This is a tweet Ives put up, completely ignoring or maybe not knowing that Torres was terrible in that match for Tigres and has been bad for the USMNT with the many chances he's been given. To think this guy is one of the most well-regarded soccer reporters in this country. Jose Torres wins 2nd Liga MX champions medal. At 28, should still be in USMNT picture, but he's on Klinsmann's Island of Ignored Midfielders— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) December 14, 2015
From what I could tell, he's been a valuable 'bench' guy when needed. I didn't watch the match unfortuantely last night. Sounds like he didn't do very well.... But he's a well seasoned Liga MX pro. Not much else to say.
The list of Americans who have won Liga Mx is not short. In recent years Castillo, Corona, Torres, Yarbrough, Alvarado, and Garza did it. Jonathan Bornstein came close earlier this year as a runner up. Translating that Liga Mx success over to the international level has been tough for American players.
Here's the list from SoccerAmerica: American Champions in Mexico: SEASON PLAYER (CLUB) 2015 Apertura *Jose Torres (Tigres) 2014 Apertura *Ventura Alvarado (Club America) 2014 Clausura *William Yarbrough (Leon) 2013 Apertura *William Yarbrough (Leon) 2012 Apertura *Joe Corona (Tijuana) 2012 Apertura *Edgar Castillo (Tijuana) 2012 Apertura Greg Garza (Tijuana) 2012 Clausura Herculez Gomez (Santos) 2008 Clausura *Edgar Castillo (Santos) 2007 Clausura Jose Torres (Pachuca) 1995 Dominic Kinnear (Necaxa) *Played in Gran Final. http://www.socceramerica.com/article/66961/us-abroad-torres-tigres-wins-mexicos-apertura.html
I think it's fair to say that Ives made his bones as a reporter and (mostly) as a soccer news aggregator....not as an analyst.
Thats pretty cool that Americans have won it four years in a row, even though each year has two seasons.
he barely played and the few times he started Tigres lost (back when they were busy with the Libertadores), he only had like 60 minutes of playing time since September.
The pride of Longview, TX has played 90 minutes at his customary left holding midfield role in Tigres last 4 Liga MX matches. As @SpencerNY rightly pointed out in the Omar thread, Jose, who has upwards of 230 Liga MX appearances and 26 caps for the USMNT, is only 28 years old. Wasn't too long ago that Jürgen had Jose as a regular fixture in his squad.
Agree to an extant, but I also think if we played in a certain way he could be an important role player. In another cycle we might not have a place for a player like Zardes or Beckerman.
An update: http://www.espnfc.com/club/uanl/232...n-the-next-stop-on-jose-torres-comeback-trail Torres shed tears of sheer frustration at the slipped disc, the failed attempts to treat it without going under the knife and then the eventual surgery in Jan. 2015, which kept the 28-year-old out of action for six months. Torres has started six of Tigres' eight Liga MX games and the side has been dominant, winning four, drawing the other four and conceding just three goals in the process. Torres has taken over in central midfield from Mexico international Jesus Duenas, who has been shifted to right-back.
Is there any player in the pool regularly starting for a better team than Tigres? Maybe Fabian or Brooksy...
You would think JK will look at him soon, but with JK you never know. JK is quick to abandon players and keep his favorites just going no matter how poorly they perform.
That's pretty impressive. If he is playing that well in the middle of the park for Tigres, he'll get called in for the Cuba/New Zealand friendlies I would think.