It’s a fixture which is keenly anticipated regardless of the level at which it’s played. Chelsea vs Arsenal conjures up all manner of memories from down the years – we’ll leave you to reminisce about your own – and the coming thirteen days could add fresh moments to savour. Granted, the fixtures come at youth level, where the two clubs will go head to head three times in that spell,…
We All Follow The Chelsea, Or Not….
We will follow the The Chels(ea) Over Land and Sea … and Leicester… and Fulham… and Blackpool… and Copenhagen…or maybe not. Financially, this is not a good week to be a Chelsea fan. Hot on the heels of a demand of money with menaces yesterday to stand in a cow shed in Fulham came the news that the much anticipated away game at Blackpool had been switched to a Monday…
Won’t Somebody Think Of The Children?
Despite being a long-time supporter of the club, I will be the first to admit I have often concerned myself with purely first team affairs, and have only known the names of a handful of the younger players at the club. However in recent times, partly due to seeing them warming up, or simply warming the bench, the successful Youth FA Cup run and the impending ‘Financial Fair Play’ regulations,…
First Step On Road To Recovery
Ivanovic and Anelka returned to haunt Blackburn Rovers again as Chelsea returned to winning ways with a rather nervous 2-0 win over Blackburn Rover at Stamford Bridge. Branislav Ivanovic got his fifth goal of the season to put Chelsea ahead, before Nicloas Anelka made it three goals in two for him to ensure three points for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Given Carlo Ancelotti’s pre-match comments about Josh McEachran being ready to…
The Harding Perspective: Blackburn
I should state that first of all I am not entirely sure as to what formation Blackburn are likely to opt for, but I expect the personnel to be similar to the team below. Pedersen perhaps tucked in with Olsson operating from a slightly wider berth. I expect the tactic to be similar to the one they employed against Liverpool with a lot of success: pace, pace and some more…
A Statistical Preview: Blackburn Rovers
CHELSEA vs BLACKBURN ROVERS 15/01/11 Chelsea meet Blackburn Rovers at the Bridge as they get back to the Premier League after an emphatic 7-0 demolition of Ipswich Town. Daniel Sturridge is the man of the moment having scored 7 goals in 2 games, 5 coming in the reserves in a 7-3 win over rivals Spurs. Daniel recorded a 31.0% accuracy rate (shots on target of total shots) and averaged 0.714…
FA Youth Cup: Sunderland 0-2 Chelsea
The current FA Youth Cup holders got their defence of the trophy off to a strong start on Wednesday lunchtime with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Sunderland. Second half goals from Nathaniel Chalobah and George Saville ensured that Chelsea came away from the tie with a place in the fourth round, and a meeting with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. The match, which was originally scheduled for mid-December but repeatedly fell…
Where Are They Now? Jackie Crawford
Jackie Crawford joined Chelsea from Hull City in 1923 for a fee of £3,000. He was signed as a right winger but was soon asked to switch to the left to make room for Alex Jackson. He went onto produce some outstanding displays and appeared in an all-star front line which included Hughie Gallacher, Alex Cheyne and Andy Wilson. An eternal optimist, Crawford was highly influential in the Chelsea dressing…
The Loan Report: January 1-9
The winter period is a tough time for the fixtures list. Matches come at unusual intervals and on unusual days, whilst some countries decide to simply take a rest at this time. For the aspiring young footballer on loan, it can prove to be an eye-opening time. The first loan round-up of 2011 will take in the events of the last week and a half, with a very anglo-centric look,…
Road To Wembley Starts In Emphatic Style
Well, I think we can all agree that that was needed. As Chelsea embarked on another FA Cup campaign, seeking to become the first side in 125 years to win three on the trot, the feeling around the club could have been better. Another defeat in midweek against Wolves followed by ‘Bannergate’ brought more doom-mongering to the club’s doorstep, something which received only a brief respite when Ipswich sacked manager…