NextGen - Fixtures, Results & Highlights 2012/13

[The only place to be 11,313]

i doubt any of them will even make it to the first team.

can't have any hope after what happened to the likes of Borini, Sala, Kakuta, Bruma, PvA, Clifford, Josh, Tore, Matic, Sam etc.

Random list - Josh and PVA (and arguably Kakuta) are both on-loan and could figure in the team in the next few years, Borini wouldn't re-sign, Bruma is struggling in a poor Hamburg team, Sam had a career-ending injury and the rest on that list really aren't anything special.

It's too early to go writing off these kids' potential Chelsea careers because a few players who weren't as good as them didn't make it here.

[magic weeds 446]

So Spurs were eliminated by SPorting Lisbon. Aston Villa beat Olympiacos. Arsenal are to play CSKA on the 25th. So the confirmed teams for the semis are CHELSEA, Aston Villa, Olympiacos.

Damn, Spurs, we could have had 4 english teams in the semis.#grrrrrrrr. Who said English teams do not have academies????

[chelsea blue 615]

As the Spuds were eliminated that made my day

[chelsea blue 615]

Arsenal or CSKA Moscow will play Chelsea in the semi-finals of the NextGen Series.

The winner of Monday's tie at Emirates Stadium will take on the Blues
in the last four. The game will be played in Como on Friday, March 29,
kick-off 15.00CET.

The final of the tournament takes place on Monday, April 1 at the same venue.

Full draw:

CHELSEA v Arsenal or CSKA Moscow, 15.00 CET
Aston Villa v Sporting CP, 20.00 CET

[CHOULO19 24,332]

So it's Arsenal in the semis. They beat CSKA Moscow 1-0.

[Rmpr 8,977]

Le Arse? Pff.

COME ON BLUES!

KTBFFH! :blue scalf:

[zolayes 14,489]

Random list - Josh and PVA (and arguably Kakuta) are both on-loan and could figure in the team in the next few years, Borini wouldn't re-sign, Bruma is struggling in a poor Hamburg team, Sam had a career-ending injury and the rest on that list really aren't anything special.

It's too early to go writing off these kids' potential Chelsea careers because a few players who weren't as good as them didn't make it here.

I would say it is more than random ..take your blinkers off and study probability.

TWENTY years has produced ONE for our squad. I am dicsountinf Bertrand because I believe he will be gone soon

[The only place to be 11,313]

I would say it is more than random ..take your blinkers off and study probability.

TWENTY years has produced ONE for our squad. I am dicsountinf Bertrand because I believe he will be gone soon

If that's still the case in a few years then fine. Personally I don't think of them as blinkers, but more an evocation of my hope for the future - but then again I don't think we sold our soul.

Maybe if I did think we were soulless then I'd be more pessimistic. Alas I don't have that cynical view of our young players or our academy.

[zolayes 14,489]

If that's still the case in a few years then fine. Personally I don't think of them as blinkers, but more an evocation of my hope for the future - but then again I don't think we sold our soul.

Maybe if I did think we were soulless then I'd be more pessimistic. Alas I don't have that cynical view of our young players or our academy.

I would say you arent being realistic ...and you may dig at my sig ,,,but it hasnt the arrogance of your name

[coolhead23 1,147]

A look at the key players from both sides who would be involved on Friday...

Courtesy: We aint got no history http://www.weaintgotnohistory.com/2013/3/28/4157346/nextgen-semifinal-preview-chelsea-vs-arsenal-march-29-2013

Jeremie Boga, midfielder

Anyone who watched the Barcelona game is certainly familiar with Boga at this point. The young Frenchman turned 16 years old in January, and actually debuted for the reserve side in 2012 before ever playing for the U18 team. He's been one of the standout players in the U21 league this season, and could easily find himself in the discussion for a first team bench role before the end of the season if we see some meaningless games. Lamin broke down a goal that almost was yesterday, and like most things Chelsea do at that level, Boga was a huge part of it.

Lewis Baker, midfielder

Baker will be turning 18 years old in about a month, and has been in sensational form for the U21 side this season. He has been with the academy since 2005, and has been an England regular at every appropriate age group. His decision making is excellent, and he's one of the few players at that age that I've seen that is truly equally capable with the ball on either foot. He'll take the majority of the set pieces for the Blues while likely playing a central midfield role. He's also capable of playing on the wings, and has done so occasionally this season.

Andreas Christensen, center back, right back

Christensen joined the club this season, and has been very impressive thus far. The 16-year old has been a regular in the U21 setup, and easily had his best game of the season against Juventus. He's a big, strong kid with good pace, and he's known for excellent passing and composure. He has also moved into a defensive midfield role several times this season, but with Todd Kane on loan at Blackburn, I'd expect 90 minutes at right back from him tomorrow. Ironically, Arsenal were also chasing Christensen very heavily before he decided to join Chelsea.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek, midfielder

Loftus-Cheek will likely pair with Lewis Baker to anchor the Chelsea midfield, and has been featuring regularly for the U18 side this year. Ruben just turned 17 and is a bit more raw than Baker, but he's got the sort of size, speed, and strength combination that is awfully hard to find. He was called up for the England U17 game of Thursday, but was not used in the game.

Alex Kiwomya, wing, striker

Kiwomya is one of the more interesting players in the Chelsea system. The 16-year old is raw, but he's an elite level athlete with absolutely limitless upside. He was among the best sprinters in the world at younger age groups (and holds several British age-group records), despite often being very young for the group he was competing against. He played 23 minutes on Thursday for the England U17 side, so there's a very good chance that he will not be involved on Friday.

Nathan Ake, center back, fullback, midfield

I'm sure most of us are now familiar with Ake, as he has now made his senior debut for Chelsea. The Dutchman turned 18 in February, and didn't look out of place in his first start for Chelsea against Middlesbrough. He seems unlikely to make the trip though, as he was training with the Chelsea first team on Thursday. I wouldn't rule it out entirely, but I'd be surprised if he was in Italy.

Islam Feruz, striker

Feruz has caught a lot of eyes this season, as he has been scoring goals in bunches. The 17-year old lacks size, but he is pacy, explosive, and generally a clinical finisher with either foot. He's another that could be in line for a first team bench at some point this season, and will almost certainly be considered for a Scotland callup at some point now that the team cannot qualify for the World Cup. He generally starts up front alone, and will be a real test for the Arsenal center backs.

As for our opponents on Friday, Aidan Gibson from The Short Fuse was kind enough to fill us in on some of Arsenal's key players:

Hector Bellerin, right back

Bellerin recently turned 18, celebrating his birthday with a fabulous winning goal against Manchester United's U-21s. Bellerin has been a mainstay of the U-21 side and the NextGen team and has been on Arsenal's bench for the 3rd round of the League Cup. Bellerin joined as a right winger from Barcelona in the summer of 2011, but has played right back for the entirety of his time at the club. Like all Barcelona educated players, he's an excellent passer, but his driving runs are what stands out; one of those runs assisted the winning goal against CSKA Moscow. He can sometimes be defensively suspect, but he's a good tackler and has lots of pace. One of the favourites to progress to the full team.

Isaac Hayden, centre back/midfielder

Hayden, the U-18 captain, has cemented himself as a prospect this season. Like Bellerin, he just turned 18; he's a physically strong player, with good pace for a centre back. His positioning was exemplary against CSKA Moscow, and he's showed his versatility this season, having played a lot as a holding midfielder and even as a #10 in the recent match with United. He's got a good passing range, and, for an 18 year old, he's got excellent positional intelligence; he's rarely caught out. Versatility is a plus.

Nico Yennaris

Yennaris will captain the side, and propelled the team into the quarter final with his winning long-range strike against defending champions Inter Milan. He's played on multiple occasions for the first team, making his Premier League debut as a right back against Manchester United. Holding midfield is his favoured position, and he's a physical force; he's a strong tackler, good interceptor and a decent passer. He makes good forward runs, as emphasised by his goal against Inter and his play in the 6-0 victory over Coventry City in the League Cup. One of the older players on the team, which makes him a natural choice for captain, but it's unlikely he'll make the grade as a first team player.

Serge Gnabry, winger/playmaker

Gnabry is one of the highest rated youngsters at the club, with first team experience this season. A decent comparison is with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; like Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gnabry is a strong player, but has explosive pace--he could've run long distance track for Germany, but decided on football. He's a wonderfully direct player, who has a bag of tricks. He's usually played in the wide areas, but against CSKA he played behind Chuba Akpom, and scored the winning goal, after receiving the ball in midfield, turned past his marker, played a one-two with Bellerin and then finish calmly. He's just 18, and is a standout at U-21 level; will probably feature more for Arsenal in next season's League Cup.

Thomas Eisfeld, winger/playmaker

One of the more well-known Arsenal youngsters, mainly because of his goal-scoring rate. He's a bit like Andrei Arshavin; he can do absolutely nothing, and then turn up and score, or make a decisive pass. He's got excellent shooting technique, with little backlift, but he does have a worrying tendency to drift out of the game, which might not translate well to first team level. He made his debut in *that* League Cup game with Reading, and was a crucial part of the turn-around. He'll be one to watch, but he could turn out like Sanchez Watt or Jay Emmanuel-Thomas: great at reserve level but lacking for the Premier League.

Chuba Akpom

A powerful striker with great feet. Akpom has dominated the U-21 league despite being 16 and 17 for the majority of the season. He's a good finisher, and very quick, but like some past Arsenal standouts at this level, it's unclear whether it's down to his own ability or to being stronger and quicker than everyone else in the league. He's a prototypical Arsenal striker, though; able to hold play up, link up and play one-twos, and likes to drift to the left and drive in. There's a lot of hope for him at the club; next season will be crucial for him. He's been a key man in the NextGen series, and did an excellent job against Inter on a waterlogged pitch which wasn't conducive to passing, or any, footbal

[edetarod 2,155]

kick off in about 3 hours

i really want us to win this

[chelsea blue 615]

Live on Eurosport

http://www.nextgenseries.com/News/Comments-and-Features/2013/WATCH-7-HOURS-OF-NEXTGEN-FOOTBALL-THIS-FRIDAY-ALL-LIVE-ON-EUROSPORT