U18s National Final - Manchester United vs Chelsea

[Beachryan]

Chelsea undoubtedly have the best youth programme in the country - arguably across Europe.

Which is so weird given that none of them ever seem to make the step up, even after a decade of being at the top.

 

[Classical Mechanic]

Chelsea undoubtedly have the best youth programme in the country - arguably across Europe.

Which is so weird given that none of them ever seem to make the step up, even after a decade of being at the top.

It’s the past 5 years they’ve completely bossed it and the past 4 it has looked easy for them and won every FA youth cup If none of them make it in next few years you really would have to question it.

This year has been their best FA youth cup, their run was

4-0
7-0
2-0
6-0
7-0
7-1 (two legs)

 

[deafepl]

Chelsea undoubtedly have the best youth programme in the country - arguably across Europe.

Which is so weird given that none of them ever seem to make the step up, even after a decade of being at the top.

Chelsea has been doing this for many years, we left it too lagging behind. 7 years ago, we had best youth academy in England and thrashed Chelsea 4-0 in FA youth semi-final. We only started investing much and make more effort in our academy since 2016 but we still have small depth in midfielders, most of our youth midfielders U18 joined us last year and now couldn't make it to Chelsea games us due to international games. Hopefully, we can get a result in next few years.

 

[duffer]

Chelsea undoubtedly have the best youth programme in the country - arguably across Europe.

Which is so weird given that none of them ever seem to make the step up, even after a decade of being at the top.

This season Christensen has been a legitimate first teamer. Ethan Ampadu (missed the Youth cup final through injury) has started games in the Prem and even Hudson-Odoi has got a few minutes.

Apart from the Chelsea first team, Ake just won the Bournemouth player of the season, Loftus-Cheek and Abraham are prem regulars and both made their full England debuts.

It's not great (not even good) but it's not nothing and it's certainly an improvement.

 

[buchansleftleg]

Very frustrating game. Chong was literally sidelined in the second half so was easy to mark out of the game. Midfield was poor and Gomes offered very little.

So far maybe I have been unlucky but I have yet to see anything from Angel....he was just pushed off the ball by a physically stronger and more organised Chelsea.

Felt sorry for the defence as one misplaced pass and Chelsea were all over them. We seemed to lack any real steel in the middle.

The referee allowed Chelsea to physically impose themselves but even with 10 men they were controlling play.

 

[In Rainbows]

Very frustrating game. Chong was literally sidelined in the second half so was easy to mark out of the game. Midfield was poor and Gomes offered very little.

So far maybe I have been unlucky but I have yet to see anything from Angel....he was just pushed off the ball by a physically stronger and more organised Chelsea.

Felt sorry for the defence as one misplaced pass and Chelsea were all over them. We seemed to lack any real steel in the middle.

The referee allowed Chelsea to physically impose themselves but even with 10 men they were controlling play.

I actually think Gomes was better than Chong. Gomes is just not a very aggressive player. I think we missed Chong running at players so a part of his effectiveness was nullified.

 

[TwoSheds]

Just me that was a bit confused by the tactics? Gomes and Burkart out wide? Chong down the middle? In a league game sure, it's all good experience, but this was the final, you have to play your best players in their best positions.

 

[Silas]

Just me that was a bit confused by the tactics? Gomes and Burkart out wide? Chong down the middle? In a league game sure, it's all good experience, but this was the final, you have to play your best players in their best positions.

Gomes was in midfield, not on the wings. The wingers were Burkart and Chong, with Greenwood in the middle.

 

[TwoSheds]

Gomes was in midfield, not on the wings. The wingers were Burkart and Chong, with Greenwood in the middle.

Only caught the first half but Gomes started out wide with Chong playing no.10. Obviously it's not like they didn't switch positions but nonetheless I wanted to see Chong out wide more.

 

[Silas]

Only caught the first half but Gomes started out wide with Chong playing no.10. Obviously it's not like they didn't switch positions but nonetheless I wanted to see Chong out wide more.

I think that was just Chong dropping deep a lot to get the ball and Gomes filling in the space he vacated. He wasn't really getting the ball in good positions when he stayed out by the touchline, so he often dropped into midfield so he could carry the ball forward.

 

[TwoSheds]

I think that was just Chong dropping deep a lot to get the ball and Gomes filling in the space he vacated. He wasn't really getting the ball in good positions when he stayed out by the touchline, so he often dropped into midfield so he could carry the ball forward.

Well Chong was wearing no.10 and Gomes 11. Could be a coincidence I suppose but I don't think so.

 

[Fitchett]

There was confusion, because on the official team sheet and on the MUTV caption, Gomes was listed as no. 10 and Chong no. 11 and the stadium announcer kept quoting these numbers, but their shirt numbers were the opposite way round. Us regulars can easily spot the difference between the two, others maybe not so .............

First half saw Chelsea in control for 25 minutes, we were denied a blatant penalty and then came back strongly up to half time. Second half was bossed by Chelsea and we didn't come back even after they went down to 10 men. They were much physically bigger and stronger than our lads - a most impressive team, with no weak links and deserved winners.

 

[DanClancy]

There was confusion, because on the official team sheet and on the MUTV caption, Gomes was listed as no. 10 and Chong no. 11 and the stadium announcer kept quoting these numbers, but their shirt numbers were the opposite way round. Us regulars can easily spot the difference between the two, others maybe not so .............

First half saw Chelsea in control for 25 minutes, we were denied a blatant penalty and then came back strongly up to half time. Second half was bossed by Chelsea and we didn't come back even after they went down to 10 men. They were much physically bigger and stronger than our lads - a most impressive team, with no weak links and deserved winners.

I'm surprised more isn't made of this, its clearly one of the reasons why Chelsea are winning the youth cup every year and not going on to produce players for the 1st team. I can't say I've seen too much of Chelsea down the years but the once a year I've seen them their always far more physically imposing than their opponents and at this level its obviously going to make a huge difference.

 

[limerickcitykid]

I'm surprised more isn't made of this, its clearly one of the reasons why Chelsea are winning the youth cup every year and not going on to produce players for the 1st team. I can't say I've seen too much of Chelsea down the years but the once a year I've seen them their always far more physically imposing than their opponents and at this level its obviously going to make a huge difference.

Because it's overstated and used as an easy excuse. Chelsea just have a far deeper squad at these levels than other clubs. None of Chelseas midfield 3 are physical. Billy Gilmour is a small 16 year old but he often looks a class above opposition. McEachran is also small. Hudson Odoi is fast but he scored 2 against Arsenal without breaking a sweat. Reece James is big but he's also easily the best defender on the ball as well. It's a poor excuse and isn't why they don't play for the first team either. They are never given a chance in the first team.

 

[MJJ]

There was confusion, because on the official team sheet and on the MUTV caption, Gomes was listed as no. 10 and Chong no. 11 and the stadium announcer kept quoting these numbers, but their shirt numbers were the opposite way round. Us regulars can easily spot the difference between the two, others maybe not so .............

First half saw Chelsea in control for 25 minutes, we were denied a blatant penalty and then came back strongly up to half time. Second half was bossed by Chelsea and we didn't come back even after they went down to 10 men. They were much physically bigger and stronger than our lads - a most impressive team, with no weak links and deserved winners.

Yeah I am sure only regulars can differentiate between chong and gomes on the pitch

 

[DanClancy]

Because it's overstated and used as an easy excuse. Chelsea just have a far deeper squad at these levels than other clubs. None of Chelseas midfield 3 are physical. Billy Gilmour is a small 16 year old but he often looks a class above opposition. McEachran is also small. Hudson Odoi is fast but he scored 2 against Arsenal without breaking a sweat. Reece James is big but he's also easily the best defender on the ball as well. It's a poor excuse and isn't why they don't play for the first team either. They are never given a chance in the first team.

What about the previous teams then? They've won 7 out of the last 9 Youth cups and got nothing to show for it so far in the first team squad apart from Christensen who didn't come to Chelsea until he was 16. They get chances elsewhere and not one of them looks like developing into a top class player. Its not an easy excuse, its one of the reasons that some of them aren't making it.

As for Hudson Odoi he is very physically developed for his age.

 

[Classical Mechanic]

What about the previous teams then? They've won 7 out of the last 9 Youth cups and got nothing to show for it so far in the first team squad apart from Christensen who didn't come to Chelsea until he was 16. They get chances elsewhere and not one of them looks like developing into a top class player. Its not an easy excuse, its one of the reasons that some of them aren't making it.

As for Hudson Odoi he is very physically developed for his age.

They've totally dominated for past 4 years, winning the youth CL too, the first team of which featured Solanke, Abraham etc.

If we are still in the same position as we are now in 5 years then you can say they are failing badly but it still remains to be seen if the likes of Abraham and Solanke can kick on, remember they are still 20 years old.

After Mason Mount's first season in Holland, him winning u19 Euros best player last summer, I don't see why he should be written off as not looking like making it at the highest level.

 

[limerickcitykid]

What about the previous teams then? They've won 7 out of the last 9 Youth cups and got nothing to show for it so far in the first team squad apart from Christensen who didn't come to Chelsea until he was 16. They get chances elsewhere and not one of them looks like developing into a top class player. Its not an easy excuse, its one of the reasons that some of them aren't making it.

As for Hudson Odoi he is very physically developed for his age.

What does Chelsea's non-existent progression plans into the first team have to do with it? It is an easy excuse and a shit one too as if other clubs don't have physical players too. Quite a few of them over the years are now playing at the top level or still breaking through. Christensen, RLC, Boga (5'8), Musonda (5'8), John Swift good Championship player, Lewis Baker and now Mason Mount smashed Eredivisie, Ake is a PL regular, Solanke dominated youth international levels and has a good season in Eredivisie before being screwed around by Chelsea, and Tammy Abraham smashed the Championship.

And I'm not sure where you are getting the expectation they have to be a top class player. Very few youth players become top class players, that is a ridiculous expectation. And it has nothing to do with their team being physical more than others.

Hudson Odoi is physically developed but he's also simply better that most as well. Like I said, I was at the FAYC final and he never broke into a sprint or used superior physical abilities but still came out with 2 goals.

Billy Gilmour and George McEachran playing teams off the park has nothing to do with physicality.

 

[spenzo]

I think it's naive to overlook a lot of Chelsea's recruitment at youth level as far as bringing in more physically developed players, however it's also too simplistic to say that that's the only reason that they beat United or have been so successful competitively, although it is a factor. As has already been mentioned they have a lot of skilled technicians that aren't necessarily physically superior, but I do think that these players are sprinkled in alongside the bigger/quicker lads, you're never going to see a small Chelsea side at youth level. It often looks like boys against men at times when I've seen Chelsea line up against our boys over the years, which also speaks to our recruitment as we have had a fair few smaller players in our sides in recent times.

You'd think the likes of Mount, Baker, Hudson-Odoi, Gilmour, Redan and Castillo and others will go on to forge good careers for themselves and although youth development can be unpredictable, if more doesn't come from the players coming through there in the coming years then it'd be fair to say that the club is not doing their job as well as they could do.