It was the last day of training for the Chelsea reserve team at Cobham today, and for two champions it meant a final farewell to their colleagues before they head for pastures new next season. Midfielder Michael Woods and Czech goalkeeper Jan Sebek will both take the next steps in their careers as their contracts expire at the end of next month, and they have not been offered terms for…
We Need To Talk About Fernando
I’m sure that I wasn’t the only one who felt uneasy on Sunday. A torpid performance against an admittedly game Newcastle United, struggling to a draw. Fans trickling away at the final whistle like water draining from a bath. The ground a third full by the time the players came out for the lap of appreciation (and those who had the decency to remain were starting to get the hump)….
Reserves: Chelsea 1-1 Blackburn Rovers (Chelsea win 5-4 on penalties)
Chelsea are Barclays Reserve League Champions. A pulsating national final at Stamford Bridge was settled by penalties after goals from Mauro Formica and Todd Kane had left both Chelsea and Blackburn at a stalemate after ninety minutes. The first six kicks were scored, but Rovers midfielder Michael Potts saw his effort stopped by Ross Turnbull, and minutes later Michael Woods converted the deciding penalty to send those who had turned…
The Loan Report: May 9-15
The Football League season in England may have finished last weekend, but we’ve still got a handful of young Chelsea loan starts to catch up with, starting with another goal for Daniel Sturridge. The England Under-21 international grabbed his eighth goal in just eleven appearances for Bolton on Saturday but it wasn’t enough to earn even a share of the spoils away to Blackpool. Having spurned a close-range opportunity in…
A Difference Of Perspective
So, here we are at the season’s end, and I have a problem. So I thought I’d put quill to parchment to put a few words out there and see what you, the goodly lords and ladies who follow our fine club, think. My problem is that I appear to have a different perspective on things to the majority of observers I see who comment on these matters. Specifically; on…
Young Blues Head For Pastures New
The end of the Premier Academy League season this week saw two young Chelsea boys wear the blue shirt for the final time, as Ben Sampayo and Bobby Devyne were confirmed to be departing at the end of their contracts this summer. They will almost surely joined by Anton Rodgers, who hasn’t appeared for the club since the start of March. The trio all signed two-year youth scholarship deals in…
Under-18s: Charlton Athletic 2-1 Chelsea
Chelsea brought their 2010-11 academy campaign to a close on Thursday lunchtime with a 2-1 defeat away to an impressive Charlton Athletic team. First half goals from Adebayo Azeez and Bradley Goldberg were enough to secure three points for the Addicks, who move above the Blues in the table, but a strong second half showing from the visitors threatened to take a share of the spoils. The closing weeks of…
The Games That Win You Titles
The night after the day before and it’s all still a bit too much to take. Having clawed back from so far behind, to get within touching distance of retaining the title and then lose it in just 45 minutes of football has left many of us feeling deflated. In March we were wondering if we’d even make fourth place, so credit where it’s due to Carlo and the lads….
Reserves: Chelsea 3-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Chelsea secured their first Reserve League crown since 1994 on Monday night with a comfortable 3-0 win against Wolves and set up a showpiece final against Manchester United or Blackburn, to be played next Monday at Stamford Bridge. Goals from George Saville, Adam Phillip and Gokhan Tore ensured the Blues picked up the three points they needed to usurp Arsenal from Group C’s summit, and in truth they could have…
The Loan Report: May 2-8
Many of Chelsea’s loan contingent signed off for 2010-11 this weekend as the English Football League campaign drew to a close, but for a few, there are still some loose ends to tie up. Starting in the top flight, Michael Mancienne started his second consecutive game at centre-back for Wolves, who picked up a huge three points in the battle to avoid relegation by beating West Brom 3-1 in the…