Youth development plan beginning to bear fruit

Frank Arnesen was always confident that his youth development policy at Chelsea would produce positive results. The former Tottenham sporting director moved to Stamford Bridge in 2005 as part of billionaire owner Roman Abramovich's revolution.

Critics suggested that, amongst a number of expensive signings, Chelsea were only putting on a front of a dedication to encourage home-grown talent.

But Arnesen insists that the target was always to have youngsters emerging in the first team in the current season and he is pleased with the progress of the likes of 17-year-old Josh McEachran.

Arnesen said in The Sun: "We knew when I came the aim in 2010/11 was to have at least one player in the first team.

"I've always been supported from inside the club

"Roman has been unbelievable. There have been pressures from the outside but Roman said, 'Frank I know what you said when you came. We have an agreement, you carry on.'

"I was quite comfortable that one day it'd come right.

"I wasn't expecting players to come through two years ago - they were too young and this is one of the world's best clubs.

"You can't usually expect them to get through at that age. Now they are around 19 and 20, with the exception of Josh.

"Can they stay in there? It is up to them, this is just the beginning."

Arnesen added: "Let them develop, let them make mistakes and don't make them heroes so young. It can only be bad, nothing else."

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Glad to hear that he never had Roman on his heals and we can see the results of showing patience and faith in Arnesen. A lot of credit should go to him for luring players such a Kakuta, Bruma and Van Aanholt. Hoping to see some more talents to come through the youth academy.

He came in for some extremely harsh criticism in the past, where I think we were expecting too much from our Youth Academy. I also think he has the right manager in Carlo for us to start seeing some of them breaking into the first team (as we've already seen inclinations toward).

I also think Roman's attitude of coming in, investing heavily in the players and correct manager, setting up a youth academy, getting us better training facilities, and then making just one or two signings a year ever since then has been a brilliant one, and very shrewd of our Russian owner.

When you look at the jokes of owners other clubs have (City, Pool, Man U, QPR), you have to be thankful for Roman.

He came in for some extremely harsh criticism in the past, where I think we were expecting too much from our Youth Academy. I also think he has the right manager in Carlo for us to start seeing some of them breaking into the first team (as we've already seen inclinations toward).

I also think Roman's attitude of coming in, investing heavily in the players and correct manager, setting up a youth academy, getting us better training facilities, and then making just one or two signings a year ever since then has been a brilliant one, and very shrewd of our Russian owner.

When you look at the jokes of owners other clubs have (City, Pool, Man U, QPR), you have to be thankful for Roman.

I agree wholeheartedly with that. The future is looking very bright, the only way it would possibly look better is if we were able to expand Stamford Bridge somehow. Unfortunately not an option it seems with just the one road, and needing to be able to evacuate the ground in five minutes, but everything else is just about spot on right now.

Hopefully we'll see more Joshs, Brumas, Kakutas and Chalobahs come through in the coming seasons, even if we have to sell some, it's an excellent way to continue as a business.

Agreed Eggy,

we've already started moving some players on that were not going to make the grade. I think they could be classed as the first wave of Arnesen's youth set up, but I think most of them had been here before Roman, so maybe it's the "half Arnesen" wave. The likes of Sinclair, Sahar, Mancienne, Di Santo etc have all had a go, and moved on. I'm sure we've made (or will make) money from all of these guys, so again this is a further step - along with reducing the wage structure - to becoming self sufficient

nice article