At Chelsea football club we are currently blessed with a strong group of young central midfielders who are on the periphery of making the first team. This is a pretty new situation, as over the last decade we’ve struggled to produce first team players (with the exception of Ryan Bertrand) from what have looked like very well accomplished youth teams. Players like Jack Cork, Liam Bridcutt and Michael Mancienne have come through the youth teams and are forging good careers elsewhere, but they didn’t quite make the grade here at Chelsea. The hope now is that one of our current crop must surely be in line to make the breakthrough and follow Ryan Bertrand into the first team.
Today I’m concentrating on three impressive youth products that are all vying for the same position in the first team. Josh Mceachran, Nathanial Chalobah and Nathan Ake are three of the best prospects we’ve had for a very long time, but is there space for all of them in the first team squad? Is there even space for any more than one? I’m going to outline their abilities and progress and allow you to give your own opinion.
Josh Mceachran
When Josh made is Chelsea debut against MSK Zilina in The Champions League (becoming the first player to appear in the tournament that was born after its inception) the over the top hype began almost instantly. There was talk all over the media of him being a future England regular and the Chelsea fan’s forums were flooded with excitement. After a few impressive cameos in the 10/11 season, and winning the Chelsea young player of the year award, the hype and excitement slowly started to fade along with Mceachran’s first team opportunities. He made just 2 appearances for Chelsea in the 11/12 season, along with 4 games during a very unsuccessful loan spell at Swansea, as his career seemed to stagnate. This season he has made great progress during a loan spell at Middlesbrough where he was named their young player of the year.
His attributes include a great range of passing, composure on the ball and great ball control in tight situations. Having watched him numerous times playing for our youth and reserve teams as well as during his loan spells, he does have quite a few flaws which need to be ironed out quickly if he is to make it into our first team. Josh often wants far too much time on the ball and can be caught out in dangerous positions. This was understandable when he made the step up to playing for the first team under Ancelotti and made a few mistakes, but the problem is that he was also doing this at youth and reserve levels. Knowing when to release the ball and when to slow down or speed up play is an essential attribute when playing as a deep playmaker. If he can progress rapidly in this department then we have a great player on our hands as he has all the basic attributes. The fact that we don’t currently have any central midfielders who play in the same style is also something that may work in his favour.
Nathan Ake
Ake arrived at Cobham from Feyenoord’s renowned youth set up and quickly became the standout player at his age group. He has captained the Dutch national team at youth level and he has twice won the European U17 championship with them. His appearances for his national side have mirrored those for the Chelsea first team as he has played as a holding midfielder. Initially he came in as a centre half, but his skills as a ball playing centre back have allowed him to settle in well to the double pivot role in the first team in a similar way to David Luiz this season (a player whom Ake models his game on).
Watching him play at youth level, Ake has a great composure on the ball and is not afraid to take responsibility, always making himself available to a team mate. At only 18, he shows remarkable maturity in his positional sense whether at centre back or in midfield. One thing he does lack is physical presence. Standing at under 6 foot makes a long term future at centre back seem unlikely and a lack of pace may hinder him in his midfield role. Some guidance and coaching will be required in how to use his body better against larger/faster opponents, but he has time on his side and looks like having a great chance of becoming a top class holding midfielder.
Nathanial Chalobah
This exciting prospect it seems has been earmarked for success since a very young age having made appearances for the first team as a 15 year old in pre-season tournaments. He has been training with the first team for years and has played above his age group for most of his short career. Chalobah was playing for our reserve side regularly while still a schoolboy. Like Ake, he initially played at centre back, but looks to have developed into an all-round midfielder.
Unlike the other two he hasn’t played a competitive game for the first team, but he has had a very successful loan spell at Watford. He has played over 40 times for the Watford first team and has received high praise in the press and has even been mentioned by England manager Roy Hodgson. Chalobah seems to be the complete package as he is very athletic, is strong in a tackle has a great range of passing and even provides a goal threat from the holding position. Scoring 5 goals from his position is impressive (including a wonder strike against Leicester) and he has contributed to a successful season for Zola’s men as they are on the verge of reaching the premier league (I am writing this 2 hours before kick-off in the play-off final).
I am going to give Ruben Loftus-Cheek a quick honourable mention as he is showing the early signs of joining or even overtaking these players in the race to the first team. He reminds me of a young Michael Ballack in many ways with his physique and use of the ball. His £1million plus contract suggest there are high hopes for him at the club.
When assessing these players, I personally think Chalobah is the biggest talent and has the greatest chance of a long term future in the Chelsea first team. What do you think? I love to get the opinions of Chelsea fans and it would be great to hear from some of you. I put this question to my twitter followers this week and here are some responses.
Despite the loses in d american tour i was particularly impressed by reuben and christensen,i hope and pray that watford wins so that chaloboah can remain there n gain epl experience,ake should be loaned out n josh should be brought back.the future is really bright for us.
If mourinho got the the job these players would hardly get playing time..he dislikes academy players..I would luv a jurgen klopp at cfc or any other coach that’ll utilise these youthful talents we’ve but not mourinho
Nice piece. No write ups on RLC/Romeu/Baker though?
Thanks. I gave RLC a mention, but I’d class Romeu as already a first team player and although Baker looks good for the youth side, I’m unconvinced so far of his first team prospects. Reminds me of Connor Clifford at the same age.
Did you all look at Loftus-Cheek in the friendlies against Man-City?
He’s a great young player that deserve a first team spot just like Ake.
LOFTUS CHEEK is a real talent, calm,composed, good passer, a good dribbler, YAYA could not handle the young boy, he has a great future……i see a better ballack in him!!!!!!