Age – It’s Just A Number

December 10, 2010

On Wednesday night, Carlo Ancelotti opted to field a near full-strength side in a meaningless Champions League tie against Marseille. Josh McEachran was the sole ‘youngster’ to be afforded a start, with the likes of Patrick van Aanholt and Gael Kakuta left kicking their heels on the substitutes bench, undoubtedly frustrated. It rankled with Chelsea fans, who felt the occasion to be another opportunity to give the next generation some…

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In Search Of Positivity

December 8, 2010

It’s not often that a dead rubber ends up as one of the most important matches of the season. For Chelsea, however, the trip to Marseille to round off the Champions League Group Stages presents the chance to right some recent wrongs and pick up a first win since beating MSK Zilina in late November. With both teams already through to the last sixteen, neither can change position, and the…

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The Loan Report: November 22-28

November 28, 2010

This week’s loan round-up will be a considerably quicker read than usual, as inclement weather and FA Cup eliminations meant that many of the young Chelsea loanees were left without action this weekend. Sidelined because of snow were Adam Phillip and Michael Woods as both Yeovil’s trip to Hartlepool and Notts County’s home tie with Bournemouth were called off, with the latter being a very late cancellation. Woods had joined…

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A Slovenian Blue Tomorrow?

November 25, 2010

In twenty-first century football, everyone is trying to find an edge over the competition like never before. With margins between success and failure ever more fragile, and competition so high, stealing a march on your contemporaries is more valuable an approach than ever. So the news from Slovenia today that Chelsea have struck a working relationship with national powerhouse NK Maribor could be quite the story somewhere down the road….

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Reserves: West Ham United 1-2 Chelsea

November 24, 2010

Chelsea’s Reserve team returned to action on Wednesday night in front of a rare public viewing, and rewarded those hardy souls making the trek to a cold Bishop’s Stortford FC with a 2-1 victory over West Ham United. Steve Holland was able to call upon three of last night’s first team substitutes, handing Jacob Mellis, Billy Clifford and Jacopo Sala starts, whilst Fabio Borini was able to return to the…

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A Point To Be Made

November 23, 2010

Just one point stands between Chelsea and progression to the UEFA Champion’s League as group winners. A fairly simple proposition on paper, but things have been far from simple lately at Stamford Bridge. Three defeats in the last four games and a worrying drought in front of goal, with only five goals scored in the previous six domestic outings, has left Carlo Ancelotti and his squad reeling as the media…

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The Loan Report: November 15-21

November 22, 2010

League One was the focus of loan attention this week, as Conor Clifford extended his stay at Plymouth Argyle for another month, whilst Adam Phillip took his first steps in professional football. Phillip’s path to professional football hasn’t exactly been a typical one, having been discovered relatively late as a 15 year-old playing Sunday park football. But after two serious knee injuries in three years, he this week joined Yeovil…

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Kakuta: A Contract Saga Update

November 20, 2010

After a meeting between Chelsea officials and Gael Kakuta this week, it seems there may be light at the end of the tunnel. The 19 year-old French winger, who is out of contract next summer, arrived back in London on Thursday for talks over a new deal, cutting short his international break. Reports in France this morning (emanating from L’Equipe) suggest that those talks lasted four hours and were ‘fruitful’,…

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Kakuta Set To Sign?

November 17, 2010

Reports emerging out of France today indicate that Gael Kakuta will return to London from international duty to discuss a new contract at Chelsea. The French Under-20 international featured last night against Montenegro and was due to continue his involvement during a training camp in Clairefontaine to take part in a friendly against Orléans tomorrow. However, he has been given permission to leave the team camp and head back to…

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..And Now For Something Completely Different

November 15, 2010

Hands up those of you who saw that coming? A tumultuous week at Stamford Bridge ended with the club’s worst defeat in the Roman Abramovich era, as Sunderland came and conquered the defending champions to the tune of a 3-0 reverse. After a terribly below-par performance at Liverpool last Sunday, Carlo Ancelotti’s men ground out a hard-earned three points in midweek at home to Fulham. Things have rather gone downhill…

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