The Loan Report: November 28 – December 4

December 4, 2011

Conor Clifford scored the first goal of his fledgling professional career in another week of highs and lows for Chelsea’s young loan starlets. The Irish Under-21 international capped the final week of his month-long spell at Yeovil Town by scoring for the first time in senior football in Friday night’s FA Cup victory away to Fleetwood Town. Clifford – playing at the top of a midfield diamond – scored midway…

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What Can We Expect From Sam Hutchinson?

December 2, 2011

So, Sam Hutchinson is back. You’ll all have seen by now that Chelsea announced on Thursday that the young defender has penned an eighteen-month contract after a similar length of time ‘officially’ retired from the game. Supporters are obviously delighted to see such an obviously passionate young man – and a Chelsea fan to boot – try and make another concerted attempt to take full advantage of his undoubted abilities,…

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Reserves: Fulham 2-2 Chelsea

November 28, 2011

Reserve team football can often be uninspiring, lukewarm affairs, but a pulsating West London derby was played out on Monday night at Motspur Park as Fulham and Chelsea shared four goals in a game of two halves. First half strikes by Orlando Sá and Tom Donegan had Billy McKinlay’s team well in control but a fantastic turnaround capped by goals by Milan Lalkovic and Nathaniel Chalobah earned the Blues a…

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The Loan Report: November 21-27

November 27, 2011

Defender Jeffrey Bruma and Thibaut Courtois were both amongst the headline makers this weekend in an eventful seven days on the loan front. Bruma notched his second goal of the season for HSV as Thorsten Fink’s side continued their recent good form, but it was bad news for Courtois, who was sent off early in the Madrid derby. The giant Belgian custodian went into his first career match at the…

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Victory Shield Glory For Chelsea Six

November 25, 2011

England Under-16s clinched a record eleventh Sky Sports Victory Shield title in Inverness this evening with a 4-2 win over Scotland, with six young Chelsea players central to their success. Defenders Ola Aina and Aaron Hayden, midfield trio Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Connor Hunte and Charlie Colkett and striker Alex Kiwomya all featured in the home nations series and played integral parts in Kenny Swain’s team en route to glory. Loftus-Cheek, a…

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The Loan Report: November 14-20

November 20, 2011

The return of domestic action after an international fortnight was not a welcome one for many of Chelsea’s loanees, as frustrations mount on all fronts. Concerns about playing time, poor results and injuries are beginning to mount up as the season approaches the midway point and the club have some key decisions to make going forward. Needless to say, the Premier League pair of Gael Kakuta and Patrick van Aanholt…

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Under-18s: Charlton Athletic 0-1 Chelsea

November 19, 2011

Chelsea Under-18s recorded a third straight win on Saturday morning by edging Charlton Athletic 1-0 in a hard-fought affair in South London. Islam Feruz’s early second half strike was enough for Adie Viveash’s boys to take all three points but they were helped by Jamal Blackman’s superb late penalty save. Having impressed so much last weekend at home to Fulham there was just one change to the starting eleven, with…

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Reserves Impress In Leeds Friendly

November 15, 2011

Chelsea’s Reserve team this afternoon took on a Leeds United team featuring many first team squad players and impressed despite eventually losing 2-1. With no competitive league fixture on the schedule, Dermot Drummy took his charges north to take on Simon Grayson’s outfit, with the hosts keen to give opportunities to some of the more senior players who have been unable to earn playing time this season. The Blues therefore…

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Under-18s: Chelsea 4-2 Fulham

November 12, 2011

Chelsea’s Under-18s recorded back to back wins for the first time this season after beating Fulham 4-2 on Saturday morning. First half goals from John Swift and Lewis Baker were cancelled out by a double from former academy winger Mesca, but an Alex Kiwomya brace proved enough to secure three points in a fixture which also saw a competitive debut for Lucas Piazon. The 17 year-old Brazilian has been in…

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Blues Set For Large 2012 Youth Intake

November 11, 2011

At this time of year, clubs with Premier Academy League status are busy finalising scholarships to begin next spring. Under-16 players up and down the land will find out whether they are to be offered terms for the next two years or whether they are being released at the end of their schoolboy term. Chelsea’s intake for the 2012-13 season is taking shape and is set to be one of…

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