Fa Youth Quarter Final

[PaulHopkins 1]

5-2 full time We now play Aston Villa in a two-legged semi-final.

Awesome 90 minute display from the boys!

Nielsen, Stock, Kalkuta (3) were the goals

[PaulHopkins 1]

Some one said that their 2nd goal was a mistake from Rhys Taylor?

van Aarnholt flick on for Kakuta volley for the 1st after Stoch corner. 0-1

Fabulous strength by Nouble along with assist by Nielsen for easy Kakuta 2nd goal. 0-2

Nice dancing in the box by Kakuta as he glides past half the Port Vale defence before Nielsen fires home from the edge of the box. 0-3

Silly challenge by Brumer for the penalty as the Port Vale player was facing away from goal. 1-3

Kakuta drags in 2 or 3 Port Vale defenders in the box and he caresses the ball over the keeper with class composure. 1-4

Superb crossfield ball by Kakuta finds Stoch who cuts in and out to beat the full back and score at the far corner. 1-5

Wall was too far over to the right from the free kick. Poor wall line up by Taylor and a deflection from Nouble takes it in.

First semi-final for 35 years!

Nice interview with Nouble and Kakuta at the end.

Edited February 26, 2008 by PaulHopkins

[Gianfranco_Z 202]

Will one of the legs be played at stamford bridge?

Also, if we got to the final where would that be?

[Fulham Broadway 16,386]

Good win -looks good for the future with the policy of Youth coming through maybe becoming reality in a few years.

[DavidEU 2,023]

Will one of the legs be played at stamford bridge?

Also, if we got to the final where would that be?

Yes.

The final is the same. 2 legs, one at home, one away.

[EskWeston 696]

This game was just an awesome display from the young lads. Not only did they teach Por Vale a footballing lesson but they also taught out own first team how the 4-3-3 should be played. The team put out was perfect, Rhys Taylor was a strong influence at the back and controlled things well. The defence was solid and worked hard to defend the long balls which was Port Vales only outlet, Nana and Ben Gordon worked the flanks well to support the wingers but were also strong in defence and the dutch centre back pairing of Van Aanholt and Bruma were solid throughout.

The shape of the midfield was perfect, we had Sergio Tejera holding and starting all the plays and setting people off, always looking forward for the ball to spring someone off, Woods did all the leg work running back and forward and Gael Kakuta was our midfield playmaker, sitting high and supporting the 3 forwards and running all the attacking play.

The forward line worked so well, we had Stoch and Nouble on the flanks constantly running at their defenders and getting behind them and creating so many chances to score for themselves and others, and Nielson was doing well getting in good positions and holding the ball up in a perfect display of the lone striker role.

The scoreline is not a fair reflection of the game, Port Vale certainly did not deserve their goals and the Chelsea boys could have scored plenty more with the ammount of chances they created. Kakuta and Stoch were hot and the Port Vale team couldn't touch them all night, everything they touched turned to gold. Kakuta scored a VERY impressive hat-trick with some neat finishes. Stoch bagged himself one after finally scoring from one of his mazy runs turning his defender inside out and Nielson got himself in the right place to bang home a lose ball.

About as close to a perfect performance you can get, attacking football at it's best. First team please take note......

Player Reviews:

Rhys Taylor: A very solid performance. Was strong and commanding and dealt with all the crosses that came his way perfectly. Maybe at fault for their second goal but it may also have took a nasty deflection too. A good game for him. 7

Nana Ofori: A very strong performance from him, a tendancy to pass back toTaylor a lot but he run up and down all night and was strong and defended very well. Worked well with Nouble down the right flank. 7

Patrick Van Aanholt: Having watched him so often now play left back for the reserves is was great to see just how good he is in his natural centre back position. Look excellant and incredibly comfortable. An excellant performance. 8

Jeffrey Bruma: Agian working well alongside Van Aanholt, one of the better games i have seen him play (which isn't many to be fair). He is very similar in style to Carvalho, is always trying to read the situation and get there first and is always looking to bring the ball forward. A couple of mistakes here and there but at his age playing that style it is to be expected. 7

Ben Gordon: Seeing how exausted he was at the end of the game just showed how much running Gordon put in. He was very strong in defence and hardly ever got beat by his man. He run the wing well and just put in a very solid display. 7

Sergio Tejera: Another game holding for Sergio and the experience will do him good, he is better in an attacking sense but this is all about learning for him. He was the organiser of the midfield constantly starting the plays and sending Kakuta, Stoch or Nouble on their way with clever passing and always looking forward. 8

Michael Woods: Typical box to box performance from Woods. Got himself stuck in and was always involved. More of the old Woods that we have not seen for a while. Still could do with getting involved more, at this level he should be dominating. 7

Gael Kakuta: I am going to try to not go overboard on this kid, but f**k me the boys is talented. A hat trick to cap of another wonderful display of skill and ability the likes of which you rarely see. No-one could touch him all night, this time playing through the centre and he was involved in virtually every attack. Absolutely sensational. 10

Frank Nouble: One of the youngest players on the pitch but also one of the biggest. His appearance and the way he moves is very similar to Hesky. But don't let that but you off, the boy is talented and ran the wing very well with pace and skill that you wouldn't expect to see from someone of that build. Will be good to see how he develops. 8

Miroslav Stoch: What can be said about Stoch that hasn't been said a thousand times before this season. Stoch is top draw. He loves to run at the defenders and commit them and he always ends up turning them inside out. Another superb performance, he would have done better if he had seen more of the ball, didn't put a foot wrong. 9

Morten Nielson: His best performance i have seen from him since the tournament early in the season in asia. The perfect lone striker role. Held the ball up well and was not afraid to run with the ball either. Took his goal very very well too, would like to see him perform like this more often. 8

[bombayblue™ 55]

good win.. thanks for the insight esk..

what were the other QF results?

[EskWeston 696]

good win.. thanks for the insight esk..

what were the other QF results?

Man City won 4 - 1 - can't remember who they were playing now though

Villa will be a tough Semi final but we have the quality to run anyone completely ragged and we can certainly make the final, which is likely to be Man City....

[Gianfranco_Z 202]

Will definately be at the bridge again to support our lads. When is the home tie?

[EskWeston 696]

Will definately be at the bridge again to support our lads. When is the home tie?

Dates not set yet! But i will definately try and get down there myself...

[Gianfranco_Z 202]

Cool stuff Esk, maybe get a pint and catch up!

[EskWeston 696]

Cool stuff Esk, maybe get a pint and catch up!

Lol, yeah would be fun! All i gotta do now is convince the missus