Chelsea youngsters to step up for the League Cup

So with all the press coverage of the FIFA statement that came out the other day and Chelsea considering their appeal, its put a slant on the focus of the Carlo Ancelotti for this coming season. Chelsea are known to field their strongest sides in the League Cup ever since Jose Mourinho came to the club in the 2004/5 season when we went onto win the competition. With the FIFA ruling and the possibility of an outcome to our appeal not being heard and decided upon until maybe the end of the year for the first time in a good few seasons, Chelsea's attitude to the competition could be about to change.

Ray Wilkins has been reported to of said:

"The Carling Cup is big for us, but I think this year, for one of the first times, we will use some of the younger players in the club".

"Hopefully we will get a full house against QPR and if some of the young players can force their way in, well all well and good!".

To me this is great news but don't get me wrong their could be drawbacks and it go against us bearing in mind its a London derby and a big game for both clubs so god forbid the plan fell apart and we crashed out. But, if we focus on the positive this could really work well for us and for the youngsters.

There is no doubt that part of Roman Abramovich's vision along with building the excellent training facilites we now have at Cobham was to see more "John Terry's" coming through the Academy. He has invested money into the youth structure of the club and the ban, for the youngsters, can be a blessing in disguise.

Of course there will always be the detractors and people moaning or commenting on the fact that hardly anyone since John Terry has come through. Our players are with our Academy for a few seasons, loaned out and then sold off or released, but this ban (if it goes through) will open the door to the likes of Mancienne, Sinclair, Di Santo, Stoch, Cork etc.

Don't get me wrong I am not saying they will walk straight into the First Team but to be in and around the squad and involved in games will only benefit Chelsea in the long term.

So, the first door that has been opened will be QPR in a week or so and its the first chance of many to come so let's hope that the youngsters realise the opportunities that they now have and grab them and follow the example of John Terry.