2018/19 Kurt Zouma

[Bob Latchford]

He is nowhere near the level of Van Dijk. That's like comparing Chris Smalling to Rio Ferdinand.

There are levels.

It’s like comparing Sandro to a footballer

 

[Baines' left foot]

World Football.

Utter scum.

 

[Bob Latchford]

Imagine we probably knew this would happen, so iI assume we’ve planned for this and can move onto our next target?

T

 

[Kurt.]

He’s dead to me.... rat

 

[MrD]

Who cares!?

 

[Deleted member 28206]

SSSSSSSSSSSS

 

[mahermi1]

Still love Zoom's, he has to look me an as Chelsea are paying his wages.

 

[Joey66]

Holgate can do his job........be better with being out on loan at WBA played well fast too what we need - come on lads cheer up......

 

[kenada_blue]

The majority of clubs treat PL2 with contempt. Under 23 as a football age group football has no relevance in the modern era , indeed international age group football stops at under 21.

I really don’t want to defend Chelsea but your comment about them not having many English in either their under 18 or under 21s (23s) is none sense.

Chelsea F.C. Development Squad and Academy - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

They have 25 under 18s of which 19 are English and in their under 23 squad they have 33 of which 27 are English

As for which of the current crop of youngsters that they have will progress I have no idea , nor do you, but they already have several academy graduates like Christensen, Loftus-Cheek Cheek , Hudson-Odoi and Abraham who are now full internationals and even Ampadu has gained his first international cap albeit he had little time playing in their under 18s but as they say football is all about opinions

Apologies...I meant playing for the England national team at under 18s and 21s.

The ones you've mentioned are a the current crop for the last few years who have done merely "okay" but are hyped up due to playing bit parts for a big club. As Chelsea youth have won more than Everton for example based on the fa youth cup, we've a better track record of developing younger players to the first team.

If the idea is to treat the under 23s with contempt...then surely you agree the idea of turfing out this "successful" under 18s out on loan when they turn professional hasn't worked.

The idea of your 18s and under 23s is to get them playing a way that will work towards the senior team. Additionally, the loan system is there to benefit the player by sending them to teams that play a way that will help the player develop.

Chelsea seem to have a feeder club they just send players to without any real development strategy. Then they keep hold of the player without any real goal of what to do with them as they don't have a stable management team, like with what's happening with Zouma for example (I think he's average and solid enough to be honest) or even RLC.

If the youth development was all that, then don't forget Chelsea had De Bruyne, Salah, Lukaku, Bertrand, who couldn't get into the first team. Which puts the perspective on things imo.

End of the day, the RS, City etc faithful always say they have a "great youth set-up" yet barely produce anything. City have invested millions into it and only got Foden out of it. The RS have Trent AA... arguably the only one since the Gerrard era to come through the academy successfully. It's just the way it works.

Long winded, but for Chelsea to successfully bring these youth players in the fan base better adjust expectations.

 

[ford_uk]

He's as good as anything that they've currently got, they can't sign anyone for a year. Unless Lampard doesnt fancy him he will be starting Chelsea first game of the season

 

[ProZ]

Imagine staying at Chelsea who only want you because they have injuries and are transfer banned.

 

[hktoffee]

Holgate can do his job........be better with being out on loan at WBA played well fast too what we need - come on lads cheer up......

If Zouma is not signing we better look for alternative. Like Umtiti.

 

[terraloon]

Apologies...I meant playing for the England national team at under 18s and 21s.

The ones you've mentioned are a the current crop for the last few years who have done merely "okay" but are hyped up due to playing bit parts for a big club. As Chelsea youth have won more than Everton for example based on the fa youth cup, we've a better track record of developing younger players to the first team.

If the idea is to treat the under 23s with contempt...then surely you agree the idea of turfing out this "successful" under 18s out on loan when they turn professional hasn't worked.

The idea of your 18s and under 23s is to get them playing a way that will work towards the senior team. Additionally, the loan system is there to benefit the player by sending them to teams that play a way that will help the player develop.

Chelsea seem to have a feeder club they just send players to without any real development strategy. Then they keep hold of the player without any real goal of what to do with them as they don't have a stable management team, like with what's happening with Zouma for example (I think he's average and solid enough to be honest) or even RLC.

If the youth development was all that, then don't forget Chelsea had De Bruyne, Salah, Lukaku, Bertrand, who couldn't get into the first team. Which puts the perspective on things imo.

End of the day, the RS, City etc faithful always say they have a "great youth set-up" yet barely produce anything. City have invested millions into it and only got Foden out of it. The RS have Trent AA... arguably the only one since the Gerrard era to come through the academy successfully. It's just the way it works.

Long winded, but for Chelsea to successfully bring these youth players in the fan base better adjust expectations.

From the latest squads selected In the age groups Under 21, 20, 19 & 18 a total of 90 players in were selected.

Of those 90 some 14 were from Chelsea( the most from any club) and 5 from Everton. In these age groups some players play say for the under 20s but also qualify for the under 19s.

I don’t doubt that Everton have produced more players in the recent past who have graduated to the first team but the question you then have to ask if Everton break into the top 5 or say top 4 how many of the likes of Calvert -Lewis, Kenny or Davies would be first choice or even get a look in.

Because it’s not immediately apparent what their development strategy is doesn’t mean they don’t have one.

Irrespective let’s look at the two players you mention Zouma and RLC for there is clear reasoning and logic why they had loans

First Zouma has been recovering from a serious injury and needed game time. The loan at Stoke was at best ok meaning had he returned to Chelsea last season he probably wouldn’t have gained any competitive game time whatsoever he may have physically recovered when on loan at Stoke but as anyone who has had a serious injury will confirm mental recovery can some times take longer
His loan to Everton facilitated that game time and it seems full mental recovery.The question as we all know is will Chelsea take the view that he is now ready to return to their first team squad

Second RLC. Has made 70 appearances at Chelsea of which 40 were last season he is 23 years old and I would imagine had he not been injured would have made more.His loan to Palace was a success hence why he was starting to appear more and more in Chelsea’s team.

You then mention. KDB, Salah, Lukaku, and Ryan Bertrand. Only one of those Bertrand came through Chelsea’s academy and he played in a CL final.

As I keep saying I have no idea if any of Chelsea’s academy products will go on to play for them on a regular basis but as highlighted by you other top four teams have little success in bringing through a stream of players from their academy to their first team indeed at best there is a maybe three or so at Spurs and Man Utd and a couple at the others.

 

[kenada_blue]

From the latest squads selected In the age groups Under 21, 20, 19 & 18 a total of 90 players in were selected.

Of those 90 some 14 were from Chelsea( the most from any club) and 5 from Everton. In these age groups some players play say for the under 20s but also qualify for the under 19s.

I don’t doubt that Everton have produced more players in the recent past who have graduated to the first team but the question you then have to ask if Everton break into the top 5 or say top 4 how many of the likes of Calvert -Lewis, Kenny or Davies would be first choice or even get a look in.

Because it’s not immediately apparent what their development strategy is doesn’t mean they don’t have one.

Irrespective let’s look at the two players you mention Zouma and RLC for there is clear reasoning and logic why they had loans

First Zouma has been recovering from a serious injury and needed game time. The loan at Stoke was at best ok meaning had he returned to Chelsea last season he probably wouldn’t have gained any competitive game time whatsoever he may have physically recovered when on loan at Stoke but as anyone who has had a serious injury will confirm mental recovery can some times take longer
His loan to Everton facilitated that game time and it seems full mental recovery.The question as we all know is will Chelsea take the view that he is now ready to return to their first team squad

Second RLC. Has made 70 appearances at Chelsea of which 40 were last season he is 23 years old and I would imagine had he not been injured would have made more.His loan to Palace was a success hence why he was starting to appear more and more in Chelsea’s team.

You then mention. KDB, Salah, Lukaku, and Ryan Bertrand. Only one of those Bertrand came through Chelsea’s academy and he played in a CL final.

As I keep saying I have no idea if any of Chelsea’s academy products will go on to play for them on a regular basis but as highlighted by you other top four teams have little success in bringing through a stream of players from their academy to their first team indeed at best there is a maybe three or so at Spurs and Man Utd and a couple at the others.

Which goes back to the earliest point that Chelsea fans will need to reduce expectations of what they bring through and how successful they expect it to be.

They're being forced to going from the academy being cut-throat to "give them a chance" in one or two seasons.

Also... slightly odd figures because 3 Everton academy players have been called up to the England under 18s alone. And there's 4 in the under 21s.

 

[BainesontoastNEW]

It's worth noting that whoever does the negotiating at Chelsea's end is very, very good at their job. Look at them recently getting the absolute most for Hazard, Morata and even Sarri's compensation. Good negotiators take their time and in Zouma's case we have them at both ends.