Where's the Smoke - The Chelsea Youth and Reserve Thread

What about Kakuta?

 

will have a chance to fill the Kalouda void most likely

 

I don't think we'll have a choice. If we lose on Saturday, we might be required to make due. Kakuta can play a role here, next year he will be given a chance.

 

Chelsea Youth ‏ @chelseayouth
Congratulations @NathanAke, European Under-17 Championship winning captain. #CFC

 

Kane and Chalobah will make the bench tomorrow if any senior players are injured.

 

There is a very good read on Courtois on ESPN Soccernet. Titled something like Bright Blue Future.

Can't link as I'm on my phone.

 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/column...or-blues---thibaut-courtois-interview?cc=5901

 

Thanks mate!

 

This Courtois cat has been giving me headaches. What is his time frame? Do we all feel this this bloke is the next keeper for Chelsea?

Also, how long is Cech's current contract?

 

He very much seems to be the real deal. My only concern is that he might develop quicker than the suggested 2nd-year-in-Spain-year-in-the-Prem timings. Imagine if we end up with one of Europe's top keepers on our books playing every minute elsewhere - he might not want to come home.

 

Not to mention Cech still has about 4-5 good years in him. Goalkeepers last a whole lot and im sure Cech will not be the exception.

 

Missing piece, part 1: http://thechels.net/2012/05/youth-r...on/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

Fern, who do you see as the surest bets to be playing for us in the future (2,3,4 years)? How far away are guys like Piazon, etc? thanks.

 

The problem to assess & give a verdict on who can make it is a bit harder now given the verdict need a strong base of performance at different levels. At Chelsea loads of schoolboys who will be scholars for next season played in league games, the first & second years played reserve games many times in the second part of the season. Only Youth cup is where you have got a good set of games to judge them.

The average age for u18 league games being too low/young is a barrier imo in saying who might make it in there. Reserve footy being a poor affair means the task is even harder. Can't really see Cliffords Saville making it either(I like Saville a lot), particularly Billy is a Sala mkII. Also club keeps likes of Philip Pappoe etc too long with the club out of compassion(not a bad gesture) but in the end it does not contribute much.

At best i think it's the obvious trio of Jamal Kane Nate plus first years Piazon, Ake & maybe Feruz have got good chance because club will afford them time & scope. Others like Baker Swift Affane will have to earn that confidence from the club.

 

Clifford might get sorted but I'm afraid he would lack the patience & put his time & work into forging a career. Unless Bertrand becomes a new model to follow, I feel some more will leave soon to forge a playing career at a lesser level like league football.

Lalkovic intrigues me, he's a level above reserves but his size & style makes him less suitable for a winger or even a CF role(for a British team anyways).

 

We have Mata who is 5'7, interested in signing Hazard who is also 5'7, or Lucas who is 5'8.

Two of the best players on the League Champs are also midgets: Silva and Aguero

Not too concerned with size of players, just ability

 

I'm not concerned about them making the grade here, I'm concerned about the loan moves they might get in British clubs & prospect of that. Lalkovic went to Donny & then to ADO but hardly played because I believe part of the reasons is his tiny size & no definitive position.

Let's see where Lalkovic has played since youth days. Played as a CF with u16s. Then as a first year scholar he was a wide forward, part of front 3. In second year due to Prosenik injury Lalkovic was CF again throughout the campaign & in FAYC. For the reserves he has been again a wide winger & had pretty good form I think, scoring in most of the games.

All of it suggest he hardly had settled in one position. Which is reflected in his Donny loan, before & after their managerial change Milan hardly played, was deployed as winger but got shafted easily. Still he showed some brightness there but uncertainty over his suitable position & a doubt about his physical prowess is there. Hardly a club in England would use him as a wide forward role in a 433. If he's deprived of chances to show what he can bring on to the table then he won't get a chance at CFC either. My concern is there, not that we have tiny, less physical players.

A practical similar case is kakuta & Davila in their own role. Both are used as no 10 role, but hardly anybody in Eng use a proper skillful no 10 player. You see hardly a proper no10 player across PL, C'ship & leagues. Vitesse manager directly said they don't use no10 type playmakers so davila did not get chance. My concern is there. Chelsea bring through players in a different football education altogether, contrast to Eng clubs philosophy. Villa got Nzogbia as no10, Fulham has Casami, Everton, spurs don't even have that. Rooney at manu, Petrov at Bolton, RVP at Le Arse, Wigan got maloney. None of them are what Chelsea brings in or likes to loan out at those clubs.

 

i love this...

U19s... Nate scored the 1st too

 

Chalobah has the feel of a future Blues legend. That kid is the real deal.