Re: Chelsea Youth & Reserves thread

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Loan for Swift:
Midfielder John Swift has today joined Rotherham United on a season-long loan
http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2014/08/loan-for-swift.html

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“It has taken many weeks to secure the signature of this young man and I suppose I could say my tenacity has paid off.”

“A number of fellow Championship clubs, as well as two European clubs, were keen to sign John but thankfully he has decided his immediate footballing future is at Rotherham United.”

“John is another part of the jigsaw as we get ready to embrace Championship football. He, like every player in our squad, has an important part to play but he may not be the last player in the door before the start of the season next weekend.”

— manager Steve Evans, via Rotherham United FC

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Good move for him.

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No doubt Howard Webb's fanhood swung the decision in their direction.

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Chelsea to send several more youngsters to promotion hopefuls Middlesborough:
Nathaniel Chalobah, who spent half a season on loan at the club last term, is one of the targets, while George Saville, Patrick Bamford, Nathan Ake and Christian Atsu are all under consideration to join fellow youngster Kenneth Omeruo at the Riverside as well
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/392227/Chelsea-to-send-several-more-youngsters-to-promotion-hopefuls-Middlesborough

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Mourinho lauds state of Chelsea youth since his departure and says some of the youngsters at his disposal just ‘have’ to be Chelsea players:
José Mourinho says the club have a list of young players they know have the talent to make it at Stamford Bridge, and says that having a manager there for the long-term will finally reduce the epidemic of talented Blues youth being neglected and falling through the cracks
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2714262/Jose-Mourinho-missing-piece-Chelsea-team-signing-Cesc-Fabregas-writing-wall-Fernando-Torres.html

"For the first time I have been at Chelsea there is clear group of four or five players between 17 and 20 clearly identified that we know — unless something happens inside their heads — that have to be Chelsea players. To give you one example: Solanke has to be a Chelsea striker."

He also namechecks Jeremie Boga, Nathan Ake, Isaiah Brown, Lewis Baker and Andreas Christensen, all beneficiaries of the stability he seeks to bring.

He says: "Finally we are having stability because for quite a long time a manager was not at Chelsea for more than a year and they are leaving by the time they know the name of the kids. Stability helps to get the trophies, not the other way round."

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I don't want us sending everyone to Boro

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Been meaning to ask, Is Solanke really as good as Jose is hyping him up to be?

I know he's just 16 and already touring with us but I've heard very little on him in the past, yet Jose has said that he'll start for Chelsea one day, is that true?

[Valkyrja]

Been meaning to ask, Is Solanke really as good as Jose is hyping him up to be?

I know he's just 16 and already touring with us but I've heard very little on him in the past, yet Jose has said that he'll start for Chelsea one day, is that true?

the only youngster I know that Mourinho praised was Varane   

[Kick]

Been meaning to ask, Is Solanke really as good as Jose is hyping him up to be?

I know he's just 16 and already touring with us but I've heard very little on him in the past, yet Jose has said that he'll start for Chelsea one day, is that true?

the only youngster I know that Mourinho praised was Varane   

My conscience tells me that if, for example, Baker, Brown, and Solanke are not national team players in a few years, I should blame myself,

They are part of a process the club started without me. In this moment, we have players who will be Chelsea players. And when they become Chelsea players, they will become England players, almost for sure

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2709249/Jose-Mourinho-says-Chelsea-kids-Lewis-Baker-Izzy-Brown-Dominic-Solanke-dont-play-England-blame-ME.html

Can't get much bigger praise than that.

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Been meaning to ask, Is Solanke really as good as Jose is hyping him up to be?

I know he's just 16 and already touring with us but I've heard very little on him in the past, yet Jose has said that he'll start for Chelsea one day, is that true?

I'm afraid my own viewership of him has been limited thus far as well; but by all accounts, yes, he's quite good. He was the hero of the FA Youth Cup Final, as you'll remember, and he's done quite well for England as well. 10 goals in 13 caps for them in the previous season.


Some more info and highly impressive stats on him here: http://thechels.info/wiki/Dominic_Solanke

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Wow, it is impressive.

If anyone has a player profile on him, I'd love to read it.

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Stuff on so young a lad is, unsurprisingly, scarce; but here's a little something overviewing his season last term from your precious WAGNH: http://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2014/5/22/5740582/dominic-solanke-remember-the-name

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Still not much, but thanks for that.

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Joao Rodriguez (who?) has been loaned to Bastia.

Spoiler:

http://www.sc-bastia.net/v4/?p=41591
http://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2014/8/7/5977329/chelsea-prospect-joao-rodriguez-loan-sc-bastia

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Chelsea and Manchester City starting to dominate youth football from Under 21 level down to Under 11 as massive investment in academies pays off:
They are perennial Premier League title contenders, always there or thereabouts when the medals are handed out in May, but Chelsea and Manchester City have also established themselves as the preeminent forces in youth football, from the Under-21 standard that is one step away from the first team right down to the Under 11s just starting out
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2717871/Chelsea-Manchester-City-starting-dominate-youth-football-Under-21-level-Under-11-massive-investment-academies-pays-off.html



4 FA Youth Cup finals in the last 5 years, winning 3 of them, NexGen finalists in 12-13, won the Reserve League in 2011 both regionally and later nationally, finished top of the U21 Premier League last season AND won the playoff final to decide the Champion. Only step remaining is to start successfully bringing some of them through, which we're looking like finally seeing this season.
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[Valkyrja]

Been meaning to ask, Is Solanke really as good as Jose is hyping him up to be?

I know he's just 16 and already touring with us but I've heard very little on him in the past, yet Jose has said that he'll start for Chelsea one day, is that true?

the only youngster I know that Mourinho praised was Varane   

My conscience tells me that if, for example, Baker, Brown, and Solanke are not national team players in a few years, I should blame myself,

They are part of a process the club started without me. In this moment, we have players who will be Chelsea players. And when they become Chelsea players, they will become England players, almost for sure

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2709249/Jose-Mourinho-says-Chelsea-kids-Lewis-Baker-Izzy-Brown-Dominic-Solanke-dont-play-England-blame-ME.html

Can't get much bigger praise than that.

That was an answer to your question in one way or another with that Varane phrase.

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Billy Clifford has been released by mutual consent.

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Saw that.

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The U21s win their opening match of the 14/15 season after coming from behind to win 2-1 against Manchester City courtesy of an OG and a stoppage-time winner from Charly Musonda

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Highlights of that match.
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Good luck to Savvy, He was never going to make it so a permanent deal is fantastic for him.

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Jamal Blackman has received a first-ever call-up to the England U21s for next month's final two Euro qualifiers in Lithuania and Moldova.


Congrats!

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New Deal for Baker:
Chelsea is pleased to announce Lewis Baker has today signed a new 5-year contract
http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2014/08/new-deal-for-baker.html

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Two sets of good news!

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