Chelsea new boys showing signs of second season success after slumps

It is no secret that Chelsea’s new signings have struggled during the middle of the season. But their recent uptick in form points towards a bounce back.

Alvaro Morata and Tiemoue Bakayoko’s Chelsea careers both started the same. Incredibly well. The first few weeks of Morata’s goal scoring form made most everyone forget about Diego Costa’s desire to leave. Bakayoko, meanwhile, was returning from injury but pocketed Tottenham Hotspur on his first ask. still

Then fatigue and doubts set in. Suddenly, all the good the two had done was forgotten. They were now flops. They were a waste of money. And players such as Olivier Giroud and Cesc Fabregas cemented places over them, however fleetingly.

But if recent performances are anything to go by, both players have come out of their slumps. And that is a great thing when considering next season.

Morata’s slump largely came as a result of injury and personal issues. He was too in his own head and a striker must be instinctual. Perhaps having Giroud around, with the added rest time, has caused Morata to set himself straight again. He has scored several goals in the last few games and if he can keep it, he will hit a total expected of him from the start of the season.

Bakayoko’s loss in confidence came with simple, avoidable mistakes. He was fine until he made one in a match. But once he made the first, the others quickly followed. It was as if he beat himself up over the first mistake which simply caused the others to happen. But his recent matches have shown him to remain resolute through a mistake and finish a game with the right mind set.

Of course, they still have large hills to climb over. Because of their slumps, they still are and will receive a great amount of criticism regardless. One of the largest narratives about Morata after Southampton was that he missed two easy chances. Few choose to remember that he scored on one of his first touches of the ball.

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In the same match, Bakayoko has been viewed as doing nothing. But for a defensive player, having people ask what you did is a good thing. It means the team played well and the player did not make any noteworthy mistakes.

More importantly, this recent surge of form for them can hint that they have finally adjusted to English football. England is full of countless examples of first season flops becoming second season successes. Chelsea had one before known as Didier Drogba.

As Chelsea rapidly approach a transfer window, they must keep the second season in mind. A player (or manager for that manner) cannot be judge accurately on one breakout or slump of a season. At the very least, it takes at least two seasons to get a solid grasp on a player in football.

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Morata and Bakayoko have earned their second seasons. They must continue in the same form for the rest of the season, but all signs point to them fulfilling their early promise next year.