The Loan Report: Mid-Season Review

December 27, 2013

It’s been quite a few months on the Chelsea loan front. With some two dozen youngsters having been sent out to destinations far and wide in order to continue their development, it’s oftentimes hard to keep track of their progress. At this mid-season juncture, it’s time to take a look at who’s fared well, who hasn’t, and who might be in for a change of scenery this coming January; for…

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74 Loanee Goals (And Counting)…

December 23, 2013

At what is generally accepted to be the mid-point of the 2013-14 season – especially considering many European leagues take in a winter break – Chelsea’s assortment of loanees have combined for 74 goals so far. Sixteen individual players have found the back of the net at least once, with just five – Sam Hutchinson, Cristian Cuevas, Josh McEachran, Oriol Romeu and Wallace – having failed to put their name…

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The Loan Report: December 16-22

December 22, 2013

In the final Loan Report before Christmas, the usual suspects have found themselves making headlines again. As we have for most of the season so far, we begin in the Netherlands… Headliners It’s not often, however, that we’ll feature a left-back scoring twice in a week, but that’s what Patrick van Aanholt did during the past seven days. His first goal was a consolation effort in Vitesse’s 3-1 KNVB Beker…

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Under-18s: Chelsea 6-0 Reading

December 21, 2013

Chelsea’s Under-18s capped what has been a terrific 2013 calendar year with a 6-0 win over Reading at Cobham on Saturday morning. A hat-trick from leading goalscorer Dominic Solanke stole the headlines, whilst there was also a brace for Ambrose Gnahore and one from Charly Musonda on a day where the Blues might even have had double figures, such was their dominance. Adi Viveash’s selection was a neat collection of…

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The Loan Report: December 9-15

December 15, 2013

With no fewer than six players on loan at Vitesse, it stands to reason that those featuring at the Gelredome this season are more likely than most to feature heavily atop the Loan Report on a weekly basis. With two goals and an assist against NAC Breda on Sunday, Lucas Piazon takes centre stage again as he continues to assert himself as the Eredivisie’s player of the season so far….

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FA Youth Cup: Chelsea 4-0 Dartford

December 12, 2013

Chelsea got their FA Youth Cup campaign underway with a 4-0 win over Dartford at Aldershot’s Electrical Services Stadium on Thursday night. A tie pitting a team which has made the last two finals of the competition against the lowest ranked club remaining was always likely to prove a one-sided affair and so it proved, as Dominic Solanke grabbed a hat-trick and Fankaty Dabo scored another as the Blues strolled…

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2013-14 FA Youth Cup Preview: All Change?

December 11, 2013

No other club can claim to have an FA Youth Cup record even approaching that of Chelsea’s in recent years. The Blues have twice won the prestigious junior age group tournament in the last six years, whilst they have also lost a final and made the last four in the 2010-11 season. It stands to reason that we can expect an assault on what would be a third consecutive appearance…

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Under-19s Complete Perfect UEFA Youth League Group Stage

December 10, 2013

Chelsea’s Under-19 team can look forward to playing in the knockout phase of the inaugural UEFA Youth League in the new year after rounding off a thoroughly emphatic group phase with a resounding 5-0 win over Steaua Bucharest at Cobham this evening. John Swift, Islam Feruz, Alex Kiwomya and Ambrose Gnahore were all on the scoresheet as Dermot Drummy’s side ensured a 100% group record – the only such one…

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The Loan Report: December 2-8

December 8, 2013

It’s a Vitesse Arnhem kind of week. Chelsea’s Dutch affiliate club made quite the statement this past Saturday evening when they took on PSV Eindhoven in the marquee fixture of the weekend in the Eredivisie, coming away from the Philips Stadion with an emphatic 6-2 victory. With Blues loanees contributing to every one of the goals, it makes sense to begin with them. Headliners Lucas Piazon, Patrick van Aanholt and…

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Under-21 Cup: Cardiff City 0-4 Chelsea

December 6, 2013

Chelsea’s debut in the inaugural Barclays Under-21 Premier League Cup saw an emphatic 4-0 win away to Cardiff City as the Blues booked themselves a home date against London rivals West Ham in the Quarter Finals. Lewis Baker’s first half penalty separated the two sides at the end of a quiet first half but a rampant display thereafter saw Alex Kiwomya and Jeremie Boga come off the bench to add…

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