In need of a good season: Fernando Torres and Anderson

Next up is a man who following a successful European Championships will be looking for salvation at Chelsea. Of course, it could only be Fernando Torres. Following his high profile £50 million transfer to Chelsea from Liverpool in 2011, Fernando hasn’t had the ideal start to life at Stamford Bridge. He went 903 consecutive minutes without scoring for the Blues and only managed to score 1 goal in 18 appearances in the second half of the season. But the Stamford Bridge faithful were hopeful ahead of the 2011/12 season. He showed signs of being back to his normal self, especially when having an absolute stormer at Old Trafford despite his side losing 3-1.

He took a well worked goal which went down to his fantastic movement. But then in only Fernando Torres style his confidence and morale was shot to pieces. He ran in one on one with David De Gea in the United goal, rounded him and missed an open goal from a matter of yards out. Yes, you have to give him his dues for making a great run and being in the right place at the right time. But strikers are paid to score and scored he didn’t. That arguably set him up for the rest of the season.

However he would see brighter days before the season was out, he scored hat-tricks against QPR and Leicester (FA Cup) but he ultimately scored the goal in the Nou Camp that made Chelsea fans moan louder than Gary Neville, ironically by rounding Victor Valdes and slotting it home. Torres went on to capture the Champions League with Chelsea, the European Championships with Spain and more importantly the European Championship golden boot by a virtue of playing fewer minutes than Mario Gomez.

Maybe, just maybe this could be what Torres needs and we can finally see the return of the real Fernando Torres this season, for Chelsea fans it would be perfect timing following the departures of Kalou, Drogba and Anelka in recent months.

That completes edition one looking at Players and Managers who need a good season, there will be more next week.

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