What a strange capacity Fernando Torres has for turning triumph into disaster.
Last week at Old Trafford having scored a crisply-taken goal, he missed another chance in almost inexplicable circumstances, rounding Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea — who was at last in commanding form at Stoke on Saturday — only to ineptly drag the ball wide of the goal with his left foot.
Then at Stamford Bridge, leading the Chelsea line against an ultra-defensive and mediocre Swansea City, he scored an excellent goal reminiscent of his prolific past, turning sharply and elegantly to lose his marker before shooting home. And then what?
A ridiculous and quite superfluous foul on Swansea's Mark Gower saw him shown a red card which will mean he misses Chelsea's next three domestic games — though he will be available to play in Valencia in the Champions League this evening.
Intent
Generously, Brendan Rodgers, the Swansea manager, opined that the expulsion was "more for the intent" than the foul itself, whose consequences he stresses were minimal.
Valencia lost their first La Liga game of the season 1-0 at Seville on Saturday, but they have been effectively pillaged by other clubs during the last couple of years. Stars such as David Villa and David Silva have gone and to add insult the accomplished left winger Juan Mata has now been bought by Chelsea themselves. That leaves quite a burden on their able but somewhat cautious young coach, Unal Emery. It's hard to see Chelsea losing here.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have suddenly risen from ashes. That dreadful 8-2 defeat by Manchester United, admittedly of a skeleton side, and the feeble 4-3 loss at a humble Blackburn behind them, they easily overcame 10-man Bolton 3-0 at the Emirates and Arsene Wenger can presumably breathe again.
It's reported that last week he could, had he wanted to, have joined Inter, the struggling Milanese club instead turning to Claudio Ranieri. Round and round goes the managerial merry-go-round in Italy, with the same figures constantly reappearing.
Ranieri, once in charge at Chelsea, was sacked by Roma last season after a disastrous run and Juventus are among his other previous clubs. ‘Gira e rigira', as the Italian saying has it — things turn, then turn again.
Wenger surely deserves to carry on at Arsenal. He has had wretched luck. In the summer he lost Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. Now we learn that the motor of this midfield, Jack Wilshere, must undergo an operation which will keep him out until Christmas, while the accomplished Belgian centre-back Thomas Vermaelen is out of action yet again.
The author is an expert on football based in England
Last week at Old Trafford having scored a crisply-taken goal, he missed another chance in almost inexplicable circumstances, rounding Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea — who was at last in commanding form at Stoke on Saturday — only to ineptly drag the ball wide of the goal with his left foot.
Then at Stamford Bridge, leading the Chelsea line against an ultra-defensive and mediocre Swansea City, he scored an excellent goal reminiscent of his prolific past, turning sharply and elegantly to lose his marker before shooting home. And then what?
A ridiculous and quite superfluous foul on Swansea's Mark Gower saw him shown a red card which will mean he misses Chelsea's next three domestic games — though he will be available to play in Valencia in the Champions League this evening.
Intent
Generously, Brendan Rodgers, the Swansea manager, opined that the expulsion was "more for the intent" than the foul itself, whose consequences he stresses were minimal.
Valencia lost their first La Liga game of the season 1-0 at Seville on Saturday, but they have been effectively pillaged by other clubs during the last couple of years. Stars such as David Villa and David Silva have gone and to add insult the accomplished left winger Juan Mata has now been bought by Chelsea themselves. That leaves quite a burden on their able but somewhat cautious young coach, Unal Emery. It's hard to see Chelsea losing here.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have suddenly risen from ashes. That dreadful 8-2 defeat by Manchester United, admittedly of a skeleton side, and the feeble 4-3 loss at a humble Blackburn behind them, they easily overcame 10-man Bolton 3-0 at the Emirates and Arsene Wenger can presumably breathe again.
It's reported that last week he could, had he wanted to, have joined Inter, the struggling Milanese club instead turning to Claudio Ranieri. Round and round goes the managerial merry-go-round in Italy, with the same figures constantly reappearing.
Ranieri, once in charge at Chelsea, was sacked by Roma last season after a disastrous run and Juventus are among his other previous clubs. ‘Gira e rigira', as the Italian saying has it — things turn, then turn again.
Wenger surely deserves to carry on at Arsenal. He has had wretched luck. In the summer he lost Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. Now we learn that the motor of this midfield, Jack Wilshere, must undergo an operation which will keep him out until Christmas, while the accomplished Belgian centre-back Thomas Vermaelen is out of action yet again.
The author is an expert on football based in England
