Romelu Lukaku’s sixth goal of the season continued an impressive personal campaign and highlights the final Loan Report before Christmas. With many leagues now entering a winter break, it’s also the most comprehensive report for a while, with some teams not returning to action until the end of January. We begin with the big Belgian forward at West Brom, who maintained his fine record when starting for Steve Clarke’s side…
Under-18s: Fulham 2-1 Chelsea
Chelsea’s unbeaten season at Under-18 level came to an end on Wednesday after a pulsating lunchtime fixture away to West London neighbours Fulham. Goals from Moussa Dembele and Muamer Tankovic proved enough for Fulham to become the first team to take maximum points from the Blues this season, but Connor Hunte’s strike in response sparked a fight back which was so nearly completed on a number of occasions. With local…
The Loan Report: December 10-16
Nathaniel Chalobah celebrated his 18th birthday this past week and did so in style as he grabbed his second goal of the season for Watford. He headlines the latest edition of the Loan Report. The England Under-21 international hasn’t been in the best of form lately with some shaky and sloppy performances, but it was always prudent to remember his tender age and overall excellence throughout the season. He offered…
Busy Week Concludes as Blues Youngsters Prepare for 2013 Fixtures
The first half of the Under-18 season in England may have wound down in the final weeks before Christmas, but Chelsea’s youngsters have found time for three matches in seven days to end a highly successful calendar year and to look forward to an even better 2013. Friendly draws against Cardiff City and Ipswich Town book-ended the week, with a goalless stalemate against Ajax in the Next Generation Series sandwiched…
The Loan Report: December 3-9
It was a rare quiet week on the loan front for Chelsea’s youngsters, with no goalscorers for only the third occasion this season and only a smattering of assists. Nonetheless, there’s plenty to talk about, so let’s dive right in and head to the Netherlands. Vitesse Arnhem have been the revelations of the Eredivisie season to date as the Gelderlanders have mounted an unlikely title challenge. Their trio of Blues…
Under-21s Denied Elite Group Berth Despite Win at Middlesbrough
Chelsea’s Under-21 team went into Monday night’s Barclays Under-21 Premier League schedule with their eyes set firmly on a place in the Elite Group Stage after Christmas. They held up their end of the bargain in beating Middlesbrough 3-2, but events elsewhere conspired against them as Wolves beat Manchester City 2-1 to take second place and leave the Blues hoping for even more help if they are to make it…
The Loan Report: November 26 – December 2
An impressive season of productivity from Chelsea’s loanees continued this week with a sixth goal of the campaign for Romelu Lukaku. There was a double helping of domestic action in England this week and Lukaku began it with a bang, scoring for West Brom in a surprise defeat away to Swansea City. His goal proved to be little more than a consolation, but he took it well enough, reacting quickly…
Journey Into Chaos
On 20th October, in a dramatic lunch-time kick off, Chelsea defeated Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 at White Hart Lane, having found themselves 2-1 down early in the second half. To come from behind in a derby against bitter rivals gave the Stamford Bridge faithful the belief that, given indifferent early season performances from all the title contenders, what had promised to be a transitional season could yet turn out to contain…
FA Youth Cup: Colchester United 2-3 Chelsea
Chelsea began the defence of their FA Youth Cup crown on Saturday afternoon with an entertaining, if sometimes ragged, win away to Colchester United. Islam Feruz’s early opener was followed by a Lewis Baker double, and that proved enough to secure a 3-2 win. The margin of victory might have been greater if not for some poor finishing, but just as equally, they were made to work very hard for…
Youth Cup Defence Set To Begin
Chelsea’s defence of the FA Youth Cup begins this Saturday lunchtime away to Colchester United, and the Blues enter this year’s competition with perhaps more expectation on them to succeed than ever before. Not only are the Blues the current holders, but they also come into the fixture as the only unbeaten team in Professional Development League Under-18 football, with nine wins and two draws from their eleven fixtures so…