23 Mar 2016 05:40:42
It feels like we've been getting our hopes up for the youth squad for a few years now, and if I'm drinking the blue kool-aid it seems like we've got a crop to put fergie's fledglings to shame waiting in the wings if only a manager would play them.
traore, kenedy, ake, christensen, RLC, solanke, aina, boga, brown, baker, and about a dozen more are all hyped as potential stars. Taking off the blue glasses for a minute, how do our youth players stack up against other teams? Do all fans think they have the world class players lurking at the training ground? Or are ours actually special?
Eds?
{Ed018's Note - certainly some of those names have the potential but we'd be kidding ourselves if we think all of those players will become world class.}
23 Mar 2016 16:26:50
If I'm being honest, I think Christensen and Musonda are the only ones who can be world class in the future. No disrespect to the others, who are fantastic talents in their own right.
Solanke for example. I think he can definitely reach Costa's level, but many would argue that Costa is just below that world class tier. Boga, Traore and Kenedy can become very good attacking mids/ wingers, but I don't think they can reach world class status. However, some of them can certainly have a place in our squad. I'm a big fan of Traore myself.
Ake is another one who perhaps could be included in the squad. He's not a superstar, but he's shown that he can handle the Premier League and he's a versatile player, which every top squad needs. His ability to fill in at left back, centre back and especially central midfield (I really like him in midfield) would make him a valuable asset.
Aina might leave in the summer, and I'm not too big on Brown (IMO he looked great in the youth teams because physically he was more developed than most other youngsters) .
Just my own opinion now, but Chalobah might still become a very good player. He's got a boatload of talent, but he simply needs to settle down at a good club with a manager that has the intention of playing him. It probably won't be at Chelsea, but I hope he fulfills his talent at some club.
23 Mar 2016 17:09:59
Personally, I would add John Swift and RLC to the potentially world class.
23 Mar 2016 18:17:53
In all fairness they don't have to all be world class. If you look at the chelsea team of the last decade there are very few players we have had that have been world class. I'd argue jt lampard and drogba and hazard (when he tries) fall into that bracket. We don't need them all to be world class to have a good team. Just look at Leicester and atletico Madrid.
I'd argue Christensen musonda and rlc seem the most likely to do it as it stands but who knows what could happen. This time a year and a half ago no one thought anything of Harry Kane and look at him now. I'd also say I think both traore and Solanke could have it in them but traore needs to bulk up and play more to see how consistent he is and Solanke could improve tactically a lot and he is very young so it's harder to tell.
I think the likes of baker ake Clarke salter and kenedy could be good players for the squad but I doubt they'd all make it due to new signings and lack of space for so many youngsters. I've heard good things about da silva and sterling but they are very Young but look like top draw youths. I hope that musonda rlc christensen and atleast one other become world class but they don't all have to be to make a good team.
23 Mar 2016 19:10:46
You probably forgotten ballack and makelele they were word class players.
23 Mar 2016 19:43:00
We know the 'youth' talent was there but it is a huge step up into 'young EPL' talent and this is where I personally think we fall short. Sending players to soft leagues and average teams does nothing whereas there are Championship and a few Premiership teams that would bite Chelsea's hand off to get hold of some of the potential listed in the comments above.
24 Mar 2016 07:54:22
Boga defo.
25 Mar 2016 04:29:38
I really think as others said it depends on your cutoff for what world class is and again there's really no predicting the future. One thing I will say is people are always looking for the "next big thing" and lose track of guys like Zouma (1 year older than RLC) and Courtois. Both of those guys are going to be in the world class category. Beyond that I think the Harry Kane mention is very accurate in terms of how unpredictable youth development is.