One of the hardest tasks for any manager is to decide when to assimilate young talent into their first team squad. Under enough pressure to succeed in the first place, they often face a clamour from supporters to bring through the next generation and ensure that those not performing to first-team standards are kept on their toes. Some clubs face the need to vindicate investment in their youth development programme,…
Chelsea’s youngest reserve team of the team, featuring something of a ramshackle defensive unit and three schoolboys in total on the night, went down to a ruthless and impressive Manchester United team in Monday night action. Two first half goals from Joshua King were responded to by a header from Archange Nkumu, but second half tallies from Gabriel Obertan and Bebe put an emphatic seal on affairs. With the entire…
By scoring his fourth goal in five appearances for Swansea, Fabio Borini once again leads the headlines as we catch up with Chelsea’s young loanees. With Daniel Sturridge cup-tied for Bolton’s Wembley date with Stoke, and with Michael Mancienne (Wolves) and Gael Kakuta (Fulham) enjoying a free weekend due to cup rescheduling, attentions turned to England’s lower leagues. Borini’s latest effort came in the 53rd minute of the Swans’ trip…
When Chelsea signed goalkeeper Matej Delać from Inter Zaprešić in September 2009, it signalled the start of a healthy working relationship between the two clubs. According to reports in Croatian media this weekend, the two clubs are still in close contact and the Blues have keen interest in two of the club’s key players in their unpredictable rise to third in the league this season. The main interest surrounds teenage…
Goals from Daniel Sturridge, Fabio Borini and Patrick van Aanholt, plus a red card for Sam Walker and the premature end of Conor Clifford’s spell at Notts County headline another hectic week in the land of the Chelsea loanee. Bolton’s 3-0 win over West Ham on Saturday saw England Under-21 striker Sturridge add two more goals to his Wanderers total, taking him to six since joining the club on loan…
A brace from defender Nathaniel Chalobah and a second half effort from Bobby Devyne gave Chelsea’s youngsters a narrow one-goal lead after a fascinating first leg of their FA Youth Cup Semi Final against Manchester United. Having trailed at half time, the visitors responded superbly after the break and despite twice staring at a two-goal deficit, rallied to give themselves every chance of a turnaround at Old Trafford in ten…
Sandwiched in between this week’s marquee double-header against Manchester United in the Champions League is the first leg of another significant knockout tie against the Red Devils. On Sunday lunchtime, Stamford Bridge will host the first leg of this year’s FA Youth Cup Semi Final, as Chelsea seek to defend the crown they won eleven months ago. Standing in their way are as tough an opponent as the young Blues…
This issue of The Loan Report takes a quick look at the weekend action amongst Chelsea’s young loanees, as clubs returned to domestic action after a fortnight of international jaunts. It was a case of maintaining the status quo in the Premier League, with Daniel Sturridge impressing whilst Gael Kakuta and Michael Mancienne saw no playing time. Sturridge had an excellent first half against Birmingham City for Bolton Wanderers, and…
With the last fortnight seeing the football calendar largely taken over by international commitments, the latest instalment of The Loan Report will also catch up on how Chelsea’s youngsters have been doing on their travels. Starting at home, the international break meant no action in the Premier League and The Championship, but there was selected activity in Leagues One and Two. Conor Clifford was an unused substitute for Notts County…
Chelsea’s Reserve team extended their unbeaten run to six matches and completed a hat-trick of consecutive wins over North-West opposition with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Wigan Athletic on Monday afternoon. A first half goal from Billy Clifford ensured all three points would be heading back down south as the Blues moved into second place in the South Group, and are in with an outstanding chance of this season’s title….