An Open Letter to Fernando Torres

by The Kop
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 Kid’ 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...