Academy takes on Fresh Talent

[Badboy 1,526]

ACADEMY TAKES ON FRESH TALENT

Posted on: Mon 05 Jul 2010 As Carlo Ancelotti and his squad prepare for the beginning of pre-season training this morning, so too does the Academy and its fresh intake of youngsters.

There is often a 'first day back at school' feel to pre-season training at Cobham. Spare a thought then for the first-year scholars in the Academy, who begin their full-time football education this morning.

Academy manager Neil Bath and his assistant Jim Fraser give us the run-down on the seven lads joining us at our state-of-the-art facility for 2010/11 , and one who joins but returns to his former club for the season ahead.

Amin Affane (Date of birth - 21/1/94)

Amin is a left-sided player, but predominantly an attack-minded central midfielder who comes in from Sweden, his former club was Lärje/Angereds IF.

Jamal Blackman (27/10/93)

A goalkeeper from Croydon, Jemal is 6ft 5in already, very agile and joined the Academy fairly late at Under 13. Also involved in the England setup, he played for Chelsea in the Cobham Cup, the international tournament we hosted in August 2008.

Todd Kane (17/9/93)

Toddy has been at the club since he was an Under 8. He comes from Cambridge and is a very quick right-back, comfortable on the ball and tenacious in the tackle. He also played in the youth team last season.

Reece Loudon (2/10/93)

A lad from Stevenage, Reece is a left-midfielder, made his debut at left-back for the reserves last season and joined the Academy at Under 13.

Archange Nkumu (5/11/93)

A boy from North London who joined the Academy at Under 10, Archange can play holding midfield and has played most of the last year as a centre-half for the Under 16s.

Danny Mills Pappoe (30/12/93)

Danny featured many times for the reserves last season and was an important member of the youth squad, though he missed the Youth Cup Final through injury. Hailing from Deptford, he joined us at Under 12 and is a solid centre-half.

Danny Stenning (18/2/94)

A central midfielder from Tulse Hill, Danny joined the Academy at Under 14, and is a tidy little player who doesn't give the ball away a lot, has a great attitude and is strong in the tackle.

Tomas Kalas (15/5/93)

Tomas has signed but will spend the first year on loan at his club, Sigma Olomouc in the Czech Republic.

He is now going into the Under 18s, and made his first-team debut last season. Very athletic and quick, he is a very good one-on-one defender and comfortable on the ball.

We feel there is a lot of potential in the player, and we feel at the minute it is the right time to get him, but it would be good for him to stay there and get first team experience, and we look forward to him joining us next year. Obviously we will stay in touch and he will come across here when appropriate. He is a right-sided centre-half who can play right-back.

Chelsea fc.com

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I think this is a repost

But it's always nice to read this

[Badboy 1,526]

Look out for affane he is supposed to be very similar to luka modric in style, very clever young player with a good left peg on him. Affane was in a dutch magazine for the most promising youth players in europe, feynoord tried to sign him !

[Fulham Broadway 17,312]

Some good loan material there. i see spells at Doncater and Wolves looming for most......

[Badboy 1,526]

Some good loan material there. i see spells at Doncater and Wolves looming for most......

Lets hope we get 2 of them of kakuta and josh quality, i want a good striker this year someone to push borini through !

[Manuf 1,448]

It's good that Chelsea have changed direction from buying all the players to scouting and training youngsters. Let's hope that few of posted above can make it in the future.