Fernando Torres to Chelsea: We'll try to put it another way..
WHAT is it that Chelsea Football Club fail to understand about the word 'no.'
A national newspaper ran a story this week declaring: "Chelsea are preparing a shock bid for Liverpool ace Fernando Torres."
The reasoning?
"Because Chelsea have been encouraged by Liverpool not rejecting out of hand their initial approach for Torres."
So let's revisit Rafa Benitez's reaction to the original 'story' - a reaction he cut short a family holiday to personally deliver to the Echo.
"I am not aware of any offer being made by Chelsea but even if there was my answer would be the same, he is not for sale. The situation is very simple we do not want to sell Fernando Torres, " he declared.
Tony Barrett even carried his own conclusion from the conversation he'd had with the Reds boss.
That was "Even a world record bid would not tempt him to part with Torres."
So what exactly does Benitez need to do to "reject out of hand" Chelsea's offer?
Take a custard pie and place it precisely in Peter Kenyon's face, perhaps?
It would certainly sit more comfortably than a Champions League loser's medal.
Kuyt's midfield hint
IF ever there was a moment which underlined why Dirk Kuyt's future lies in midfield, it came in the closing stages of Holland's unlikely demolition of the world champions this week.
Kuyt's first touch from Gio van Bronckhorst's pass was shocking.
The vision and cross which followed was exceptional.
Kuyt enjoyed an outstanding match against the Italians - but not as a goal poaching striker.
That looks increasingly like a situation which is set to continue at Anfield next season.
Technically right, morally wrong
IT'S the most widely debated offside goal since Jeff Astle ran onto a forward pass at Elland Road in 1971.
Yet the officials undoubtedly got it right in allowing Ruud van Nistelrooy's goal against the Italians to stand.
You see, even though Christian Panucci had been bundled a couple of yards over the goalline, he was ruled to be 'active' and interfering with play.
The explanation was that without such an interpretation, a cynical defender could step off the field of play to leave a centre-forward faced with a goalscoring chance offside.
Except that Panucci clearly did not act cynically.
But when you take away the facility for common sense from robotic match officials and insist on intransigent adherence to the rules, that's exactly what you'll get.
Robots who are technically correct but morally wrong.
Sometimes the law is an ass.
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