Liverpool FC Forum

by **tubby** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:52 am

An Open Letter to Fernando Torres from Brian Durand

An Open Letter to Fernando Jose Torres Sanz

It hardly seems like three and a half years since you were photographed with Rafa Benitez jointly holding aloft a ‘Liverpool FC –You’ll Never Walk Alone’ scarf with the Kop as a backdrop. That day Liverpool supporters all over the world were as proud and as pleased as punch. Kids raced out to get their new shirts with Torres 9 emblazoned on the back, and the older generation such as me looked forward to another in the line of famous LFC goal scorers.

A new love affair had begun.

Three days later we had our first glimpse of you in a Liverpool kit as you replaced fellow debutant Andre Voronin as a 63rd minute substitute in the Friendly in Switzerland against Werder Bremen. The two friendly games played in Switzerland must have confirmed to you the size of the club that you had joined, the stands being full of Liverpool reds from their vast army of fans on the continent.

But surely the scenes that greeted you and your new team-mates when you arrived in Hong Kong International Airport must have had an impression upon you. There were thousands of adoring Asian fans to greet the team, and the scenes were repeated everywhere you went on that short Far East tour. Believe me Fernando, this sort of worldwide appeal is reserved for special clubs. Liverpool, Barcelona and (dare I say) Manchester United.

Chelsea, for all their recent spending power simply do not compare.

The memories from that first season will live long in our hearts as I trust they will in yours. The magical first goal at Anfield when you accepted Stevie’s pass and running half the length of the Main Stand, you cut in, twisted past two Chelsea defenders with a burst of pace and eased the ball into the far corner with expert precision.

The love affair was consummated.

More magical memories are etched in the mind. A couple in a drubbing of Derby, a hat-trick against a Reading team that tried in vain to kick you out of the game, consecutive home trebles against Boro and West Ham, magical solo goals at Derby and Marseille and a fabulous feint against the hapless Geordies.

On top of that there was the wonderful goal in the San Siro, sealing one of the greatest nights in Liverpool’s illustrious history.

And the goals and memories have gone on and on. Old Trafford in 2009, the annihilation of Real Madrid both witnessed the Torres celebration and the familiar smile.

This was a team of great potential , registering wins at Chelsea, the Camp Nou, the Bernabou, Old Trafford. On their day this team could beat anyone.

Yet all the while there was a cancer in the club. A cancer at the very top.

The owners had lied. They had no doubt lied to you, and they had lied to us.

There was to be no investment. There would only be spiralling debts. The chance for making the final step to glory was lost. The moment had passed.

Don’t forget though Fernando that the fans put a lot of effort into removing the culprits. We marched. We stayed behind. But all the while we supported the team. Results became inconsistent but we supported the team. We supported you when you were injured. We supported you when the media started to question you.

The owners have been replaced of course and now FSG are at the helm. I understand that you are frustrated by the speed of progress. However we have previously witnessed false promises and a repeat would have been met with distrust. I firmly believe that John Henry and TomWerner’s approach is the correct one. They are taking time to assess things before making decisions, but they will make the right decisions. Their track record in North American sports tells us this.

We have signed Luis Suarez, a quality player who will light up the Premier league. There is no better keeper than Pepe. Stevie G, Raul and Lucas form a formidable midfield. We will reinforce the squad, using the money that would formerly have been swallowed up by interest payments.

If you see the grass as greener at Chelsea, then make the move. It isn’t though. Not by a long chalk.

You will not get the support at away games that you have become accustomed to. They are not as patient as us. (They booed Drogba, for goodness sake). There is no comparison in the atmosphere at special nights.

At times this season, you have cast a lonely furrow at the top of our attack. Under Hodgson the team was not set up to get the best out of you. We could see that. We understood. We wanted our Torres back. For that reason, above all others, Roy had to go.

Now we have Kenny. Now we finally have our club back. The lads who made ‘The King and The Prince’ flag which has been on the Kop recently did not spend their hard-earned money just because they wanted to be on the television. I’ll bet they did that for their belief in Dalglish and their belief in you. You represent the heartbeat of this club, and that is why we are hurting.

Once again, if you must go then there is nothing we can do, except wish you all the best.

We realise that it is not fair to expect players to share our attachment to the football clubs we support. I am a Liverpool Football club supporter. It occupies an irrationally high proportion of my time and my thoughts. I know it’s probably a bit sad, but that’s the way I am. I will support LFC whoever the owners are. I will support LFC whoever is manager. I will support them wherever our home ground is, whoever the board of directors are, whatever kit we wear, whatever league we are in, and of course, whoever the current players are.

The one constant is the connection between the fan and the club. Everything else is a variable.

The lads who made that flag will be sad this weekend. The kids with Torres posters on their wall will not understand. The older kids with Torres proudly emblazoned on their backs will be sad too. I am bl**dy sad for God’s sake.

But I am also damn proud that I saw your hundred goals for Liverpool Football Club. I thank you sincerely for all the joy you have given me and my fellow Koppites. Thanks too for all the hours you put in on the training ground and in fighting back from injury.

Thanks for that fabulous photo when you had your hands on the World cup but you remembered us and draped a Liverpool scarf around your neck. In a small way we felt part of that moment too.

Great memories. Proud memories. How about making some more? Give it a thought..

by **J*o*n*D*o*e** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:58 am

off to bed again but hopefully this time tomorrow we`ll have something to shout about, im happy we have Suarez but this just knocks the gloss right off that.

cant wait to see him in action on wednesday.

its a pity all this overshadows his move.

by **dundreamin** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 1:02 am

Bav that brought a teardrop running down my cheek

by **tubby** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 1:04 am

dundreamin wrote:Bav that brought a teardrop running down my cheek

Yes it's one of those ones that really tugs on those strings. I was ok most of today but after reading that im like how Thommo was earlier on SSN.

Feel like i've been cheated on and now she not only admits to :censored:

him but she wants to go move in with him too and wants me to help her move.

by **PabloMedina28** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 1:06 am

Joeblackisachimp wrote:whoopee

I don't have much time for PLayers who hand in tfr requests who don't want to play for the club.

if I was the chief Executive at LFC, tommorow morning i would be on the phone naming chelsea a minimum price for torres. 50m Cash.

then sell him without thinking twice. he aint robbie fowler, prolific, drops his head a lot, and has no left foot. he rarely scores from outside the box, or unless you play the ball right in front of him 8 yards out. he aint the complete article, or as good as David villa.

If he wants out, just get on with it and sell, and stop holding the club back.

50m in cash, then we bid 25m for Andy Carroll to partner suarez, a decent winger/ midfielder (8m for adam), and a centre back. or hows about Shaun Wright-philips anyone?

Torres is as good as Fowler his record tells that (without the help of pens) he hasnt scored as much as the first season because of injuries. Torres is world class who had a dip in confidence lets not kid ourselves in thinking he isnt. Villas great but looks better because of the workload Torres takes off him, want evidence look how bad Villa preformed when he had to put in Torres shift in the later stages of the world cup.

We should only consider getting rid now if we get Anelka aswell and 40-50 million. Otherwise well do more harm then good.

The fact you think Carroll is worth 25 mill and we should get SWP doesnt do you any favours.

by **ethanr** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 2:07 am

Dang Bav, after reading that I kinda feel like an @rse. Everybody sitting here p*ssed off at him naming prices and players to replace him. I sure don't want him to go. I'll still worship him if he stays

by **roberto green** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 2:16 am

Bav if Torres reads that he will stay untill he gets carried out in a box.

by **shabelle50** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 2:38 am

It already looks a bit like he partly wanted to go because of jealousy over Suarez's arrival. If he does stay supposing he deliberately plays badly up front with Suarez or causes tabloid rumours about the two of them not getting on? To be honest I've gone off Torres in recent months I can't see the fuss in keeping him. He's not Liverpool through and through when things get tough he wants out. Let him go so we can bring in new players who want to wear the red shirt.

by **maguskwt** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 2:41 am

Guys I want 60 million for Torres too... but what about his supposed 50 million release clause? If Chelsea offer 50 million the club got no say anymore and it's up to the player...

by **Octsky** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 2:41 am

why does people keep thinking about Anelka?
the idea of Anelka plus cash is spreading like a freaking virus..
the guy is in his 30's and he did play for us a few seasons back and IT DID NOT WORKED OUT!

this is the perfect opportunity to rob chelski blind, full cash, if not wait for the summer and Mancity and Real Scum will start a bidding war.

by **maguskwt** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 2:43 am

mrt wrote:maguskwt, could you make your new Liverpool hero Konchesky or Poulsen plz?

WTF

? why?

by **neil** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 2:54 am

andy_g wrote:
neil wrote:dang andy g again, moriarty

don't feel too bad, neil. you were funnier.

no, I'm spartacus.

by **lakes10** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 2:57 am

look like we have had anew bid put in by them and once again Torreshas stated he wishes to leav liverpool.
reports say he will be in london on sunday morning and not liverpool...................ok this is all from talkshit so you know what you have to take with that.

by **Santa** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 2:59 am

How much is Champions League qualification worth to Chelsea? £40~£50M easy?

We should stall and press for at least >£50M + (possibly) Anelka to cover us since it will be too late to buy a replacement before the TW closes. This I believe will be good business for a player who's mind are no longer with us, injury prone and have lost a bit of pace since his injury a couple of seasons back. I can accept that...

by **LiverpoolMadman** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 3:22 am

So far only Chelsea bid .... let see Man City ... will they bid ? 50m for Man City is just like "a piece of cake" ....

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