17 replies to this topic

[Hutch]

From the official site:

Quote

BRIDGE BECKONS FOR RESERVES
Posted on: Mon 29 Aug 2011

The reserves entertain Blackburn Rovers at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, with tickets available on general sale.

Dermot Drummy's side have started the season with victories against Sunderland and Bolton, and will be looking to continue that 100 percent start in front of home support.

The coach was pleased with his side's showing up at Bolton last week, and is hoping to replicate the performance, albeit with different personnel.

'The team on Tuesday will change because of international duty,' he explained. 'Nathaniel Chalobah will be away and some others may be out on loan, so that gives some fringe players who have had a good pre-season the chance to play and show their qualities. Whatever team we put out will be a decent standard and we want to win and play attractive football.

'It was really pleasing with the football we played. Bolton had their chances and hit the bar twice, but then Jamal made a really good save and we got our game going and played some very good football.

'The most pleasing aspect was that the team worked to their maximum, which is the requirement, and from there you hope the football comes through.

'Jacob Mellis and Sam Hutchinson played 90 minutes, Josh McEachran had asked to play in the reserves which shows a fantastic attitude, and Josh barged their centre-half off the ball to score a goal 10 minutes from time so that was really pleasing and it means we've started the season well.'

Drummy is expecting no favours from the visitors tonight, who will have a point to prove having been beaten in last season's reserve league national play-off final by Steve Holland's youngsters.

'I know Blackburn's coach Gary Bowyer, and we've beaten them last season in the reserve final. They're a good academy and produced Phil Jones who is obviously now at Man United,' he said.

'They'll work hard and are very organised, but I always think if we match another team for endeavour our football will come through.'

This is the first reserve outing at the Bridge since that night in May, and Drummy, who has also led the youth team to FA Youth Cup glory at this stadium, believes playing here creates an extra buzz for the players.

'It's nice for the players to be at Stamford Bridge and if we get a decent crowd it only benefits the boys in the dressing room and on the pitch,' he explained.

'I don't think we do it enough in the reserve league, playing at big stadiums, so it's something I like to see. It's nice to be able to be at the Bridge when we get there and I hope people turn out to see us.'

Tickets must be purchased beforehand and are available from the box office only until 4pm on Tuesday. They are priced at £5 for adults and £3 for seniors.

LINK

[Spiller86]

Romeu and McEachran in for this one or are they away on international duty?

[rahul]

Game time possible for them as well as Sturridge.

[Hutch]

Spiller, finally I've got some kind of an answer for you:

Edited by Hutch, 30 August 2011 - 06:10 PM.

[Hutch]

15th minute, brilliant defence-splitting pass from Sam Hutchinson to Jacob Mellis who brings it down with an excellent first touch then slots it past the keeper.

[dkw]

That was a beautiful goal Hutch, superb pass, great first touch, even better finish.

[Hutch]

Definitely one to look out for on youtube.

We've been vastly better than Blackburn this half. Turnbull's had very little to do but still managed a dodgy moment. PVA outstanding bombing forward.

Other highlights included a good cross in to the box from Todd Kane, I think it was, headed just wide by Marco Mitrovic, and a couple of minutes before half time Mitrovic again with a shot just wide at the end of another good passing move.Then on the stroke of half time, Sam Hutchinson started a nice move that finished with a shot well saved by the Blackburn keeper.

[dkw]

Some brilliant movement from our young uns, they really are tearing the Blackburn defence apart at times.

[undertow]

i only catched the end of the emenalo interview in HT, who was he talking about who are they sending out on loan?

[dkw]

undertow, on 30 August 2011 - 07:05 PM, said:

i only catched the end of the emenalo interview in HT, who was he talking about who are they sending out on loan?

Kakuta, PVA and Bertrand were mentioned.

[Hutch]

undertow, on 30 August 2011 - 07:05 PM, said:

i only catched the end of the emenalo interview in HT, who was he talking about who are they sending out on loan?

I'm not sure to be honest. I had to make a phone call so missed most of the interview. I do know that he was asked about Kakuta though.

[Hutch]

And out of the blue it's 1-1

[Epic]

He said the coaching staff have a lot of confidence in McEachran and that he will get chances.

He said Bertrand, Kakuta and van Aanholt all need 25+ games at senior level to really establish themselves and come back to Chelsea. All three of them are heading out on loan tomorrow by the sounds of it.

[Hutch]

Final score: 1-1

Disappointing result to a game which we entirely dominated for almost the first hour. Blackburn didn't manage a corner till the 55th minute, after 57 minutes they were level with arguably their first real attack of the game.

Still there were plenty of positives. The way we passed and moved during the first half especially was a joy to watch. We created a plethora of chances, but unfortunately only managed to make one of them count. And as the old cliché goes, when you're only a single goal up, the opposition will always have a chance to equalise.

[Hutch]

Match report from the official site:

Quote

CHELSEA 1 BLACKBURN ROVERS 1
Posted on: Tue 30 Aug 2011

Summary
The reserves had to settle for a draw at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night after being pegged back by a committed Blackburn side.

The Blues had the better of the 90 minutes and were almost dominant in the first half, Jacob Mellis rounding off a direct but excellently executed opening goal after bringing down Sam Hutchinson's long through ball and firing home.

The lead could have been extended but Blackburn converted an equaliser just before the hour and could soon have taken the lead but for some poor finishing.

Chelsea gradually recovered but could not get past some resilient defending, inspired goalkeeping and the woodwork, when Marko Mitrovic's shot was deflected onto the post.

That means some first dropped points of the season, but the performance will have pleased Drummy, particularly with a slightly weakened side.

Team news
Ross Turnbull was selected in goal for his first reserve team appearance of the season, but international call-ups prevented Dermot Drummy from selecting Josh McEachran, Conor Clifford and Nathaniel Chalobah.

Sam Hutchinson, who continues to work with the second string a he prepares for his coaching badges, captained the side which also featured Patrick van Aanholt at left-back in the way of first team experience.

First year scholar Lewis Baker started on the right wing ahead of midfielders Billy Clifford, Jacob Mellis and George Saville.

First half
Within a minute the Blues were on the front foot as Van Aanholt, Mellis and Saville combined, the left-back playing a one-two with Mellis before crossing for the advanced Saville, whose side-footed volley was saved low down by Rovers keeper Matthew Urwin.

Van Aanholt had started brilliantly, attacking at will down the left and supplying a string of crosses, but it was Mellis who would grab the early headlines.

The 20-year-old made a typical bursting run from midfield after 15 minutes, and was spotted by Hutchinson, who sent a rangy vertical pass over the Blackburn defence, landing on the midfielder's toe.

There was plenty of work still to do, but Mellis brought the ball down expertly, and lashed the ball beyond Urwin into the bottom corner to give his side a deserved lead.

Blackburn's response was limited, but captain Nick Blackman did head a free-kick over the bar when well placed.

Back on the attack Chelsea almost added to the score when MItrovic headed a Todd Kane cross just wide, and then the Swede saw his low drive tipped around the post by Urwin.

From the resultant corner Carl Magnay connected well with Kaby's centre, but his header was always rising, and so Dermot Drummy's men went in at the break with a narrow lead, a Kaby drive pushed over the bar just before the whistle.

Second half
Kane prompted the first string of Chelsea attacks when he won a corner down the right, but it was on the break that the Blues created their first real opportunity of the half, Kaby and Mellis combining to play in Mitrovic, whose delayed shot was deflected onto a post and back out into play.

Adam Henley flashed a low drive past Turnbull's left-hand post, but it looked to be an isolated attack, only for Rovers to equalise with their next foray forward.

Zac Aley made good progress down their left flank, delivering a pinpoint cross into the box, where Jackson Ramm was able to get in front of Van Aanholt and power his header beneath Turnbull and into the net.

It was hard on Chelsea who would need to rediscover the standards they had set during the first period.

The visitors were having an ever-increasing influence on proceedings and could have taken the lead just after the hour, Chelsea fortunate that James Knowles got too far under his shot and skied it into the Shed End rather than drilling it on target.

Clifford pulled a shot wide and Van Aanholt shot straight at Urwin as the home side gradually improved and recovered the ascendancy.

Kane sent a low cross across the six-yard box that evaded everybody and then the same player was stopped in his tracks by some brave goalkeeping at his feet as the three points slipped away.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Ross Turnbull; Todd Kane, Sam Hutchinson ©, Carl Magnay, Patrick van Aanholt; Jacob Mellis, Billy Clifford, George Saville; Lewis Baker (sub Adam Nditi 61), Marko Mitrovic (sub Philipp Prosenik 75), Kaby.

Unused subs Rhys Taylor, Rohan Ince, James Ashton.

Blackburn Rovers: Matthew Urwin; Bruno Ribeiro, Adam Henley, Jason Lowe, Anthony O'Connor, Hugo Fernandez Molina, Jackson Ramm, James Knowles (sub Robbie Cotton 86), Nick Blackman © (sub Jamie MacLaren h-t), Josh Morris, Zac Aley.

Unused subs Christopher Dilo, John O'Sullivan, Daniel Laverty.

LINK

[Snedger]

I've got to ask about Sam Hutchinson. The official situation is that he is building up fitness in preperation for his coaching badges, right? But he has recently completed two 90 minute run outs for the reserves against decent and committed opponents. And apart from being captain, it sounds as though he has played well and made notable contributions.

So the two questions I have are; is it conceivable that he could play 1st team football again somewhere? And as I've never really seen him play, how good, potentially, was he? Are we talking better than Kalas, Bruma, Rajkovic? As good as Terry? Better?

I know that there are no definitive answers to those questions but I'd like to hear the thoughts of those who have followed his career more closely.

[Hutch]

Snedger, on 30 August 2011 - 08:37 PM, said:

I've got to ask about Sam Hutchinson. The official situation is that he is building up fitness in preperation for his coaching badges, right? But he has recently completed two 90 minute run outs for the reserves against decent and committed opponents. And apart from being captain, it sounds as though he has played well and made notable contributions.

So the two questions I have are; is it conceivable that he could play 1st team football again somewhere? And as I've never really seen him play, how good, potentially, was he? Are we talking better than Kalas, Bruma, Rajkovic? As good as Terry? Better?

I know that there are no definitive answers to those questions but I'd like to hear the thoughts of those who have followed his career more closely.

1. Is it conceivable that he could play 1st team football again somewhere?
Is it possible: certainly, is it probable. Now that I don't know. I think the official position is one of caution, understandably when you consider how recently it was thought he'd never kick a ball in anger again.

2. How good, potentially, was he? Are we talking better than Kalas, Bruma, Rajkovic? As good as Terry? Better?
Better than JT, time alone would or even will tell, but the way he passes the ball, intelligently and accurately, is very reminiscent of JT. Kalas is also very young and currently out on loan. I haven't seem that much of him, but he's looked promising, that's all I can say. And all I ever saw of Rajkovic were those few pre-season matches. But I would definitely say he's more talented than Bruma. Tonight he was caught out a couple of times, but this I think is understandable considering how long he was out for. He also tackled back well, played the ball out of defence, including the pass for our goal, and tackled back well.

[Snedger]

Cheers Hutch. I have to admit that I am quietly excited that he may make it back and all the way to our 1st eleven. It would be all very Roy of the Rovers if he did one day play 90 minutes as captain in a prem game.

But in the short term I fully understand the reserved atmosphere around his appearances for the reserves. I certainly don't want to tempt fate so best of luck with his efforts to gain his coaching badges.