Aldershot Today?

[Backbiter]

According to Sky Sports News a Chelsea XI are playing Aldershot today! I don't get it! If it was the ledgends then it would be on the Chelsea website, if it was the reserves it would be on the Chelsea website and the same for the first team. But there is no mention whatsoever.

Has anyone else heard about this?

[geezer]

Are you sure it's not Shed End Athletic?

[bluedeano]

Are you sure it's not Shed End Athletic?

defo on, know someone whos goin,dunno whos playin' tho.

[geezer]

You've got to post more often bluedeano cos every time I read one of your posts I become Suggs and start singing away. Pisses off my next door neighbour no end.

[Paul Seery]

Whatever side is likely to play at Aldershot they are likely to win and win well. I am going for a 3-0 win for the Blues.

[Johan Gruyff]

9-0 to the blues

[Tim W]

It's the reserves under the leadership of the one and only B. Rodgers

[Alan]

Tim is indeed correct.

[Backbiter]

It was 2-2.

[blizeH]

I'm out of touch with these things, but £10 seems a lot for a pre-season reserve match against Aldershot? ~_O

[abramovich]

Match report

http://chelseayouthandreserves.wordpress.c...elsea-reserves/

[Chelsea FC Champions]

Miroslav Stoch and Gael Kakuta grabbed the goals as a Chelsea XI, which did not feature any first-team stars, drew 2-2 with Aldershot.The Blues took the lead on 33 minutes when Slovakian Under-21 star Miroslav Stoch calmly slotted past an exposed Nikki Bull after being put through with a threaded ball from Sergio Tejera Rodriques.

They nearly added to the scoresheet with two minutes left in the first half when Rodriques produced excellent close ball control bypassing two defenders before only a last-ditch challenge from new Shots signing Chris Blackburn denied a certain goal.

At half-time, there were 11 changes made between both sides.

The second half was six minutes old when Kirk Hudson scrambled an equaliser finishing off a low drilled effort after tremendous work from Danny Hylton on the left-hand bye line.

The hosts had a golden opportunity to take the lead on 79 minutes when a penalty was awarded for a trip on Danny Hylton, but Ben Harding's kick was easily pushed away for a corner by ex-Shots goalkeeper Stuart Searle.

The Blues took the lead again on 83 minutes when former academy player Gael Kakuta squeezed the ball past Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz from a tight angle.

But with three minutes remaining, Danny Hylton flicked on a corner and new boy Marvin Morgan poked the ball home from close range.

Chelsea XI: Rhys Taylor (Stuart Searle 46), Shaun Cummings, Liam Bridcutt (captain), Carl Magnay, Patrick Van Aanholt, Tom Taiwo (Michael Woods 46), Fabio Ferreira (Jacob Mellis 46), Sergio Tejera Rodriques (Gael Kakvta 46), Morten Neilson (Daniel Philliskirk 46), Ricardo Fernandes (Jacob Sala 46), Miroslav Stoch.

[Chelsea FC Champions]

Unfamiliar names have a chance at Chelsea

By Trevor Haylett

Last Updated: 1:02am BST 13/07/2008

The Chelsea bench will bear the weight of the usual collection of internationals and multimillionaires this season but there could also be room for more unfamiliar names desperate to carve out their own reputations.

With seven substitutes now permitted to strip for action and new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari declaring his intent to promote the club's young talent, Roman Abramovich's dream of seeing the Academy graduates challenging his stellar names may be moving closer.

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Yesterday Scolari sent his assistant Carlos Pracidelli as well as Chief Scout Frank Arnesen to Aldershot for their first warm-up fixture to run the rule over a mix of reserve and youth team players who claimed a 2-2 draw with the Football League newcomers. Among those who took the opportunity to impress were Gael Kakuta, who only turned 17 last month and who looked to have given his team victory seven minutes from time by squeezing out a clever finish while under pressure from defenders.

Kakuta, named Academy scholar of the year and who helped France to the Under-17 European Championship final, was praised by reserve team manager Brendan Rodgers afterwards. "He's a terrific boy and there are one or two others just as good but obviously it's difficult to get into a world-class group of players like we have at Chelsea," said Rodgers.

"The new manager is interested in these youngsters and wished us good luck before we left. It's a long process for the boys but it's a good process for them." Miroslav Stoch, an 18-year-old with Under-21 representative honours for Slovakia, gave Chelsea a first-half lead but his injury after the break forced them to finish the game with 10 men.

Despite the best efforts of defender Liam Bridcutt who spent the latter part of last season on loan at Yeovil, Aldershot twice plundered equalisers though they also missed a penalty late on.

[Peckham Blue]

It was 2-2.

Scolari OUT!