The Loan Report: February 18-24

February 24, 2013

Romelu Lukaku continued his rampaging season at West Bromwich Albion this weekend with two more goals to take him to a total of twelve for what has been a highly successful loan spell. The Belgian forward put Sunderland to the sword in the reverse fixture at the Stadium of Light as an impact substitute but did all the damage on Saturday from the start. He had a first half goal…

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Under-18s: Fulham 5-0 Chelsea

February 23, 2013

Chelsea suffered just a second domestic Under-18 league defeat of the 2012-13 season on Saturday, and it came at the hands of the only previous team to take all three points from them this campaign. However, whilst league leaders Fulham edged a narrow 2-1 victory at Motspur Park six days before Christmas, they were rampant on a cold and snowy late February morning in the third meeting of the teams…

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NextGen Series: Barcelona 0-2 Chelsea

February 20, 2013

Chelsea qualified for the Quarter Finals of the NextGen Series after recording a hard-fought 2-0 win away to Barcelona on Wednesday evening. A first-half strike from Islam Feruz gave the Blues a lead they clung onto for dear life during a second half played with ten men after Connor Hunte’s dismissal, but like their senior counterparts have done before, they held on with their backs up against the wall and…

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The Loan Report: February 11-17

February 17, 2013

It was a slightly quieter seven days on the loan front after last weekend’s goal fest but there were still a number of notable performances this week, headlined by Lucas Piazon’s first start for Málaga. The Brazilian made his opportunity count, laying on an early assist for fellow South American Javier Saviola in a home win over Athletic Bilbao. Piazon showed good craft and skill down the left before cutting…

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FA Youth Cup: Chelsea 3-0 Barnsley

February 15, 2013

Chelsea cruised into the last eight of the 2012-13 FA Youth Cup on Friday night with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Barnsley at Staines Town’s Wheatsheaf Park. After a nervy opening twenty minutes where the visitors looked like they might take the lead, the young Blues were settled by Lewis Baker’s cracking free kick, before Alex Kiwomya added a clinical brace before the break. They were unable to add to…

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The Loan Report: February 4-10

February 10, 2013

Chelsea’s many loanees returned to form with a bang this weekend as it rained goals, assists and red cards across the continent. With so much to talk about, let’s dive straight in. We returned from a brief international interlude to a televised Friday night clash between two Championship promotion hopefuls as Nathaniel Chalobah and Watford took on Crystal Palace. It was a thoroughly entertaining match which was headlined for Chelsea…

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The Loan Report: January 28 – February 3

February 3, 2013

The January transfer window ended this week with only one Chelsea youngster departing on deadline day, but with a total of 24 players plying their trade away from Stamford Bridge, there’s always plenty to catch up on, even in this quieter week in terms of action and incident. In the wake of Peter Odemwingie’s unfortunate shenanigans, Romelu Lukaku seems entrenched as West Brom’s first-choice striker, but despite starting both of…

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Under-18s: Chelsea 1-1 Manchester United

February 2, 2013

Chelsea remain unbeaten in Elite Under-18 competition after coming back from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United on Saturday. Both teams qualified for the top eight in impressive fashion and so it was always likely to be a high-quality clash. Despite freezing cold weather, fierce winds and a bog of a pitch the two sides put on a good show and although Jack…

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NextGen Series: Ajax draw sets up Barcelona date for Chelsea

January 29, 2013

Chelsea’s Under-19 team secured safe passage through to the knockout stages of the 2012-13 NextGen Series with an Islam Feruz-inspired 3-3 draw away to Ajax Amsterdam on Tuesday evening. In what was by far their most impressive result in the competition so far, Alex Kiwomya gave the youngsters an early lead but it was immediately cancelled out by a Jordi Bitter strike. Feruz then took over with two strikes either…

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Swedish Teen Suljic To Join Chelsea

January 29, 2013

It’s approaching that time of the year where clubs are working to formalise their youth team intake for next season. Part of that process is considering which overseas imports are of requisite quality and potential to add to the home-grown crop, and Chelsea have been active on that front throughout the season. News has emerged this week that Swedish defender Ali Suljic will join up with the FA Youth Cup…

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