Source: Daily_Mail
Fernando Torres set to become Chelsea's biggest flop
After starting in five matches, Fernando Torres has still not scored for Chelsea. And with the burden of a ?50million price tag, the striker will be hoping he finds his form very soon or he risks joining a long list of big-name flops to have played for the club. [LNB]Here Sportsmail looks at the expensive duds of the Roman Abramovich era.[LNB] Firing blanks: Torres has yet to score for Chelsea since arriving in January[LNB]Glen Johnson - ?6m (West Ham)Sold - ?4m (Portsmouth)July 2003 - August 2007[LNB]Bought to be: The future of Chelsea as an attacking right back (similar to what he is now at Liverpool and England)[LNB]High point: Coming on in 2005 League Cup final[LNB]Low point: Being behind Paulo Ferreira and Geremi (usually a midfielder) in the pecking order at right back.[LNB] Full-back flops: Johnson (left) and Del Horno failed to settle at Stamford Bridge[LNB]Asier del Horno - ?8m (Athletic Bilbao)Sold - ?4.8m (Valencia)June 2005 - July 2006[LNB]Bought to be: Competition for Wayne Bridge at left back.[LNB]High point: Winning first league title of his career.[LNB]Low point: Sending off in a 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League last-16 for a foul on Lionel Messi.[LNB][LNB]Scott Parker - ?10m (Charlton)Sold - ?6.5m (Newcastle)January 2004 - June 2005[LNB]Bought to be: Back up for Lampard and Makelele in midfield.[LNB]High point: Named PFA young player of year in summer of 2004 (mainly on back of performances at Charlton).[LNB]Low point: Breaking his metatarsal against Norwich. He was out for 34 weeks. [LNB] Road to nowhere: Parker (left) and Wright-Phillips struggled to nail a starting role[LNB] Shaun Wright-Phillips - ?21m (Manchester City)Sold - ?9m (Manchester City)July 2005 - August 2008[LNB]Bought to be: A pacy threat on the right side of Jose Mourinho's three-pronged attack.[LNB]High point: Playing in 2007 FA Cup final win over Manchester United.[LNB]Low point: Being left out of squad for 2008 Champions League final loss to United[LNB][LNB]Khalid Boulahrouz - ?8.5m (Hamburg) Sold - ?4m (Stuttgart)August 2006 - May 2008[LNB]Bought to be: Cover across the backline for Mourinho.[LNB]High point: Marking Ronaldinho out of the game in 1-0 win over Barcelona at Stamford Bridge during 2006 Champions League group stage.[LNB]Low point: Getting sent off and giving away a penalty in the process in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal in 2007, which allowed United to claim the title.[LNB] Poor return: Veron (left) and Boulahrouz made only 37 starts between them[LNB]Juan Veron - ?15m (Manchester United)Sold - free (Estudiantes)August 2003 - July 2006[LNB]Bought to be: Midfield creator-in-chief[LNB]High point: Scoring the opening goal in 2-1 away win at Liverpool on Premier League debut for the club.[LNB]Low point: The rest of his time at Stamford Bridge before being loaned to Inter Milan. [LNB][LNB]Hernan Crespo - ?16.8m (Inter Milan)Sold - free (Inter Milan)August 2003 - August 2006[LNB]Bought to be: A big-time player in the Champions League after scoring 9 in 12 matches for Inter the season before.[LNB]High point: Winning his first European league title in 2005-06.[LNB]Low point: Being loaned to AC Milan after just a year at Stamford Bridge.[LNB] Should have stayed in Italy: Crespo (left) and Mutu both returned to Serie A after turbulent times at Stamford Bridge[LNB]Adrian Mutu - ?15.8m (Parma)Sacked August 2003 - January 2005[LNB]Bought to be: A signal of Abramovich's intent after taking over at the club.[LNB]High point: Scoring twice against Tottenham in a 4-2 win.[LNB]Low point: Being sacked after testing positive for cocaine.[LNB][LNB]Andriy Shevchenko - ?30m (AC Milan)Sold - free (Dynamo Kiev)May 2006 - August 2009[LNB]Bought to be: Experienced Champions League goalscorer - the final piece in Abramovich's European jigsaw.[LNB]High point: Playing 90 minutes in 2007 League Cup final win over Arsenal.[LNB]Low point: 10-game goalless run starting in December 2006.[LNB] Stamford Bridge stinkers: Shevchenko (left) and Kezman failed to live up to their goal scoring reputations[LNB]Mateja Kezman - ?5m (PSV Eindhoven)Sold - ?5.3m (Atletico Madrid)July 2004 - June 2005[LNB]Bought to be: A goal machine like he was in Holland with 105 goals in 123 games.[LNB]High point: Coming on to score the winner in the 3-2 League Cup final win over Liverpool in 2005.[LNB]Low Point: His ninth goalless appearance in Champions League for the club against Liverpool - it was his last and they lost 1-0. [LNB] Revenge will be ours... but only if Chelsea win the Champions League, insists Ancelotti Friday Five: The expensive signings who won the battles of the rich kids...Chelsea meet Manchester United in Champions League as Spurs are paired with Spanish giants Real MadridAll the latest Chelsea news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Shaun Wright-Phillips, Glen Johnson, Fernando Torres, Andriy Shevchenko, Wayne Bridge, Jose Mourinho, Khalid Boulahrouz Places: Barcelona, Liverpool, Newcastle, Norwich, Italy, The Netherlands, United Kingdom
