You were here when you were s%*t- Former Players and Youngsters

Discussion in 'Chelsea' started by fernb8, Jan 24, 2011.

  1. fernb8

    fernb8 Member+
    Staff Member

    Aug 12, 2002

    just catching up to speed from the last thread
     
  2. fernb8

    fernb8 Member+
    Staff Member

    Aug 12, 2002
    Dont have a too much time to do a proper job of this and I know I am missing some players, but I am going back to 1999 and focusing on youth players who were sold/released. As I said I know I have missed some players so please try to be understanding.

    Neil Clement
    Nick Crittenden
    Luca Percassi
    Stephen Broad
    Courtney Pitt
    Mikael Forssell
    Sam Parkin
    Mark Nichols
    John Harley
    Warren Cummings
    Rob Wolleston
    Leon Knight
    Stuart Reddignton
    Jay Richardson
    Nick Colgan
    Valerio Di Cesare
    Filipe Oliveria
    Pat Baldwin
    Carlton Cole
    Yves Makaba-Makamblay
    Craig Rocastle
    Rhys Evans
    Jean-Yves Anis
    Lenny Pidgely
    Joel Kitimirike
    Sebastian Kniessl
    Alexis Nicolas
    Scott Sinclair
    Franco DiSanto
    Miroslov Stoch
    Ben Sahar
    Sam Tillen
    Steven Watt
    Dean Furman
    Filipe Morias
    Dean Smith
    Danny Hollands
    Joe Keenan
    Anthony Grant
    Jack Watkins
    Phillip Youngshusband
    James Youngshusband
    Jimmy Smith
    Harry Worley
    Adrian Pettigrew
    Shaun Cummings
    Tom Taiwo
    Liam Bridcutt
    Lee Sawyer
    Carl Magnay
    Fabio Ferreira
    Jordan Hibbert
    Frank Nouble
    Nana Ofori-Twumasi
    Ricardo Fernandes
    Rati Aleksidze
    Paul Hughes
    Nick Hamann
    Jack Watkins
    James Simmonds
    Sam Hurrell
    Billy Joe-King
    Morten Nielson
    Sergio Tejera
    Nicolas Hiemann
    Aldi Haxhia
    Tom Hayden
    Jack Saville
    Nikki Ahmed

    I would say just looking at the list and being fair to Father Time over the years that Neil Clement would have been a solid squad player for us for several years but he was probably not going to play during the Roman Revolution.

    I think the attacking players in Carlton Cole, Scott Sinclair, Franco DiSanto, Miroslov Stoch and Frank Nouble may have been able to contribute in some form this season. Not all of them but at least one of those would have possibly helped up front (C. Cole, DiSanto, Nouble). Sinclair and Stoch would have been nice options to provide pace and trickery on the flanks.

    Of course this is being said with the terms that the youth players would actually be used and would play. Tejera may have been, or could end up being a decent loss, but Josh will hopefully help erase that memory.
     
  3. Yaroni

    Yaroni Member

    Aug 31, 2007
    Tel Aviv
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Israel
    Mbark Boussoufa. Not really a top player but he seems to have made a good career for himself at Anderlecht, has a really good relationship with Lukaku on the pitch.

    I believe the likes of JMAC, Bruma, PVA will help erase the memory of that giant list you posted.

    And before you guys start ranting over players like Ryan Bertrand, i didn't add him/others as i haven't really seen too much of championship footy/other leagues our youngens are loaned to this season.
     
  4. Kerry Dixon's Boots

    Staff Member

    Jun 6, 2006
    77 degrees
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Good list mate, thanks for compiling (quite helpful context for the thread title too!)

    I remember watching Harley early on and thinking he had potential. I'm still surprised that Forsell never panned out. Seemed to have most of the tools but never could put it together. An early game (his debut?) against Oxford in a cup match he scored two crackers and I thought we had the next big thing.

    But what strikes me most about the list is how lightweight they all seem relative to their peers. Not much power or muscle in the group (and honestly something that worries me a tad about Josh, though I think he will be better than his size).

    Btw, I think Eddie will tell you that Lenny has one of the most amazing streaks in club history. That of being in the most trophy presentations with absolutely no contribution other than heating a two square foot bit of pine. He truly was the David May of Chelsea and no cup lifting picture was complete without the ubiquitous Mr Pidgley :D
     
  5. Kerry Dixon's Boots

    Staff Member

    Jun 6, 2006
    77 degrees
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Ahh, the magic of YouTube

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsNRx46vaoo"]YouTube - Mikael Forssell Chelsea debut[/ame]

    He had a great physical presence for a striker and a pure beautiful shot. This was from when he was 17 and all the potential in the world. One of the big letdowns of our young crop of stars who never quite shone.
     
  6. Portugeezer!

    Portugeezer! Member

    Jun 8, 2005
    Raynham, MA
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Portugal
    The only player from that list that I wish he had right now would have to be Stoch.
     
  7. yasik19

    yasik19 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chelsea
    Ukraine
    Oct 21, 2004
    Daly City
    That's why when you're 17, the most important thing you, as a kid can do, is stop listening to those who inflate your ego.
     
  8. Yaroni

    Yaroni Member

    Aug 31, 2007
    Tel Aviv
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Israel
    tell that to wayne rooney ;)
     
  9. Robdog

    Robdog Member+

    Oct 20, 2002
    Rancho Cordova, Cali
    I remember the time w/ Forsell coming up. He got injured a couple of times & that prevented some of his progress. Also @ Chelsea there is a lot of competition. One must be playing at the top of their game all of the time. It's a Once in a Lifetime deal. Mess it up & that is it. Ask Mr. Mutu or Mark Bosnich. Ok, those examples are extreme mess up cases, but my point is that one receives a chance to play w/ Chels, the door of opportunity does not stay open very long.
     
  10. Kerry Dixon's Boots

    Staff Member

    Jun 6, 2006
    77 degrees
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    <iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9PR_rzF8ofw" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe>
     
  11. Yaroni

    Yaroni Member

    Aug 31, 2007
    Tel Aviv
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Israel
    "Come on, what am I gonna do? Just all of a sudden jump up and grind my feet on somebody's couch like it's something to do? Come on. I got a little more sense then that."

    "Yeah, I remember grinding my feet on Eddie's couch."
     
  12. mst77

    mst77 New Member

    Jul 10, 2002
    Washington
    Yeah, in fairness Forssell might have panned out differently had he not had so many niggling injuries, but even had he been 100% helathy it was unlikely that he would ever break into the starting lineup on a consistent basis with Zola, JFH and Guddy also in the squad. I think he found his true level during his loan spells at Brum. In my mind he was a slower version of Kalou with a much better first touch and slightly better finishing skills.
     
  13. fernb8

    fernb8 Member+
    Staff Member

    Aug 12, 2002
    good shout there

    I do quite like the thread title as well. ;)

    Great point on how lightweight some of those players were, although it has to be pointed out that this was during a period when we were largely ignoring our youth setup and did not scout or invest nearly as well as we have done to date.

    I believe that issue causes a great deal of strife with several of our youngsters. Many of them who probably should stick around another year or two decide to jump ship much to their failing.

    Forsell was not really our youth product to begin with but I do agree that injuries hampered his development although he may not have broken into the stable of forwards listed by you.
     
  14. Portugeezer!

    Portugeezer! Member

    Jun 8, 2005
    Raynham, MA
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Portugal
    Just wanted to take a moment to take note, today is Jose Mourinho's birthday. Happy Birthday to him.

    <iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sP29nW6e5hY" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe>
     
  15. yasik19

    yasik19 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chelsea
    Ukraine
    Oct 21, 2004
    Daly City
    Love him or hate him, but he's simply awesome as an entertainer.
     
  16. Portugeezer!

    Portugeezer! Member

    Jun 8, 2005
    Raynham, MA
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Portugal
    He certainly is a character thats for sure. And its that swagger and arrogance that i miss most.
     
  17. lobomojo

    lobomojo Member+

    Chelsea, Gillingham
    Jul 17, 2004
    Freedom
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
  18. yasik19

    yasik19 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chelsea
    Ukraine
    Oct 21, 2004
    Daly City
    Re: Chelsea Old Boys

    Rip:(
     
  19. Eddie26

    Eddie26 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Sep 23, 2004
    Pittsadelphia
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Re: Chelsea Old Boys

    Watched Year One this week...we pleasantly surprised to see Vinnie Jones is still gainfully employed.
     
  20. fernb8

    fernb8 Member+
    Staff Member

    Aug 12, 2002
    Re: Chelsea Old Boys

    good from Vinnie

    always thought we got him 3 years too late

    but that was the case with many players we signed back then
     
  21. fernb8

    fernb8 Member+
    Staff Member

    Aug 12, 2002
  22. lobomojo

    lobomojo Member+

    Chelsea, Gillingham
    Jul 17, 2004
    Freedom
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    1 person likes this.
  23. fernb8

    fernb8 Member+
    Staff Member

    Aug 12, 2002
    Jimmy Smith starting to put the goals away for Orient

    good for him. Always did his best, but just wanted top level quality.
     
  24. Beast_571e

    Beast_571e New Member

    Aug 20, 2010
    London
    Club:
    Olympique de Marseille
    Nat'l Team:
    Ghana
    Not sure if you would regard Andy King (currently at Leicester) as a success from our youth academy. Got released at 15 (2004) and is now a decent midfielder with 7 caps so far for the Welsh national team.
     
  25. Robdog

    Robdog Member+

    Oct 20, 2002
    Rancho Cordova, Cali
    Reports coming in from Germany about Ballack might be hanging up the boots at the end of the season. Hopefully he will be featured on Sunday vs. Stuttgart.
     

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