FA or Carling Cup trophy, a top 3 finish in the Premiership and a quarter final berth and exit in the CL would have been our expectation. They've been rightly criticised IMO for many of their performances, particularly away from home and for some of the disciplinary issues, verbal rather than physical I hasten to add. BUT this team have shown they've got balls; their work rate is incredible, they work for each other and they never drop their heads, and that's a model for all Prem sides to aspire to. Of course it could all go horribly wrong now, but I doubt they'll be overhauled in the Prem and they have to be in pole position for the FA Cup. As for the Champions League, they still have to overhaul Schalke to get to meet probably Barca where they wouldn't be favourites, but I truly believe that with the variety of skills the current squad have and the increased level of self belief they have grown, it's certainly not impossible.

I think the best explanation of the Liverpool mindset is represented by the boom bust cycle graphic:

John.. I am somewhat suprised that we are in the situation of chasing a treble of the major honours. Man U have certainly adapted a little bit this season they are more compact a little less extravagant but capable of churning out the results. They have become moe difficult to beat and that is the basis to where we are now. The defence looks strong, the midfield compact but still missing that creatice flair from central midfield (with the exception of Giggs / scholes when playing) and up front have three top top players in Berba, Rooney ad Chicarito. As already mentioned work rate, balls and belief they have in abundance and of course driven by a manager who is only as good as his last result. Treble...... i dont discount it and like John says its not impossible.

So the sole English survivors play their first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi final in Germany tonight against Schalke 04.............guess all you guys will be cheering them on

Well it is going to be a tricky tie, Man U have picked a fairly positive team again with Rooney and Hernandez starting. I am sure SAF will think he could possibly come away with a win from this however a draw would certainly be a good result as the Germans have been excellent in the CL. Personally i am going for a Man U win tonight.

HT 0-0............but even an "impartial" would find it difficult to find fault with Man U's approach to this game

No, cheering on a German team would be a bit too much for me.

Man U totally dominant against Schalke04, one of the most one sided games i have witnessed.

Looks like Schalke had their 'final' in the previous round.

A shame we couldn't have drawn Schalke, which always was the weakest team left, despite their performance against the hapless Inter.

Instead, we got Real, with the promise of Barca.

For United though, a far easier route to the final will prove all the more frustrating when they lose.

Anyway, down to business tonight - Real vs Barca - the two biggest, richest and probably best teams in football.