One never knows quite what to expect from a reserve campaign, but typically it’s not a great deal. 2010-11 will see a new structure in place, but even before things get underway, you get the impression it’s a bit like the emperor’s new clothes. Promises have been made, but in all probability, nothing will have changed and frustrations will grow at a system which is not conducive to developing young…
Carlo Warns Of Wounded Wigan
So put your hands up if you were concerned before last weekends match against West Brom? Us too, however with that potential banana skin successfully traversed, today’s match seems much more of a formality, and that is why we must be careful. Complacency can be this teams greatest threat as we make the trip North to face Martinez’s Lactics, fresh from our 6-0 win over West Brom and with their…
Under 18s: Chelsea 2-3 Manchester United
The new academy season started in heartbreaking fashion for Chelsea’s academy side as they went down to a last minute goal against Manchester United. Having led 2-0 in the first half, Dermot Drummy’s boys were pegged back and John Cofie won the points for the visitors deep into stoppage time. A healthy attendance was present at a grey Cobham for the first league meeting between the two sides since a…
Academy Season Preview: Part Three – Chelsea’s Prospects
After taking a look at Chelsea’s opposition in the past couple of days, we take a look at the Blues themselves on the eve of the academy campaign’s big kick-off. What are we expecting of the defending FA Youth Cup winners over the next ten months? It probably won’t include a retention of the trophy won back in April, for Sam Walker, Jeffrey Bruma, Conor Clifford, Kaby, Jacopo Sala, and…
Sam Hutchinson Forced To Retire
Chelsea this evening announced the terrible news that talented young defender Sam Hutchinson has been forced into retirement aged just 21 due to chronic long-term knee problems. Whilst the news isn’t a total shock to those who were aware of Sam’s troubles, it nonetheless comes as a huge blow to every Chelsea fan, and we can only imagine how devastated Sam himself must be. To summarise the situation, the young…
Academy Season Preview: Part Two – Other Opponents
In Part Two of our Season Preview, we take a look at the other ten teams Chelsea will face in 2010/11, five home and five away, to complete their 28-game schedule. Aston Villa Last Season: 3rd in Group B Last Meeting: 2-1 (2009-10 Youth Cup) Last season’s beaten FA Youth Cup finalists will return with eyes on going one step further in pursuit of silverware. The club continues to impress…
Get Your FREE Season Tracker
Following on the his popular Chelsea spreadsheet from last season, Carefree Chris has again updated the spreadsheet for this new season, adding in functionality and a few sophisticated, customisable graphs so you can keep track of Chelsea’s 2010-11 season. Just fill in the data as the season progresses, and you can find out a whole array of various statistics in both tabular and graphical form. Examples of the statistics calculated,…
Academy Season Preview: Part One – Group A
So here we are again. Saturday morning will see Chelsea embark on another academy campaign; nine months of ups and downs, rumour, false hope and new dawns. Fresh off the back of their most successful season ever, the defending FA Youth Cup winners will undoubtedly be keen to defend their silverware, but the league brings its own charms and attractions. Whilst results come second to player development at this level,…
In The News: Nico, Neymar & No 7
It’s been a few days now since our 6-0 opening day victory over West Brom, and as ever with Chelsea, there’s been plenty to talk about. We start with the news that our French striker, Nicolas Anelka has been banned for 18 international matches, all but ending the 31 year old’s international career. Anelka was sent home from the France World Cup squad for allegedly insulting coach Raymond Domenech during…
Beat The Boo Boys
OK we have just had match day one and the idiots have already taken over the away section, well what few West Brom brought with them. Just what do they think is going to happen when they boo the Chelsea England boys? Are the three lads in question going to turn to a lump of quivering jelly and end up playing badly, or are they going to stick two metaphorical…