An extended Easter weekend edition of the Loan Report hands over the headlines to a trio of Englishmen who have come through the ranks at Chelsea and forged solid professional careers from them. All defensively-minded, two of them found the scoresheet to extend the streak into a 35th week, whilst another secured the first promotion of his fledgling time in the game. Headliners The first contribution went to Sam Hutchinson,…
One of the more common sub-plots to Chelsea’s season has been their prolific activity on the loan front. With more than thirty players away at other clubs, their largesse in the outgoing temporary market has attracted considerable attention; not least because it’s unheard of within English football. As the Blues’ title challenge faltered with a lack of top quality striking options, critics have been quick to point out the folly…
Chelsea secured a place in the Barclays Under-21 Premier League Semi Finals on Saturday afternoon with a 4-2 victory over West Bromwich Albion at Cobham. The Blues made sure of a top four finish and a shot at the national title with a well-earned triumph despite twice having been pegged back from ahead. Isaiah Brown opened the scoring early on against his former club and Lewis Baker kept the hosts…
Chelsea defeated Arsenal 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night courtesy of a Charlie Colkett goal that ensured a 3-1 aggregate victory and a place in a third consecutive FA Youth Cup Final. The Blues become the first club in some sixty years to achieve such a feat and will now face West London neighbours Fulham in a two legged Final at the end of April and start of…
The final few weeks of the season aren’t just a crucial time for clubs to meet their destiny, but in many years they also represent the opportunity for a player to secure or fight for his place in his national team’s squad for an upcoming international tournament. Chelsea will have a slew of players heading to Brazil at the end of May in preparation for the FIFA World Cup but…
Chelsea’s Under-21s picked up an impressive 4-2 victory away to Aston Villa on Monday evening to continue their charge towards the post-season playoff structure in the Barclays Under-21 Premier League. John Swift opened the scoring inside five minutes but the hosts responded well and were deservedly on terms midway through the first half through Daniel Johnson, but some excellent football by the Blues was rewarded with a 3-1 half time…
It’s an Eredivisie-heavy Loan Report this week as despite some disappointing results for both Vitesse Arnhem and NAC Breda, Chelsea loanees at both clubs found the scoresheet to help extend the unbroken streak of scoring this season to a 34th week. We begin in Arnhem. Headliners Vitesse haven’t enjoyed the best of form in recent weeks and four games without a win had not only damaged their Champions League hopes,…
Chelsea eked out a slender advantage in their FA Youth Cup Semi Final tie against Arsenal by winning an entertaining first leg 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Thursday evening. Chuba Akpom had put the visitors ahead with a solo strike of the highest order but the Blues, who enjoyed the better of the game overall, responded quickly through Charlie Colkett before Alex Kiwomya’s opportune effort ensured they would take a…
Chelsea’s Under-21s tasted defeat for only the third time in the league this season and the first time since September as they lost 1-0 to Liverpool in an ultimately disappointing match at the Electrical Services Stadium on Monday night. A weakened Blues selection never really got into their stride and looked disjointed for long spells but were rarely outclassed and succumbed only to Jack Dunn’s well-taken goal midway through the…
Thirty-three weeks of the 2013-14 club football season have passed and every single one of them has featured at least one goal by a Chelsea loanee. Last week’s six-goal extravaganza would have been hard to match, but the assortment of young Blues plying their trade around the world certainly tried their best and weighed in with four more to take the running tally to 109 overall. Headliners Romelu Lukaku arguably…