Academy Weekly Review

[EskWeston 696]

It has been another busy week at the Chelsea academy, with pre-season match action, players leaving on loan and some new faces to meet. Starting with the match action the U18’s had their first pre-season game on Saturday morning against Torquay. They started their pre-season in style too by winning the game 12 – 1. With a game with that many goals there was obviously plenty of players on the scoresheet Houghton, Seremba, Figuera x 2, Boga, Rodriquez, Kandi x 3, Cole, Musonda and Ssewankambo. With basically a different team each half there was plenty of players on display including new boys Columbian Joao Rodriquez and Belgian Charly Musonda whose arrival was widely reported and tipped to be a big star.

An hour later it was the turn of the U21’s team to get their season underway with a game against Northwood FC. The U21’s not being able to generate the same number of goals ended this match with a 0 – 0 draw. Again there were a large number of players used across the two halves and again there were some new faces to be seen. Ivorian brothers Vincent (Goalkeeper 27) and Victorien (Midfielder 18) Angban were joined by another pair of brothers Tika (Midfielder 18) and Lamisha (Midfielder 20) Musonda, older brothers of Charly. It was also the first game in Chelsea blue for Andreas Christensen who joined up this summer.

The last match action of the week was back with the U18’s who played out a friendly at Cobham against London rivals Arsenal on Friday. In an exciting game with good football that bounced one way then the other it eventually finished with a 3 – 2 win for Arsenal. Chelsea’s goals both scored by Joao Rodriquez. The U18’s will be in action again on Saturday against Bristol City before they fly out to Asia for a couple more friendly games.

In other news two young blues have moved to Portugal for the season and joined up with Vitoria Guimaraes. Exciting winger Milan Lalkovic will be hoping this loan will be the chance he needs to play regular first team football in a strong league. Joining him is Matej Delac, the young goalkeeper who has struggled to find a place to play football. Again it is strongly hoped that he will get the playing time he needs to develop himself after a long period of time without regular football.

Stepping to first team level and the first game of pre-season in America against the Seattle Sounders. A number of young players were involved throughout. In the first half Nathaniel Chalobah started in a somewhat unfamiliar position of right back and Josh McEachran started alongside Mikel in a midfield two. Other than a sloppy pass which allowed Seattle to score Josh was very composed and played a good game setting up Romelu Lukaku for his first and Nathaniel Chalobah put in a good showing too. In the second half there was more involvement, Sam Hutchinson, Todd Kane, George Saville, Gael Kakuta, and Lucas Piazon all saw time on the pitch and all played well, especially Todd Kane and Lucas Piazon who both managed to look like they still playing in the reserves and not looking a little nervous.

There is plenty more to come from the academy this summer even before the season kicks off. As I write this it would appear that the U21’s squad numbers will be increased even more with the imminent arrival of another brother, this time the brother of new signed Eden Hazard. Younger brother Thorgan is a player in a similar mould to Eden but not at the same level, moving from Lens to join up with his brother he will hoping to make an impact and improve to join Eden in the first team.

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[BlueDutchy 63]

Does Chelsea participate in this year's Milk Cup? I've read things about United's U-17 playing and in the past we have also competed in the Milk Cup. Do you know something about this?

[Hamilton 2,120]

Looking forward seeing some in-game action from Charly

[EskWeston 696]

Does Chelsea participate in this year's Milk Cup? I've read things about United's U-17 playing and in the past we have also competed in the Milk Cup. Do you know something about this?

As far as i know we are not participating in the Milk cup and didn't last year either....