Aston Villa Youth v Chelsea FC Youth

[EskWeston 696]

Tonight after a very long wait since the Semi Final victory over Blackburn Rovers the Chelsea youth team finally take to the pitch for the first leg of the FA Youth Cup semi Final. The cup run has definately been very special. First we came up against Charlton Athletic a game which we dominated but couldn't put to bed and which we conceeded the only goal we have conceeded in the run. Next up was Nottingham Forest and this game was completely different and our dominance told with a 4 - 0 victory. After the big win over Forest we had a frustrating game against Portsmouth in which we only won 1 - 0 but it was amazing that we didn't score a lot more. Next up was another big 4 - 0 win, this time against Watford. Watford couldn't cope with a Chelsea team that had grown together and was working as a strong unit and playing wonderful football. Then came the tough Semi Final against Blackburn, even though again we had the dominance during the game we could only manage a 1 - 0 win to make the second leg in our hands but tight, however come the second leg at the bridge there was no problems and the best display of the run saw us score another 4 goals and progress into the final.

The team has changed very little through the cup run and barring injuries we should see the following team, missing Kaby due to suspention:

.............................................Walker............................................

B.Clifford..............Bruma.....................Pappoe........Deen-Conteh

......................C.Clifford.............................Sala............................

..........................................McEachran.........................................

....Lalkovic............................Mitrovic................................Tore.....

Although i am not 100% sure if Kaby is available or not, if he is then the team selection will be interesting, on past form i would imagine that Lalkovic would drop to the bench.

This team is very very strong indeed, the back four are supberb and it will take a lot to break them down especially with the experience of Bruma there which is invaluable, playing first team, Reserve team and youth team Bruma is definately working hard for Chelsea this season. Aziz Deen-Conteh has been someone that has stuck out this season, one who has really made a name for himself and looks to be another quality left back. The midfield will be slightly different in the absense of Kaby, Jacopo Sala more than capable of doing a very good job in there and at times has looked more comfortable in the middle of the park. Connor Clifford is a midfield engine and will work his backside off for the 90 minutes. Josh McEachran has grown through the competition and has become an invaluable player, playing behind the forwards he will be pulling the strings, incredibaly hard to shake of the ball his quick feet are great, we need a big game from Josh tonight. The forward line is enough to worry any defence. Lalkovic's speed and skill can have defenders tied in knots, Marko Mitrovic has worked very hard to perfect the lone striker role and will hold the ball up and be a big threat from many positions to score. And finally the human speedy tank that is Gokhan Tore will be the one that Villa will have earmarked to watch very closely indeed. Again a big game from Gokhan can make the difference.

The unusual 2 legged final means that tonight we are woking to get ourselves in a good position to bring them back to the bridge and close the tie. To come back with a lead would be incredible and it isw more than possible. Reports on the Villa team are that they are hard working and will work for the 90 minutes to make things very hard for us. Like us they have quick wingers but hopefully we can have them more occupied by chasing back to stop our wingers from playing. The football that has been played by this team has been exceptional and i hope they get what they deserve and do go on to win the final and lift the trophy. Once again i think that if we McEachrean and Tore on top of their game then it will be very hard to Villa to stop us.

So many things to look forward to and for me just watching this group of lads play is exciting. I am confident going into the game and i hope that my prediction of a 2 - 0 victory at Villa park will come true and a comfortable return leg can be played out at the bridge.

Edited April 29, 2010 by EskWeston

[EskWeston 696]

Dermot Drummy is expecting no easy ride this evening when we travel to Aston Villa for the first leg of the FA Youth Cup Final. The Chelsea Academy coach has seen plenty of tonight's opposition and is able to draw parallels between the Villa youth side and their senior team that is competing for the Champions League places in the Premier League.

'I think it will be a really tough game, they are very well organised and like their first team have two very good wingers, are resolute in defence and have a very good work ethic,' Drummy told the Chelsea website. 'I'm really looking forward to two great games.

'We've watched them three times, against Fulham and twice against Newcastle in the semi-final. Villa have a good Academy, they've been at the top for a number of years with Tony McAndrew and Gordan Cowans, who I know quite well.'

En route to the finale, Villa have already beaten two London clubs, Fulham after a penalty shootout in the quarter-final and Millwall in the fifth round, following victories over West Bromwich Albion in the fourth and Rochdale in the third.

Fourteen goals in six games suggest a side who will attack, though Drummy believes Chelsea can give as good as they get in that department - having scored 16 goals ourselves in as many matches as we despatched Charlton Athletic, Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth, Watford and Blackburn Rovers on the way.

'I think our strengths are the way we move the ball and the way we attack,' Drummy said. 'We attack with creativity and looking back on all the games during the Cup run our mentality has been spot on. For the Final the build-up has been good, we're pleased with the way it has gone and we want to give two good performances, we're desperate to win and we'll play the way we play.

'We've had a good defence and we work hard. Everyone in the team works for each other and there is no one there in the squad who thinks they are bigger than the team. They are a good bunch of lads and that's what the philosophy of the club is - they work hard and it comes to fruition.'

Drummy, a former Arsenal youth coach, explained the preparations for the first leg as we look to gain an advantage back to Stamford Bridge, where we reconvene on Tuesday evening for the decider.

'We played the reserves in a 40-minute game on Tuesday morning, Wednesday we had light training and we travel up on the morning of the game,' he said. 'We'll have lunch and then go to a hotel and rest. We'll have a team meeting at about 4.30 and then get to the ground.

'If we were going to Newcastle we would have to travel up early, but Birmingham is only a couple of hours, so if we went up early we would then then have the whole day in a hotel, and I just think the lads will be better with a training day on Wednesday and then going home back to their digs as normal.'

Coverage is live on Chelsea TV from 6.30pm with exclusive interviews and build-up from Villa Park. England youth coach and former Chelsea and Villa player Kenny Swain is a special guest.

Supporters who cannot view our in-house channel can watch the game live online at

Chelsea TV's 'Inside the Academy' will continue to focus on the tie ahead of the deciding second leg with reaction, preview and all the latest news.

Tuesday's return leg at Stamford Bridge is live and exclusive on Chelsea TV, with admission to Stamford Bridge priced at £3 for adults and £1 for concessions. Kick-off 7.45pm.

Tickets must be bought in advance and can be booked online until midday Friday. Tickets will be sold at the box office until 5pm on Tuesday.

Source: Chelsea FC

[EskWeston 696]

The manager has issued a message of support for the Academy side, who face Aston Villa in the first leg of the FA Youth Cup Final tonight. I would like to say good luck to the youth team in the Final tonight against Aston Villa.

It is a big challenge for the young players of Chelsea, and I know it is a long time since Chelsea won this competition - I was still only a small child - but they are a good group with a strong mentality and I like to pay attention to their games, I watch a lot of them and will watch on Chelsea TV. I hope that they can win.

They are young but there is a lot of quality in the team too, already Jeffrey Bruma has played in the first team and it is the club's philosophy to give more young players this opportunity. The coaches in the Academy are doing a fantastic job and deserve the Cup.

Source: Chelsea FC

[EskWeston 696]

Of all the success stories in this season's on the way to this season's FA Youth Cup Final, one that stands out is the presence of Aliu 'Kaby' Djalo. After a year spent adapting to the demands of English football, the diminutive Portugal youth international has firmly established himself in the youth team's line-up this season.

A second-half substitute in the third round at Charlton, Kaby impressed enough to force his way into the line-up in the next round at Nottingham Forest, and but for a red card at Blackburn in the semi-finals, he has been a fine representative ever since.

'I didn't start in the first game but I came on in the second half and I played well and that's given me chance to play starting from the second game - I think I'm doing well and I'm happy with myself as well,' said the 18-year-old.

'I have been enjoying it, last year I didn't have so many chances to play but this year I am playing more in the youth team.'

The stats back him up - he has played in 25 of 31 youth team games this season, contributing three goals and also captaining the side in the absence of others, notably Conor Clifford.

'I have captained the team a couple of times because I am now one of the more experienced players,' he reasoned. 'That's why I have been given the responsibility and it brings more out of you because you have to show an example to the team, so I think that's good for me and I feel important to my team-mates, which has been great.

'Before I came to England I didn't know about the Youth Cup, but I know now it is important for Chelsea.

'If you do well you never know what can happen and you can move towards the first team, or go on loan because there are lots of scouts watching. This is a big tournament, and now I know it!'

Source: Chelsea FC

[EskWeston 696]

I guess this means that Kaby is available for tonights game? Must mean the suspention carried in the league games...

[DavidEU 2,023]

Anyone going down to this?

[Kostas 1,468]

Can I stream it anywhere?

[Ollie 4,400]

Dont they show this live anymore? Coulda sworn it was shown on sky every year. Well i hope we get a good result there, even a draw would be good. Had an epic there not long ago winning 3-2, can't remember if it was last year or the year before but that will be in both teams minds as not many players have changed. Really wish i could see it tbh.

[NattyBlue 44]

It's on theFA.COM for all in England and Wales to watch!

So I can catch the game at least, hope it's a good one, going to the final at SB

[zolayes 14,489]

soft goal for villa ...we are playing much better ,,,should turn this round

[NattyBlue 44]

Yeah now the lads find themselves 1 - 0 down which is a shame, really confident up until then but I think they'll have their chances.

[NattyBlue 44]

JEFFERS YOU LEGEND! 1 - 1! lol

[caesarblues 51]

from twitter

-Clifford & Djalo receive treatment, Lalkovic comes on for Clifford... he's been very unfluential in this game, while Djalo continues...

-Bruma's commanding his defence brilliantly...

[NattyBlue 44]

4 minutes added on, hope we can hang on Villa with some good chances, lads need hold their heads high now, full blooded challenge time!

[Kostas 1,468]

What is it with this club's luck?

Hitting the post 3 effing times?!!

[NattyBlue 44]

^ It was one of those days, Villa played very physical at times, and I think the lads should be very positive going to the Bridge now.

[Fulham Broadway 16,862]

Will score and win for the return leg -lets have a few less stepovers though

[EskWeston 696]

Deserved to win that game really. Not a good enough performance though, Connor, Sala, Tore all underperformed, needed bigger games from them and hope we get it in the return leg. We have a few gears we can still go up, whereas i think that was villa's top level....... will do a full match report when i get the time.