Were in a bit of a pickle here aren't we! As much as I'd love Jose to come in and save the day, I think we're set up for a youth revelation, and although pep is not the people's choice he's certainly the emperor's.

Were a club lacking leadership, identity, a clear game plan, and friends. I believe the solution lies closer to home. We have a collection of some of the world's greatest youth players, and now is the time to show our hand.

Starting with the easiest position, goalkeeper, club legend Petr Cech is still a top class keeper and with Thibaut Courtois already proving an adequate replacement, there should be no reason to spend big in this department for many years.

Next up defence, Cesar Azpiliucueta has came in and showed enough promise to believe he and Branislav Ivanovic can provide the quality we need there. With Wallace on his way, right back is a position that looks to be covered.

At left back I think Ashley Cole should be given an extension, but I fear the club think otherwise, I think Ryan Bertrand should be given the chance to make left back his own, and Patrick van Aanholt should be given the chance to deputize after an impressive 18 months for Vitesse.

John Terry is coming to the end of his career but his presence will still be felt for the next 5 years, I think a combination of an older more mature David Luiz, Gary Cahill and the hopeful emergence of at least one of, Nathan Ake, Thomas Kalas, Kenneth Omeruo or Jeffrey Bruma, should mean we're set up there for a while.

For me our main problem lies in the centre of the park, John Obi Mikel divides opinion, and Oriol Romeu hasn't convinced. Nathaniel Chalobah should be fast tracked into the team. He is a natural born leader, and for me the future captain. He's been amazing for Watford and I think he's ready to step into this role as early as January. Next to him the energetic but at times sloppy Ramires, should next year have Josh Mceachran, and Kevin de Bruyne breathing down his neck, the latter has been particularly impressive in the bundisliga this season.

An area of the field we are now truly blessed in. Juan Mata, Eden Hazard, and Oscar, will be a force to be reckoned with when the rest of the team is functioning correctly. Victor Moses has looked a very good alternative option, while the jury is still out on Marko Marin. Gael Kakuta has finally started to play with the maturity that could make him a star, and I will be hoping next season, he and Lucas Piazon can get more minutes to impress, and take the pressure off Mazacar.

Fernando Torres needs to be sold as soon as possible, he hasn't performed, and the circus surrounding him is harming the club. I'd give Daniel Sturridge the chance to prove he can be the answer, if he can I think he and Romelu Lukaku can be the way forward. Failing this the only money I think we should spend would be to bring in a top striker.

Would Jose put his reputation on the line working with such a young squad, I'm not so sure. Either way I think we need to start promoting from within and avoid big money catastrophes, players like Chalobah, Mceachran, and Lukaku, would play for the shirt and at least then we'd have our Chelsea back.

Edited December 4, 201213 yr by big blue

If Jose came back he won't give youth a chance he didn't the first time here. I can't remember one young player he trusted. He'd play essien center back before trusting a youth player. Robbie had no fear trying the youngsters out.

If Jose came back he won't give youth a chance he didn't the first time here. I can't remember one young player he trusted. He'd play essien center back before trusting a youth player. Robbie had no fear trying the youngsters out.

Sorry for the double post

I am happy with the defensive options, although it looks certain Cole is off to PSG, which is a real shame.

 

In my opinion, the team is crying out for a tough nut in the midfield. If we overload our team with youth we will be like an even worse Arsenal. We need to mix the flair players with a few hard men who can both protect the players and get stuck in. 

 

Our midfield is too lightweight for me; Ramires, Mata, Oscar, Hazard.... bags and bags of talent....only Hazard has any real strength out of that lot and he is still a little guy. 

 

We need a big man in the midfield and a couple of big men up front. 

Edited December 4, 201213 yr by Zola

If Jose came back he won't give youth a chance he didn't the first time here. I can't remember one young player he trusted. He'd play essien center back before trusting a youth player. Robbie had no fear trying the youngsters out.

Scott Sinclair?

I am happy with the defensive options, although it looks certain Cole is off to PSG, which is a real shame.

In my opinion, the team is crying out for a tough nut in the midfield. If we overload our team with youth we will be like an even worse Arsenal. We need to mix the flair players with a few hard men who can both protect the players and get stuck in.

Our midfield is too lightweight for me; Ramires, Mata, Oscar, Hazard.... bags and bags of talent....only Hazard has any real strength out of that lot and he is still a little guy.

We need a big man in the midfield and a couple of big men up front.

Chalobah is that man, my cousin is a Watford fan and he says he's probably in the top 3 players in the championship at the moment, and describes him as a Patrick Vieira/ yaya toure. He's been barking out instructions and the senior pros, throwing himself into tackles and dictating the games. At 6'2" he's definitely ready.

Scott sinclair you for real did he trust Scott Sinclair don't think so. Maybe the league cup games he played Steve watt in league cup games where's he now? Jose never trusted youth and if Scott Sinclair is the only player you can think of just shows that he didn't trust youth. Thats just the way Jose was. I really can't think of any youth players who made it at Chelsea when Jose was at the club. That don't mean I wouldn't mind him coming back. Ha

Why would any manager risk playing the kids here when if they dont win for a few games they get the sack.

If i was Chelsea manager i wouldnt bother playing the kids either.

If the board really do want to bring youth through then they need to give a manager time but we all know that isnt going to happen.

We just lost the best fit as a manager this Club could ever have, Robbie is the right age to carry on learning as he brought the transition about and had done enough to be liked by the established players and respected by the youngsters, he wasn't afraid to drop anyone (even Torres at the end) and wasn't afraid to try out the youngsters.

 

I'd gladly take Jose or Carlo back and believe both were exceptional Managers but I honestly think we've lost the best fit for the team in Robbie.

 

I can't wait for someone else to come in and would take literally anyone instead of what we have, I want to feel connected with the Club and honestly feel  alienated in a way that I never have before.

 

The Club is run by people with no respect for anyone or their achievements and not just at a managerial level, look at this rubbish with one year contracts, if Ashley Cole is still in the top five LBs in the world then hes worth a two year deal, hes been superb throughout his time here and shows little sign of his age bar a niggling ankle injury hes had for ages, why make your own rules that make things harder?.

Why pump millions into the academy so? Would you not like to see youth coming through instead of spending 50 million on rubbish. Chelsea v Liverpool in 07 essien and Paulo center backs surely there was a center back in the academy that could have played and maybe becoming a new star he couldn't have been worse the essien and Paulo that day. Can't keep spending millions on rubbish. We just train young players for other clubs.

Only Manure really bring through their own youngsters (out of the top teams) and that could easily change when red nose retires.

The difficulty is the balance, something the Arse are finding out to their cost.

I agree to a degree with the original post, in that we do have some top class replacements for positions that are currently/soon to be up for grabs, 'Dave' and Bertrand are perfect examples, but it isn't easy to blend the two whilst still challenging (something i'm sure RA would insist on whoever the manager is)

Player wise i think we are going in the right direction, it's the decisions higher up that's got us in the position we currently find ourselves in.

I think we've back ourselves into a corner though where the only way were gonna be able to compete is to take advantage of what is probably the best collection of youth players in the world. I agree with chippy that RDm was the best fit for this club.

I'd like to think if Guardiola comes in he would favour the youth as he did at barca, even record signing ibrahimovic didn't walk into the team ahead of the academy players. Hopefully with him being Romans number 1 choice he'd be allowed to do things in a similar fashion. I'm not talking about Tika taka, I'm talking about giving the players with Chelsea in their blood a chance, ahead of playing over payed superstars.

Pep brought throught the youth at Barca because he worked with them at youth level.

He wont know our youngsters and will probably be fearful of his job so i doubt we would see an influx of youth flooding into the team.

If Pep gets the job i will put a bet on that he will be sacked by March.

Scott sinclair you for real did he trust Scott Sinclair don't think so. Maybe the league cup games he played Steve watt in league cup games where's he now? Jose never trusted youth and if Scott Sinclair is the only player you can think of just shows that he didn't trust youth. Thats just the way Jose was. I really can't think of any youth players who made it at Chelsea when Jose was at the club. That don't mean I wouldn't mind him coming back. Ha

Who else was there at the time? The academy was not producing. He gave tiago countless chances as well. Look at his Real Madrid team he is quite happy introducing varane and callejon. If the players are good enough they will play, he might not be the best at youth development but he will pick players if they are good enough. Or maybe you want wenger? He is good at bringing players through and is likely to be free this summer

Pep brought throught the youth at Barca because he worked with them at youth level.

He wont know our youngsters and will probably be fearful of his job so i doubt we would see an influx of youth flooding into the team.

If Pep gets the job i will put a bet on that he will be sacked by March.

 

I agree, it just wont work. 

 

He has no English league experience unlike Mourinho and will be under pressure to win from day one, he wont get to play youth.

 

The only man for the job is JM.

Edited December 4, 201213 yr by Zola

It has long been my wish to see a Chelsea side full of young players who have come through our academy. But the chances of this happening are pretty slim, if not zero and the reasons are many.

Mainly because we have an owner who demands success at all times, so as others have already pointed out, how can any manager risk playing too many youngsters and expect to survive? We have a track record of trying to buy our way out of trouble rather than show a bit of trust in youngsters and I can’t see that changing any time soon.

Of course you do have to take into account just how good the youngsters are (or not). I’ve seen some great Youth matches over the past few seasons and seen us lift the FA Youth cup twice but how many of these players who look great at youth level, are going to make it to the top? Sure, they will probably all make a living in the game, but who will go onto be a real star?

 

Sinclair

Cork

Borini

Sala

Tore

Kakuta

Clifford (x 2)

Bruma

PVA

Lalkovic

Chalobah

McEachran

Feruz

Swift

 

I’m sure I’ve missed a few names but what I’m getting at it ALL of these have looked brilliant at times and make you think they are going to make the grade. Some still might and fingers crossed Josh and Chalobah still look the most likely to succeed but there is just no way of knowing. I think youngsters do get a better chance at other clubs but we are not alone just look at the good youth team Utd had a couple of seasons ago with the likes of Morrison and Pogba who have both moved on.

 

Can’t help but think we’ve missed the boat a bit too. Carlo was playing it right IMO when he was starting to introduce youngsters like Josh but play them alongside the established players. We are now running out of established players so the youngsters don’t have anyone to guide them and help them through a game.  

Tiago was signed from benfica how do you know the academy wasn't producing when the youth players never got a chance unless you get a chance you can't prove yourself. People are forgetting the FIFA financial fair play rules are coming in the days of spending millions will soon be over. Has Jose brought any players through the ranks at inter and real?

Why would I want Wenger? Topic is the only way is youth and I'm saying Jose prefers to buy then look at the academy. Ben haim ring a bell bought him when surely we had a young player who would do just as good. I'd love to ser youth get a chance can't keep spending millions on sh*t.

Were in a bit of a pickle here aren't we! As much as I'd love Jose to come in and save the day, I think we're set up for a youth revelation, and although pep is not the people's choice he's certainly the emperor's.

Were a club lacking leadership, identity, a clear game plan, and friends. I believe the solution lies closer to home. We have a collection of some of the world's greatest youth players, and now is the time to show our hand.

Starting with the easiest position, goalkeeper, club legend Petr Cech is still a top class keeper and with Thibaut Courtois already proving an adequate replacement, there should be no reason to spend big in this department for many years.

Next up defence, Cesar Azpiliucueta has came in and showed enough promise to believe he and Branislav Ivanovic can provide the quality we need there. With Wallace on his way, right back is a position that looks to be covered.

At left back I think Ashley Cole should be given an extension, but I fear the club think otherwise, I think Ryan Bertrand should be given the chance to make left back his own, and Patrick van Aanholt should be given the chance to deputize after an impressive 18 months for Vitesse.

John Terry is coming to the end of his career but his presence will still be felt for the next 5 years, I think a combination of an older more mature David Luiz, Gary Cahill and the hopeful emergence of at least one of, Nathan Ake, Thomas Kalas, Kenneth Omeruo or Jeffrey Bruma, should mean we're set up there for a while.

For me our main problem lies in the centre of the park, John Obi Mikel divides opinion, and Oriol Romeu hasn't convinced. Nathaniel Chalobah should be fast tracked into the team. He is a natural born leader, and for me the future captain. He's been amazing for Watford and I think he's ready to step into this role as early as January. Next to him the energetic but at times sloppy Ramires, should next year have Josh Mceachran, and Kevin de Bruyne breathing down his neck, the latter has been particularly impressive in the bundisliga this season.

An area of the field we are now truly blessed in. Juan Mata, Eden Hazard, and Oscar, will be a force to be reckoned with when the rest of the team is functioning correctly. Victor Moses has looked a very good alternative option, while the jury is still out on Marko Marin. Gael Kakuta has finally started to play with the maturity that could make him a star, and I will be hoping next season, he and Lucas Piazon can get more minutes to impress, and take the pressure off Mazacar.

Fernando Torres needs to be sold as soon as possible, he hasn't performed, and the circus surrounding him is harming the club. I'd give Daniel Sturridge the chance to prove he can be the answer, if he can I think he and Romelu Lukaku can be the way forward. Failing this the only money I think we should spend would be to bring in a top striker.

Would Jose put his reputation on the line working with such a young squad, I'm not so sure. Either way I think we need to start promoting from within and avoid big money catastrophes, players like Chalobah, Mceachran, and Lukaku, would play for the shirt and at least then we'd have our Chelsea back.

 

Excellent post, apart from the very last line, because 'our Chelsea' as it is at the moment enabled us to 'be blessed' with those quality buys that are sprinkled throughout your post. See how easy it is to forget the Roman influence, especially in this current situation? The Academy players wouldn't be there without him either and if you want 'your Chelsea back' there has to be a slight hint of hypocrisy in there somewhere, probably in the implication that the current owner has taken it away from you.  

Tiago was signed from benefits but he was what 20/21? He was given the chance to play. I mention wenger because I don't really see who you think we are going to bring in? No manager worth his salt will take a job bringing through youth and being a title winning side at the same time because it won't happen!

Under the current regime the tools are there to be a youth development side but we do not allow managers time to do this. Rome wasn't built in a day and a decision needs to be made about what is more important

Thanks Dorset, by "our Chelsea back" I'm referring not necessarily to pre Abrahmovic but when our team actually played with some fight and some honour, since the double winning season there's been far too many gutless performances bar last season's champions league run and the semi of the f.a.cup.

Now Jose's team has been broken up, and we have rafa as manager, it's not feeling like Chelsea these days and I think one of the problems, is the spine of team is missing that bite we've become accustomed to over the years.

I think we've got the players in our youth ranks that can not only gives us our edge back, but also let us challenge for honours over the next 5 years without spending hundreds of millions on ready made 'superstars'.

We had a manager in Carlo or Robbie that brought youth into the first team. We have wasted millions on players that I'm sure the fans would have loved to seem some home grown get a chance instead. Tiago wasnt a youth team player he was bought as a first team squad player. I understand what you mean if your good enough you'll play but if you don't get the chance you'll never know.

We had a manager in Carlo or Robbie that brought youth into the first team. We have wasted millions on players that I'm sure the fans would have loved to seem some home grown get a chance instead. Tiago wasnt a youth team player he was bought as a first team squad player. I understand what you mean if your good enough you'll play but if you don't get the chance you'll never know.

I do agree we have seen a lot of talent go to waste as a result of instability in management. I just can't help but feel that if a player came along and and did what mceachran did against Newcastle that mourinho would not look to include him. Only time will tell anyway we are pondering on ifs buts and maybes but watching that mourinho documentary last night I remember how good a manager we actually had

The simple fact is that without managerial stability, you can forget trying to successfully inegrate youth into the first team squad. Abramovich can't handle one iffy month, so how can anyone expect him to handle what would likely be an continuously, inconsistent period of 'transition'? Whilst I'd naturally prefer Jose to come back, I actually think that Pep would be more suited to develop the youth. It's something he simply has a better track record at than Jose.

But let's face it, Pep would probably get sacked after one crap month anyway. So any ideas we have of developing young talent seem moot at this point. Unless of course Abramovich is willing to change his attitude and the structure of the management, but don't hold your breath.