They've learnt too much off the first team in sitting back, soak up pressure and then hit them on the break. Chelsea were great and just defended well against our counter attacks. No one out there looked as if they were ready to break into the first team for us. Ekangimene will be in the league one team of the year for the 16/17 season, that's his level and that defending/ touch for Chelseas second was amateur level.
U21s Final: Chelsea vs. United
- Thread starter gooDevil
- Start date
Erm let me counterbalance then. At least we Fielded a team of humans and not draft in a giant.
I think having a lack of a central midfielder who would take control of the game and provide more on the attack really caused us problems. There were so many moments where I wished we had Rothwell in midfield to take control of the game and help us keep the ball, more. I remember the same happened against us at Anfield when Rothwell left: we didn't keep much of the ball and were doing little through the middle.
Pearson clearly has the ability to play the role Rothwell normally plays. I don't know why Joyce didn't free him up and allow him to dictate play. I'm really annoyed by that decision.
A few months ago I didn't think we'd be anywhere near this final so it's silly to be too dispirited. We've done really well overall and there are a lot of positives to take out of this season. Rothwell being injured was a massive loss imo I think he would have brought more composure to the midfield. Hope to see Lawrence, Keane and Varela in and around the first team next season. (As well as Wilson and Lingard).
That's true. Someone above spoke of how it reflected our first teams. Chelsea were quick to break on the counter but the ball didn't immediately go into the space out wide by the touchline but they mixed it up through the middle, which opened space for other runners to get into. We on the other hand spray the ball too wide which allowed them to get a shape behind the ball and negate the threat. Christiansen was superb tonight just sweeping up the long balls
7 Brits (1 scot, 6 English) started and our entire bench was English.
Janko is such a beast. First time I've watched him properly. Has he ever had a run out in CM? I have now seen the other side to Pereira he didn't get involved anywhere near enough. I hope he can improve in that respect. Felt sorry for Wilson he had no support whatsoever. Fair play to Chelsea they were the better side.
The better team won. Not too many respectable performances from our lads tonight, Pearson grew into the game as he so often does. His anticipation really is something else. Charni was decent too but as a pairing they're not quite multi-dimensional enough. Rothwell would have made a big difference on the night.
Congrats to Che...nah, feck 'em.
Congrats to Che...nah, feck 'em.
Disappointed to wake up to hear about the loss. Still a decent season though and good individual seasons, hope to see a few of these boys on tour in place of some of the players coming back from the World Cup.
Well done Chelsea kids..good luck at Everton
They had their fair share of Brits, I think using that argument looks a bit petty.
Blackman, Swift, Loftus-Cheek, Baker and Feruz are all British, while Ola Aina has Nigerian parents but was born and raised in London and is very British himself. Half their starting XI at least were Brits.
I agree that Joyce should have switched Andreas and Lawrence early on, as we struggled to get into the game offensively.
Isn't it annoying that they'll almost certainly not become first team players for you?
Yep.
Shame really as especially this year Chelsea have been great a youth level. One of the criticism of Mourinho was his lack of giving youth a chance it would be shame if he let's this team go to waste.
Would Chelsea fans be bothered if this youth team wasn't giving a chance at the first team.
Why are people being so bitter? Chelsea were excellent and thoroughly deserved their win. I actually think 2-1 even flattered us on the balance of play.
He's Scottish, Feruz and his family emigrated from Somalia when he was a kid. Celtic signed him up while he was in Glasgow.
Have to say very impressed with the Chelsea team, I generally am but if FFP has an impact then some of these kids could have a bright future at the club.
Really missed Rothwell tonight, him instead of Charni and Pereria ahead of them and we'd of exerted more control.
Poor team performance but there were a lot of encouraging individuals out there. Weird game.
Poor team performance but there were a lot of encouraging individuals out there. Weird game.
part of the new remit at Chelsea is to get the youth through at different levels. If they get 1 into the first team as a regular every couple of years then it is a good return
I've never seen glimpses of him and compilations. He looks physically there, but I have not idea about his other attributes other than what looks to be decent dribbling. If he can become a better version of Valencia at his best then I would certainly welcome him. If he can become slightly better than the current Valencia then he will become a good squad player.
I don't doubt you but I remember the Sun (So obviously wrong) trying to portray the angle that Celtic rescued him when they signed him
Maybe because that's the way himself want to play.
Everyone slated off Pereira but I think Lawrence has been disappointed today as well.Ekangamene is limited as he always is so it was never a good CM partnership between him and Pearson.
That's a great return for any top team in fairness, standards are obviously a lot higher than a club like Southampton. Even United, for their trust in youth haven't had a great deal of Youth players making the step up asides from Welbeck in recent years.
Unfortunately I feel like I've seen it against lesser teams/midfields than Chelsea's that our midfield isn't completely on top. I like Pearson for his extras (hassling, closing down, aggression, energy) but I think Pearson - Rothwell can still learn a lot in terms of controlling the game, something I saw Chelsea do better today. So while having Rothwell would have helped my honest opinion is that we'd still have been on the backfoot in midfield
Actually we'll maintain the rate of 1 first teamer out of the Academy graduates every two years since the Evans crop if we promote M.Keane or Lingard next season.
Young players rarely veer away from the coach's instructions. Pearson's played as the more defensive midfielder alongside Rothwell for much of his U-21 season. Before that, however, he was controlling the game and dictating play for the U-18's and U-19's in the Champions League.
Here's where I hope Joyce tells Pearson to go forward more and dictate play more than he normally does for the U-21's. He has good passing, has good touches, and reads the game well.
I think we did well. Charni was unlucky because he got in the way of Wilson in the first half when he would have been though and that clearance on another day goes out rather then dropping awkwardly. I wouldn't say they were the better team. They passed the ball well but we handled it. They had more chances but then again we only really had Wilson up top and couldn't get him into the game. The kids will learn from the experience. We did well to get as far as we have. It looked like it would go to extra time but wasn't to be.
If being the operative word. I'm not sure how you get any pleasure watching your youth teams when they're clearly not going to be given the opportunity. Same hoes for City.
I feel like that's more down to Joyce than anything. Our midfielders rarely push forward and try to take control of the game, and our forward players/wingers are the only ones actually playing freely. He seems to want more discipline than expression from his central midfielders, from what I've seen.
For the U-18's/Academy level, both have been more expressive. It's only with the U-21's where both seem to be more restricted, though that's not a bad thing as discipline is important when playing in central midfield.
One thing's for sure, this will be a great learning experience for them. This season will provide them the discipline to play. Next season, I'm hoping for a more balanced approach from our central midfielders rather than more defensive than attacking.
Do people really expect a side like Chelsea who have ambitions of winning both the PL and CL to put in some 17 or 18 year old kids? Seriously?
It's not like you can say "oh, put them in against lesser sides" either because, as proven by Chelsea themselves this season, the bottom half sides aren't pushovers. Every single match in the PL is tough these days. You need your best players out there against those sides.
I've seen them put a couple of these kids in late in matches this season just as we did in that last match. A couple of them aren't miles off their first team as some here make it sound.
It's not like you can say "oh, put them in against lesser sides" either because, as proven by Chelsea themselves this season, the bottom half sides aren't pushovers. Every single match in the PL is tough these days. You need your best players out there against those sides.
I've seen them put a couple of these kids in late in matches this season just as we did in that last match. A couple of them aren't miles off their first team as some here make it sound.
clearly they will and already have started to have opportunities.
FFP will force Chelsea's hand a bit anyways.
Mourinho and the staff are committed to bringing the younger players through the ranks.
I remember him saying in an interview before that in u18s players are allowed to play freely and just show off what they can do attacking. Then when they step up to u21 it is his job to bring in the defensive awareness. That may explain why our midfielders play a more restrictive role as he is trying to focus on their defensive game.
This has been said for a few years though and you don't look much closer to integrating anyone fully into the first team.
Surprising.
I am not as high on Lawrence as many seem to be. I don't see him as a future first team regular here. A lower Premier league or Championship player is my prediction.
I still think that Pearson has first team potential and I am eager to see him in first team football. Keane and Wilson are the other two obvious prospects. I think that Pereira can kick on but he needs to playing in his position. Hopefully next year he will get chance to and will have developed some extra strength.
I was impressed with McNair tonight too. He seemed composed and capable.
Beyond that I don't see any other obvious prospects. Maybe Janko but there is a lack of technique there and his physical attributes will not be as pronounced in the first team. He doesn't look the supreme athletic specimen that Valencia does. He seems to carry a few pounds too many.
I felt like something like this was happening. Joyce seemed to instill more defensive discipline into our central midfielders than they ever had before.
Next season should be interesting for our central midfielders. We'll see if they'll express themselves more or if they will play as they've always done.
20-year-old Tomas Kalas started for them against Liverpool.
You can't ignore some of the kids if they're really too good.
I think you were a bit harsh on Varela.He has his weakness but it's all teachable.He'll be in the first team soon enough.
I'm aware of that and I'm not disputing their quality. Many of them will go on to have good careers I'm sure but I'd be willing to bet none of them will be Chelsea first team regulars. As for Kalas giving someone a game is different to integrating them into the first team. Let's see how much he plays next season.
hasnt been said much at all in previous years. The academy was built (in Mourinho'sfirst stint)with a ten year plan with the idea of starting to get youth into the 1st team squad.
Over the last 12 months there has been the odd appearance from the youth in 1st team...so there has been improvement and they wish to further this...so actually Chelsea are a lot closer than say 5-10 years ago
I will have that bet with you....how much
You must be delighted with all the progress
How do we define first team regular? 2-3 seasons 30+ games each season?
I am...have been to several youth games over the years and the improvement especially over the last 5 years has been at a completely different level to what was there previously.
I am quite confident that at least one of the lads that have represented Chelsea at U21 level this season will make the grade in the next 3 years and have a regular 1st team place