FERNANDO TORRES IS REALLY BACK

Lately we have wondered which Fernando Torres is playing for Liverpool?The hardly fit off tune one or the Torres we saw on Sunday with those two goals.The second being world class.I hope the REAL Fernando Torres is back.Meanwhile I am glad the new Liverpool owner American John W Henry is indicating he is bewildered by the role of agents in English football.I have always been baffled how they are able to work for both club and player.That cannot be right.Some agents encourage players to change clubs too often.The clubs cannot agree on much collectively so Mr Henry should not hold his breath for anything other that sympathy on this subject!

GARETH BALE'S RUNS ARE SO EXCITING

Its normally striker and wingers that excite us.Step or rather sprint forward Spurs left back Gareth Bale.Super speed and attack....and goals.Its wonderful stuff.We are all loving it unless you support or are involved in his opponents.

GERARD HOULLIER UNDER PRESSURE TO WIN AND SCORE

Aston Villa should have won at Fulham on Saturday.I felt for new manager Gerard Houllier.Villa have just one win in eight Premier League matches under the Frenchman.Indeed they have not won in five games and only scored twice since Emile Heskey's late winner against Wolves.Now Houllier has a run in with striker John Carew.I am sure Gerard will show Carew who is boss!Meanwhile Villa desperately need a home win over Blackpool on Wednesday.Its that tight at the bottom that only five points seperate 5th place Bolton and the three teams in the drop zone!

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO MARTIN O'NEILL?

Why is Martin O'Neill not back managing in football?The answer is that a top job in the Premier League has not become available.When there is an opening where will it be and will the Northern Ireland man be offered it and will he take it?Martin quit Aston Villa at the start of the season.Top managers earn so much money these days that there is no pressure when they are out of work.Nice!

SIR ALEX FERGUSON WINS THE DAY-AT A PRICE!

Wayne Rooney does a U turn and stays at Manchester United.Manager Sir Alex played it brilliantly leaving the door open but Rooney's hard nosed agent Paul Stretford squeezed Rooney a new five year IMPROVED money contract with United.Wasn't that what they were arguing about in the first place?All this talk about lack of ambition was both an insult and a false claim for United and Sir Alex.The trophies and medals in his watch tell the tale.No, you have to assume the likes of new moneybags Manchester City turned his agent's head.What really changed it all? I hate to think it was the mob threats at his house and elsewhere.No-one should be subjected to that rubbish and unpleasantness.But the outcome is now settled and once Rooney refinds his form and behaves himself on and off the pitch United will be the winners.Maybe massive money situations cannot buy everything-yet!

LIVERPOOL HAVE NEW OWNERS BUT WILL THEY BRING IN A NEW MANAGER?

You have to think that John W Henry and his NESV group will be better Liverpool owners from the USA than the previous pair Tom Hicks and George Gillett.At least the club is now debt free and Henry's transformation of my favourite baseball team the Boston Red Sox has been remarkable.It bodes well.
I did exchange emails earlier in the year with the new man in charge at Liverpool, Joe Januszewski who is Liverpool and soccer mad! A mutual friend Chuck Taylor made the introduction.Nothing to do with me but it was Joe's suggestion to his boss John W Henry that led to the takeover.Joe ran the Red Sox corporate sales team at the Red Sox.Now he is Liverpool's new chief operating officer replacing managing director Christian Purslow. Where does it leave Roy Hodgson as manager?Results will determine that although apart from Manchester United and Arsenal new owners have a track record of soon changing the manager after take-overs!

GREAT COMEBACK BUT NO CIGAR!

Spurs showed they have a great left back in Gareth Bale.Its the most remarkable hat-trick I have ever seen from a defender and probably the same will go for you.It was dramatic after Spurs trailed 4-0 to Inter in Milan at half time.4-3 is some scoreline but despite the plaudits it was down to one player..Bale..and theere were still no points for Spurs.Its all about points in the group stage.Still Spurs are still in with a decent chance of progressing.