Chelsea V. Man U: Torres Will Rebound from Horrific Miss (Video)

Call it "The Miss Heard 'Round the World," or at least, "The Miss Heard 'Round England."

For Fernando Torres, the finally few moments of his side's harsh 3-1 loss to Manchester United must have felt doubly so after a shocking miss that has once again left Chelsea supporters calling for his head.

On 83 minutes, Ramires slid a perfectly timed through-ball to Torres, who split between Johnny Evans and Darren Fletcher and rounded David De Gea, only to scuff his left-foot shot harmlessly wide of the gaping goal.

As Torres collapsed to the turf in horrified awe of his gaffe, it was hard not to feel for a striker who, in less than a year, has gone from one of the most consistent scorers in the league to one of the least.

The real shame is that the memory of this latest miss is sure to eclipse what was otherwise a very impressive game for the Spain striker.

Throughout the match, Torres was full of energy, frequently terrorizing United's youthful backline with pacy, beautifully timed runs. 

Had Ramires not made a hash of the situation when Torres neatly rolled a ball across the face of De Gea's goal to leave the Brazilian with what looked like a tap-in, the Spaniard would have had his third assist in two games.

Torres' willingness to pass when he could shoot has been derided by some sections of the Chelsea faithful as indicative of a lack of confidence, but his goal suggested otherwise. 

Played through by Anelka only seconds after the restart, Torres' deft chip over the onrushing De Gea was no less than his industry deserved, and were it not for that awful miss, he'd be rightly lauded for his contributions in a Chelsea performance that deserved at least a point.

And yet, hope is not lost for Torres. Rather than seeing the miss as the nadir of his long, slow slide from Anfield hero to Stamford Bridge scapegoat, Chelsea supporters would do well to mind his recent improvements and the seeming maturation in his game.

While he has previously been prone to sulking when things don't go his way, Torres has responded to his benching for the 2-1 victory over Sunderland by demonstrating enthusiasm and determination not often on display during his time in London.

The movement that once made him such a nightmare for opposing defenders is returning, and rather than being criticized for his failure to shoot from tough angles, he should be commended for his willingness to pass to open teammates. 

Distribution was never a part of his game at Liverpool, primarily due to the fact that he was frequently isolated at the front as the team's only real goal threat. At Chelsea, he is surrounded by players—Anelka, Mata, Sturridge, Drogba, and Lampard, among others—with a nose for goal.

None of this is to say that Torres shouldn't be taking shots. He is, after all, the first £50M striker in the EPL, and he will ultimately be judged on his goals tally. But there are encouraging signs on that front as well.

Much of Torres' success at Liverpool was down to his near-telepathic understanding with Steven Gerrard. His failure to make such a connection with any of the Chelsea squad did him no favors last season, but there are indications that Juan Mata could be the key to unlocking Torres' potential.

Having a compatriot in the squad with certainly do Torres no harm—remember that he was one of four Spaniards in the starting 11 when he settled so easily at Liverpool—and Mata’s quick feet, vision and silky passing have already contributed to some strong link-up play between the two.  As they log more playing time together, a prolific partnership could surely blossom.

This has been a trying year for Fernando Torres, and Sunday’s dramatic miss suggests that those trials are not yet at an end. However, those who have written him off as a bust or dead weight should reserve their judgment for a little while longer. There are signs of life in him yet.