After a long break, Chelsea returned back to playing as a large crowd greeted them at Fratton Park in their first friendly in public eye, with the Blues securing a 1-0 win. This was also the first chance for the Chelsea fans to see the new boss, André Villas-Boas, in action after the first match against Wycombe Wanderers was played behind doors. On a day when three different Chelsea sides…
As many of you will know by now, Sam Hutchinson played 45 minutes for Chelsea’s Reserve team at Crawley Town yesterday afternoon. It came as quite a surprise given that the young defender announced his retirement from the game last summer as he battled a chronic knee problem. The question now being asked, of course, is whether he is attempting a return on a full time basis or if he…
Chelsea this afternoon depart English shores ahead of their Asian tour and manager Andre Villas-Boas has included a smattering of youth in his travelling party. In his two pre-season victories over Wycombe Wanderers and Portsmouth, the Portuguese boss has given opportunities to a clutch of reserve team players and whilst not all of them will make the trip to Malaysia and beyond, there are enough travelling to create a keen…
Chelsea’s Reserve team opened their 2011 pre-season schedule with a 6-1 defeat to League Two new boys Crawley Town. A mixed team which included experience in the likes of Jacob Mellis alongside the youthful endeavour of first year Adam Nditi went down courtesy of goals from Matt Tubbs (2), John Akinde, Wes Thomas (2) and Tyrone Barnett. The Reds have already been in preparation mode for over a fortnight and…
Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk today confirmed that Spanish Doctor Paco Biosca has joined Chelsea as their new club doctor. The 57 year-old replaces Bryan English in heading up the medical department at Cobham and arrives a little less than a week since Michael Essien suffered a serious knee injury in pre-season. Biosca arrives with a reputation as one of Europe’s best, with his former club touting him as a man…
Note: I started writing this at 1.48pm, on Thursday 7th July 2011. We interrupt our usual diet of light-hearted reminiscence and fluff for a serious consideration of an issue which, taken to its ultimate possibility, could end Premier League football as we currently know it. Firstly, use of the phrase “shadow line” is intentional. I hope that many of you enjoyed Hugo Blick’s superb psychological drama of Police corruption which…
Southampton have this evening confirmed that they have secured the permanent services of Chelsea’s England Under-21 midfielder Jack Cork on what is thought to be a long-term contract. It brings an end to over a decade at the club for the 22 year-old, who never made a senior appearance at Stamford Bridge. Cork now returns to a club he spent six months on loan at in 2008, and will also…
Let’s get the obvious out of the way first. This is a controversial subject of which I know many feel strongly about. However, the aim behind writing this is to encourage people to think beyond the superficial and ask questions of their opinions. It is not in any way, shape or form intended to patronise. The Director of Football role is something of a curiosity in England. Commonplace across Europe,…
Steve Holland’s promotion from Reserve Team Coach to work with Andre Villas-Boas’ first team staff has led to a re-shuffle of roles in the academy’s coaching structure. Speaking to Chelsea TV, Academy Manager Neil Bath revealed that Dermot Drummy would be moving up from his Under-18 post to take charge of the Reserve team, with Under-16 boss Adrian Viveash stepping up to replace the former Arsenal man. Viveash’s promotion would…
The English Reserve League structure is an ever-changing one, with the landscape never quite clear year on year. For 2011-12, things are set to change again as Chelsea prepare to defend their title. According to News Wales, sixteen of the twenty Premier League teams will enter the competition, with Manchester City, Queens Park Rangers, Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur electing not to take part. Things have been made slightly easier…