Chelsea loan round-up: Pasalic finds the back of the net for Monaco again

Before checking on how our youngsters on loan did yesterday, let's browse through some of the headlines that came up yesterday regarding two of our players, Nathan Ake and Lucas Piazon.

Piazon, as we are all aware, was declared officially arrest-able in Canada prior to his side's weekend game. However, according to his manager, Steve Clarke, the youngster was unperturbed by the news and was raring to go on Saturday. After a recent string of starts, Piazon was named on the substitutes' bench, which Clarke claimed was a purely tactical decision. In response to queries about Piazon's place on the bench having to do with the arrest warrant, Clarke said:

"None whatsoever. It was a football decision."

"He was sulking because he did not start - that is the mentality of a professional footballer. He wanted to start, he was desperate to play but I made a tactical change to the team which meant he didn't. But he came on the pitch when we were losing 1-0, him and Paolo Hurtado, and the game changed. It was a big contribution."

The Reading manager refused to comment on the controversial news itself, though.  Piazon and the two lawyers provided by Chelsea maintain his innocence.

Nathan Ake spoke to the Watford Observer yesterday, showing appreciation for Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores.

"Every week I'm learning new things and I have the trust of the manager. He allows me to make mistakes but also sees that I am improving and getting better every game. He is always giving advice. We watch clips of what I can do better and that gives me confidence which is really important at my age."

"I’m definitely feeling more comfortable. I think as a defence we are playing better every week. Tactically (Miguel) Britos is really good and defensively we don't concede many chances. The whole back four talk to each other throughout the game and the way we are performing is really good. But we can always improve."

And, of course, he was asked about Chelsea too.

"I would never have expected Chelsea to be below Watford at this stage but Chelsea will come back. They are a good team. It's difficult to know if we (Watford) can finish above them."

Not to be forgotten is the news of Alex Davey's contract extension! While we probably will never see the youngster play for the first-team, it just goes to show that Chelsea genuinely help their youngsters to establish their careers in football.

Moving on to Sunday's action,

ITALY:

Wallace was an unused substitute for Carpi.

Stipe Perica was a 67th minute substitute in Udinese's goalless draw against Sassuolo, and ended the game with two (off-target) attempts on goal, both coming from inside the penalty area.

#FreeChalobah, of course.

BELGIUM:

Victorien Angban and Cristian Cuevas started yet again for STVV, while Joao Rodriguez was brought on in the 80th minute. Angban played the whole game but Cuevas was subbed off in the 70th. STVV had won only one out of their previous five games, but managed to overcame Standard Liege 1-0 yesterday, and are hopefully returning to winning ways.

...#FreeManea?

OTHERS:

Mario Pasalic was the highlight of the day's loan action, scoring his side's only (and winning) goal, as Monaco overcame Angers 1-0.  Monaco now sit only two points behind Lyon, in second place. Not only is Pasalic our top loanee goal scorer, he is also Monaco's top scorer this season so far.  How very Frank Lampard of him.

Here's his goal.

Mario Pasalic goal #cfc #loanarmy pic.twitter.com/drOSHgfJ8A

— JoostNa (@JoostNa) November 1, 2015

Islam Feruz was an 86th minute substitute for Hibernian.

Todd Kane completed another game for NEC Nijmegen, who won 4-2 away to AZ, and moved up to 6th, just three points behind Vitesse in 5th.

Uli Davila continued to warm the Vitoria de Setubal bench.