Reserves: Hampton & Richmond Borough 0-3 Chelsea

July 30, 2011

Chelsea’s Reserve team recorded their first win of pre-season with a 3-0 victory over Blue Square South outfit Hampton & Richmond Borough on Saturday afternoon. A brace from Adam Phillip followed Philipp Prosenik’s opener in what was an impressive display from Dermot Drummy’s boys. Following a 6-1 reverse at Crawley Town a fortnight ago, the group took in a week of training in Austria which culminated in a fixture against…

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Romeu To Undergo Blues Medical

July 29, 2011

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas confirmed in his press conference this afternoon in Hong Kong that Spanish midfielder Oriol Romeu is set to undergo a medical with Blues medical staff after a deal was struck with Barcelona. Newly-appointed chief physician Paco Biosca has travelled to Colombia to put Romeu through a series of tests ahead of finalising his move to London. The player is currently with the Spanish team for the…

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What To Make Of Rajkovic

July 22, 2011

One of the more eye-catching names on the fringes of Chelsea’s squad this pre-season is that of Serbian defender Slobodan Rajkovic. A Blues player since 2005, he has thus far been precluded from playing in England because he doesn’t meet work permit criteria. Aside from a debut against the Chinese Under-23 team for the Reserves at Brentford shortly after signing, sightings of him on domestic shores have been limited. Instead,…

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Chelsea In For Another Barcelona Youngster?

July 21, 2011

Barcelona-based newspaper Mundo Deportivo are this afternoon reporting that Chelsea are close to finalising a deal for young midfielder Oriol Romeu. The 19 year-old, who made his senior debut for the European champions late last season, is reported to be the subject of a €5m bid from The Blues. Barcelona are believed to want a clause in the deal allowing them to re-sign the player in two seasons, but this…

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Hutchinson Returns, But For How Long?

July 17, 2011

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…

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First Team Heads To Asia With Youth In Tow

July 17, 2011

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…

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Reserves: Crawley Town 6-1 Chelsea

July 16, 2011

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…

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Chelsea Hire Shakhtar’s Biosca As Club Doctor

July 14, 2011

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…

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Cork Makes Saints Switch

July 7, 2011

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…

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The Emenalo Controversy

July 7, 2011

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,…

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