VIDEO of Izzy Brown vs Lewis Baker: Chelsea loanees interview each other

Chelsea academy youth products reunite at Vitesse and interviews

each other ahead of the new season. Excited to see how well they'll do in their loan spells!

Preview: 2015-16 Season

It looks like another busy transfer window for European clubs this year. Chelsea has been rather quiet in their spending. However, big names are still being thrown around the market.

Let's start with Chelsea's former no. 1:

PETR CECH - Chelsea to Arsenal
This news caused quite a stir in the Blues side. I, for one, am unhappy our legendary goalkeeper had to transfer to one of our biggest rivals. However, I can understand Cech's decision to stay in London where his family has settled. Cech will join Gunners goalkeepers Wojciech Szczesny and David Ospina at the Emirates. However, there is little doubt that Big Pete might take the no. 1 position at the goalpost, leaving Ospina and Szczesny the awkward situation on whether they should move on or not. As of today, Valencia are monitoring Ospina's situation and are considering making a move for the Colombian stopper.

BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER - Bayern Munich to Manchester United
I consider this a shock move only because Schweini had been in Bayern for so long that I had expected him to retire there. But I guess we all have ambitions. Schweinsteiger had won all the top trophies with Bayern. A new league would prove to be a challenge for the 30-year old German midfielder.

IKER CASILLAS - Real Madrid to FC Porto
Casillas' form had dropped tremendously since his prime years. I knew his time was over ever since he conceded five goals in the World Cup as Spain lost their opening game against the Netherlands. Knowing Real Madrid, they would want to keep the highest quality in their players. Casillas has lost his touch. The transfer makes sense, and fans have long anticipated this to become a reality. Club legend. But unfortunately, his time is over.

RAHEEM STERLING - Liverpool to Manchester City
Sterling initiated a saga with Liverpool when he refused to sign a contract and rejoin the first team at preseason. His £49 million price tag broke the record of being the most expensive Englishman, surpassing Andy Carroll's £35 million move from Newcastle. Sterling was a rising star at Liverpool ever since Luis Suarez moved out to Barcelona. With Liverpool cashing in on the 20-year old star, the Reds would be looking to find a replacement soon.

STEVEN GERRARD - Liverpool to LA Galaxy
LA Galaxy successfully landed Gerrard in the MLS after a long spell as Liverpool captain. In addition to this being an emotional situation for the club, the transfer proves to be a huge blow for the Anfield residents. With Gerrard and Sterling gone, Liverpool would have to find suitable replacements. After the loss of Suarez last season, Liverpool dropped from a second-place finish to a sixth-place spot. Sterling and Gerrard contributed a combined tally of 16 goals in last season's Premier League campaign. They were the clubs' top two goal scorers. Liverpool would definitely be hoping that new signing Roberto Firmino would make a difference in the upcoming season. If not, they will have to find another world class talisman.

RADAMEL FALCAO - Manchester United to Chelsea
It is widely known that Radamel Falcao is a fan of Chelsea FC. When he was still at Atletico Madrid, Chelsea tried their best to lure him to Stamford Bridge. When Mourinho took charge at 2013, he wanted to bring the striker to play for him. Falcao opted to play for Monaco instead. But now, here he is...
The Colombian forward has yet to find his true form after spending an unsuccessful loan spell in the Premier League last season. El Tigre would be looking to recover his predatory instincts under the tutelage of the Special One this season. Technically, Falcao still belongs to AS Monaco since his contract runs until 2018. Manchester United had the option of turning Falcao's loan deal into a permanent transfer, but the Red Devils refused. Understandably so, since Falcao would cost them £43.5 million and £265,000-a-week on wages. This time, Falcao was rumoured to have taken a major pay-cut in joining Chelsea. The Blues are also given the option to buy the player at the end of the 2015-16 season. That decision will have to wait...


Did I miss anyone out? Comment and tweet to me @justintjo! Please share :)

Interview with York University's Joey Cicchillo

In recent years, York has been dominating the varsity soccer league. Just this past season, we won both the state AND the national championships. The Lions won the OUA title and finished fourth nationally the year before that. These accomplishments are possible because we have a super squad filled with talented individuals. When you need them to step up at a crucial time, they won’t disappoint you. And that is true of one individual: Joey Cicchillo. 

Cicchillo is a pacy forward who loves to dribble past defenders with skill and speed. Originally a striker or an attacking midfielder, Cicchillo has been deployed as a left-winger by Coach Carmine Isacco ever since he joined the Lions. The player managed to score six goals in the regular season, tied with fellow forward Dena Iezady as the team’s second top-scorer. However, his most memorable goal came in the CIS championship finals when York faced OUA rivals McMaster Marauders. Cicchillo scored the only goal of the game in the 32nd minute of the first half to win us the coveted national title. 

I managed to chat with Joey about last season, his inspirations and the coming year…

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JT: What made you to want to play soccer in the first place?

JC: Mainly my parents. They both really liked the sport and enrolled me into it at a young age. Ever since then, I've always loved playing.

JT: Has it always been soccer or did you play any other sports when you were younger?

JC: As a kid, I split my time between soccer and hockey, eventually when I got older I realised I wanted to focus just on soccer full time.

JT: Did you follow any team or league in particular?

JC: I come from an Italian background, so I grew up watching Serie A (Italian league). My favourite team to this day has always been AC Milan.

JT: How about idols? Any all-time favourite?

JC: Andriy Shevchenko is my favourite player. He's retired now, but I grew up watching him when he played on Milan and [I] always looked up to him.

JT: Would you consider your playing style similar to his? Or maybe there’s another player you relate to more?

JC: I try. Haha. But I think my playing style is more like another favourite player of mine: Sebastian Giovinco. He's a small attacking player like myself and we both like to use some creativity and speed to get by defenders.

JT: Wow! So you must've been ecstatic when you heard he's signing for TFC (Toronto FC)?

JC: It was unbelievable when it first happened. Haha. Definitely excited to see him playing live and hopefully run into him one day in the city.

JT: It was a great season for the team overall. What were your thoughts on it? Anything that can be improved next year?

JC: Thank you, and I thought it was a tremendous accomplishment for our team. Looking into next year, I think we just have to have a similar outlook. We need to have a good off-season staying in shape and getting ready for the season ahead. Since we are hosting nationals we have a big responsibility in keeping our title and a lot of people are looking to us to repeat what we did this past season. 

JT: Certainly one of the most memorable seasons for the Lions with the double and an unbeaten run. Which match was the toughest for you?

JC: I think the quarter finals of nationals was our toughest match. [With] it being our first game of the tournament, we had some nerves especially since it was a knockout game and whoever lost would be eliminated. But the Montreal team was very good and held us until extra time at 0-0. Fortunately, we kept our focus and came through with a win.

JT: How was the atmosphere in the dressing room? Was the team confident they were going to win the whole thing?

JC: We knew that we would always get that one chance to score during every game. The biggest thing for us was keeping that clean sheet and being [defensibly] sound, which we did an excellent job of, not only at nationals but during the whole season. The guys in the dressing room were all confident. We know how talented our team is and that if we stayed patient, we could break down any team.

JT: What do you think about Jarek Whiteman's performance?

JC: Jarek was amazing this year. Definitely showed his experience with all the goals he scored for us. One of my favourite guys to play with and helped me throughout the year giving me advice, which is something you have to appreciate when you're talking to someone of his calibre. 

JT: You contributed some good goals as well this season. Which one is your favourite?

JC: My goal in the national finals will definitely live long in the memory for me. Wasn't the nicest looking goals but in terms of significance was the most important one which makes it my favourite.

JT: So we faced McMaster in two finals, with the team winning 2-0 in the OUA and your lone goal in the 1-0 for the CIS title. Was there more pressure in facing McMaster at the OUA finals because it was in front of a home crowd?

JC: McMaster is one of our biggest rivals so we are always expecting a tough game against them. The OUA finals was definitely a challenge due to the support they got from the crowd, but in the end, the CIS finals had to be the more nerve-racking due to what was at stake. Would definitely prefer the CIS over the OUA, but winning both is always a bonus.

JT: And we have you to thank for that! What are your expectations for the coming season?

JC: Looking into next season i expect the same result as this past season. Although we are losing some of our more experienced players like Casey who have proved to be a vital role in our team, I think we have good enough players and recruits coming in that will fill whatever position is necessary. As I said earlier, our team runs very deep with the amount of talent we have and we always expect the best from each other. So I think a repeat of this past season is more than attainable for us.

JT: Do you have any advice for young players looking to pursue their soccer careers?

JC: Nothing happens by accident. In order to succeed at any level you need to put the work in. Whether it's at practice or during a game, the effort you put into a session are what separates the good players from the great ones.

JT: Awesome. Well, thanks for taking your time, Joey! Good luck on the upcoming season!

JC: Thanks Justin. I appreciate it!

Eden Hazard [2014-15]

Eden Hazard - Chelsea's star of the year.

The 24-year-old Belgium international is in sparkling form this year. His stellar performances earned him the PFA Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year, Barclays Premier League Player of the Year, Chelsea's Players' Player of the Year and Chelsea's Player of the Year awards. He's an exciting player to watch on and off the field. Jose Mourinho (who won the BPL Manager of the Year award) said that Hazard was the complete player. A fantastic footballer, a family man and a fun guy to be around. Certainly, a role model for any aspiring football starlets!

Hazard ended the title-winning season with 14 goals and nine assists in the league, having played and started all 38 games. The best part about it? It's only been his third season in England and he's only 24! At that age, Cristiano Ronaldo completed his 2008-09 season with Manchester United with 18 goals and six assists. So yes, Hazard can compete with world-class talents.

Fans and pundits will be wondering whether the upcoming superstar would make the FIFA XI or UEFA Team of the Year, considering he'll continue his excellent form throughout the rest of the year.

Eden Hazard trophies this season:
-Capital One Cup
-Barclays Premier League
-Professional Footballer's Association Player of the Year
-Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year
-Barclays Player of the Season (Premier League Player of the Season)
-Chelsea Players' Player of the Year (as voted by teammates)
-Chelsea Player of the Year (as voted by fans. His second straight year winning this)

PFA Awards 2015

The PFA Team of the Year and Player of the Year had just been announced on Sunday (April 26). In case you missed it, here's the full line-up...

(image taken from the PFA website. Click image for bigger resolution)

GK - De Gea (Man Utd)

Contributed amazing saves for the Red Devils. Fellow contenders Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea) and Fraser Forster (Southampton) trailed behind the Man United saviour. Some would say that United are still in the top half of the table because of all the crucial saves the Spaniard made. 

LB - Ryan Bertrand (Southampton)

He was a Chelsea player before this season. Went on loan for the first half of 2014/15 before eventually joining the Saints permanently in January. 

CB - John Terry (Chelsea) 

Dubbed "Mr. Chelsea" for his loyalty to the club. He has captained the squad for several years and is still considered as England's best central defender by many pundits. 

CB - Gary Cahill (Chelsea) 

Joined Chelsea in 2012 from the now-relegated Bolton Wanderers and has established himself in the club and internationally as a central defender. He had some sketchy games this year. Honestly, I was surprised they chose Cahill over Fonte/Clyne of Southampton. 

RB - Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) 

One of the anchors in Chelsea's defence. He kickstarted the season with a flurry of goals and assists, contributing good runs both forward and backward. Well-deserved spot in the dream team. 

LW - Eden Hazard (Chelsea)**

The PFA Player of the Year has long been foreseen as a rising EPL star. Hazard joined Chelsea three years ago and has been a part of the PFA Team of the Year since his arrival in England. The Belgian star won the PFA Young Player of the Year award last season and was runners-up to Luis Suarez in the senior Player of the Year award. This season has shown us Hazard's growth as a player and a world superstar. 

CM - Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) 

This is a shock to most of us fans. Not that I'm doubting Coutinho's qualities, but there are more well-deserving players who should fill this spot. Cesc Fabregas has made the most assists in the league and has played a crucial role to Chelsea's title race with his contributions. Like Mourinho, I suspect that Coutinho's good run of form when the ballad was cast, in addition to Fabregas' drop in form, boosted the Reds' player to this position. 

CM - Nemanja Matic (Chelsea)

Probably the best January signing Chelsea had ever made. Initially signed in 2009, Matic made little impact in the Chelsea team. Eventually, Matic decided to sign for Benfica. When Mourinho returned as Chelsea manager in 2013, Matic was on his radar. In January 2014, the Serbian midfielder made his second coming and established himself as a crucial pivot in Chelsea's play.

RW - Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) 
Another well-deserved spot for a player of his quality. Sanchez is undoubtedly Arsenal's best player this season. Moving from Barcelona just last summer, the Chilean winger has caused trouble for his oppositions. Despite struggling temporarily after the new year, Sanchez has recovered his form and is fighting to maintain Arsenal's Champions League position.

ST - Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspurs)**
The next England star after Wayne Rooney. Harry Kane is one of the top-scorers in the league after a failed stint by Roberto Soldado. Kane's heroics for the Spurs earned him an international call-up, to which he made good use of by scoring on his debut. The striker also won this season's PFA Young Player of the Year award, beating fellow nominee and Player of the Year Eden Hazard. He is definitely a future prospect to look forward to next season (that is, if Real Madrid don't steal him in the summer).

ST - Diego Costa (Chelsea)
The beast of Chelsea's attacks. Pundits have labelled the Spanish striker a "villain" after several clashes with opposition defenders. His behaviour on the pitch does not compromise his prolific goal-scoring form. Costa scored on his debut, achieved a hat-trick in his first season and is Chelsea's top scorer. Injuries have stumped his campaign to be the Premier League's Golden Boot winner, but the lethal striker always makes his presence known whenever he's fit.



PFA Women's Player of the Year

Ji So-Yun (Chelsea) 
The South Korean midfielder signed for Chelsea LFC in January 2014 and has made a huge impact in the team since her arrival. Coach Emma Hayes stated that the midfielder is the best player in her position in the world. "I'm really, really happy to be nominated alongside Hazard. I'm really proud of myself and Chelsea, and the Chelsea Ladies team," says Ji.

 

Inactivity

Hello bloggers!

I would like to apologize for being inconsistent in updating this page. I have been preoccupied with work and final year of school. However, so here's the rundown of what's been happening...

I accepted a job at the beginning of the school year for York University's varsity sports team: the York Lions. My position? Sports Writing Assistant. I had the opportunity to attend York's sports events like soccer (football!!). I met interesting people and amazing talents while working! I'll definitely be profiling a few of them in this blog.

And of course, how can we forget CHELSEA!!! We won the Capital One Cup and have been top of the league since August. Our first league loss came against a determined Newcastle side that ended 2-1. January would be a forgettable month as we lost 5-3 to Tottenham (league) and 4-2 to Bradford (FA Cup). Our Champions League hopes faded as PSG knocked us out of the first round through a 3-3 aggregate on away goals. So now, we only have the Premier League title to look forward to.

I will try my best to keep updating this blog since I enjoy writing about my thoughts on what's been happening in the footballing world :) Thank you for your support readers, and a special thank you to Feroze Ali who helped skyrocket my page views by agreeing to let me write about him!

Keep up the passion, footballers!
Justin

Interview with York University's Top Scorer Jarek Whiteman

The York University Lion's top goal scorer this season with 15 goals in all competitions. Jarek Whiteman won the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sports) Championship in his rookie year back in 2008 and played a few games in 2009. Since then, the forward went M.I.A. from varsity football. Whiteman came back this season and boosted the YorkU soccer team to an unbeaten season. Intelligent on and off the ball, Whiteman is the star of the Lions' squad for this season. I caught up with the player after their final home game at home against the Laurier Golden Hawks. 

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JT: Is this your final season at York?

JW: Well, depends. I have another year of eligibility. I don't know if I might come back for graduate school after this.

JT: Top scorer for the Lions, second in the OUA and third in all of Canada. Did you expect things to go this well at the start of the season?

JW: With the team we have, we always expect to do well, but nobody expected us to do this well. We have a lot of goals for and very few against. So at well rounded, it's me scoring but it's a team effort. There's eleven guys at the pitch, so it's not just me. It's everybody.
JT: What made you decide on joining York?

JW: I had very close ties with Carmin Isacco, the head coach, from when he was working at TFC because I was with the academy team. I knew they (York) would be the top programs in the country, so it was a no-brainer to come here if I were to stay in Canada.

JT: What is your favourite memory so far being with the Lions?

JW: It will have to be an away win when we won the national championships. It doesn't come better than that. We had a bit of a sour loss in the OUA finals, but then we bounced back and won the national championship. That's the main thing.

JT: In 2008, you joined the Lions and won the CIS championship as a rookie. In 2009, you appeared in eight games and scored a goal. Between 2010 and 2013 there was a gap. Then, you came back this season and dominated every single team in the OUA. What happened in those 3-4 years that made you improve as a player?

JW: The reason why I took those years off is that I was trying to make the leap into professional football. I was trying to find different avenues. I went over to Asia and South America, but wasn't able to make it. But those experiences helped me grow as a player. Now I come back and I'm more composed and more intelligent. My physical attributes are still here, but I gained mental attributes. That's where I grew in that time.

JT: And now you're currently associated with the summer league club K-W United?

JW: Yeah, that's my PDL (Premier Development League) team. It's funny because we were housed at Laurier. And pretty much, I stayed on campus there, I would train at their fields all year long for the summer.

JT: You started playing at a young age. How old were you when you realized you wanted to take the sport seriously?

JW: I was probably 16 or 17. That's when I got my first real call-up to the Canadian national team. And since then, it's something that I enjoy. To be honest, I'm very competitive and I like winning. This is what I do best, so I might as well keep playing it.

JT: How would you describe yourself as a player?

JW: Mostly, I would like to think of myself as a hard-working, intelligent player. I try to think of myself as unselfish. I like to pass first, and shoot only if I must. But this year I got a little edge of shooting more and taking more of the goalscoring responsibilities on my own.

JT: Is there any professional player you emulate according to your playing style?
JW: Well to be honest, the reason why I wear the number 14 is because Thierry Henry is my favourite player. When I first came here in '08, I didn't get my number 9 shirt, which is what I wore all the time. So, I took 14 as a backup and since then, I just had it.

JT: How do you consider his playing style similar to yours?

JW: He has a lot of pace, but he's still technically sound and doesn't mind beating people 1v1, which is something I like to do as well.

JT: Which goal is your favourite?

JW: It would have to be the second goal against Guelph. The one that turned the tide when we were losing. There's nothing more satisfying than scoring a goal and changing the whole outlook of the game for the positive of your team.

JT: Do you have any advice for the incoming youth players in the sport?

JW: Well, the most important thing is to stay focused. Like I said, there are a lot of negative things that go on with Canadians so far like the league and the world, I guess? Just stay focused. The TFC academy is helping a lot of young players. Hopefully if you can get into there, then you can have a nice avenue to go play professional soccer and make your dreams come true.

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The York University Lions went on to win the OUA (Ontario University Athletics) playoffs and the CIS Championship.