UEFA Youth League

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

:blue scalf: :blue scalf: :blue scalf: :blue scalf: :blue scalf: :blue scalf: :blue scalf: :blue scalf: :blue scalf: :blue scalf:

[BlueLyon 9,359]

:blue scalf:

I hope at least one of them makes it in first team.

[KevinAshburner 1,270]

CONGRATULATIONS CHELSEA FC U19 - UEFA YOUTH LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 2014-2015.

[OhForAGreavsie 6,077]

Colkett impresses me every time I watch him play. His vision, passing range and intelligence is off the charts. why he's so underrated, I will never know.

I think not everyone has the chance to watch full 90 minute coverage of the development squads and Charlie's contributions are not always of the type which make the highlights. Everyone who does get the chance to see Colkett does seem to be impressed however. You and I certainly are, and we are far from being alone.

[edetarod 2,155]

that moment when you enjoy watching the youth more than the seniors

[OhForAGreavsie 6,077]

Congratulations to the lads. Thoroughly deserved win, they are the best U19 side in Europe.

Full praise for Shakhtar as well. Although we ultimately beat them more comfortably than the scoreline suggests, they are the best opponents I've seen us face in this competition. You can see why they reached the final and why they were unbeaten along the way. They were beaten today however and by the better side.

Izzy Brown was again very effective playing wide right and scored 2 of the goals in our 3-2 win. He was selected MoTM by the Eurosport commentators but I would give that honour to someone else. Jeremie Boga had a not atypically frustrating first half. Yes, he was instrumental in the first goal after seven minutes but there were many examples of dribbling into dead ends leading to lost opportunity and lost possession. Indeed it was from one of these that Shakhtar launched the counter attack which led to their equaliser.

Jeremie's second half lasted less than 25 minutes before he limped off with what feels like the 998th injury of his career. During those few minutes however, he was devastating. The Ukranian side couldn't live with him. He carried the ball at will, beat markers effortlessly, combined majestically with Charlie Musonda, sublimely set up two goals and generally ran the show. Even when he fell over, his opponents still couldn't dispossess him. It was a cameo but an irresistible one which made him my MoTM.

It seems to me that the key for Jeremie is to learn how to choose his moment, how not to hurt his team while he's waiting that moment to arrive. The key for his coaches will be to understand that he will turn the ball over sometimes and therefore to build a structure designed to cater for that possibility. Given such a platform, the young Frenchman has so much to offer.

There was, in my opinion, a third candidate for MoTM. Jake Clarke-Salter was outstanding at the back, particularly during the lengthy first-half spell when Shakhtar were well on top. Charlie Colkett was also impressive, as always.

RLC had a very quiet game. There seems to me to be more thinking needed about how best to use him. Playing Ruben in the pivot with Charlie was great for the side, but did not give him much opportunity to give of his best.

Lastly a wider point. Jeremie Boga's partnership with Charlie Musonda was great to watch. Live wire Charlie with eel-like changes of direction, quick feet and nice passing was brilliant. That Adi was able to play two AMs whose defensive contributions are not outstanding is instructive I think. Instructive for those who, bemusingly, pour scorn on Jose and the choices he makes. Adi is able to pair these two at U19 level because, at that level, they are too good for their opponents and so the side can win that way. Adi does not use them together in the U21s however.

Playing beautiful, losing football is even less fun than playing ugly winning football. Ask Arsenal fans. To play attractive winning football you need players who are good enough to do it. At U19 we have them, at first team level we do not. Yet. That is my opinion at any rate and is why I am delighted that we have the supreme pragmatist in charge. I much prefer Jose finding a way to win, over Carlo standing helpless on the sideline chanting, "Bad moment, bad moment" while his ill-equipped squad fails miserably to play with identity.

[kobematabryant 400]

I'm proud to be a Chelsea Fan, please keep this up.

[Blue Colored Sky 1,807]

Great, however I've expected this. The side we fielded would be too good for any young side in Europe. That should be illegal because as quality as our players are they're also very physical for this age. That was too much for Shakhtar.

Finally it confirmed that we can claim formally that we have one of the very best Academy in Europe, I don't have enough dwell on things which will help the discussions

As soon as Boga turned, it was over. How fucking great he is ? Much love for him. All class from him from that 25 minutes in the second half. He just made fun, the technique, acceleration, balance, the physique, that was way too much much. I don't think that I'm going to enjoy such extraordinary talent for a long time in the Academy.

I don't much care about FA Youth Cup now, I wanted Chelsea to win European prize and they did it in fantastic way.

I just have a sad feeling about today though, because much of these boys are going in their own direction in the summer. Such great side will be over I don't see much of the same from current U18 team, apart from maybe 2 players, they aren't as quality as this side. I simply loved this youth team and enjoyed many, many games from them. It was a pleasure.

Now Boga, Musonda, Solanke, Brown, RLC, Colkett, Christiansen are going to progress into the senior football. But where ? We can't mess with them, they're far too talented to do that. I hope that there's grand scheme of thing how to progress them into the senior football. Not stupid keeping them on the bench or making deadline day loan.

At the end at least 3 of them should end up in Chelsea. Only RLC will be not good since it's his size that would decide. I sincerely hope that there's a plan somewhere. I bloody want to believe that we will have strong enough first team to fill in the squad with 2 youngsters almost seamlessly. At least strong enough that Jose won't have to 'protect' them.

[CurlyHairLikeLuiz 1,625]

Great, however I've expected this. The side we fielded would be too good for any young side in Europe. That should be illegal because as quality as our players are they're also very physical for this age. That was too much for Shakhtar.

Finally it confirmed that we can claim formally that we have one of the very best Academy in Europe, I don't have enough dwell on things which will help the discussions

As soon as Boga turned, it was over. How fucking great he is ? Much love for him. All class from him from that 25 minutes in the second half. He just made fun, the technique, acceleration, balance, the physique, that was way too much much. I don't think that I'm going to enjoy such extraordinary talent for a long time in the Academy.

I don't much care about FA Youth Cup now, I wanted Chelsea to win European prize and they did it in fantastic way.

I just have a sad feeling about today though, because much of these boys are going in their own direction in the summer. Such great side will be over I don't see much of the same from current U18 team, apart from maybe 2 players, they aren't as quality as this side. I simply loved this youth team and enjoyed many, many games from them. It was a pleasure.

Now Boga, Musonda, Solanke, Brown, RLC, Colkett, Christiansen are going to progress into the senior football. But where ? We can't mess with them, they're far too talented to do that. I hope that there's grand scheme of thing how to progress them into the senior football. Not stupid keeping them on the bench or making deadline day loan.

At the end at least 3 of them should end up in Chelsea. Only RLC will be not good since it's his size that would decide. I sincerely hope that there's a plan somewhere. I bloody want to believe that we will have strong enough first team to fill in the squad with 2 youngsters almost seamlessly. At least strong enough that Jose won't have to 'protect' them.

They're getting closer. Youth is making more bench appearances than ever this year. Soon some will complete the jump.

This is our golden generation.

[chelsea blue 615]

Highlights :blue scalf:

https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/video/hlts-shakhtar-donetsk-chelsea-165804011.html

[lionsden 4,689]

Emenalo said the aim is to ensure every single player in the academy and reserve are potentially good enough to break into the first team as the days of recruiting youngsters just to fill the squad was over and you have to say it certainly looks that way so far. there are atleast 8 youngsters who are good enough to break into the first team. Boga,Musonda,Colkett,Jay da silva,RLC,Solanke, Ola aina and Izzy. And that's ignoring more senior youth players like Baker,Ake et al.

[LAM09 7,062]

Great achievement for the squad. I hope some of them are given a chance next season.

[Fernando 6,585]

Great achievement for the squad. I hope some of them are given a chance next season.

Don't have high hopes.

Mourinho has shown little to expect much in this.

There is no consistency, even if he gave chance to Zouma he has put him back into the bench and used Cahill.

Zouma should be starter now not Cahill.....

[LAM09 7,062]

Don't have high hopes.

Mourinho has shown little to expect much in this.

There is no consistency, even if he gave chance to Zouma he has put him back into the bench and used Cahill.

Zouma should be starter now not Cahill.....

That's my worry. If Mourinho really wants to be here for the long haul, he'll have to make use of the entire cast of players.

[supporter 3,088]

These guys are knocking down the door.

The numbers of these guys are amazing. A magnificent generation. I do not know if the next season or within two years, but these guys have capabilities to be important with US

I am very opposed to giving away free opportunities to young boys just to be in our academy, but these guys have done enough merits to trust them.

Boga, RLC, Solanke or Brown deserve to have more opportunities. If we have good results in the next 3 games I think they have to play until the end of the season at least a couple of matches.

For example, if we have good results, I'd rather see Solanke in our starting eleven than having Diego Costa almost injured.

I think Jose wants to do a project for the next decade with Chelsea. This makes its mind will be more flexible with young boys. I trust that Jose will bet heavily on these guys.

They can not be a lost generation. These guys deserve a chance.

Congratulations and Regards.

[OhForAGreavsie 6,077]

...I just have a sad feeling about today though, because much of these boys are going in their own direction in the summer. Such great side will be over ...

Of those who played today 7; Collins, Clarke-Salter, Da Silva, Brown, Abraham, Boga & Solanke will still be eligible for next season's UEFA Youth League. I think most of those will appear again but you are right, it's time for Brown, and probably Boga too, to be finishing their education at a higher level. Along with the lads who are now too old for the U19s of course.

[Blue Colored Sky 1,807]

Imagine if that side would become our class of 2015.

I'm young enough to keep dreaming but Christiansen, Dasilva, Colkett, RLC, Boga, Musonda, Solanke are talented enough to be there at this level.

Like Jose said, the talent has to be first, the talent is the most important thing and all the above have that talent for me.

This side has everything in them, you can read on Chelsea Youth twitter feed this. You want pace, there's pace. You want physicality, you have physicality. You want ball playing centre backs, you have them both. You want attacking full-backs, there're attacking full-backs. You want midfield dominator and midfield creator, you have that. You want someone to glue midfield you have one. You want individual brilliance who can turn the game and constantly take on people, you have that. You want reliable goalscorer, there's not one but two. You want to have goals from all over the pitch as well, you have that. This side is complete.

[Blue Colored Sky 1,807]

Of those who played today 7; Collins, Clarke-Salter, Da Silva, Brown, Abraham, Boga & Solanke will still be eligible for next season's UEFA Youth League. I think most of those will appear again but you are right, it's time for Brown, and probably Boga too, to be finishing their education at a higher level.

They have to progress. Solanke is too big for that level. Abraham is still to prove at U21 and can be no.1 so he can stay. Almost all of the guys that are already homegrowns should go.

Dasilva should go too, I would challenge him, however he isn't counted as a homegrown yet, so he stays.

I don't know where I'd loan Boga and Musonda though. Boga would cope with Championship with his physicality but I think the French team would be better to improve him tactically to get the point across to him. Musonda would go to Anderlecht but probably there will be suitors for him from elsewhere. I think his native is Dutch so the Netherlands as well is a good option. But France always seems to me like the best development league (actually it is) so would try the most there.

Christiansen to Vitesse. Solanke, Brown to stay in England, RLC to stay with us. I would sell Colkett to some Spanish team with buy-back clause, that's the best place where his profile would suit to and where he would be the most appreciated.

[OhForAGreavsie 6,077]

... I bloody want to believe that we will have strong enough first team to fill in the squad with 2 youngsters almost seamlessly. At least strong enough that Jose won't have to 'protect' them.

This is such a good point I just quoted it so people might read it again.

[ulvhedin 526]

I just have a sad feeling about today though, because much of these boys are going in their own direction in the summer. Such great side will be over I don't see much of the same from current U18 team, apart from maybe 2 players, they aren't as quality as this side. I simply loved this youth team and enjoyed many, many games from them. It was a pleasure.

Which two from u18 team do you suggest to follow closely?