Josh McEachran

[Term-X 7,891]

Josh has been with Chelsea since the age of seven, having been scouted by Pete Harris whilst playing for a local team called Garden City.

A cultured central midfielder with a wonderfully crafted left foot, Chelseas academy staff are rightfully expecting big things from Josh McEachran. A regular England Under-16 and Under-17 international, he trained with the first team at the age of 15 and had a season of youth football to his name whilst still at school, before moving on into Reserve football before he turned 17.

He is a gifted playmaker. Equally at home in the middle of the park or on the left, he has exceptional touch and vision, and his deftness allows him to bring his team-mates into play in dangerous positions. He has some physical maturing to do, but the club knows this and he has a program specifically designed to build up his strength. Whilst he works on that, he just has to continue expressing himself in a quiet, unassuming manner.

Already well versed in academy football, Josh was fast-tracked into the reserve squad despite being just sixteen, and as part of an increasingly younger squad under Steve Holland, he has been one of the brightest stars. Hes not always been good, but whilst his body develops, his mind and skills are way beyond his years. An integral part of the clubs FA Youth Cup team, turning in superb performances in the middle of the park, he was handed a first team squad number (51) in January and has trained with Carlo Ancelottis first team on occasions. He even travelled with the first team for a League Cup tie away to Blackburn in November, and whilst he was not named in the matchday squad, he was clearly held in very high esteem by the Italian.

During the 2010 summer pre-season, Josh was involved with the first team throughout, making appearances in three out of four matches, against Crystal Palace, Ajax and Eintracht Frankfurt, and was involved in goals against two of the three.

He signed a professional contract on 1 July 2010, and made his competitive first team debut against MK Žilina in the opening game of the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League, coming on as a substitute in a 4-1 win. In the process he became the first player to be born after the UEFA Champions League started on 25 November 1992 to take part in the competition.

 

McEachran made his home debut as a substitute during a League Cup tie against Newcastle United, and made his Premier League debut in the following match; a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City, appearing as a late substitute. McEachran made his first start against MK Žilina, in the UEFA Champions League group stage, and went on to start the final match of the group stage against Marseille. McEachran played the full 90 minutes, and showed flashes of his composure and skill on the ball. A start in the FA Cup against Ipswich Town was followed by occasional substitute appearances, before the youngster started the penultimate match of the season, playing for over an hour in the 2-2 draw against Newcastle United before being replaced by Michael Essien. He also appeared as a substitute in the final game of the season; a disappointing loss to Everton.

Having signed a new five-year contract in June McEachran joined up with the first team squad again prior to the 2011-12 season, and was involved in the pre-season tour of Asia, scoring against Aston Villa in the Premier League Asia Trophy Final. Seemingly established as part of the first team set-up, he was an unused substitute for the first few games of the season, and started a League Cup tie against Fulham in which he was unfortunate to be substituted early in the second half after Alex's sending off necessitated a replacement at centre half. He was a late substitute in the next match a 4-1 win against Swansea City and would make two more appearances in the League Cup prior to Christmas. With little opportunity to make an impact in the first team, following another late substitute appearance in the New Year against Wolverhampton Wanderers he was loaned to Swansea City for the remainder of the season. The loan move appeared a good one, as the youngster would be playing under former Chelsea reserve coach Brendan Rodgers, but he found chances limited with the more experienced Gylfi Sigurdsson (who had also joined the club on loan in January) preferred in midfield, and made just five appearances for the Swansea first team before returning to Chelsea in the summer.

At the start of the 2012-13 season Josh joined Championship side Middlesbrough on a season-long loan. He played in 38 league matches for the club as they initially mounted a strong promotion challenge before falling away considerably during the second half of the season, ultimately finishing in mid table.

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[Miguelito 459]

very exciting young player. hopefully he wont just be all hype and come through at chelsea.

seems like carlo really likes him so he'll prolly get a shot.

[TIWATZ 64]

Seen quite a lot of this lad and boy is he class! Finally time for him to step up to the next level.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Carlo's using him well. He knows he's not quite ready to feature heavily so he's not using him as much as Sturridge or Bruma which is good. If we rush McEachran's first team action he may not adapt as well, the guy's like a month older than me LOL

[EskWeston 696]

Josh is top top class, fantastic for him to be getting first team chances already.

A little video of some his best bits:

[Term-X 7,891]

[zolayes 14,489]

he was superb ..can understand why esk rates him so highly

[LDN Blue 7,903]

My newcastle mate fans just texted me from The Bridge..

"That boy Josh.. He's gonna be big!"

[caesarblues 51]

Josh interview

http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~2163385,00.html

'Once I got on and got the ball I was fine. The manager told me the same as at Zilina, get on the ball as much as you can, keep the ball moving and just enjoy it.

[caesarblues 51]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf56xfUoLdA&feature=player_embedded

[LDN Blue 7,903]

The control on 2:08.. Amazing!

I really loved watching him play that night, the commentator had nothing but praise! I've never heard so much excitement about a Chelsea player from one, he even said "I wonder if a star is born tonight"

[DYC. 7,542]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/8024951/Josh-McEachran-ready-for-the-big-time-at-Chelsea-says-Carlo-Ancelotti.html

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Chelsea's rising star Josh McEachran is trying to base his game on team-mate Frank Lampard.

The 17-year-old has made a remarkable progression through the Blues ranks and has already featured in Carlo Ancelotti's side this season.

The left-sided midfielder came on in Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Manchester City to get his first taste of Premier League action and has also featured in the Champions League and the Carling Cup this term.

After catching Ancelotti's eye in the midweek cup exit to Newcastle, McEachran is poised to be used when Marseille come to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

With Lampard still out recovering from a hernia problem, the England international's understudy is desperate to emulate his more experienced colleague.

McEachran told The Sunday Mirror: "Chelsea say to me, 'Look at Frank ­Lampard'. I need to get in the box more and score more and that will help me as a player, so I will try that more this season

"Being with the first team every day now, I feel more part of the group.

"John Terry always speaks to me and says, 'Keep going, you are doing really well'."

Ancelotti added: "He can play in the first team right now, without problem.

"Josh is very young but he showed fantastic ability."

|| SkySports ||

[BRMC 12]

He will inspire alot of the other kids to try their best, the fact he has been at the club since he was 8 and has now made the first team squad is fantastic.

[Jose M 140]

How Chelsea starlet McEachran made history in Zilina

'And after a 20-minute gallop as substitute, McEachran is now standard-bearer for Chelsea's generation of Young Blues ripening on the vine in a vintage year.

At 17, McEachran became the first player to appear in the Champions League having been born since the European Cup was repackaged in 1992, making an assured senior debut in the 4-1 win at MSK Zilina.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti also introduced Gael Kakuta and Patrick van Aanholt, both 19, as late replacements while Daniel Sturridge, 21, was on target as Chelsea launched their annual crusade on the continent.'

[Term-X 7,891]

That champions league fact is covered in his player database thread, you could have just bumped that.

[Slam Dunk 1,442]

Josh McEachran Sky Sports Scout:

http://www.skysports.com/football/transfers/scout

Shooting: 8 out of 10

Passing: 8 out of 10

Tackling: 6 out of 10

Heading: 6 out of 10

Pace: 8 out of 10

Vision: 9 out of 10

Current ability: 7 out of 10

Potential ability: 10 out of 10

OVERALL SCOUT RATING: 62/80

Current value: £6million

Potential value: £40million

[Milan 17,835]

Rio Ferdinand -

"It would be extra special to have a World Cup here and I believe it would have a huge impact on England players.

"I'm thinking about both the youngsters who could play in the tournament in eight years, and the kids that will watch it and be inspired to play the game.

"We've got some talented youngsters, the likes of Chelsea's Josh McEachran, Ross Barkley at Everton, Ezekial Fryers in our youth ranks at United and John Bostock with Spurs.