Jose Torres went 90 at CDM in Tigres' 2-1 win vs Puebla. Tigres remain unbeaten (5-4-0) in the #LigaMX Apertura, now top of table. #USMNT— Roderick MacNeil (@rodmacneil) September 18, 2016
So I finally sat down and watched him. He got in 45 minutes against Cruz Azul before being pulled at halftime of a 0-0 draw. I knew this before I watched so I was looking for other things. I didn't think he played poorly, and I'm not 100% sure why Tuca pulled him. (He pulled Javier Aquino right before half too, who had a knock, and it seemed like subbing Jose was a tactical rebalancing of the team to accommodate Damian Alvarez who comes back to the ball more than Aquino and would have cluttered Jose's space.) It was a dull first half, and I didn't watch the second 45. He played fundamentally differently from the way he played at Pachuca, where he was a deep-lying, tempo-setting, weight-the-pass metronome midfielder. With Tigres his average position on the field is much higher. He made aggressive forward runs, supplied Aquino and Gignac. He was in the 2 line of a 4-2-3-1, partnered with the sturdy Argentine Guido Castro, and often found himself tracking runners and working back to tackle and recover the ball in transition. He looked forward to pass not centrally. Earned a corner, took a corner. Geared up to shoot from 30+ yards (blocked). Low, weak cross that I remember well. The touch is still there. Great left foot. Clean, clever possession in a highly technical league. Confidence on the ball. Asked to play much more directly though, I just don't know how much more effective he is. I think he loses a little bit of his thoughtfulness having sacrificed it for the grind of running and responsibility. But...he's starting for an amazing team in a Bedoya roll, seen rarely heard, (though accentuating very few of Jose's strengths.) This is big bad UANL playing their little luxury midfielder Gringo Torres as a running, hustling, tackling shuttler. Can he be a part of a post-Beckerman, post-Jones midfield? I suppose. He's 28 and been up and down the mountain. But he does far less than Sasha Kljestan offensively, and he can't really defend with any seriousness. He lacks Nagbe's speed or Bedoya's lungs and grit, Gyasi's athleticism. He's not Michael Bradley box-to-box. Put him next to Perry Kitchen and your bucket might be a little too empty. So, left back, anybody? Just kidding. That would be a little bit of a bummuh. Still though, plugging away at a huge club, doing a consistent professional job for a winning team with a few world class players. Not too bad. Long may he start and win trophies.
Starts tonight: Alineación de los @TigresOficial vs. @ClubNecaxa. #VamosTigres pic.twitter.com/pa314SsHqR— Club Tigres 🐯 (@TigresOficial) October 15, 2016
Gets a late, token appearance deep in stoppage time as Tigres wins their series against Leon: http://www.espnfc.us/lineups?gameId=468662
📢🇲🇽Ventura Alvarado on the bench for América; José Torres on the bench for Tigres, Leg 1 #LigaMX Final. 10:00pm ET Univision/UDN#USMNT 🇺🇸🌍⚽ pic.twitter.com/n9nIwed1tW— Roderick MacNeil (@rodmacneil) December 23, 2016
Starts: Así se presenta @TigresOficial en el Clausura 2017 para su partido de hoy ante @ClubSantos pic.twitter.com/dXwt1AW3d5— Club Tigres 🐯 (@TigresOficial) January 8, 2017
Did he switch his number? Thought he used to be 18, but wearing 17 now. He's easy to spot tonight in his red shoes. Good to see him starting.
I wish he was better at soccer. But with the weakening of the pool at CM.... will we see Return of Gringo ?
Saw Gringo Torres on the bench today - didn't look too happy about not playing & of course watching his old team Pachuca become Champions of North American - I wonder where this guy can go to restart his career
At his age this is it TBH. He might be able to head to MLS and be a starter somewhere but the guy hit his ceiling long ago. Was once such a promising young midfielder.
Entered late in the match for the Campeon de Campeones at StubHub: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Campeón_de_Campeones Tigres won, 1-0.
I'm pretty sure *our* J. Torres is the one on the bench: Con estos XI se jugará el último duelo de la Jornada 2 #Santos 😇🆚🐯 #Tigres pic.twitter.com/TkQBOYOJaj— Fiebre Deportiva (@FiebreDep) July 30, 2017
Starts in Copa MX: Alineación de la J3. 🐯⚽️ #VamosTigres pic.twitter.com/nSl1Cmp8Hp— Club Tigres 🐯 (@TigresOficial) August 8, 2017
Torres made an appearance in Tigres' friendly against Monarcas last night in Houston: Tigres: Eduardo Fernández, Luis Rodríguez, Anselmo Vendrechovski, Francisco Meza, Alberto Acosta, Jesús Dueñas, Timothee Kolodziejczak (Jorge Torres 45’), Damián Álvarez (José Torres 57’), Larry Vásquez (Rafael Durán 45’), Rafael Carioca, André - Pierre Gignac.
On the bench: Alineación Jornada 14. #VamosTigres 🐯 pic.twitter.com/efU3dSCmPy— Club Tigres 🐯 (@TigresOficial) October 21, 2017
On the bench for the playoff match: Alineación de @TigresOficial vs. @ClubAmerica. #SoyTigre #SomosTigres pic.twitter.com/v9HFeZQCTl— Club Tigres 🐯 (@TigresOficial) December 3, 2017
Looks like Tigres are going to the final. They are up 3-0 in the 76th minute. Hoping for a Tigres-Monterrey final. That would be sweet.
Gringo Torres was on the bench during El Clásico Regiomontano Finale - he didn't come off of it either in a crazy ass 1-1 draw which both teams finished with 10 players on the pitch