Alex Reid looks at whether the once ever-present appearance of English clubs in the later stages of the Champions League is set to become a thing of the past
Craig Dobson looks at QPR's decision to sack Neil Warnock and replace him with Mark Hughes
Andy Pakes previews this Sunday afternoon clash in the first edition of Game of the Week for 2012
Dave Hughes tells us about his sporting hero, Wes Morgan
Far from setting the precedent for future bombastic spending, however, Fernando Torres stands as a beacon of Roman Ambramovich’s tacky greed: from the Spaniard-cum-Scouser the world may finally learn that awkwardly stuffing a team with superstars is not a recipe for anything other than occasional success.
Of course, Torres is a magnificent player. He is the type of player whose availability for selection can force a manager to alter his plans. In fact, in Sunday’s game at Stamford Bridge, the new signing gave Carlo Ancelotti a £50m tactical headache. In incorporating his new recruit, the Italian was forced to revert to a very narrow 4-3-1-2 formation, not unlike the setup he used to employ at A.C. Milan. This meant Liverpool’s five-man defence easily exploited the flanks, had a centre-back to spare and could afford a more fluid midfield diamond than the Champions'. Kenny Dalglish’s side won the game because Chelsea had to make room for an excessively expensive ornamental feature.
It is fitting and poignant that a surly Fernando Torres was hauled off in the second half of last Sunday’s game; he tactically handicapped his team and missed at least one excellent goal scoring opportunity. He represents an era of English football best confined to history: one of bloated squads, expensive misfits and cold, soul-less teams. Chelsea now have an economic albatross around their collective neck and the most expensive player in Premier League history doesn’t even slot into the team.
May this be the year when the playing field is levelled and when success in football ceases to rely on the arbitrary will of an oligarch or billionaire. Let those most knowledgeable in the science of football be rewarded accordingly and let us never see a repeat of the whimsical additions of gaudy baubles in vain attempts to satisfy greed for instant success.
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