Chelsea’s Under-18s recorded back to back wins for the first time this season after beating Fulham 4-2 on Saturday morning. First half goals from John Swift and Lewis Baker were cancelled out by a double from former academy winger Mesca, but an Alex Kiwomya brace proved enough to secure three points in a fixture which also saw a competitive debut for Lucas Piazon. The 17 year-old Brazilian has been in…
Blues Set For Large 2012 Youth Intake
At this time of year, clubs with Premier Academy League status are busy finalising scholarships to begin next spring. Under-16 players up and down the land will find out whether they are to be offered terms for the next two years or whether they are being released at the end of their schoolboy term. Chelsea’s intake for the 2012-13 season is taking shape and is set to be one of…
The Loan Report: November 1-6
Irish Under-21 midfielder Conor Clifford joined the loanee ranks this week in an otherwise largely uneventful seven days which saw more of what we’ve seen all season from young Blues playing elsewhere. Clifford joined Yeovil Town on Friday morning for a third career spell in League One, having spent time with both Plymouth Argyle and Notts County in England’s third tier last season. He went straight into the Glovers’ starting…
October’s Youth Team Round-Up
It’s been a few weeks since we carried a youth team report here on TheChels.net, but fear not, as we take a look at what’s been going on down on the academy side of the fence at Cobham. The month of October saw more difficulties befall Adie Viveash’s Under-18 team with three more defeats in the league and one in friendly competition, but they did pick up a win along…
In The Eye Of The Storm
On Wednesday evening, I had a text from a Pitch Owner mate who was going to the meeting on Thursday asking what time I was planning to arrive. I told him and he said he’d keep an eye out for me. I replied “You’ll recognise me. I’ll be the one asking the awkward questions”. As things turned out, it proved to be an accurate prediction. I don’t know how others…
Chelsea Held In Genk
Chelsea drew 1-1 with Genk away in Belgium, in the Champions League this evening. Chelsea started with Cech in goal, Bosingwa on the right, Ivanovic & Luiz centrally, with Cole on the left. Romeu took the defensive midfield slot flanked by both Ramires & Miereles, with Malouda, Torres, & Anelka up front. The blues had opened the scoring through a Ramires goal in the 26th minute and it should have…
The Loan Report: October 25-30
A status quo has been reached on the loan front as we head into the fourth calendar month of the 2011-12 season. Whilst a small few amongst the young Blue loanees have firmly entrenched themselves as weekly starters for their temporary clubs, others have become this year’s unfortunate examples of the exercise in futility the experience can often become. At the very head of this is Patrick van Aanholt. The…
A Hallowe’en Horror Show
A tumultuous week for Chelsea Football Club ended in remarkable fashion Saturday lunchtime as the Blues were defeated 5-3 by Arsenal. Robin van Persie’s hat-trick secured a huge three points for the visitors but it was the hosts’ defensive performance which was the subject of post-match discussion, as Arsene Wenger’s team found time and space with alarming regularity. Andre Villas-Boas made two changes from the previous league outing away to…
Victory For Say No Campaign At CPO EGM
Amidst extraordinary scenes, the Say No CPO campaign saw their will and determination to defeat the proposal put by Chelsea Football Club to CPO shareholders come to fruition. The West Lower concourse at Stamford Bridge was suitably transformed for such a dramatic occasion into The Great Hall, festooned with black drapes and with banks of comfortable seating, the latter being a consolation as the meeting stretched into a fourth hour…
Why McEachran To Swansea Makes Perfect Sense
With January fast approaching, the subject of Josh McEachran departing Stamford Bridge on loan is one which has been high on the agenda of many Blues supporters. This past week, Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers revealed that he has had long discussions with Chelsea about taking the 18 year-old midfielder to the Liberty Stadium for the remainder of the season. Whilst many have clamoured for McEachran to head north to the…