In early September, Brentford owner Matthew Benham held a question and answer session with the club’s supporters. A city trader turned betting professional and football league team supremo, Benham has ushered in a forward-thinking era at Griffin Park where many of the sport’s accepted conventions have been brushed aside in the search to find the all-important edge. During the discussion, he was asked about young Patrick Bamford and whether he’d…
Under-18s: Chelsea 12-2 Aston Villa
Chelsea’s Under-18s produced a remarkable and perhaps record-breaking performance on Saturday morning as they demolished Aston Villa 12-2 at Cobham. The result was all the more staggering for the fact that they found themselves trailing by two goals inside the opening quarter of an hour. They would swiftly be rendered mere footnotes in an unbelievable fixture that then saw the Blues net six goals in each half. Jeremie Boga and…
The Loan Report: September 29 – October 5
Following a record-breaking week of loanwatch football seven days ago, everything calmed down somewhat this week and whereas we had eight goals to watch last time out, there were none this week. In the search for suitable headliners, we’re forced to focus on two players for unfortunately negative reasons. Headliners Nathaniel Chalobah hasn’t had the opportunity to play much competitive football so far in 2014-15 and so Burnley gave him…
The Loan Report: September 22-28
It’s been as productive a week of loanwatch football as there has been in some time, as numerous Chelsea youngsters hit the headlines for the right reasons. With plenty to talk about, let’s dive right in. Headliners So many made the headlines that this section will dominate much of the report, but it does so deservedly. We begin with Middlesbrough’s midweek trip to Liverpool in the League Cup; the fixture…
Under-18s: Tottenham Hotspur 2-4 Chelsea
Chelsea’s Under-18s were involved in another action-packed goal extravaganza on Saturday morning as they came from behind away to Tottenham to record a 4-2 victory. Luke Amos had given the hosts a first half lead but the Blues responded well later on and although Tammy Abraham missed a penalty he went on to atone for the error by completing a superb hat-trick, with Swiss forward Miro Muheim also contributing in…
The Loan Report: September 15-21
Things haven’t been tremendously positive on the loan front so far this season and, indeed, quite a few Chelsea youngsters didn’t play a single minute of football this week, but there remains reason to be positive as for the first time in 2014-15 we have multiple goalscorers to kick things off with. Headliners The first of those was Patrick Bamford, who capped a first start for Middlesbrough with his first…
Under-18s: Chelsea 5-0 West Bromwich Albion
Chelsea’s Under-18s recorded their most impressive win of the season to date on Saturday as they handed out a 5-0 drubbing to West Bromwich Albion at Cobham. The Baggies experienced travel woes on their way to the match and the subsequent delays may have affected their performance to degree but Chelsea were on their game throughout and were good value for the result. Swiss winger Miro Muheim got things underway…
The Loan Report: September 12-14
The transfer deadline saw Chelsea’s loanee tally reach a grand total of 26 and, whilst a handful of them are yet to feature for their new clubs as a result of the international break, it was still the busiest weekend of loanwatch action thus far in this fledgling 2014-15 season. We kick off with a goal scored by a player who is very much at a make-or-break time in his…
Under-18s: Chelsea 2-2 West Ham United
Academy football returned in earnest after the international break and provided a thoroughly entertaining London derby as Chelsea and West Ham United shared a 2-2 draw at Cobham on Saturday morning. Kyle Scott’s third-minute opener gave the Blues a lead they held until the early stages of the second period, when Marcus Browne restored parity in spectacular fashion. The visitors then looked the most likely winner but Tammy Abraham’s late…
The Loan Report: August 26-31
It took a little longer than it did last season but we’re finally off the mark in the goalscoring column for the 2014-15 season on the loanwatch front. Thorgan Hazard got things underway in the Europa League in midweek before Stipe Perica weighed in for NAC Breda on Sunday. Headlines Thorgan hasn’t yet started for Borussia Mönchengladbach yet but has impressed as a substitute and following a lively cameo last…