The Loan Report: August 17-23

August 23, 2015

Things are starting to settle into a familiar pattern early in this Loan Report season and, although it might be a little too soon to jump to such conclusions, there are signs that Mario Pašalić might be a big hit for Monaco in 2015-16. Headliners The Croatian midfielder had already opened his account for the Ligue 1 side with a ferocious strike away to Young Boys in the Champions League…

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The Loan Report: August 10-16

August 16, 2015

We kick off this week’s Loan Report with two goals that take our fledgling season’s tally to three. Mario Pašalić got things off and running in the Champions League a fortnight ago and, on Friday night, Vitesse came to the party for the first time in 2015-16. Headliners Hosting Roda in their first home match of the new campaign, Peter Bosz’s side finally found their groove after a problematic few…

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Under-18s: Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

August 15, 2015

Chelsea secured back-to-back Under-18 league wins to start the new season as a Charlie Wakefield goal shortly before the hour mark proved enough to defeat Aston Villa 1-0 at Cobham on Saturday morning. The Blues had racked up 23 goals in three meetings with their Midlands foes last season, including 12-2 and 8-3 triumphs, but the latest contest was a much tougher affair in which Villa had their chances to…

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Under-21s: Chelsea 1-3 Southampton

August 14, 2015

Chelsea’s first home match of the Barclays Under-21 Premier League season ended in disappointment as they were defeated 3-1 by Southampton at Stamford Bridge on Friday night. In a performance blighted by inconsistency and no little amount of bad luck, the Blues found themselves two goals behind midway through the first half as Saints winger Sam McQueen grabbed a quick-fire double. Chances came and went and Jay Dasilva struck the…

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The Loan Report: August 3-9

August 9, 2015

It’s time to begin another season of the Loan Report. With twenty-two developmental players already having been borrowed from other clubs there’s plenty to report upon already in what promises to be the busiest #CFC #loanwatch season yet. England Of those twenty-two, three are in the Premier League, and whilst neither Christian Atsu (Bournemouth) nor Patrick Bamford (Crystal Palace) saw opening day playing time, Marco van Ginkel did as he…

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Under-21s: Liverpool 0-1 Chelsea

August 9, 2015

Chelsea opened their Barclays Under-21 Premier League campaign with a 1-0 win away to Liverpool courtesy of a stoppage-time winner from Tammy Abraham. In a tight contest played with a high level of tactical and technical proficiency throughout both sides were made to work hard for clear-cut chances but it was the younger Blues team that were able to clinch victory with a goal that owed much to a sensational…

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Under-18s: Norwich City 1-4 Chelsea

August 8, 2015

Chelsea kicked off the new Under-18 season in style with a 4-1 win away to Norwich City on Saturday morning. Swedish centre-back Ali Suljic opened the scoring in the first half before Iké Ugbo took over, building on an impressive return of eleven goals as a schoolboy last term with a second-hand hat-trick. Harley Black notched a consolation for the hosts but they were rarely able to assert themselves on…

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Academy Season Preview: Part Three – The Blues

August 7, 2015

In the final part of our Academy Season Preview here at TheChels.net, it’s time to take a more detailed look at a Chelsea team set to compete for honours on every front yet again. It promises to be something of a transitional season at each age group but there is undoubtedly sufficient talent for silverware to once again be not just a standard target but a realistic proposition. Adi Viveash’s…

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Academy Season Preview: Part Two – The Opposition

August 6, 2015

As part of our build-up to the new season of youth football here at TheChels.net, we traditionally take a look at the teams Chelsea will go up against at Under-21, Under-19 and Under-18 levels. The UEFA Youth League draw is still a few weeks away, leaving us squarely focused on domestic affairs for the time being. The Blues will face a handful of sides across both age groups, with the…

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Academy Season Preview: Part One – The Competitions

August 5, 2015

The pathways into meaningful first-team opportunities might still be out of reach but, as we get set to embark upon another season of academy football at Chelsea Football Club, the many young hopefuls in the club’s developmental ranks are still doing everything in their power (and then some) to force the issue. A year after winning another FA Youth Cup and being crowned Barclays Under-21 Premier League champions, the Blues…

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