TheChels.net – Chelsea FC Youth & Reserves
Football is increasingly becoming a young man’s game. Players of ever more tender years are shining at the top levels of the game with each passing year, and naturally, to be in a position to do that, their development must be accelerated at each stage of their youth career. Like many clubs, Chelsea have not shied away from such an approach, and it’s been something they’ve been very particular and…
To say Chelsea’s season at Under-18 level has gone well so far would be something of an understatement. Until last Wednesday they had put together an unbeaten season – including friendly matches – and a series of highly impressive performances against top calibre opposition. Many of the key contributors have been familiar names to followers of the youth team for a good couple of years by now. Reece Mitchell, Alex…
Romelu Lukaku’s sixth goal of the season continued an impressive personal campaign and highlights the final Loan Report before Christmas. With many leagues now entering a winter break, it’s also the most comprehensive report for a while, with some teams not returning to action until the end of January. We begin with the big Belgian forward at West Brom, who maintained his fine record when starting for Steve Clarke’s side…
Chelsea’s unbeaten season at Under-18 level came to an end on Wednesday after a pulsating lunchtime fixture away to West London neighbours Fulham. Goals from Moussa Dembele and Muamer Tankovic proved enough for Fulham to become the first team to take maximum points from the Blues this season, but Connor Hunte’s strike in response sparked a fight back which was so nearly completed on a number of occasions. With local…
Nathaniel Chalobah celebrated his 18th birthday this past week and did so in style as he grabbed his second goal of the season for Watford. He headlines the latest edition of the Loan Report. The England Under-21 international hasn’t been in the best of form lately with some shaky and sloppy performances, but it was always prudent to remember his tender age and overall excellence throughout the season. He offered…
The first half of the Under-18 season in England may have wound down in the final weeks before Christmas, but Chelsea’s youngsters have found time for three matches in seven days to end a highly successful calendar year and to look forward to an even better 2013. Friendly draws against Cardiff City and Ipswich Town book-ended the week, with a goalless stalemate against Ajax in the Next Generation Series sandwiched…
It was a rare quiet week on the loan front for Chelsea’s youngsters, with no goalscorers for only the third occasion this season and only a smattering of assists. Nonetheless, there’s plenty to talk about, so let’s dive right in and head to the Netherlands. Vitesse Arnhem have been the revelations of the Eredivisie season to date as the Gelderlanders have mounted an unlikely title challenge. Their trio of Blues…
Chelsea’s Under-21 team went into Monday night’s Barclays Under-21 Premier League schedule with their eyes set firmly on a place in the Elite Group Stage after Christmas. They held up their end of the bargain in beating Middlesbrough 3-2, but events elsewhere conspired against them as Wolves beat Manchester City 2-1 to take second place and leave the Blues hoping for even more help if they are to make it…
An impressive season of productivity from Chelsea’s loanees continued this week with a sixth goal of the campaign for Romelu Lukaku. There was a double helping of domestic action in England this week and Lukaku began it with a bang, scoring for West Brom in a surprise defeat away to Swansea City. His goal proved to be little more than a consolation, but he took it well enough, reacting quickly…
Chelsea began the defence of their FA Youth Cup crown on Saturday afternoon with an entertaining, if sometimes ragged, win away to Colchester United. Islam Feruz’s early opener was followed by a Lewis Baker double, and that proved enough to secure a 3-2 win. The margin of victory might have been greater if not for some poor finishing, but just as equally, they were made to work very hard for…