Id bet they dont need their boots cleaned period. They probably wear a new pair every week

With JT leaving, it is now the perfect opportunity for him to step up and be mr chelsea.

With JT leaving, it is now the perfect opportunity for him to step up and be mr chelsea.

 

In 10 years or so...

How much of the lack of fitness could have been prevented by him training harder on his own? If he had put in more time in the gym on his own, run more laps after the others had left, would he still lack fitness? I was never a player, so I don't know how much you can accomplish on your own. 

 

For many coaches evaluating youth, technical and tactical mistakes by youth players are more forgivable to managers than lack of passion. They know that youth players will feel lost and confused sometimes. They know youth players will make mistakes on the pitch. Youth players MUST make mistakes on the pitch; mistakes are great teachers. At that age, those mistakes will improve with good coaching, practice, and experience. 

 

Guus Hiddink has alluded to the value he places on effort and passion. He said that Pato must show his desire, and he said that an over-passionate Diego Costa is fine because it's easier to tell a player to dial back than it is to tell them to step it up. I don't know about Guus in particular, but for many managers evaluating youth players, it can make a better impression if you run around like the Tasmanian Devil from the Looney Toons even if that running doesn't do anything productive. 

 

If Ruben Loftus-Cheek is in the "need to step it up" category, that bodes poorly for his future. 

 

P.S. Speaking of the Tasmanian Devil, doesn't he sort of look like Costa?

 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c4/Taz-Looney_Tunes.svg

With so much sport-science being used these days, I would imagine that players are discouraged from doing extra fitness work on their own. Every player will have a personal training programme to follow, including specific exercises that they must do after group training ends, but I very much doubt RLC will be allowed to go and do his own thing. If he overtrains and injures himself then the club wont be happy, so I would imagine all players, and young players in particular, are monitored very carefully and not allowed to just go and do their own thing

Is it just me who thought he actually played quite well against an admittedly poor MK Dons side? Thought he had some decent touches, held on to the ball well at times and played a great assist for the second Oscar goal.

Not a MOM performance but a good game for him to get a run out, some confidence back and for the manager to assess him. Harder tests will come for him but not a bad reintroduction into the first team.

Is it just me who thought he actually played quite well against an admittedly poor MK Dons side? Thought he had some decent touches, held on to the ball well at times and played a great assist for the second Oscar goal.

Not a MOM performance but a good game for him to get a run out, some confidence back and for the manager to assess him. Harder tests will come for him but not a bad reintroduction into the first team.

 

This is the trouble, all the promises Jose made about him getting game time which didn't really materialize has helped build up the expectation to new levels. So when he does get a start like Sunday, everyone is half-expecting something to match all the hype - something like Rooney when he first broke into Everton team, or like Barkley at Everton / Ali at Spurs. So when he plays and just does ok, everyone is a little underwhelmed.

 

But maybe that's not a bad thing. He was good, not bad or outstanding and he can build on that. Perhaps better that than when Josh played under Ancelotti and in a couple of games did look the best player on the pitch, only to then fail to reach the same heights ever again.

Upon further reflection, I may have unfairly jumped to negative conclusions about Ruben's work ethic. What appears to be laziness could be a psychological thing. Maybe he has trouble sleeping the night before a game, and that affects his mental acumen and makes his legs feel heavy. Some athletes get so nervous before a competition that they can't hold down food.

How is he when playing youth games where there isn't the same pressure?

I believe he had a good game considering that he has limited game time with the first team. He needs to work on his physical presence, but technically he is a very good player. Like someone mentioned previously, he has that nonchalant style that Ballack had. He's not running too much, but he seems to be in the right areas to receive and distribute the ball.

A lot of people have said that he loos lazy, but I think that's just his style.  You could run about like a headless chicken and the only stat you'd be leading in is "ground covered."  Hardly going to win you much that, is it?

 

 

I like him, I think he has great potential and an imposing stature for a 20 year old.  I do think he needs to learn to use his body to his advantage a little more, but I can also see him not being 100% committed to a challenge until he gets a real opportunity.  It has to weigh in the back of a young players mind:  I'm on the fringe of the first team, don't go doing anything stupid, getting yourself injured, and hampering your chances.  I know it's a fine line, but you've got to imagine it's in the back of their minds.

 

PS.  He was one of only 4 players that came over and cheered the away fans at MK Dons the other night too

Edited February 3, 201610 yr by mad_mac

PS.  He was one of only 4 players that came over and cheered the away fans at MK Dons the other night too

 Who were the other three? It's disappointing that they didn't show their traveling fans more appreciation. 

^ JT for sure. And Dave maybe?

Surely with Ramires leaving this means his role at club has taken a step forward. Any minutes Ramires would usually get will now go to Loftus-Cheek.

^ JT for sure. And Dave maybe?

 

I think so, and then I can't remember the 4th...maybe Ivan, or Cesc?

 

I know that Matic was getting blasted on Twitter as he didn't even applaud on the way off, just shot straight down the tunnel 

And he will be back on the sub bench or stands on Wednesday.

Yup...

Imbula looked quality for Stoke today, early days but looks a top centre mid. Appreciate RLC is 'one of our own', but Imbula was a like for like replacement for Ramires. Until proven otherwise I think the clubs faith in RLC is misguided and he won't develop into half the player that Imbula is.

Edited February 14, 201610 yr by the special one

And who are you angry with today?

And who are you angry with today?

 

Haha having read back my post from last night it does come across a bit 'angry', but it's just an opinion.

 

Paradoxically even if I don't 'rate' RLC that doesn't mean I don't think he deserves a chance, my concern is our faith in youth may result in missing out on players such as Imbula etc at a time when we need quality.

Edited February 14, 201610 yr by the special one

Haha having read back my post from last night it does come across a bit 'angry', but it's just an opinion.

 

Paradoxically even if I don't 'rate' RLC that doesn't mean I don't think he deserves a chance, my concern is our faith in youth may result in missing out on players such as Imbula etc at a time when we need quality.

 

Its going to take more than two starts in the cups and a handful of 10 minute sub appearances for our club to "show faith" in youth. So far this season has been no different to any other from the last 10-15 years, no faith shown in our youth team whatsoever.

Its going to take more than two starts in the cups and a handful of 10 minute sub appearances for our club to "show faith" in youth. So far this season has been no different to any other from the last 10-15 years, no faith shown in our youth team whatsoever.

I will have to disagree with you, yes we could have done more.

However this season we have shown massive faith in 2 youngsters by making them first team starters;

One for the second season in a row where we have chosen him as number 1 over one of the best goalkeepers in the world and another we have been playing ahead of England's vice captain at CB a position in which experience is key. We have also given 4 other young players opportunities.

I have even seen people using Lingard recently as a shot at our youth policy, Lingard is 23 and is only now being given game time.

Zouma who still only 21 has had 2,600 minutes for Chelsea this season. Mostly as our first team starter and not because of injury or bad form.

Courtois still only 23 which is very young for a keeper has been given 2 season as our no.1 and has amassed over 5,000 minutes for Chelsea again not because of injury or poor form.

We have even given opportunities to a player from our own academy who having only just turned 20 and still looking very raw has been given 350 minutes of first team football.

2 other youngsters at only 20 have also been given opportunities with the first team in which they have now scored 3 goals and provided 1 assist between them.

Kenedy playing 400 minutes of first team football in 4 different competitions and Traore who now looks like our second choice striker only 120 minutes of first team football but looking like he will be offered plenty more.

And then there is Baba who is still only 21 and has 800 minutes of first team football.

So as a club we have given over 5400 minutes this season to players eligible for our U-21's squad I would say that is pretty good going especially as it looks like there will be many more opportunities provided to these youngsters on the horizon with our league campaign all but wrapped up.

 

Edited February 14, 201610 yr by PedroMendez

I will have to disagree with you, yes we could have done more.

However this season we have shown massive faith in 2 youngsters by making them first team starters;

One for the second season in a row where we have chosen him as number 1 over one of the best goalkeepers in the world and another we have been playing ahead of England's vice captain at CB a position in which experience is key. We have also given 4 other young players opportunities.

I have even seen people using Lingard recently as a shot at our youth policy, Lingard is 23 and is only now being given game time.

Zouma who still only 21 has had 2,600 minutes for Chelsea this season. Mostly as our first team starter and not because of injury or bad form.

Courtois still only 23 which is very young for a keeper has been given 2 season as our no.1 and has amassed over 5,000 minutes for Chelsea again not because of injury or poor form.

We have even given opportunities to a player from our own academy who having only just turned 20 and still looking very raw has been given 350 minutes of first team football.

2 other youngsters at only 20 have also been given opportunities with the first team in which they have now scored 3 goals and provided 1 assist between them.

Kenedy playing 400 minutes of first team football in 4 different competitions and Traore who now looks like our second choice striker only 120 minutes of first team football but looking like he will be offered plenty more.

And then there is Baba who is still only 21 and has 800 minutes of first team football.

So as a club we have given over 5400 minutes this season to players eligible for our U-21's squad I would say that is pretty good going especially as it looks like there will be many more opportunities provided to these youngsters on the horizon with our league campaign all but wrapped up.

 

 

I don't consider playing either Courtois or Zouma to be giving our youth a chance to be honest. I'm talking about our youth team not players that we have that were developed by other clubs. Courtois had already made his name at Atletico, we didn't give him the chance he needed they did and it's the only instance I can think of where our endless loan policy has worked

Zouma was a 1st team regular at St Etienne and always looked a very promising player. I'll accept he haven't stunted his development though.

Baba is another one who was developed elsewhere and we've payed 20 odd million to sit him on the bench, no where near enough game time and has led to us wasting Dave at left back

 

 

I maintain we don't give our youth anywhere near enough of a  chance which is especially sad given how awful our 1st team regulars have been this season. Players like RLC, Bamford, Baker, Chalobah, Kalas, Bertrand to name just a few should have been/should be given significant game time when it matters, not ten minutes here and there otherwise we'll never know if they are/could have been good enough. In particular using Bertrand more would have saved us over £30 million in wasted transfer fees, though that one is more a criticism of Jose really.

When you're paying those wages and transfers, there is pressure on the manager to get your money's worth, to squeeze the most out of those players.

There is concurrent pressure to play youth, but I think from an administrator/owner perspective, the pressure doesn't compare to the pressure of getting the most out of the expensive players.

If Chelsea were serious about playing youth, they wouldn't 1) use their youth academy as a loan factory; 2) splurge on so many big names; and 3) put relentless pressure on managers to win all the time and instead accept the fact that youth players will make what seem like silly mistakes, and moreover they must make them in order to learn.

It's not the managers' fault. It's the situation they've been put in. They'll be blamed no matter what they do.

I don't consider playing either Courtois or Zouma to be giving our youth a chance to be honest. I'm talking about our youth team not players that we have that were developed by other clubs. Courtois had already made his name at Atletico, we didn't give him the chance he needed they did and it's the only instance I can think of where our endless loan policy has worked

Zouma was a 1st team regular at St Etienne and always looked a very promising player. I'll accept he haven't stunted his development though.

Baba is another one who was developed elsewhere and we've payed 20 odd million to sit him on the bench, no where near enough game time and has led to us wasting Dave at left back

 

 

I maintain we don't give our youth anywhere near enough of a  chance which is especially sad given how awful our 1st team regulars have been this season. Players like RLC, Bamford, Baker, Chalobah, Kalas, Bertrand to name just a few should have been/should be given significant game time when it matters, not ten minutes here and there otherwise we'll never know if they are/could have been good enough. In particular using Bertrand more would have saved us over £30 million in wasted transfer fees, though that one is more a criticism of Jose really.

 

I personally think we will see that change in the future as our youth system is currently improving and we have some great youngsters coming through. 

But it is a long process, we won our first FA youth trophy for 49 years in 2010, that group of players are now at most 24 and the only players to really make of note are Josh McEachran and Jeffrey Bruma. 

 

However since then we have become a force in the competition winning again in 2012 (with Chalobah, Baker, Feruz, Piazon and Kane of note) 

now at most 22, With Chalobah in the Serie A at Napoli and Baker and Kane in the Eredivisie and Piazon in the Championship so 3 of this team now playing at the top level all still on loan of coarse.

 

We are now starting to hit a purple patch with our youth, winning the FA Youth cup in 2014 (Christensen, RLC, Clarke-salter, Aina, Colkett, Solanke, Dasilva and Musonda all in the side) 

as well as the 2015 trophy (Aina, Clarke-salter, Dasilva, Boga, Colkett, Musonda, Abraham, Solanke and Brown all in the side) and look set for another impressive season. 

This recent batch of youngster who are looking the most talented are at most 20 this season yet multiple players have managed to achieve top level experience on loan.

Christensen is looking top class at Gladbach and is a first team regular with CL experience, 

Boga has multiple appearances for Rennes in Ligue 1 and has netted 3 times for the club, 

Musonda has just moved on loan to Betis scoring his first senior goal and looks like a stand out player for them. 

Solanke and Brown are plying there trade at Vitesse however both are now out injured and Solanke has managed 5 goals. 

Let us not forget about RLC who is slowly being introduced into the first team with 13 appearances. So we have some top class talent coming through.

 

This leads me to the question you have eluded too. Have we failed and if so which youth prospects have we failed?

 

To answer I will ask a question, which of our youth products that we have let go are currently good enough to be in the Chelsea squad? 

I can think of one, one that you have previosuly mentioned, Bertrand now at Southampton, who could have stayed to be here as second fiddle but seemingly is not good enough for a first team role, alas keeping him here giving him a some more game time might have saved us a few bob. But does he as a player and one of our players not deserves a chance to be a first team regular elsewhere, which has actually allowed him to be involved with the England set up. 

Also would he have really been happy to stay here given a little more game time, deep down knowing he could be first choice elsewhere and push for an England place, I would hope not. 

I would alsoadd that I think Baba has a much higher ceiling than Betrand and thus is spending a few bob really that bad is we potentially improve our team for the future.

Our other notable leavers Kakuta (Sevilla), McEachran (Brentford), Bruma (PSV), Cork (Swansea), Borini and Van Annholt (Sunderland) and Sinclair (Villa). Are any of these good enough for the first team?

 

So have we really failed by not having integrated any of these? I'd say no I would also say by allowing them to leave we have allowed there careers to grow and thus haven't failed them.  

 

So with that in mind how do we go about judging whether our current crop should make it here and how and when they should be integrated?

Baring that in mind this is something Jose outlined at the beginning of the season so we can see what his plan was with this current crop, it seems reasonable enough to me considering youth development our needs and theirs along with 

giving the player an idea of the path they need to go down and how to judge where they should be. He states that he believes youngsters good enough will be ready for the first team squad at around 22-23 and 

with a system of progression where they played youth football up to 18-19 years old, then they will need to gain senior experience out on loan progressing through the tiers of football if necessary until they reach a good enough level

for the first team squad which should be around 22-23, if they are not up to scratch by this point they should be sold on, as usually by that age the majority of their development will be complete and their true potential will be known. 

however he did also mention RLC was a special case due to his sheer talent. 

 

So this leads us nicely into those players who won the 2012 Fa Youth as they should be approaching this stage in their career and they should be getting close to the first team quality. 

We have; Baker (20), Chalobah (21), Piazon (22) and Kane(22) from that winning team, an there are the other loanee's that are around that age group; Omeruo (22), Kalas(22), MvG (23), Pasalic (21), Bamford (22) and lastly Hector (23). Now we need to ask are these players good enough to be integrated into the squad? Are they ready for the first team? If not why aren't they ready? and will they ever be good enough to be able to make it here?

If the answer to the last of those questions is yes then we have failed if we don't integrated them into the side before they are 24. As by then they should either be ready for the first team or we failed to develop them properly.

If it is a no we are failing the player if we have kept them belong the age of 23.   

 

You have highlighted 4 of these and I agree with you that we should be offering more opportunities to RLC, Baker and maybe Chalobah (although he is seemingly on his way to Napoli) and they should be given a chance here. 

Baker looks a stand out at Vitesse and is technically top class looking like he could be the perfect deputy to Cesc Fabregas, whilst being a suitable matched partner for either RLC or Chalobah who have all played togather for the Engalnd U21's.

Chalobah hasn't managed an abundance of game time at Napoli but he has been surrounded by quality players in a quality set up who all have seemed very supportive so will have no doubt improved as a player, however I don't believe he has fulfilled his promise and hasn't developed as much as he should have, a few years ago he looked set to make it here and he is now slowly drifting away. A move to Napoli could be right for the player and I think RLC is the better prospect so it might also be right for the club, disappointing though it may be.    

With Bamford I don't think he is complete enough for Chelsea, he is a great finisher but I don't think his all round game is good enough for a top club 

and Kalas has lost his place in the Middlesborough side and has been struggling to win it back so I think that bodes well for his future.

 

Baker the youngest of the bunch is the only one who for me has shown enough to warrant a place in the first team set up Bamford has had some very good loans and can't be faulted for that 

but I'm just not sure he will ever cut the mustard. So for me it is probably right to sell on Chalobah, Bamford and Kalas for the sake of their careers.  

 

Now on to the other loanee's approaching Jose's targeted age;

Omeruo a Nigerian international with 31 caps, with some semi successful loans in the Championship, Turkey and Eredivise he hasn't quite progressed into a Chelsea standard player but with plenty of international experience it shouldn't be too hard to part company with the palyer (although Jon Stakes might disagree with this).

Kane one of our 2012 Youth cup winners who is currently performing very well in the Eredivise and looks capable of providing cover at RB if we were to decide we needed it however Aina looks a far better prospect so he too might not continue on this endeavor. 

Hector a weird signing by the club in the summer for a player that might potentially be a late bloomer hasn't really shone this year in the Championship don't see the need for keeping him.

Van Ginkel one of the more exciting prospects on this list coming back from a long spell of injury and a semi successful loan at Stoke he is now showing why he was to good for the Eredivisie at 18 with 2 goals in 2 he definitely looks good enough to be a squad player.

Pasalic another success and another midfielder, currently a rotation option at Monaco and player who reminds me of Ballack looks very good and certainly good enough to provide cover for the squad, there might be a scrap for CM positions though so another loan looks more than likely.

Piazon another winner of the 2012 Fa youth cup currently looking good in the Championship but doesn't look BPL standard and is probably one player that hasn't developed properly and seems to have wasted some talent. It looks like we need to allow him to leave in order for him to revive his career and himself.

So in my eyes we may have stagnated the careers of 2 players (Chalobah and Piazon) however this could just have been their natural ceiling only time will tell. But if we can integrate a couple of these players and offload some of the others, we will have been successful as a club and beneficial to the careers of the majority of these players as well. 

    

There are a couple of other players I should probably mention as i will be disappointing if they don't break into the first team in the next 2 season, these being Christensen and Ake who have both looked great on loan. Christensen has another year left on his loan deal so it might be best for him to stay abroad.

But Ake who has had a great loan spell at Watford and certainly looks comfortable in the BPL could provide the cover we desperately need at full back.

 

I do also have to bring up your disregard to the opportunities we have given to youth that aren't our youth, as it shows we are still giving opportunities to young player and ahead of senior players and shows that we will do and can do it. It also shows to those out on loan that there is a path to the first team and if you do develop into a top world class prospect you can get straight into the side even ahead of a club great and one of the best in the players in their position in the world, it also proves that we do value youth and sometimes even ahead of the now. 

 

Also does Bamford really count as our youth, when we signed him from Nottingham Forrest and then he has been on loan ever since, likewise Chalobah was brought from elsewhere although at least he spent some time with the Development teams, is this really different than signing a foreign player and sending him on multiple loans.   

I have overlooked some of the younger prospects for now as judging there potential is much harder 

No one doubts what you are saying PedroMendez.

However as far as I understand, the vast majority of Chelsea fans are very disappointed and pi**ed off that John Terry is the only home grown Chelsea youth academy product that has made it at Chelsea, as a "regular starter in the chelsea 1st team during approximately the past 20 years" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's about time things changed !!!!!

Just signed a new 5 year deal. Fantastic news

Fantastic news