While people have been complementing us this season about our use of the academy lads, there always seems to be a mention of the fact we've always had the talent and should have done this alot earlier.
Seeing chalobah yesterday got me thinking, who exactly are they talking about ? I'm sure there will be some iv missed but just off the top of my head
PVA and Bertrand have both had decent premiership careers since leaving us but I wouldn't describe neither as world beaters. Bertrand is one I was sorry to see leave after what he did in the champions league, and could have provided competition or even started at left back.
Nathan Ake could be the exception to the rule, every time I see him I'm impressed, completely suited to the Premier league, solid yet cultured at the same time, I think we should have actually sold christiensen and given the game time to him.
Jack Cork- again a very decent Premier league career but nothing special to make me think we've missed out.
Josh McEachran- one of our most hyped players at the time but he just didn't have the physique or tenacity for me, made a good career for himself in the championship.
Sinclair - had to move to Scotland to find his level and really make an impact.
Bamford - championship player who, is far too inconsistent, goes on long scoring runs and drouts.
Solanke-made no impact since leaving us at either Liverpool or Bournemouth.
Not much to say on chalobah as I think he is a genuine talent ruined by a serious injury.
Ex academy players
posted on 3/11/19
And going back even further, Miroslav Stoch has probably had the best career of all our old gen (88-89) youth players, if slightly left field.
Sam Hutchinson is still playing at a decent level in the Chanpionship as a DM, good to see after all his injury issues
posted on 3/11/19
comment by Kunta Kante (U1641)
posted 6 seconds ago
And going back even further, Miroslav Stoch has probably had the best career of all our old gen (88-89) youth players, if slightly left field.
Sam Hutchinson is still playing at a decent level in the Chanpionship as a DM, good to see after all his injury issues
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Liked both these players, had really high hopes for stich and the fact Hutchinson has a career after his early retirement is probably the best story as far as our academy players go.
posted on 3/11/19
comment by Kunta Kante (U1641)
posted 1 hour, 26 minutes ago
And going back even further, Miroslav Stoch has probably had the best career of all our old gen (88-89) youth players, if slightly left field.
Sam Hutchinson is still playing at a decent level in the Chanpionship as a DM, good to see after all his injury issues
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88-89?
Did they come through with Ray Wilkins!!!
posted on 3/11/19
Chalobah is the perfect example of a player we could have made good use of rather than shelling out huge sums of money for players like Drinkwater.
I doubt he will ever be a top drawer player but still the type of player every squad needs who's happy to be part of the squad and come in when needed.
McEkkers is the one that still rankles with me. I always maintain that he was one of the most naturally gifted and skillful players I've seen come through the academy since Butch broke through in the mid 70s.
I personally don't think he disgraced himself when he was given a short run in the team, yet his reward was to be consigned back to training with the kids when the players he replaced returned to fitness/form. Then he was farmed out all round Championship sides for years, which by his own admission caused him depression.
Hopefully we've learned through our mistakes, although I don't think employing managers like Morinho did the youth teams any favours!
posted on 3/11/19
comment by TheWhiteWall (U17633)
posted 3 hours, 3 minutes ago
comment by Winston (U16525)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by TheWhiteWall (U17633)
posted 18 minutes ago
comment by Winston (U16525)
posted 1 hour, 36 minutes ago
I think the point is that we don’t know because Chelsea let those players rot out on loan.
Your youth team has been one of the best for many years - the idea that not a single player in those years was capable of becoming a first team regular is far fetched to say the least.
I wonder how many top quality players have been stuck with average football careers because of how top clubs have treated them.
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So how many of those have forged stellar careers elsewhere because at the end of the day, if the quality is there, then they'd have made it elsewhere? Too easy to blame cfc for letting players rot. Think it through Winnie.
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Well if they’ve lost the key years of development being stifled by Chelsea, they won’t go on to bigger and better things will they?
Think it through.
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Lost the best years?we didn't lock them in a cage and stop them playing FFS. Those that were loaned out for their development were at clubs playing in European top flight leagues, including the prem. Hardly rotting as you referred to or stifling. I honestly think apart from a few mistakes like DeBruyne that on the whole if these players around Europe who were getting good game time and learning their trade were going to make it, they'd had made it. I think alot has to do with the lacking mentality of some of those players touted as the next big thing, like Kakuta for example. Sometimes Winnie I honestly think you post some right old guff
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Yes, lost their best years.
It’s no wonder the players stay. They think they have a chance of achieving their dream and they are paid reasonably well.
Truth is, loaning players out for 3,4,5 years running does very little for their long term development and had they been afforded the chance to develop at clubs such as Spurs, Everton etc. then we may have seen some of them develop.
Where would Mount be if it weren’t for the transfer ban and Lampard’s appointment?
This really isn’t a difficult point to understand.
posted on 3/11/19
Ake comes from the Feyenoord academy...
posted on 3/11/19
comment by Yoda's big brother Hulk (U1250)
posted 34 minutes ago
Ake comes from the Feyenoord academy...
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De Bruyne didn't come from our academy either!
posted on 3/11/19
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 3/11/19
Many young players that played in Chelsea's academy were purchased from other academies.
Chelsea have gotten into trouble in the past for how they operated in the youth market, no? There was that Kakuta (or something like that) super kid for instance.
posted on 3/11/19
comment by Sideshow (U11809)
posted 3 minutes ago
I agree with the general point you're making Winston. There are certainly some players whose development could have been handled better, however those are the ones who have shown initial talent to begin with. Whether the rest of the players we have on loan stay on loan is ultimately dependent on them. The club won't stand in their way if they want to leave permanently, however what perhaps goes unnoticed is that they will support them until they find a club which they'd like to settle with.
This is just one player's account, however it tells the other side of the story to the loan system
https://www.espn.co.uk/football/english-premier-league/23/blog/post/3168622/matej-delac-chelsea-longest-serving-player-on-the-life-of-an-eternal-loanee
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Thanks, will have a read - looks interesting.
I understand what you’re saying but most players have high levels of self belief and those loan players will surely believe they can make it at Chelsea.
Add in a decent wage and giving it up have a go at making it elsewhere looks unlikely.
Personally I think there should be some rules around this to prevent clubs from hoarding players.
It’s out of control right down to a young age now.