A new manager, a dozen new scholars, a change of Sporting Director at the top, but things remain the same as far as the Chelsea youth team are concerned. A second FA Youth Cup title in three years was the undoubted headline of another campaign in which the league slate was often handed over to the younger players – typically including more than a sprinkling of schoolboys – and the…
Youth & Reserve Season Review 2011-12 – Part Three: The Reserves
Chelsea’s Reserve team failed to retain the national title they win at the end of the 2010/11 season but that was the least of the concerns in a tumultuous campaign which has raised a number of talking points for the future. Mixed in with all of the usual positives were a succession of lows, including but not limited to poor performances, questionable attitude, player departures and a smattering of controversy….
It Wasn’t Our Turn…
…to be European Champions. (It wasn’t even our turn to win the FA Cup.) At last I am starting to realise that Saturday night wasn’t just a dream. It really, really happened! And now, after the event and with a sore head easing and reality setting in, I would like to give a quick reply to those people who have been saying our name was on the cup from the…
Youth & Reserve Season Review 2011-12 – Part Two: The Loanees
A very central part of youth development these days is the utilisation of the loan system. With reserve football in an appalling state, top clubs have increasingly sent their burgeoning talents to needy homes across the footballing world, proving the loaning club with a temporary solution whilst benefitting from their player gaining greater exposure to the professional game. Another fifteen or so Chelsea starlets made the journey out this season,…
Youth & Reserve Season Review 2011-12 – Part One: Introduction
For the third straight season, Chelsea’s academy has finished with silverware to add to the trophy cabinet. After the FA Youth Cup in 2009-10 and the Premier Reserve League crown last season, it was the youngsters to the fore once again as the Blues secured a fourth Youth Cup in club history. It was the highlight of another eventful youth season, full of your stereotypical highs and lows, with the…
Finally
Finally, the cup with the big ears resides in SW6. After Robert Huth on the right wing in Monaco. After Luis Garcia’s ‘goal’. After Anders Frisk. After penalties at Anfield. After not losing to Barcelona with eleven men on the pitch. After Ovrebo. After Moscow. After everything, Chelsea are European Champions. Finally.
Travels With the Chels – Copenhagen
A “Travels” is a rare visitor at this time of the year; however as we have reached the Final of Europe’s premier club competition what better way than to mark it with recollections of what was, for many of those who went, a very favourite European trip. The 2010 – 2011 Champions League campaign began with exceptionally smooth progress through a first stage comprising Marseille, Zilina and Spartak Moscow, ending…
09-10 and 11-12: The Youth Cup Winners
Chelsea secured their second FA Youth Cup crown in three years last Wednesday night. Nathaniel Chalobah, Lucas Piazon and Jamal Blackman followed in the footsteps of Conor Clifford, Josh McEachran and Gökhan Töre in the 2009-10 season as both groups of Under-18s went on to lift the coveted trophy. Many will look to draw comparisons between the two teams and attempt to conclude if one is better than the other,…
The Loan Report: May 8-13
In the final edition of The Loan Report for this season, we’ll catch up with the remaining Chelsea loanees, most definitely headlined by a Europa League winner. Thibaut Courtois turned 20 on Friday, two days after keeping his 21st clean sheet of the season in the biggest game of his career to date. Atlético Madrid defeated Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in Bucharest to lift a second European trophy in three years,…
FA Youth Cup Final Second Leg: Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Chelsea (1-4 agg)
Chelsea won their second FA Youth Cup in three years despite a 1-0 defeat against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Wednesday night. With a sizeable first leg lead in the bag the return fixture was always likely to be underwhelming and so it proved, with a solitary first half strike from Tim Payne decisive on the night, but not enough to turn the tie in Blackburn’s favour. Both teams…