**All the Young Dudes**

Discussion in 'Chelsea' started by adri, Jul 5, 2005.

  1. adri

    adri Member

    Jul 3, 2004
    Vancouver, Canada
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    http://www.chelseafc.com/article.asp?hlid=289457&m=7&y=2005&nav=news&sub=latest+news

    The Chelsea website has listed the team's -New- youth players for the forthcoming season...including several new Portuguese lads:D

    Chelsea bring in 11 first year players

    Eleven youngsters trained with Chelsea for the first time yesterday, Monday, as full-time footballers.

    They got together on Sunday evening in a hotel in Cobham, and underwent medical and physical tests on Monday morning before youth coach Brendan Rodgers gave them their first technical session.

    It is a long time since Chelsea has brought in so many 16 year olds in one year, but there is a determination to strengthen the youth set up.

    DEFENDERS

    Ryan Bertrand: The left-back has been signed from Gillingham. Academy manager Neil Bath says: “He’s a fast, attacking Ashley Cole type;), very strong in the tackle.”

    Jack Cork: Academy graduate. Neil says: “He’s been here since the age of nine and is very versatile. Recently he played for England Under 16s. He’ll probably start the season as a centre-half.”

    Sam Hutchinson: A right-back and another Academy graduate. Neil says: “Sam’s another player who’s been here since he was nine.”

    Harry Worley: Centre-back signed from Stockport. Neil says: “He’s six feet three inches, courageous and comfortable on the ball.”

    MIDFIELDERS

    Liam Bridcutt: Academy graduate, a holding midfielder. Neil says: “He lives in the Reading area, is strong in the tackle and keeps possession well.”

    Ricardo Fernandes: Attacking midfielder signed from Sporting Lisbon. Chief scout Gwyn Williams says: “He gets up and down, has good ability and scores goals. Frank Lampard is his idol.”

    Hamzi Ismail: Academy graduate who can play in several positions. Neil says: “A late comer to the Academy, he started at 14 or 15. A South London Streatham based boy, six feet tall with good feet. He’s good technically for his size.”

    FORWARDS

    Shaun Cummings: Academy graduate. Neil says: “He’s been with us since the Under 12s. Very fast, good size.”

    Fabio Ferreira: Signed from Sporting Lisbon. Gwyn says: “He’s really a wide player but can play anywhere in the front three including down the middle. Good pace, goes past people.”

    Tomi Saarlema Wide left player signed from Finland. Neil says: “Technically very good, he’s got a trick to beat a player and so catches the eye.”

    Scott Sinclair: Signed from Bristol Rovers. Neil says: “Good pace, scores goals.”

    Are Ferreira & Fernandes the ones we (reportedly) tried to poach from Sporting?
     
  2. fernb8

    fernb8 Member+
    Staff Member

    Aug 12, 2002
    Anyone know when we signed the young Portuguese lads? Was it when JM came over, or was this a recent deal?
     
  3. ALBU

    ALBU New Member

    Jun 15, 2004
    Toronto/Albufeira
    Recently - within the month. Some may recall that late last year Chelsea invited three of Sporting's Academy players to a training session without seeking permission from Sporting. The two players signed were part of this group.

    Also, Filipe Oliveira has been loaned out for the season to Maritimo (from the Superliga).
     
  4. adri

    adri Member

    Jul 3, 2004
    Vancouver, Canada
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    Really? wow, i was hoping he'd get a few starts this season. i guess he will...for another club;)

    oh, it should also be said that Carlton Cole & a new 17yr old Swiss LB named Johan Elmer trained with the 1st team today.
     
  5. schafer

    schafer Member+

    Mar 12, 2004
    Apparently the Swiss youngster Elmer is a very good prospect.
     
  6. Ibranco

    Ibranco New Member

    Jun 30, 2004
    Kingston, Canada
    You guys bought those two for a combined 1 million euro and wanted another Sporting youth player Adrien Silva but Sporting was asking for 5 Million Euro. He is another of Sportings youth academies gems.
     
  7. adri

    adri Member

    Jul 3, 2004
    Vancouver, Canada
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    A good quote from Jose's new interview, regarding youth players & the acadamy... looks like the lads will get more minutes this coming season,

    CHELSEA MAGAZINE: You've got the spending power to bring in excellent players, but towards the end of the season you were still blooding the likes of Lenny Pidgeley, Anthony Grant and Steven Watt. Do you think it's important to give young players a chance?

    JOSE: 'The reality of European football is that in a few years time the rules Uefa want to establish is that you have to have a certain a number of players in your squad who have come through the ranks at the club. Last year the club was not going in the right direction. Peter Kenyon understood that, so when I arrived we spoke about that change. We brought in Neil Bath to develop the academy and he is doing a very good job alongside the rest of the coaches. We are investing in facilities and we want the young players and their parents to see there is a chance to make the first team.

    If you are a father and you see a kid like Anthony Grant playing in the Chelsea first team then it is clear we are thinking about the youth policy, and that father will think this is the right club to bring my 13-year-old son to play. It's the best marketing you can give the academy.

    People don't see the academy at work, but it's very, very important. The objective is to improve the quality season after season. I believe in about four years time we will have top quality players emerging from the academy. Now is only the beginning of that process.'
     
  8. Clan

    Clan Member

    Apr 23, 2002
    ...and there my friend, is what it's all about.
     
  9. gomez

    gomez New Member

    Jan 27, 2005
    I thought we already had plenty coming through the ranks in our youth academy at West Ham.
     
  10. Clan

    Clan Member

    Apr 23, 2002
    Didn't you hear?

    W Ham are going to be in Europe next season, they won't sell :D
     

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