Two members of the Loan Army who are unlikely to ever actually return to play for Chelsea scored this week but, nevertheless, they’re deserving of this week’s headlines. Headliners Lucas Piazon has had another frustrating in what, in all honesty, must be a fairly frustrating career so far. 2020 has been kinder though and, after scoring in the league for Rio Ave last weekend, he netted a free kick away…
Under-18s: Aston Villa 3-2 Chelsea
Unbeaten and top of the table heading into the new year, January hasn’t quite been the same for Chelsea’s Under-18s and, after a 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime left them without a win in three league matches, there’s work to do in pursuit of the title. How exactly they contrived to lose this topsy-turvy match they’ll never know. Twice they were ahead, early in each half courtesy…
The Loan Report: January 6-12
After a quiet couple of weeks, the Loan Report brings you goals again, as a familiar face got back on the score sheet in his first match of 2020, and another member of the Loan Army netted to kick-start a disappointing season to date. Headliners Lucas Piazon hasn’t quite had things go his way since agreeing a two-year stay with Rio Ave in Portugal; despite scoring in the cup against…
Development Squad stay top as Under-18s lose unbeaten record
It was a Saturday of mixed fortunes for Chelsea’s academy teams as the Development Squad beat Manchester City at Aldershot to remain both unbeaten and top of the table, but the Under-18s suffered their first defeat of the campaign as they went down 2-1 in a hard-fought contest away to West Ham. Despite taking an early lead through George Nunn, Ed Brand’s youngsters were some way short of their best…
Development Squad: Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Chelsea
A classic it wasn’t, but Chelsea won’t care. Armando Broja’s 82nd-minute thunderbolt sent the Blues back to the top of the Premier League 2 table with a 1-0 win away to Tottenham Hotspur, where they remain unbeaten after 13 of 22 matches, and are most certainly in title contention. Having showed the spirit and resolve to come from behind to avoid defeat in each of their previous three league outings…
The Loan Report: December 30 – January 5
The Loan Army is still affected by the European winter break, but players are returning, both to action and to Chelsea as the January transfer window opens. Headliners Our headliners this week concern those players who are now back at Cobham after seeing their loans come to a premature end, and also those who are set to. Jacob Maddox and Luke McCormick both came home after struggling with League One…
Under-18s: Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal
For eighty minutes, it was business as usual at Cobham. Chelsea’s Under-18s led Arsenal 2-0 and were comfortably on their way to a third win over the Gunners, extending their lead at the top of the league in the process. Then things got weird. Sam Greenwood and Matthew Dennis struck with the only two shots the visitors got on target all day, stealing a point, and while a defeat for…
The Academy Decade: Incomparable Success
There is no argument about it; Chelsea have been the most successful club in England at academy level over the past decade. Seven FA Youth Cups, two UEFA Youth League titles, domestic league wins at Under-18 and Under-21 level and a remarkable domination of just about every junior age-group tournament you care to name. With thirty first-team graduates on top of the cake, it’s been an historic ten years and,…
The Loan Report: December 23-29
The final Loan Report of 2019 is an abridged one, due to much of Europe still being on a winter hiatus, but there’s still stuff to check up on. England Premier League Danny Drinkwater’s time at Burnley likely came to an end with a pair of matches spent on the substitutes’ bench. His loan at Turf Moor is unlikely to be extended, so the hunt is on for a new…
The Loan Report: December 16-22
You can’t keep Mario Pašalić down, as he ably demonstrated again this week, with a goal and an assist to take the Loan Army into Christmas. Headliners Pašalić has arguably been the player of the Loan Army season to date, considering his level of performance for a genuinely good Atalanta team. Having booked their place in the Champions League knockout rounds last week, they were back on top in Serie…