Youth & Reserves

Six of Chelsea’s budding young footballers have spent much of the last week on England duty at Under-17 and Under-18 levels, and return home with positive results and performances in the bag. Ola Aina, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Charlie Colkett and Alex Kiwomya were all part of John Peacock’s Under-17 team playing in the initial round of the European Championship Qualifiers. The draw pitted them against home nation rivals Wales and Northern…

In returning to action after the recent international break, it was a weekend of struggles for Chelsea’s youth teams as both the Under-21s and Under-18s came away from trips to Wolverhampton without a win. Adi Viveash’s Under-18s were the first to try their luck on Saturday morning as they sought to extend their six-game winning streak – the country’s only 100% record – in their first away fixture of the…

Since we’ve reached the halfway marker in the first half of the youth and development season (I guess that makes it the quarter pole overall?), it’s time for some reflections and musings on what we’ve seen so far in 2012-13. It’s a campaign which ushered in a ballyhooed new era, with the old reserve team structure making way for a new Under-21 league under the auspices of the Elite Player…

Chelsea’s Under-18 team completed a remarkable run of six successive wins in academy Group 3 so far this season with a dramatic 2-1 victory over rivals Fulham.  The Blues, in their final home game before embarking on a six-match road trip, retained their 100% record courtesy of a last-minute own goal from a Fulham substitute. It followed a similarly late win over Middlesbrough last weekend. Adi Viveash’s team selections have…

Chelsea’s Under-21 team suffered a 3-1 reverse away to Fulham at Craven Cottage on Friday night to extend their winless run to four games in a season which has seen just one win to date. The Cottagers frustrated their local neighbours for long periods but were rarely dominant; instead taking advantage of opportunities which were presented to them and making them count to full effect. Marcello Trotta’s brace added to…

Chelsea’s Under-21 team may be going through a sticky patch but their younger counterparts are going from strength to strength and recorded a fifth successive win on Saturday morning in defeating Middlesbrough 4-2 at Cobham. The win ensured that Adi Viveash’s boys retained their 100% record so far this season and with Fulham having suffered their first reverse of the campaign to Liverpool this morning, the Blues are now the…

Chelsea’s winless streak at Under-21 level was extended to three matches on Friday night as Middlesbrough made the long trip south and came away with a thoroughly well-earned 3-1 win.  A late first half strike had given them the lead and although Chelsea responded during a strong second-half spell, they were undone by two late strikes and lost for the second time this season.  Dermot Drummy made one change from…