Month: December 2012

Former Blues Watch: Volume Three

December 31, 2012
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It’s been another interesting season for a host of former Chelsea players, with headline-makers aplenty, although some have made a name for themselves for all the wrong reasons. We lead off the third installment of this irregular series with a familiar face and Champion of Europe. As has been well documented, Raul Meireles recently earned himself a lengthy suspension for allegedly spitting at a referee in a Turkish Cup match….

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The Loan Report: December 24-30

December 30, 2012
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The final Loan Report of 2012 is a much abridged one, with almost everyone outside of England currently enjoying a well-earned winter break. In fact, only two of Chelsea’s numerous overseas saw action in the last seven days. One of those was Thorgan Hazard, who was in Belgian Jupiler League action for Zulte Waregem at home to OHL Leuven. He got 73 minutes in a 2-1 win which ensures that…

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Affane: ‘I Don’t Expect to Play for Chelsea’

December 29, 2012
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Chelsea’s Swedish youngster Amin Affane has told a leading Dutch football website that he doesn’t believe he has a future at Stamford Bridge and is beginning to consider the next steps in his career. Speaking to Voetbalzone.nl, the attacking midfielder, who joined the Blues from Lärje-Angereds in 2010 and has spent the duration of this season to date on loan at Roda JC in the Eredivisie, spoke frankly about his…

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Talented Next Generation Making Early Impact

December 27, 2012
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Football is increasingly becoming a young man’s game. Players of ever more tender years are shining at the top levels of the game with each passing year, and naturally, to be in a position to do that, their development must be accelerated at each stage of their youth career. Like many clubs, Chelsea have not shied away from such an approach, and it’s been something they’ve been very particular and…

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Depth of Quality Behind Under-18s’ Superb Season

December 26, 2012
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To say Chelsea’s season at Under-18 level has gone well so far would be something of an understatement. Until last Wednesday they had put together an unbeaten season – including friendly matches – and a series of highly impressive performances against top calibre opposition. Many of the key contributors have been familiar names to followers of the youth team for a good couple of years by now. Reece Mitchell, Alex…

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A Chelsea Christmas Carol

December 24, 2012
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Whilst the following story refers to real persons both dead and alive, it is a work of fiction. ‘Oh come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant…’. The sounds of the Salvation Army brass band outside Knightsbridge tube station on Christmas Eve floated gently after the armour-plated Bentley as it made its way down Sloane Street and towards Belgravia. The Oligarch sat back in the leather-cocoon, and pondered his problems, both…

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The Loan Report: December 17-23

December 23, 2012
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Romelu Lukaku’s sixth goal of the season continued an impressive personal campaign and highlights the final Loan Report before Christmas. With many leagues now entering a winter break, it’s also the most comprehensive report for a while, with some teams not returning to action until the end of January. We begin with the big Belgian forward at West Brom, who maintained his fine record when starting for Steve Clarke’s side…

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Under-18s: Fulham 2-1 Chelsea

December 19, 2012
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Chelsea’s unbeaten season at Under-18 level came to an end on Wednesday after a pulsating lunchtime fixture away to West London neighbours Fulham. Goals from Moussa Dembele and Muamer Tankovic proved enough for Fulham to become the first team to take maximum points from the Blues this season, but Connor Hunte’s strike in response sparked a fight back which was so nearly completed on a number of occasions. With local…

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The Loan Report: December 10-16

December 17, 2012
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Nathaniel Chalobah celebrated his 18th birthday this past week and did so in style as he grabbed his second goal of the season for Watford. He headlines the latest edition of the Loan Report. The England Under-21 international hasn’t been in the best of form lately with some shaky and sloppy performances, but it was always prudent to remember his tender age and overall excellence throughout the season. He offered…

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Busy Week Concludes as Blues Youngsters Prepare for 2013 Fixtures

December 15, 2012
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The first half of the Under-18 season in England may have wound down in the final weeks before Christmas, but Chelsea’s youngsters have found time for three matches in seven days to end a highly successful calendar year and to look forward to an even better 2013. Friendly draws against Cardiff City and Ipswich Town book-ended the week, with a goalless stalemate against Ajax in the Next Generation Series sandwiched…

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