Chelsea’s academy made it a fourth successive season with a Final appearance as their Under-19 team secured a place in the NextGen Series Final after a dramatic 4-3 extra time win over Arsenal Chuba Akpom had given Arsenal an early lead but a spell of three goals in ten second half minutes gave the Blues a commanding lead as Islam Feruz, Lewis Baker and Jeremie Boga all struck in quick…
NextGen Series: A Final Four Weekend in Como
The long Easter weekend is always a busy one on the football front, but it’s particularly jam-packed this year for Chelsea. Not only do the first team face the prospect of two games in the space of 48 hours, but the club’s Under-19 team head to Italy for the final stages of this season’s NextGen Series. A Friday afternoon Semi Final against Arsenal kicks off the extravaganza at Lake Como…
Under-18s: Chelsea 2-3 Bolton Wanderers
Chelsea’s Under-18s shared an entertaining five-goal affair with Bolton Wanderers on Saturday morning but unfortunately fell to a 3-2 defeat in snowy conditions at Cobham. Jesse Starkey had given the Blues a first half lead which was cancelled out by a controversial Tom Walker penalty. Bolton went ahead in the second half but were pegged back by Ambrose Gnahore’s strike before Walker clinched the points late on. Manager Adi Viveash…
Putting A Lid On The Chalobah Contract ‘Concerns’
A subject which has reared its head every few weeks since the turn of the year is supposed contract ‘situation’ Chelsea and Nathaniel Chalobah find themselves in. The England Under-21 international has a deal which currently runs through to the end of next season. This has led to general speculation that the European Champions may lose the services of one of their most talented young players. with Arsenal purported to…
Won’t Somebody Think of The Kids?
The challenge of becoming a professional footballer is fraught with peril. The dream of becoming a first team player with a top-flight side is even more precarious. Every year children as young as eight join club academies and work their way up through the age levels until a decision has to be made by academy staff as to whether they will make it to the 16+ group – in other…
Exodus from Cobham: International Week Preview
A busy international double-header is set to be packed into the next ten or so days and, as you might expect of a leading club, Chelsea have more than their fair share of players representing their countries across all age groups. Here’s a rundown of who’s going to be where. Senior Internationals Gary Cahill, Frank Lampard, and Ashley Cole will be a part of the England squad which travels to…
Frank Lampard: 200 Not Out
On June 14, 2001, Chelsea signed the then 22 year old, Frank Lampard. I remember the day quite clearly, as it had been reported on Sky Sports News that we were set to sign a West Ham midfielder and the rumours doing the rounds were that it was indeed Frank that we were buying. In my haste and excitement, I emailed Sky Sports News for them to come back to…
Natters With TheChels – Walter Otton
In a new monthly feature, TheChels.Net are going to be talking to familiar names and faces among not only the Chelsea support, but trying to shine a light on those behind the news off the pitch in SW6. In the run up to the end of the season we’ll be talking to CPO director Charles Rose, and Chair of the Chelsea Supporters Trust Working Group, Tim Rolls, but we kick…
The Loan Report: March 11-17
It was a much quieter week on the loan front than usual, with Chelsea’s many youngsters scattered across the globe not quite hitting their regular highs over the past seven days. Romelu Lukaku started as per usual for West Brom as they took on Stoke City but the two teams shared a goalless draw in a game devoid of incident. Lukaku had a couple of interesting moments including almost inadvertently…
NextGen Series: Chelsea 4-1 Juventus
Chelsea became the first team to book their place in the Semi Finals of the NextGen Series after an emphatic 4-1 victory over Juventus. A spectacular first half display left Dermot Drummy’s boys firmly in control of the tie to the tune of goals from Lewis Baker and Alex Kiwomya and whilst the Bianconeri fared much better later in the game and reduced the lead through Daniele Rugani’s header, late…