Straight Outta Cobham: The Athletic FC's Chelsea show

In the race for eighth place...

Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Liam Twomey and Cerys Jones alongside him for a recap of the extremely dull but extremely necessary 1-0 victory over Pafos on MD7 of the UCL.

We discuss the slog against the Cypriot champions, Liam Delap's ineffectiveness against the low block - and whether we're being too harsh on the team given a win's a win AND they are into the top eight as it stands.

Then, SOC OG Dom Fifield enters the chat for a look ahead to Sunday's trip to current crisis club Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Elsewhere, CFCW booked themselves into yet another cup final - beating Manchester City 1-0 to set up a League Cup final meeting with Manchester United in March. Can they keep the momentum going into Saturday's tie with Arsenal in the WSL?!

We'll be back on Monday to look back on the trip to Selhurst Park and look ahead to the huge Champions League clash out in Naples as the Blues face old boss Antonio Conte looking to seal a top eight finish.

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HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Cerys Jones, Liam Twomey & Dom Fifield

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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Not quite sure how that happened but...

Matt Davies-Adams has got Sam Parkin and Simon Johnson for company to pass judgement on the beating of the Bees and a look ahead to Pafos.

We begin by touching upon the protests which gathered outside the ground before the game, before turning our attention to the events on the pitch - which saw the Blues somehow come away with a 2-0 win over Brentford.

Then - it's the David Luiz derby!! Only he might be injured... but hopefully not! It's surely a must win for Chelsea if they're to secure a spot in the top eight and guarantee automatic passage through to the knockout round.

Plus - why are the club interested in signing yet another young centre-back, this time in the form of Rennes 20-year-old Jeremy Jacquet.

We'll be back on Thursday to reflect on Wednesday night's encounter with Pafos AND to preview the visit to current Premier League crisis club Crystal Palace.

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HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Simon Johnson and Sam Parkin

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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

It's been real, Facundo...

Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey with eyes on Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night and the 3-2 defeat by Arsenal in the League Cup semi-final first leg. Simon Johnson sends his thoughts on the final whistle on a chaotic evening of Carabao football.

We discuss the defensive and goalkeeping shortcomings exposed once again, how Rosenior wants this side to play - and the positives considering how depleted the squad was due to injury and illness.

Attention then turns to the visit of Brentford on Saturday afternoon - a Brentford who sit fifth in the Premier League table and could move five point clear of the Blues if they were to come away with a win.

We'll be back on Monday to bring you reaction to the Bees match - and look ahead to the midweek Champions League action with Pafos in town!

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HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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

A big win to kick-off the Rosenior reign...

Matt Davies-Adams has got Sam Parkin and Simon Johnson alongside him to look back on the 5-1 win at Charlton in the FA Cup on Saturday night.

Then it's onto a wholly different challenge - with Arsenal making the short trip to Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup Semi-Final First Leg on Wednesday evening. Is the pressure off for the Blues? And what kind of reception will we see from the home fans towards the new head coach?

Plus, the WSL returned this weekend and CFCW got back underway in style with a 5-0 thrashing of West Ham at Kingsmeadow! But it's still all to do in the league with Man City staying six point clear at the top of the table.

We'll be back on Thursday to run the rule over the first leg clash with Arsenal - and look ahead to the visit of Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday.

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Simon Johnson and Sam Parkin

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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

Back in October 2025, Liam Rosenior sat down with The Athletic FC Podcast's Ayo Akinwolere and Carl Anka - with RC Strasbourg flying high in Ligue 1.

Now Chelsea manager - Rosenior gives an insight into his management style, working in a multi-club ownership model and the importance of representation, diversity and role models.

Plus - his approach to coaching and how he gets a big dressing room to come together...

Matt Davies-Adams and the gang will be back on Monday to review Rosenior's first game in charge of the Blues against Charlton in the FA Cup - and to look ahead to Arsenal in the League Cup!

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

Co-Host: Carl Anka

With: Liam Rosenior

Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

Producer: Jay Beale

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We are SO back, baby... not a red card in sight...

Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Chelsea experts Cerys Jones and Liam Twomey (!) alongside him for our second show of the week... a second show we'll be bringing you every week going forward!

It's a shame we're not with you in happier circumstances - as we have to look back on the 2-1 defeat by Fulham at Craven Cottage on Wednesday night. We discuss the ongoing ill-discipline problems which are plighting this side, Cole Palmer's worrying lack of form - and take the positives from Liam Delap getting his first Premier League goal for the club.

Plus, we react to Liam Rosenior's first interview as Chelsea boss and discuss some of the key challenges he faces ahead of his first game in charge on Saturday.

Speaking of, we've got another quick look ahead to the trip to The Valley to take on Championship strugglers Charlton - and we preview the return of the WSL with CFCW hosting relegation-threatened West Ham on Sunday.

We'll be back on Monday with a look back on visit to Charlton and a look ahead to the League Cup Semi-Final First Leg vs Arsenal on Wednesday night.

Thank you for your support and emails, messages, five-star ratings which have allowed us to bring you two shows a week! We wouldn't have done it without you.

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HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Cerys Jones & Liam Twomey

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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

Not bad for your first senior game in charge...

Matt Davies-Adams has Cerys Jones and Sam Parkin along for the ride as we look back on the hugely creditable 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Sunday evening.

Simon's on hand with his reflections on the final whistle from inside the Etihad - as we praise Calum McFarlane's tactical tweaks, the spirit showed by the team to come back into the game - and what it's like for a player in such a bizarre week at the club.

We discuss next steps - with Liam Rosenior reportedly in London to finalise details to become the new head coach. Will he be involved in the preparations ahead of Fulham on Wednesday night? We preview that game *and* Saturday's trip to Charlton in the 3rd round of the FA Cup!

We'll be back on Monday to reflect on the matches against Fulham and Charlton - plus a look ahead to the visit of Arsenal in the League Cup semi-final first leg!

• Join the Straight Outta Cobham FPL League!

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Cerys Jones & Sam Parkin

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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

Happy New Year...

Matt Davies-Adams, Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher assemble for an emergency pod following the news that dropped at lunchtime on Thursday 1st January 2026 - that Chelsea Football Club and Enzo Maresca have parted company.

We take a deep dive into the reasons behind the decision and its timing, the mounting questions which will now only grow for the club's hierarchy and their policies - and why it looks like Liam Rosenior will be the man to take over the helm at Stamford Bridge...

Back on Monday with our regularly-scheduled podcast looking back on the trip to Manchester City, plus all the latest news and developments off the field.

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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

Well, that wasn't very festive Chelsea.

Matt Davies-Adams has got Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson for company as we unpick the collapse in the 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa at the Bridge on Saturday evening.

We discuss the failings of the squad building process of the summer, the defensive lapses which yet again came back to bite this team - and whether Enzo Maresca can avoid the pressure mounting to deliver performances and results considering it's now just two wins in eight matches in all competitions for the Blues.

There's no time to dwell on that result - with games against Bournemouth and Manchester City in quick succession to take us into 2026. We look ahead to those and make the case that no one from the bench exactly made a case to be starting in these ones...

Plus - a quick look ahead to the January transfer window activity and the importance of the League Cup with nine games to come in a crazy month for the club.

We'll be back NEXT MONDAY the 5th of January with our reaction to the Bournemouth and Man City games - plus a look ahead to the trips to Fulham in the Premier League and Charlton in the FA Cup. Strap yourselves in for a crazy January!

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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

A minor Christmas miracle in the circumstances...

Matt Davies-Adams has got Sam Parkin and Cerys Jones alongside him for a look back on the quintessential game of two halves in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle on Saturday lunchtime.

We talk the impressive second half comeback after a dicey opening 45 minutes, Reece's spectacular free-kick - and is Garnacho actually any good at football?

Aston Villa are in town next weekend - an Aston Villa side who have won no less than TEN matches in a row in all competitions. So - what can Enzo Maresca's side do to put a stop to their rampant form? And is it another game where they'll rise to the challenge against a top side?

Meanwhile CFCW put just the NINE past a sorry Liverpool to book their place in the League Cup semi-finals. And - Chelsea players as Christmas things, anyone?

We'll be back next Monday to look back on Saturday's visit of high-flying Villa - and preview the clashes with Bournemouth and Manchester City.

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Cerys Jones and Sam Parkin

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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