The new, new Chelsea youth & reserves thread

[adri]

from the chelsea homepage:

Nine young players are ready to taste life as full-time scholars at Chelsea for the first time next season.

The new intake is a mixture of local and international players, some of whom have been in the Chelsea Academy set-up for several years, some of whom have already featured in the club's youth and reserve teams.

The work of chief scout and director of youth development Frank Arnesen, Academy manager Neil Bath (pictured right), youth team manager Neil Clement (pictured left), Academy chief scout Lee Congerton and the scouting team has selected and developed the players.

Neil Bath provides a short introduction to the new first year scholars.

Aldi Haxhia
A goalkeeper who has been with the Academy since the Under 12s level. Aldi is a good shot stopper who distributes the ball well. He has already made his debut in the youth team, starting one game and coming on as substitute once last season.

Sam Walker
A 6ft 5in goalkeeper, Sam joined us last season from Millwall and he also featured in the youth team, playing four games. Another good shot stopper who collects crosses well and distributes well.

Tom Hayden
Tom is a right-back who has been with the Academy since the Under 12s. He is comfortable on the ball, has good pace and made his full debut in the youth team in April.

Jeffrey Bruma
Although Jeffrey was top appearance maker in the youth team last season, playing 28 games and also appearing three times in the reserves, he only becomes a first year scholar this year. He has been with Chelsea a year and is a Dutch Under 17 international although he missed the recent European Championship due to injury. A centre-back, very good on the ball and a very good athlete. He has scored four youth goals.

Vincenzo Camilleri
A centre-back who has joined us from Italy where he is a junior international. Tactically, he reads the game well and is comfortable on the ball.

Conor Clifford
Conor is an Irish international at Under 17 level who played in last month's European Championships. He is a central midfield player, hard working, strong in the tackle with good distribution.

Jacopo Sala
An Italian Under 17 international, Jacopo is a versatile player, capable of a number of positions but predominately on the right. Good game awareness as well as a good athlete. He made two starts and one sub appearance in last year's youth campaign.

Aliu Djalo
An attacking midfield player joining us from Portugual where he has played for the junior national team. Technically very good. Aliu is nicknamed 'Kaby'.

Frank Nouble
A forward capable of playing central or wide, Frank has been with us since Under 12 level. A south London boy, he is very quick and strong in one-on-one situations and started 14 youth games with 12 sub appearances last season (3+2 in the FA Youth Cup run). He scored six youth goals and made his team reserve debut in November.

http://http://www.chelseafc.com/xxchelsea180706/index.html#/page/NewsHomePage/list_2209129_1

[yasik19]

are we merging this thread with the other one?

[adri]

are we merging this thread with the other one?
which other one? the chelsea B thread is really more of a question/proposition, if you mean the OLD y&r thread feel free.

[fernb8]

http://www.chelsea.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=507322

good article

[fernb8]

http://chelseayouthandreserves.wordpress.com/

great site. Now I know where adri has been. :D

[fernb8]

talk now of Jimmy Smith going on loan to Sheffield Wednesday

methinks if he does this will eventually become a permanent move, just cant see this lad breaking into the first team especially with some of the younger lads (Cork, Katuka, and even Mancienne in defence) catching the eye more.

[adri]

talk now of Jimmy Smith going on loan to Sheffield Wednesday

methinks if he does this will eventually become a permanent move, just cant see this lad breaking into the first team especially with some of the younger lads (Cork, Katuka, and even Mancienne in defence) catching the eye more.
agree.

Jack Cork has also been linked with Wednesday, and Ben Sahar with...Portsmouth. him in the prem would be something.

[fernb8]

young keeper has left

http://chelseayouthandreserves.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/sebek-leaves-chelsea/

sounds like we have some good up and coming keepers though.

[adri]

Crystal Palace want Scott Sinclair on loan

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11668_3736472,00.html

[fernb8]

saw that adri and fair play to Palace as he did very well for them last year.

I think his staying/going will give us an indication of the investment of Scolari. It was obvious that the Toad had no interest in playing youngsters as he didnt want to take the risk associated with losing his job- which worked out really well from him in the end didnt it?

[adri]

saw that adri and fair play to Palace as he did very well for them last year.

I think his staying/going will give us an indication of the investment of Scolari. It was obvious that the Toad had no interest in playing youngsters as he didnt want to take the risk associated with losing his job- which worked out really well from him in the end didnt it?
well, i kind of wonder if big phil will even get a look at him, he could simply be shipped out on loan before the boos arrives for "development". or the higher ups may already have earmarked him for the asia trip who knows.

it's tough though; no manager comes into the most cash waving club in the world thinking 'i'm going promote some youth players', that pops into the gaffer's head only when he's comfortable in his job. it's a bit sad, the youth/reserve side is setup for the development of quality young players but not the're advancement to the top of the club structure.

the manager chopping hinders everything.

[blackjack]

saw that adri and fair play to Palace as he did very well for them last year.

I think his staying/going will give us an indication of the investment of Scolari. It was obvious that the Toad had no interest in playing youngsters as he didnt want to take the risk associated with losing his job- which worked out really well from him in the end didnt it?

Scolari spent lots of time coaching in Brazil, so he has to know a fair bit about pulling youngsters up into the main squad. That is at least somewhat comforting to me where Sinclair is concerned.

[fernb8]

blackjack,

I certianly hope that is the case with Scolari and with seven subs next season I would like to see at least one youngster named from time to time.

I still do not drink the lemonade which has some contingents of fans believing every youngster we produce is a world beater.

IMO, all of them have something to prove this season, including Sinclair who is still an unknown quantity at the highest level.

Jury is still out, but at least we can sleep well in the knowledge that we have some pretty bloody good youngsters about.

[Kerry Dixon's Boots]

Even if our youngsters end up at a point where they are England worthy (such as Glen Johnson), can we afford to be the ones to develop them?

I've posted before that I think any slip up in the next couple of years will be very costly as Utd/Arsenal apply the pressure. I think it will be a long time and a tighter budget before the next John Terry comes along. Unless a kid gets a chance and he makes an instant and unforgettable impact, they are doomed to be a sub before leaving for a 2nd/3rd tier premiership club at best. There is no patience from the board(or the current fanbase to let a player grow, even though we all know the advantages of this).

I don't like it, as I think a homegrown player (English or foreign) from the youth ranks performs that bit harder than a player who at 19 is signed for 10m+ and the young'un has a closer connection to the fans. JT is beloved, Percy is well liked, both are highly talented Centre Backs - there's a difference.

We run the risk of missing out on the long term future of JT type players whilst we focus on the short term and buy a finished product.

TBH, I want the best of both worlds (success with our youth contributing) but am faced with a reality that it is either/or (it would be hard to say we would get the same results with a Scott Sinclair as we would get with a David Villa).

Tough one.

[ChelseaForTheCup(s)]

I agree.

It'd be awesome to see Sinclair start some games, but then as one of the biggest teams on the planet these days, the board does not want to risk bad results, it is just not acceptable.

Kind of like how Jose treated the Carling Cup the same as any other big competition.

[Dear_Claudio]

The point is playing Scott Sinclair would not hurt the team, but help it in relation to having Malouda out there. I'm not asking to see Mancienne, Cork, Kakuta, and Sinclair a part of every game. Scott Sinclair deserves his chance in the first team. He's already played against Liverpool, United and Arsenal. Let him get a few starts, let him come off the bench. It will quickly show whether he is ready for first team football or not.

[Kerry Dixon's Boots]

The point is playing Scott Sinclair would not hurt the team, but help it in relation to having Malouda out there. I'm not asking to see Mancienne, Cork, Kakuta, and Sinclair a part of every game. Scott Sinclair deserves his chance in the first team. He's already played against Liverpool, United and Arsenal. Let him get a few starts, let him come off the bench. It will quickly show whether he is ready for first team football or not.

I hear you 100% but it is hypothetical as to whether he would hurt the team or not - we really don't know (though I would find it hard to believe he could have done less than Malouda). But that's the main point, there is far less risk to playing a 'proven' player over Sinclair and more and more I think we will tend towards risk-free football as far as possible.

Will the fans have the patience if after 5 games he's doing nothing? Judging by what I read on these boards, No. Will the board, No. Does that mean he will never cut it, No.

I would love to see him get a run out, I hope Scolari is prepared to take a chance.

[fernb8]

We have had two major problems preventing our youth development that past few seasons, as we have obviously singed some talented players.

1. The opportunity was not present as every game was a must win and with 5 named subs, one being a keeper, a manager could not risk a spot on a potential youngster.

2. The cautious football we played which consistenly gave us 1-0 leads unlike Le Arse and the Manks who would be ahead 4-0 and have the possibility to play a youngster, I didnt feel very comfortable seeing Mancienne in defence up 1-0.

Problem 1 has been solved with the 7 subs and I hope Scolari will name an occasional youngster to the subs bench.

After Mr. Toad and his attacking football, hopefully Problem 2 will be solved by Mr. Scolari as well.

[Kerry Dixon's Boots]

We have had two major problems preventing our youth development that past few seasons, as we have obviously singed some talented players.

1. The opportunity was not present as every game was a must win and with 5 named subs, one being a keeper, a manager could not risk a spot on a potential youngster.

2. The cautious football we played which consistenly gave us 1-0 leads unlike Le Arse and the Manks who would be ahead 4-0 and have the possibility to play a youngster, I didnt feel very comfortable seeing Mancienne in defence up 1-0.

Problem 1 has been solved with the 7 subs and I hope Scolari will name an occasional youngster to the subs bench.

After Mr. Toad and his attacking football, hopefully Problem 2 will be solved by Mr. Scolari as well.


I agree to an extent, but having 7 subs is only going to help us put a youngster on the bench not necessarily in a game. If we only use that 6th/7th spot during blow out wins or losses then the youngster is still not getting blooded in a pressure situation - teams go into coast mode at the point of 3-0 or so and we still wouldn't get a true impression.

This impression would only truly be formed if they start game in, game out as young stars elsewhere do and like I say, I don't see the board/management risking that. Even proven players don't get into a rhythm with only occasional substitute appearances, I don't see how we can expect Sinclair to make his mark under the same circumstances.

[fernb8]

I agree to an extent, but having 7 subs is only going to help us put a youngster on the bench not necessarily in a game. If we only use that 6th/7th spot during blow out wins or losses then the youngster is still not getting blooded in a pressure situation - teams go into coast mode at the point of 3-0 or so and we still wouldn't get a true impression.

This impression would only truly be formed if they start game in, game out as young stars elsewhere do and like I say, I don't see the board/management risking that. Even proven players don't get into a rhythm with only occasional substitute appearances, I don't see how we can expect Sinclair to make his mark under the same circumstances.

good point. However, unless we are willing to conceed a run of games, ie the Carling Cup, I dont see how a youngster will get a chance to prove himself as a regular player.

At least with the extra suba a youngster may get the chance to catch the eye and then warrant the trust of management to recieve furhter playing time.