The Revolution & Youth

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"It's the Chelsea revolution that we've cried for all those years. We're giving youth the chance to step up and shine. We're signing the likes of Ryan Bertrand to new contract extensions, offloading the likes of Raul Meireles, and putting our faith in the likes of Eden Hazard and Juan Mata. The u-21 and u-18 teams are stocked and brimming with talent - and that's after loaning out almost two full starting eleven's worth of prospects! The future looks bright."
 
Thats an interesting piece CPoL! I must remember to refer to all happenings in future as the project!
 
Very interesting article. One of 2 things are happening with the "project".
We are buying all and any good players of a certain age for the future.
Or, in doing the above, we are losing too many of our home grown players or long term youngsters who never even get a chance to show what they've got. Scott Sinclair and Franco Di Santo spring to mind.
 
I believe it has to do with the club trained player rule for the champions league. Which is why we and indeed many other clubs pay silly money for 8 yr olds. In fact why 8 yr olds are on the radar at all. That B list can make the difference if the A list has a few crucial injuries. Chelsea can add three more to the A list before the end of January, so we appear to be in good shape. Yet as Pat Nevin points out no club manager can account for what happens at international matches. For us the risk here is high due to the high proportion of players involved in internationals and that goes for our B list too!

Centre Back is our main area of concern. Four recognised top players in the entire squad. JT has had a season pass to the treatment table for the last three years. I think this is why Paulo is still with us. Off the bench he can play anywhere along the back or even right wing. Maybe we will see Daniel Pappoe at some stage this season in a few cup games..
 
Blueman said:
Just hope that some of them actually get to play for us.
Click to expand...

If they are good enough I ahope so to.
Looking at all the teams 25man squads and there are few young players that have come through any clubs own youth system and even fewer at the top Prem clubs so it isn't anything specifically Chelsea related. I recall some years back reading that something like 1 in 120 youth players actually makes it through to be a first team regular.
 
I remember getting excited at our Youth prospects a couple of seasons ago when we had Jimmy Smith, Di Santo, Sinclair etc.
I try not to get excited because I know damn well that 99.9% of these players will end up at Chesterfield or Sheff Utd playing in the Championship or League 1 within the next 3 years.
I remember about 15 years ago we had a flock of exciting youngsters coming through, Mark Nicholls, Jon Bradley, John Terry, Jody Morris. JT was the only one that lasted more than a couple of seasons. Jody Morris ended up at Leeds, Jon Bradley at Sheff Utd and Mark Nicholls I have no idea what happened to him. I remember him coming on as a sub against Coventry City when we were 1-1 with 15 minutes left and he scored twice for the win, I remember thinking, this kid looks good, then.....nothing...........

So I will not hold my breathe.
 
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