Straight Outta Cobham: The Athletic FC's Chelsea show

Penalty shootout with Liverpool, anyone?!

Matt Davies-Adams has two of The Athletic's finest alongside him - Dom Fifield and Simon Johnson - to reflect on the emphatic 6-2 aggregate win over Boro to confirm Chelsea's safe passage to the League Cup final.

We hear from Liam on the final whistle and celebrate the hugely influential return of Ben Chilwell and continued mastery of Cole Palmer.

The cup football just keeps on coming, with Aston Villa in town for Friday night's FA Cup 4th Round tie.

Also success for CFCW - who confirmed top spot in Group D and a place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League with a 2-1 win over Real Madrid.

Plus - a chance to hear from Cobham kid Harvey Vale - who's thriving at Bristol Rovers and sat down with Simon to discuss his special relationship with Alfie Gilchrist.

We'll be back on Monday to hopefully toast to more success - before looking ahead to the tricky trip to Anfield in a dress rehearsal of the latest showdown between these two old rivals at Wembley.

Produced by Lucy Oliva.

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All hail Emma Hayes...

Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher as the Blues gear up for arguably their biggest game of the season against Middlesbrough on Tuesday night.

But we start with some love for CFCW manager Emma Hayes - who because the first woman to be honoured with the Football Writers' Tribute award at a ceremony on Sunday night. We hear from Hayes herself - and Fran Kirby on the huge impact she's had on her life and career.

There's a wrap up of the big WSL victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge which featured a hat-trick from the mercurial Lauren James.

We talk loan moves and transfers - with the news that Cesare Casadei and Diego Moreira are back at the club... plus, the latest on Broja's potential departure.

Then - a look ahead to the visit of injury-ravaged Boro on Tuesday - with Poch's boys needing to overturn a one-goal deficit if they're to progress to Wembley. 

We'll be back on Thursday to *hopefully* reflect on Chelsea's progress to the League Cup final - and to preview Friday night's visit of Aston Villa in the FA Cup!

Produced by Lucy Oliva.

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

Pure profit, anyone?

Matt Davies-Adams has got Dom Fifield and Liam Twomey alongside him for your second weekly dose of Chelsea chat.

We begin with the news broken by The Athletic's David Ornstein that the club are prepared to listen to offers for striker Armando Broja.

Then we take your questions - including whether progress has been made, dream fully fit XI's, and when José Mourinho will return as manager...

Plus, our pal Jessy Parker Humphrey's drops by to preview the huge WSL clash for CFCW against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.

We'll be back on Monday to reflect on that game - and look ahead to the League Cup semi-final second leg against Middlesbrough.

Produced by Lucy Oliva.

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

Argylle, anyone?

Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher to reflect on the 1-0 victory over Fulham at Stamford Bridge...

Liam Twomey sends in his on the whistle report - before we take your thoughts and round up the story of the game, which wasn't necessarily pretty but secured the Blues' fourth straight home win for the first time since 2020.

Meanwhile, CFCW were back in action in the FA Cup - and had to rely on a two late goals in extra-time to overcome West Ham in the fourth round.

Chelsea's men might have the weekend off - but we'll be back on Thursday with a mailbag special!

Produced by Lucy Oliva.

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

Are we sure it's not still 2023?

Matt Davies-Adams is joined by The Athletic's Chelsea experts Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey with the unenviable task of looking back on the 1-0 League Cup semi-final first leg defeat by Middlesbrough.

We plough through some of your angry thoughts and questions as we analyse the result - and where the blame should lie.

No time to dwell - with Fulham making the short trip down the road for a West London derby at lunchtime on Saturday. We preview that game before resurecting the quiz for the first time in 2024...

We'll be back on Monday to hopefully reflect on an important Premier League victory - and CFCW's return to action in the FA Cup!

Produced by Lucy Oliva.

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

Well, we enjoyed the last 45 minutes at least...

Matt Davies-Adams has got Dom Fifield and Liam Twomey alongside him to reflect on the 4-0 victory over Preston North End in the third round of the FA Cup. We round up the game of two halves, ask whether Sterling is back in Poch's good books after that stunning free kick - and give some love to Alfie Gilchrist and the other Cobham kids who got the chance to shine.

The cup football just keeps on coming - with a trip to Teeside to preview ahead of Tuesday's League Cup semi-final first leg at Middlesbrough...

Plus, we've got reaction to the devastating news that CFCW's talismanic striker Sam Kerr has picked up a season-ending ACL injury. Jessy Parker Humphrey's sends in their verdict of what this means for the title race and the rest of the campaign going forward.

We'll be back on Thursday to round up events from the first leg, look ahead to the visit of Fulham to Stamford Bridge - and preview the return of the WSL.

Produced by Lucy Oliva.

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

A whirlwind week and a half of festive football...

Matt Davies-Adams is back! With two of The Athletic's finest - Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson alongside him - to reflect on the Blues' fortunes over Christmas and New Year.

There's lessons from the disappointing defeat at Wolves, late victory from the penalty spot against Crystal Palace and chaos at Kenilworth Road - which left MoPo's side with 6 points from a possible 9.

The games keep on coming - with Preston North End visiting SW6 in the FA Cup on Saturday evening - we tease ahead to that game too...

We'll be back next Monday to reflect on the third round and preview Tuesday's trip to Teeside to face Middlesbrough in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final.

Produced by Lucy Oliva.

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

Season's greetings...

Matt Davies-Adams has got the WHOLE gang alongside him as we sign off for 2023 in a buoyant mood following the penalty shootout triumph over Newcastle.

There's a review of that game, a look back on a ~testing~ 2023 for CFC, plus a look ahead to hopefully happier times as we speculate as to what 2024 could have in store for Poch & co.

There's a preview of the upcoming games over Christmas against Wolves, Crystal Palace and Luton - plus Jessy Parker Humphrey's pops in to give their take on CFCW's win over Häcken and the wider picture for Emma Hayes' side.

Then - Matt and Producer Lucy face a bumper quiz...

We'll be back on the 3rd of January to round up all the festive fixture fallout and look ahead to the 3rd round of the FA Cup!

Produced by Lucy Oliva.

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

Much, much needed...

Two of The Athletic's finest - Liam Twomey and Dom Fifield - are alongside Matt Davies-Adams to look back on the crucial 2-0 win over Sheffield United. There's an on the whistle report from Simon Johnson, praise as always for Cole Palmer - and some head-scratching as to what the future holds for Conor Gallagher.

Then - it's all eyes on arguably the biggest match of the season as we preview the visit of Newcastle in Tuesday night's League Cup quarter-final.

Plus, CFCW got back to winning ways in a 3-0 win at Bristol City - including yet more sheer brilliance for Lauren James.

We'll be back on Thursday with our end of year bonanza rounding up the midweek fixtures, looking back on the annus horribilis that was 2023 - and looking ahead to a (hopefully) positive 2024.

Produced by Lucy Oliva.

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

A set of matches that could define Chelsea's season?

Matt Davies-Adams has got Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher alongside him to look ahead to the visit of Sheffield United on Saturday.

But we begin with the hugely depressing news that captain Reece James will be out for the foreseeable future after aggravating his hamstring injury. Oh, and some amortisation chat too...

Then it's all eyes of the Blades, as we preview the game through the prism of potential starting XI's and what that could mean for Poch and co.

Plus - there's more quiz chaos as counting becomes an issue for our host...!

We'll be back on Monday to reflect on the Sheffield United game and look ahead to the visit of Newcastle in the League Cup.

Produced by Lucy Oliva.

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