Every season, up to thirty Chelsea youngsters go on the loan trail, looking for first team experience, carrying with them the feint hope that one day Chelsea and Jose Mourinho will deem them good enough for the first team. As ever, some loan moves are more successful than others. Some of Chelsea’s best young prospects have gone to clubs and failed to enhance their reputation. Chalobah had one to forget…
The Loan Report: January 19-25
Another week, another goal, and another for Patrick Bamford. The England Under-21 forward hit the headlines like almost never before this weekend as his contributions helped Middlesbrough overcome Manchester City away from home in the FA Cup. Headliners Boro went into the clash some 10-1 underdogs but there was always an inkling that they had the tools to get the job done and they did just that, coming away from…
On Youngsters, Opportunities, Frustration and Reality
Andreas Christensen played the full ninety minutes for Chelsea in their surprise FA Cup defeat at the hands of Bradford on Saturday. He did well regardless of the result, as he did in the League Cup tie at Shrewsbury earlier this season. Remarkably though, he was only the second academy player to start an FA Cup tie against an opponent from the third tier or below in the last ten…
Under-21s: West Ham United 1-3 Chelsea
Chelsea went back to the top of the Under-21 Premier League after an emphatic 3-1 victory away to West Ham United in Romford on Friday night. All of the damage was done in the first half as Kasey Palmer’s impudent flick opened the scoring before a quick-fire brace from Dominic Solanke put the Blues out of sight by the interval. Sebastian Lletget grabbed a goal for West Ham early in…
The Loan Report: January 12-18
For the second week in succession the Loan Report is kicked off by an English prospect who has spent the majority of his formative years at Chelsea and gone on to score his maiden professional goal in England’s third tier. John Swift, it’s over to you. Headliners Swift spent the first half of this season on loan at Rotherham in the Championship but, after manager Steve Evans showed a distaste…
FA Youth Cup: Chelsea 6-1 Huddersfield Town
Chelsea cruised into the Fifth Round of the FA Youth Cup as they hammered Huddersfield Town 6-1 St Aldershot’s Electrical Services Stadium on Tuesday. The damage was done in the first half as the Blues racked up four goals in a spell of mesmerising attacking play. Tammy Abraham grabbed a quick brace before Dominic Solanke followed suit and it was the latter who completed the hat-trick, smashing home late in…
The Loan Report: January 5-11
The second week of January brought with it more transfer activity on the Chelsea loanee front as three more players lined up moves for the rest of the season. We’ll get to them in a minute, but we begin with the first career goal for a prospect who joined Chelsea at Under-11 level. Headliners Alex Davey isn’t the most prolific of scorers but, then again, he is a centre-back. He…
Under-21s: Manchester City 3-2 Chelsea
Chelsea’s first Under-21 action of 2015 brought with it their toughest fixture of the campaign as a trip to Manchester City pitted first against second. The hosts came away with all three points courtesy of a 3-2 victory that takes them top of the table for the time being. Dominic Solanke put Chelsea ahead very early on but Brandon Barker restored order just as swiftly and Thierry Ambrose ensured a…
The Loan Report: January 1-4
The Loan Report remains a small one this weekend with winter breaks still in full effect for many of those plying their trades elsewhere. With nobody having performed worthily enough of headline credit, we’ll begin by documenting the many moves already made in the early days of this January transfer window. Headliners Nathaniel Chalobah’s stay at Burnley has ended and he is back at Chelsea looking for alternative arrangements. There…
Chelsea Academy in 2014: Twelve Memorable Moments
As we reach the final days of 2014, it’s time to take a look back at what has been a remarkable calendar year for the Chelsea Football Club academy. A third FA Youth Cup crown in five years was followed by a second Under-21 Premier League success in the last four years whilst no fewer than five youngsters graduated and made their first team debuts under Jose Mourinho. Throw in…