The Loan Report: February 7-13

February 13, 2011

It’s been another productive seven days for Chelsea’s young loanees, with two players finding the back of the net in addition to impressive displays and debuts for a trio of Blues. In the top flight, it’s Daniel Sturridge who is making the headlines. Fresh off the back of two goals in his first two outings for Bolton Wanderers, he stepped his game up once again in front of the live…

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FA Youth Cup: Chelsea 2-1 Barnsley

February 11, 2011

Chelsea’s set up a FA Youth Cup Quarter Final tie with Watford after overcoming Barnsley in a tough match at Stamford Bridge. Second half goals from Josh McEachran and Nathaniel Chalobah cancelled out Danny Rose’s first-minute opener in a tie which mirrored the previous round, when the Blues beat Arsenal. Coach Dermot Drummy made just one change in personnel from that match, bringing in schoolboy Adam Nditi to replace Ben…

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The McEachran Position

February 10, 2011

Hot amongst the assorted topics of discussion by Chelsea supporters is seventeen year-old Josh McEachran. The midfielder has broken through into Carlo Ancelotti’s first team squad this season, capturing the imagination of many supporters with his confident, fearless displays. However, whilst nobody doubts his ability and potential, a regular cause of debate surrounds his best position, and moreover where Ancelotti should be using him. It’s a question – or a…

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The Loan Report: February 1-6

February 6, 2011

So, as it turns out, goals are like buses. You go through the entire season to date with a handful of efforts converted by Jack Cork and Nemanja Matic, and then within the space of a week a flurry arrive all at once. This week’s loan round-up sees four goals scored by Chelsea’s youngsters, with others coming close to adding their names to the list in what has been a…

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Under-18s: Chelsea 3-0 Portsmouth

February 5, 2011

2010-11 hasn’t been the best of seasons for both Chelsea and Portsmouth as far as academy league results have been concerned. The two lowest placed clubs in Group A met on Saturday morning at Cobham, with Chelsea coming out on top with a 3-0 victory courtesy of goals from Walter Figueira, Bobby Devyne, and Danny Stenning. Figueira kept his place after scoring the winner in stoppage time last week against…

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Sam Hutchinson: A Talented Man

February 3, 2011

Many Chelsea fans will be aware that young defender Sam Hutchinson was forced into a premature retirement last summer. After struggling with severe pain in both knees for years, Hutchinson felt that the time had come to call a day on his playing career and to focus his attentions elsewhere going forward. And whilst he is no longer playing in a blue shirt, Sam has shown in the immediate months…

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Reserves: Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal

February 2, 2011

In the end, everything ended all square. After three meetings in thirteen days, Chelsea and Arsenal shared the spoils of their mini series, each notching one win apiece before this afternoon’s entertaining draw at an overcast Cobham. A first half goal from Rhys Murphy had given Arsenal a lead very much against the run of play, but the Blues turned it around in the second half with strikes from Conor…

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A Transfer Window For The Ages

February 1, 2011

Oft-maligned, and for good reason, January transfer windows typically bring about much speculation and no shortage of hot air, but little by way of tangible product. The first business of 2011 has blown that out of the water. An unusually busy few weeks for Chelsea saw the club set a new British transfer record, acquire one of the world’s brightest young defensive talents, and allow a number of youngsters to…

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The Loan Report: January 24-30

January 30, 2011

The past seven days have seen the number of Chelsea loanees increase to somewhere near what we would expect at this stage of the season, but circumstance has prevented a great deal of action. Let’s dive in. Gael Kakuta and Patrick van Aanholt embarked on new adventures for the remainder of the current campaign with moves to Fulham and Leicester City respectively, but neither has made an appearance in a…

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Swedish Teen Claims Chelsea Move

January 29, 2011

In youth football, it’s currently the time of year when plans are being finalised for next season’s squads. This, in many cases, can mean securing overseas talent to supplement the home-grown academy products, and news from Sweden this weekend suggests Chelsea have made a deal. Sixteen year-old midfielder Anjur Osmanovic has claimed that he is now a Chelsea player, currently training with the Under-16s ahead of a scholarship in the…

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