The Young Internationals – September Edition

September 8, 2010

Twenty-nine of Chelsea’s current youth and reserve players have represented their countries at youth level. A number of them added to their caps in the last fortnight or so during what was an important round of fixtures for many. At Under-21 level, the qualifying campaign for the Finals in Denmark next summer came to a head, with teams seeking to secure automatic berths, or a best-placed playoff spot if necessary….

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The Generation Game

September 2, 2010

Scott Sinclair, Miroslav Stoch, Franco Di Santo. Headline names amongst a group of young players who have permanently departed Chelsea this summer, and in doing so, have helped reveal something Chelsea are potentially working towards. It’s no secret that the club regards its 1991-93 generation as one of the finest to ever come through the youth academy. They made good on their promise last season in winning a first FA…

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The Joy Of Six

September 1, 2010

Six. It’s a little word, just three letters. It can be elongated, and stretched out. Go on, you know you want to… Siiiiiiiiixxxxx….. And breathe. There is no doubt that for Chelsea fans, these are wondrous times. We have seen the odd six goal victories over the years. I remember the six scored against Coventry, back in 2000 or 2001 I think, when their goalie (was it Chris Kirkland?) was…

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Squad List Announced

September 1, 2010

With a rather quiet closing of the transfer window, and contrary to many tabloid suggestions otherwise, there were no extra transfers by the club in addition to those of Ramires and Benayoun. Today the club announced the squad list for the forthcoming season, and with Premier League regulations now stating that only 25 players can be named, with eight being ‘home grown’ should the full 25 be named. A home-grown…

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The Loan Report: August 23-29

August 29, 2010

With the loan contingent reaching double figures this week, the loan report will suddenly become a lot longer. With that in mind, let’s dive straight in. The story of the week was undoubtedly a trio of Blues youngsters joining Vitesse Arnhem in Holland under a relationship forged between the two clubs as a result of friendly relations between Roman Abramovich and new Vitesse owner Merab Jordania. Nemanja Matic, Slobodan Rajkovic…

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Playstation Unplugged But Blues Still Game

August 29, 2010

In watching Chelsea defeat Stoke 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon, Blues supporters were left pondering something. Had normal service resumed, or was this a blip in Carlo Ancelotti’s ‘playstation football’? After notching 21 goals in their three previous outings at home, expectations were high, but those who chose to temper them with more realistic goals will have come away with a feeling of satisfaction. For whilst Thomas Sorensen’s…

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Stoked Up For Another Six?

August 27, 2010

Let’s get one thing out of the way early. Chelsea aren’t going to score six again tomorrow. It can’t happen. Can it? Ahead of the Blues’ second home game of the season, the talk of the town has been just how many Carlo Ancelotti’s boys are going to pot against Stoke City. Not helped by the seven they notched against Tony Pulis’ side last April, and the Potters’ poor start…

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The Road To Wembley Starts Here

August 26, 2010

Far be it from us to be presumptuous, but Chelsea and Wembley have been seen together more times in recent years than many celebrity couples. It’s almost become something of a second home, which bodes well going into the coming season. The 2010/11 Champions League Final takes place in HA9 next May, and the road there started in earnest this afternoon with a typically laborious Group Stage Draw. Carlo Ancelotti’s…

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Blues Trio Set To Go Dutch

August 24, 2010

Reports emerging from the Netherlands this lunchtime have three of Chelsea’s young players heading to Vitesse Arnhem for season-long loan spells. Nemanja Matic, Slobodan Rajkovic and Matej Delač are all in Arnhem ahead of confirming the deals, potentially as early as this afternoon. The Serbian duo have been in training with the rest of the squad this morning whilst the young Croatian goalkeeper Delač has been undergoing a series of…

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Reserves: Chelsea 1-1 Everton

August 23, 2010

Chelsea’s Reserves learned an important lesson on Monday evening at Stamford Bridge. A lesson, in fact, they could do well to take from the first team they’re aspiring to join: when you’re on top, be ruthless. One of the finest 45-minute performances you’re likely to see anywhere opened the campaign in front of a lively crowd but the young Blues went into the break with just a Fabio Borini goal…

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