The match may not have ended in the result Chelsea were hoping for but the presence of six Cobham graduates in the starting lineup is still quite the achievement. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Trevoh Chalobah, Mason Mount, Armando Broja, Conor Gallagher and Lewis Hall all took to the pitch at St James' Park in a feat that few other teams can match.
Since the emergence of Mount and Reece James into central figures, the influence of Chelsea's academy transitioning to the first team squad has not been as clear. Indeed, the presence of the likes of the duo has made the path more difficult. The likes of Tariq Lamptey and Tino Livramento have seen their futures lie elsewhere, for example.
While players had opportunities in cup competitions last term, such as Harvey Vale, Jude Soonsup-Bell and Xavier Simons, in addition to Hall, Thomas Tuchel did not make use of a teenager within the Premier League. Perhaps not an issue in itself, but a concern for some perhaps that Cobham's influence could tail off.
READ MORE: What happened with John Terry at Chelsea's Cobham training ground amid the World Cup break
This term, injuries have meant that both Omari Hutchinson and Lewis Hall have been in Chelsea squads. The former was signed in the summer alongside Cesar Casadei, Carney Chukwuemeka, Eddie Beach, Zak Sturge and Gabriel Slonina as the Blues added a number of teenagers to their ranks.
The academy remains at the heart of Chelsea hoping to finding success, with Neil Bath and Jim Fraser pioneering it's influence. The club's vision 2030 has the ambition for 15% of Premier League minutes to come from academy players and for 25% of the first-team squad to be from academy while having more of their academy products turn professional than their rivals and helping their youngsters achieve GCSE and A-level results above the national average.
Head of Youth Development, Bath told Training Ground Guru : "We met as a management team and reviewed how things were going in the Academy. We said, ‘We are in a good place in terms of young players getting an opportunity, but we need to go again.’”
That ambition has shown no signs of stopping since the arrival of Todd Boehly and co, with meetings between academy chiefs and their new owners proving productive. Chelsea's Head of Youth Recruitment and Assistant Head of Youth Development Jim Fraser has spoken of the excitement that has been generated since the takeover and Bath doubled-down on the group's intention to back the academy.
He said: “Yes 100%, I really do. It’s always a team effort, everybody’s in it. Frank (Lampard) put them in and gave them the opportunity. Subsequently Thomas (Tuchel) has kept going, Graham (Potter) has kept going.
“They (the new owners) have gone on that fact that we will continue that opportunity and I am very confident they are excited about supporting and taking this vision forward. It will get their full support.”
While Bath has led that push, it seems he is taking on a new title in Boehly and co's restructure - Director of Football Development and Operations. That would appear to indicate he will have a specific role in the transition of young talent to the first team, with his 18-year Chelsea career proving successful so far.
Upon announcing the summer takeover, Boehly made the development of player a central part of his Chelsea ethos.
"Along with our commitment to developing the youth squad and acquiring the best talent, our plan of action is to invest in the Club for the long-term and build on Chelsea’s remarkable history of success," he said.
While matters on the pitch may have not been so smooth, he has stood by his word so far.
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