Why is it free hunting time on Torres?

[pezzzer]

He's not a bitch like Ronaldo so he wont have a cry after each game.

fergie whines and cries about every thing he can to anyone who will listen to put as MUCH pressure on the ref as possible going in to any game,

everyone just gets on with it but fergie plays the hard-done-by card every ****ing year. he;s a total embarresment.

[Reaper]

Sadly it works tho doesnt it

[AFII]

Well, Rafa agrees with me.....

Rafa Benitez angered by Torres treatment
By Giles Mole and agencies
Last Updated: 12:32pm GMT 24/03/2008

Liverpool are awaiting the results of scans on injuries sustained by Fernando Torres in the controversial 3-0 Premier League defeat at Manchester United.

The match was marred by the first-half red card for Javier Mascherano, after his protracted dissent in a confrontation with referee Steve Bennett.

Many suggested yesterday's dismissal was a product of the Ashley Cole incident in midweek at Spurs, when the Chelsea left-back showed dissent to referee Mike Riley but received only a yellow card.

Bennett was the fourth official on the touchline at White Hart Lane that night.

It has emerged, however, that the root cause of Liverpool's anger and frustration at Old Trafford was the treatment meted out to Torres by United defenders.

Torres was taken off near the end, according to Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, to protect him with the game already lost.

Wes Brown scored in the first period, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani adding late goals for the reigning champions.

Benitez must now pick up the pieces before Sunday's Merseyside derby with Everton, whom Liverpool lead by two points in the race for fourth spot.

Mascherano will miss that match, serving a one-match ban.

Benitez said: "Torres had some knocks on his ribs and ankle, a lot of knocks and a lot of kicks. I was just trying to protect him. The doctors will do a scan, and we will see.

"Was I disappointed by intimidation of Torres? Maybe I should ask others for their opinion. I have my own opinion, which was very clear.

"We have seen a lot of things and we do not need to talk about problems with referees. It was very clear."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mai...ntorres124.xml

[Redlife]

I think Torres has got it particularly bad during the last run of games because he has been playing essentially as a lone striker most of the time, so he's the focal point, competing for the ball and receiving passes with his back to goal.


He was kicked up and down the pitch by Reading and again yesterday. No serious big tackles, but a lot of little kicks, trips, and elbows. Good to see the ref yesterday stamping down on that kind of thing though... by booking him.

[Parm]

why did Torres get a yellow just before the Mash incident? We got a freekick for a foul on Torres and next thing Bennett booked our guy?

[AFII]

why did Torres get a yellow just before the Mash incident? We got a freekick for a foul on Torres and next thing Bennett booked our guy?

He showed Bennett how many times he had been fouled the last few minutes, that's why he was booked. The one, two, three fingers in the air.

[dww]

why did Torres get a yellow just before the Mash incident? We got a freekick for a foul on Torres and next thing Bennett booked our guy?

For something he said. He was giving the ref lip on 'Respect the refs authority' Sunday. Any other week this season he would have got a stern telling off.

[Parm]

He showed Bennett how many times he had been fouled the last few minutes, that's why he was booked. The one, two, three fingers in the air.

For something he said. He was giving the ref lip on 'Respect the refs authority' Sunday. Any other week this season he would have got a stern telling off.

cant blame Torres

[AFII]

cant blame Torres

No one do that but you simply can't communicate with Bennett, if you question his authority even a little bit then you are in big, big trouble. That's one thing Rafa should, I don't know if he did that, tell the players before every game we play with Bennett as ref.

It's not exactly a secret that Bennett is an attention seeking whore but that is another discussion that belongs in another thread.

[dww]

I really think the FA dropped a bollock when they instigated the Respect initiative without giving a new importance to the captain. They should be allowed alone to talk to the referee and it would have made the new order much less open to interpretation and would have helped IMO the referees to gain genuine respect if they could explain their decisions more clearly to one person. The example of Rugby is a good one and should be followed but it need to be a genuine and consistent policy and would have been better implemented at the start of a season rather than ad hoc because of media pressure.

[Los Rojos]

Torres gets one hell of a raw deal with some of the treatment he takes. He's too honest IMO, making little fuss when he gets clattered. The referees should appreciate this a little more instead of punishing him like he was yesterday.

[dww]

To be honest anyone expecting him to be protected from anything but flying two footed lunges at OT was going to be disappointed. United are very good at cynical fouling and referees are usually disinclined to punish it with cards any way. You only tend to get those sort of decisions when you are at home (for example the first 20 minutes of the United game at Anfield - which I thought was well refereed but it was inconsistent with how pull backs near half way are usually dealt with).

[Los Rojos]

To be honest anyone expecting him to be protected from anything but flying two footed lunges at OT was going to be disappointed.

I've seen him take much more than he should have done for most of the season. Chelski at home and Reading away (Carling Cup match) are two prime examples.

[dww]

I've seen him take much more than he should have done for most of the season. Chelski at home and Reading away (Carling Cup match) are two prime examples.

I know but niggling fouls on a lot of players (even Ronaldo) tend to go unpunished. It is the problem that really Rafa, Fergie and Wenger have all been on about. It also happens to the likes of Heskey who are identified as lower teams main threat. It is generally never picked up and to identify Torres above other players is IMO an understandable bias but nevertheless is a function of being an LFC supporter. The general trend was never about to be reversed for Torres at OT was my point.

[BobTheCharmer]

Bloody hell I'm sick of hearing how the star players need protection these days. at no time in history have they ever had it so good.

this game is dying and will be dead within 5 years once fifa and all round general do gooders have had their way.