Chelsea’s Under-21 team started the season well but a poor run of form scuppered their chances of matching the Under-18 team’s qualification to the Elite Group of competition. A late rally put them in contention but results elsewhere meant that they take their place in Tier One of the post-Christmas format; the second of three groups ranked by first-half performance. Winning the group will allow them a chance at winning…
The Loan Report: January 1-6
With some of Chelsea’s many, many loanees still enjoying a winter break, this latest instalment is still a little shorter than most, but we’re able to lead off with another goalscorer in what has been a good season on that front. Romelu Lukaku started 2013 with a bang and grabbed himself a New Year’s Day goal for West Brom at home to Fulham. It was his seventh goal for the…
Under-18 Elite Fixtures Announced
Chelsea’s Under-18 team have been arguably the nation’s best so far this season, with a berth amongst the Elite Eight confirmed well before the Christmas break. Now, with the new year well and truly here, they know who they’ll be facing and when they’ll be doing so. They have a tough opponent on the slate every single week but it’s exactly what they wanted; the most competitive games programme possible….
Taking Stock of Chelsea’s Loanees
As the transfer window opens, it feels prudent to take stock of the twenty-something Chelsea players currently out on loan. It’s been an action-packed first half of the season, with headline-makers aplenty, and the trend has generally been positive for the (mostly) young Blues developing elsewhere. However, the picture is a lot less clear for a number of others, and they in particular will be hoping for a change of…
Former Blues Watch: Volume Three
It’s been another interesting season for a host of former Chelsea players, with headline-makers aplenty, although some have made a name for themselves for all the wrong reasons. We lead off the third installment of this irregular series with a familiar face and Champion of Europe. As has been well documented, Raul Meireles recently earned himself a lengthy suspension for allegedly spitting at a referee in a Turkish Cup match….
The Loan Report: December 24-30
The final Loan Report of 2012 is a much abridged one, with almost everyone outside of England currently enjoying a well-earned winter break. In fact, only two of Chelsea’s numerous overseas saw action in the last seven days. One of those was Thorgan Hazard, who was in Belgian Jupiler League action for Zulte Waregem at home to OHL Leuven. He got 73 minutes in a 2-1 win which ensures that…
Affane: ‘I Don’t Expect to Play for Chelsea’
Chelsea’s Swedish youngster Amin Affane has told a leading Dutch football website that he doesn’t believe he has a future at Stamford Bridge and is beginning to consider the next steps in his career. Speaking to Voetbalzone.nl, the attacking midfielder, who joined the Blues from Lärje-Angereds in 2010 and has spent the duration of this season to date on loan at Roda JC in the Eredivisie, spoke frankly about his…
Talented Next Generation Making Early Impact
Football is increasingly becoming a young man’s game. Players of ever more tender years are shining at the top levels of the game with each passing year, and naturally, to be in a position to do that, their development must be accelerated at each stage of their youth career. Like many clubs, Chelsea have not shied away from such an approach, and it’s been something they’ve been very particular and…
Depth of Quality Behind Under-18s’ Superb Season
To say Chelsea’s season at Under-18 level has gone well so far would be something of an understatement. Until last Wednesday they had put together an unbeaten season – including friendly matches – and a series of highly impressive performances against top calibre opposition. Many of the key contributors have been familiar names to followers of the youth team for a good couple of years by now. Reece Mitchell, Alex…
A Chelsea Christmas Carol
Whilst the following story refers to real persons both dead and alive, it is a work of fiction. ‘Oh come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant…’. The sounds of the Salvation Army brass band outside Knightsbridge tube station on Christmas Eve floated gently after the armour-plated Bentley as it made its way down Sloane Street and towards Belgravia. The Oligarch sat back in the leather-cocoon, and pondered his problems, both…