Straight Outta Cobham: The Athletic FC's Chelsea show

A draw?! At Brentford?! Never...

Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Simon Johnson and Thom Harris alongside him to look back on the frenetic 2-2 draw with the Bees at the Gtech on Saturday night.

We discuss the controversial late equaliser, the eyebrow-raising first half team selection - and whether this shows that Enzo Maresca still has a lot to learn about juggling the Premier League and Europe...

Then it's all eyes on Wednesday's trip to Munich, as Chelsea make their Champions League return against old friends Bayern at the Allianz.

And there was a hard-fought WSL victory for CFCW at Aston Villa on Sunday - including a goal on her return for Sam Kerr after a whole 20 months out!

We'll be back with the first of our UCL round up pods on Thursday morning - and then back on Monday to reflect on the trip to Old Trafford to take on PL banter club Manchester United on Saturday evening.

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HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Simon Johnson and Thom Harris

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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Let's not get stung by any Bees...

Matt Davies-Adams has got Thom Harris and Sam Parkin alongside him as we prepare for the return of the Premier League after it was rudely interrupted by the international break!

We begin with some early reflections on the season so far - and some of key tactical moves and talking points which have stood out from Enzo Maresca's side in the opening three games of this campaign.

There's a look ahead to Saturday evening's trip down the road to Brentford - where there could be some important squad management to do with a trip to Munich just around the corner...

Plus, Chelsea Women's season got off to the perfect start with a 2-1 win over Man City at Stamford Bridge on Friday night!

We'll be back on Monday to reflect on the short trip to Brentford, tell you how CFCW got on at Aston Villa - and look ahead to Chelsea’s return to Europe’s top table with the small matter of a trip to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday night!

• Join the Straight Outta Cobham PL Fantasy League!

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Thom Harris and Sam Parkin

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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It's not physically possible for deadline day to be dull, this is Chelsea lads...

Matt Davies-Adams has got a slightly delirious and sleep deprived Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher alongside him to try and sum up all the chaos from another highly eventful transfer window for Chelsea Football Club.

We dissect the dramatic Nicolas Jackson to Bayern Munich deal that almost didn't happen, the ongoing Raheem Sterling predicament as he failed to find a suitable move away, the bizarre situation which saw Tyrique George's proposed move to Fulham fall through - the unexpected return of Ishé Samuels-Smith (!) - AND the goodbye to Champions League winner Ben Chilwell. Plus, our wider reflections on the window as a whole and where this leaves the club going into the season.

We've got brief thoughts on the VAR-riddled Fulham victory, an exciting (and very 2012 coded) set of Champions League fixtures - and a look ahead to the start of the brand new WSL which gets underway on Friday night!

The Athletic's women's football expert Charlotte Harpur is with us to look ahead to that one - and we hear from England's Euro 2025 hero and broken-legged warrior Lucy Bronze...

We’re off now for the international break (boo) but we’ll be back at the back end of next week to round up all that’s gone on since we’ve been off and preview the short trip down the road to take on Brentford at the Gtech on Saturday night. 

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Luke Bosher, Simon Johnson & Charlotte Harpur

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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No Palmer? No problem (on this specific occasion at least...)

Matt Davies-Adams have got Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher alongside him to look back on the impressive 5-1 win over a pitiful West Ham at London Stadium on Friday night. We give props to the team for adapting to the late line up change, revel in Estêvão's youthful exuberance and heap some love on comeback kid Trevoh Chalobah.

Next up in the never ending run of London derbies - Fulham make the short trip down the road to Stamford Bridge on Saturday lunchtime. We look ahead to that game and ponder the key team selections that Enzo Maresca will have to juggle.

There's brief transfer chatter with the devastating news (for Luke at least) that Renato Veiga has officially left. Plus - could Raheem Sterling be on his way to Saturday's opponents?

And, it's Simon's first attempt at Blues Clues - how will he get on?!

We'll be back at the slightly later time of Tuesday next week to capture all the transfer deadline day chaos, review Saturday’s meeting with Fulham - and settle into the first international break of the season! 

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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Failing to score at home for the first time since the opening day of last season!?

Matt Davies-Adams has got Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher along for the ride as we look back on the pretty underwhelming goalless draw with Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. We take the positives from Josh Acheampong's excellent performance in the heart of the defence - but are left lamenting the lack of any real attacking potency from Enzo Maresca's side against the stubborn Eagles, who could well have gone home with all three points if it wasn't for that pesky Law 13...

Then - we look ahead to the second London derby of the season as the Blues makes the short trip east to face West Ham on Friday night - otherwise known as the Graham Potter derby! Hammers reporter Roshane Thomas gives an insight into the doom and gloom hanging around the club after an underwhelming summer and horror opening day defeat at Sunderland.

We've also got the latest transfer news... what's happening with the long list of players that the club need to try and shift before the window closes? And are we any closer to a deal for Garnacho?

Plus, we've got a second edition of the still evolving Blues Clues to try and test the immense brainpower of the panel...

We'll be back on Monday with all the fallout from Friday night at London Stadium and a look ahead to Saturday's West London derby with Fulham.

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Luke Bosher, Liam Twomey and Roshane Thomas

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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The countdown to Sunday, 2pm is on...

Matt Davies-Adams gears up for the brand spanking new 2025-26 Premier League season with the help of The Athletic's Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey.

We begin with our reflections on the two impressive victories over Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan in the *very* truncated pre-season. What lessons will Enzo Maresca have learned? And what clues does it give us about what we can expect from Chelsea this season?

With Crystal Palace visiting the Bridge on Sunday, it's a legal requirement to get Dom Fifield back on the show to fill us in on his beloved Eagles who are fresh off the back of beating Liverpool in the Community Shield at Wembley. We look ahead to that game - and discuss the wider repercussions of the devastating ACL injury that Levi Colwill picked up on the first day back in training.

We've also got a round up of the latest transfer chatter - and a new feature called Blues Clues (working title)...

We'll be back next Monday to bring you our reaction to the opening weekend clash against Palace - and all the other Blues news besides!

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Luke Bosher, Liam Twomey & Dom Fifield

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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2025-26 season coming in hot...

Matt Davies-Adams, Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson are BACK as we round up a rather extensive list of transfer incomings and outgoings with the new campaign fast approaching.

First things first, The Athletic's German football expert Seb Stafford-Bloor gives us an flavour of what Blues fans can expect from Jamie Gittens, a transfer that got overshadowed amid the July's Club World Cup glory. Plus - are Chelsea in pole position to sign Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig?

We run through some of the other key storylines including the arrival of exciting young Dutch defender Jorrel Hato, whether the club are still in the market for a goalkeeper - and when we might expect movement on the approach for Manchester United's wantaway forward Alejandro Garnacho.

There's plenty of outgoings too - with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on his way to Everton and Burnley becoming a bit of a feeder club... plus, the obligatory look at who's on their way to Strasbourg - and whether Nicolas Jackson could yet be on his way before the window closes.

Away from all the transfer news - we get the chance to hear from no other than Levi Colwill! Reflecting on a summer to remember over in the USA and his exciting role in developing the new LSC academy.

We'll be back next Monday with our bumper look ahead to the opening weekend tie against Crystal Palace AND the 2025-26 season as a whole!

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Simon Johnson, Liam Twomey & Seb Stafford-Bloor

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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We've really, really, REALLY won it all now...

Matt Davies-Adams has got a bumper crew of Simon Johnson, Liam Twomey and Sam Parkin alongside him to look back on the sensational Club World Cup final victory over Paris Saint Germain in New Jersey on Sunday.

We bask in the gloriousness of Cole Jermaine Palmer, laud Enzo Maresca for the tactical masterclass he put on - and issue a full apology to Malo Gusto who was just one of the players who shone all over the park in the 3-0 win over their formidable French opponents.

So, what does the victory mean for the club? And have expectations just been raised ahead of the fast-approaching 2025-26 campaign?

Just like the players we’re going to have a very truncated post-season and take a couple of weeks off - BUT we’ll be back with all the build up to the new Premier League season, transfer ins and outs and much more. 

Follow Liam and Simon’s work on The Athletic in the meantime and stay across our socials for all the latest Blues news.

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Simon Johnson, Sam Parkin and Liam Twomey

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So... this PSG lot are quite good, ey?

Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher with him to run the rule over the 2-0 win over Fluminense in the CWC SF's which has seen Chelsea set up a mouthwatering encounter with Champions League holders & French juggernauts PSG.

Oli Kay reports from MetLife Stadium after João Pedro announced himself in emphatic style with two sensational goals in his first start for the Blues. We talk Caicedo's fitness concerns, Trev being great - and the tactical flexibility which has seen Chelsea book their place in the final.

Then, French football expert Tom Williams stops by to give us an insight into what Enzo Maresca's side can expect from the Ligue 1 giants - and how they might go about hoping to beat Luis Enrique's team.

We've got love for the CFCW Lionesses who put on a show, a look at the out of favour players back in training back at Cobham - and a quiz!

We'll be back on Monday to look back on Sunday's Club World Cup final and the culmination of a long but potentially hugely rewarding month of action over in the United States for CFC.

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Luke Bosher, Simon Johnson, Oli Kay & Tom Williams

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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28 games later...

Matt Davies-Adams has got Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey with him to look back on Friday night's 2-1 victory over Palmeiras.

The Athletic's Senior Data Analyst Mark Carey was in Philadelphia for the game and sends us his thoughts - before we take a closer look at Cole Palmer's return to the scoresheet, the hugely impressive debut of João Pedro who was literally just on the beach a few days earlier - and a look at how Andrey Santos faired after his late call up to the starting XI.

So, next up it's the Blues' third meeting with a Brazilian side in the tournament as they take on Thiago Silva's Fluminense at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. We look ahead to the game and ponder whether Nicolas Jackson will be left out in the cold again?

Finally, we've got the latest transfer news with Jamie Gittens officially announced as a Chelsea player - plus the latest on Noni Madueke's potential departure to Arsenal...

We'll be back on Thursday to look back at the semi-final showdown with Fluminense... and look ahead to Sunday's final?!

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Liam Twomey, Simon Johnson and Mark Carey

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.