The curse of Liverpool just doesn’t seem to end for the Blues as we suffered our third loss in our last four home games against the men from Merseyside. Maxi Rodriguez had given Liverpool the lead in the first half, but Chelsea came roaring at them in the beginning of the second half before a late winner from the former Chelsea man, Glen Johnson, ruined the day and brought them…
The Loan Report: November 14-20
The return of domestic action after an international fortnight was not a welcome one for many of Chelsea’s loanees, as frustrations mount on all fronts. Concerns about playing time, poor results and injuries are beginning to mount up as the season approaches the midway point and the club have some key decisions to make going forward. Needless to say, the Premier League pair of Gael Kakuta and Patrick van Aanholt…
Under-18s: Charlton Athletic 0-1 Chelsea
Chelsea Under-18s recorded a third straight win on Saturday morning by edging Charlton Athletic 1-0 in a hard-fought affair in South London. Islam Feruz’s early second half strike was enough for Adie Viveash’s boys to take all three points but they were helped by Jamal Blackman’s superb late penalty save. Having impressed so much last weekend at home to Fulham there was just one change to the starting eleven, with…
Standards of Behaviour
The furore surrounding John Terry since the Queens Park Rangers game has bought into focus a number of issues. They are, perhaps, two sides of the same coin, but they pose a number of questions. And I for one have no answers, only more questions. So, let’s play Devil’s Advocate. 1. Is He or Isn’t He? or “No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent.” (Abraham Lincoln) Amidst…
Reserves Impress In Leeds Friendly
Chelsea’s Reserve team this afternoon took on a Leeds United team featuring many first team squad players and impressed despite eventually losing 2-1. With no competitive league fixture on the schedule, Dermot Drummy took his charges north to take on Simon Grayson’s outfit, with the hosts keen to give opportunities to some of the more senior players who have been unable to earn playing time this season. The Blues therefore…
Under-18s: Chelsea 4-2 Fulham
Chelsea’s Under-18s recorded back to back wins for the first time this season after beating Fulham 4-2 on Saturday morning. First half goals from John Swift and Lewis Baker were cancelled out by a double from former academy winger Mesca, but an Alex Kiwomya brace proved enough to secure three points in a fixture which also saw a competitive debut for Lucas Piazon. The 17 year-old Brazilian has been in…
Blues Set For Large 2012 Youth Intake
At this time of year, clubs with Premier Academy League status are busy finalising scholarships to begin next spring. Under-16 players up and down the land will find out whether they are to be offered terms for the next two years or whether they are being released at the end of their schoolboy term. Chelsea’s intake for the 2012-13 season is taking shape and is set to be one of…
The Loan Report: November 1-6
Irish Under-21 midfielder Conor Clifford joined the loanee ranks this week in an otherwise largely uneventful seven days which saw more of what we’ve seen all season from young Blues playing elsewhere. Clifford joined Yeovil Town on Friday morning for a third career spell in League One, having spent time with both Plymouth Argyle and Notts County in England’s third tier last season. He went straight into the Glovers’ starting…
October’s Youth Team Round-Up
It’s been a few weeks since we carried a youth team report here on TheChels.net, but fear not, as we take a look at what’s been going on down on the academy side of the fence at Cobham. The month of October saw more difficulties befall Adie Viveash’s Under-18 team with three more defeats in the league and one in friendly competition, but they did pick up a win along…
In The Eye Of The Storm
On Wednesday evening, I had a text from a Pitch Owner mate who was going to the meeting on Thursday asking what time I was planning to arrive. I told him and he said he’d keep an eye out for me. I replied “You’ll recognise me. I’ll be the one asking the awkward questions”. As things turned out, it proved to be an accurate prediction. I don’t know how others…