Life over the last twelve months has been a world away from ‘normal’ for everyone but, for 15- and 16-year-old academy footballers, things turning upside down at a crucial time in their lives is undoubtedly an unwelcome stress and a challenge the likes of which they will scarcely have faced before. They experienced a two-month absence in their football games programme during a school year where much of their work…
‘We don’t need Hakimi, we have Livramento!” If you know, you know. And, even if you don’t, you probably still know. Where there are potential new first-team signings, there are talented prospects with pathways to consider, and this summer has been no different as Chelsea’s pursuit of Inter wing-back Achraf Hakimi has cast doubt on the immediate route into Thomas Tuchel’s squad for Valentino Livramento, the current Chelsea Academy Player…
“Go see the French lad, he’s the star.” If Michael Ballack was having a little fun with reporters back in 2007, it certainly didn’t feel like it. Brendan Rodgers’ Reserves had just lost to Birmingham City at Brentford’s Griffin Park despite fielding six future senior internationals alongside the former Germany captain, who was on the comeback trail after injury, but Gael Kakuta was already well on his way to becoming…
“The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday – but never jam to-day.” “It must come sometimes to ‘jam to-day’,” Alice objected. “No, it can’t,” said the Queen. “It’s jam every other day: to-day isn’t any other day, you know.” “I don’t understand you,” said Alice. “It’s dreadfully confusing!” Silly season is upon us and, by that, I mean the time of year when people grow sillier in the face…