Straight Outta Cobham: The Athletic FC's Chelsea show

0.05 xG?!?

Matt Davies-Adams is accompanied by two of The Athletic's finest - Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher - to look back on the 1-0 victory over Tottenham.

It was a rather bizarre evening without major incident compared to the recent mayhem between these two sides - but we discuss the complete nullification of Spurs, Robert Sanchez's impressive command of his box (while hearing from the man himself) - and run out of ways to describe just how magnificent Moises Caicedo is.

The Blues have got a long midweek trip to Qarabağ to navigate on Wednesday night. We preview that game and ponder just how many changes we'll see from the utterly unpredictable Enzo Maresca.

Elsewhere - CFCW were back in domestic action and back to winning ways after their hard-fought 2-0 win over London City Lionesses to maintain their 1-point lead at the top of the WSL table. Plus - we're all Team Hannah Hampton!

We'll be back later in the week with some quick-fire reaction to Wednesday's trip to Azerbaijan - before Matt and the gang return on Monday to bring you the fallout from Saturday evening's visit of Wolves in the Premier League.

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HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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Five wins in a row is a myth...

Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Sam Parkin and full debutant Cerys Jones to look back on the late 2-1 defeat by Sunderland at Stamford Bridge.

We begin with the verdict of Simon Johnson direct from the press box in SW6 - before dissecting some of the finer points of the disappointing performance and result including the struggles of Joao Pedro and Marc Guiu, Enzo Maresca's somewhat perplexing selections - and the lack of defensive stability which is causing concern.

We've got a midweek trip to genuine crisis club Wolverhampton Wanderers in the League Cup last 16 to look forward to - offering our predicted starting XI's ahead of a game that now feels like it's grown in importance with the visit to Tottenham just around the corner.

We'll be back on Monday with all the fallout from Saturday evening's trip across to our old friends Spurs - and to look ahead to the long trip to Qarabag in the Champions League!

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HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Cerys Jones and Sam Parkin

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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

Don't they know Chelsea are the ones who get the red cards?!

Producer Lucy's got reaction to the 5-1 rout of Ajax at a rainy Stamford Bridge with analysis from the press box provided by Blues reporter Simon Johnson and The Athletic's Senior Data Analyst Mark Carey.

10 changes but no problems for Enzo Maresca's side - who made a little bit of history by becoming the first team to have three teenagers score in a Champions League match.

Who stood out in the circumstances? How impressive were the youngsters? And how does this set them up for the visit of Sunderland on Saturday?

Matt Davies-Adams will be back on Monday to review that meeting with the Black Cats - and look ahead to the trip to Molineux to face Wolves in the League Cup!

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Oh, mate...

Matt Davies-Adams, Simon Johnson and Sam Parkin assemble on a gloomy Monday morning to look back on the game of two halves at the City Ground as Chelsea eventually came out 3-0 winners and spelt the end for Ange Postecoglou at Nottingham Forest.

We discuss how Enzo's side tried their best to hand Forest the three points in a difficult first half, the impact of the half-time changes (not for the first time this season) - and praise for Marc Guiu for his immediate impact in the game.

Then - we look ahead to the visit of Ajax in Matchday 3 of the Champions League on Wednesday night. John Heitinga's side have lost their last two Eredivisie games - and were also beaten to nil in their opening two European fixtures. So - the Blues should be clear favourites coming into this one... should they!? There's also plenty of reminiscing about *that* crazy 4-4 back in November 2019.

We'll be back with a brief round up of the Ajax game on Thursday morning - before Matt and the gang return next Monday to look back on Saturday's visit of high-flying Sunderland in the Premier League!

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Simon Johnson and Sam Parkin

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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• League Code: 7lntvq

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MDA Derby pending...

Matt's got a vintage combo of Sam Parkin and Dom Fifield alongside him as we gear up for the return of the Premier League and a trip to Nottingham Forest at Saturday lunchtime.

Two weeks on from that dramatic triumph against Liverpool - will the feel-good factor still be in full effect? Or will the international break travel and toil mean this is a tougher assignment than it looks on paper against a Forest side who are winless in seven under Ange Postecoglou? We ponder the usual selection dilemmas, desires to see Estêvão unleashed from the start - and let Matt wallow in the mess it seems the opponents have got themselves into this season.

The men may have been away - but there's plenty to catch up on when it comes to CFCW after their surprise draw with Twente in the Champions League and narrow WSL victory over Tottenham over the weekend. Cerys Jones has followed Sonia Bompastor's team closely this season and stops by ahead of the visit of Paris FC on Wednesday night.

Plus! A chance to hear from Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup winner Florent Malouda - sharing his learnings and advice for Jamie Gittens after his own slow start to life at Stamford Bridge back in 2007...

We'll be back on Monday for all the fallout from the trip to the City Ground and a look ahead to the visit of Ajax in Matchday 3 of the Champions League in midweek!

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Dom Fifield, Sam Parkin & Cerys Jones

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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

EsteWOW hasn't been used yet, has it?!

Matt Davies-Adams is joined by The Athletic's Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher to revel in the glorious 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening.

Despite initial trepidation when the team sheet dropped before kick-off, we reflect on the hugely impressive defensive performance, yet another Caicedo banger, the importance of this result (and his celebration) for Enzo Maresca and his relationship with the fans - and of course, the lift-off moment for 18-year-old Estevao after his superb 95th minute winner.

Elsewhere, CFCW dropped their first points of the season as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Manchester United on Friday night. Plus - which former Blue made a total of 125 appearances across four seasons for the club in the noughties - but just 65 of those appearances came as a starter?

We'll take a short hiatus for the international break but be back with you next week for a look ahead to the MDA derby as the Blues prepare for the trip to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest!

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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

The Jose show was back in town for one night only...

Matt Davies-Adams has got Luke Bosher and a sleep-deprived Liam Twomey back alongside him to reflect on Tuesday night's narrow 1-0 win over Benfica at Stamford Bridge!

We touch on the concerns which were mounting after the performance at Lincoln and Saturday's Brighton defeat - before diving into some of the key themes from the victory over Mourinho's men with the help of a Simon Johnson voicenote amidst the thick of the action.

Then - Liverpool are in town - fresh off the back of two defeats for Arne Slot's slightly wavering Premier League champions. We rate the Blues' chances and feel strangely optimistic about them coming away with a result?!

We touch base with the fortunes of CFCW who've continued their perfect start to the season in the WSL - and shoutout Shim Mheuka for his second hat-trick of the campaign already!

We'll be back on Monday when Chelsea have hopefully entered the international break in positive fashion...!

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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.

13 games without a league win at Old Trafford... THIRTEEN!!!

Matt Davies-Adams has got Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson along for our post-Man United pity party after the shambolic showing in the torrential Manchester rain on Saturday night.

We discuss Enzo's baffling substitutions, the Robert Sanchez experience, whether we need to start worrying about Cole Palmer's groin - and the strange case of Tyrique George...

The Blues are off to Sincil Bank on Tuesday night to face League One side Lincoln City in the third round of the League Cup. We look ahead to that game - and the Brighton test which is just around the corner on Saturday afternoon.

Elsewhere, CFCW picked up another three points in albeit unconvincing fashion as they made it three wins from three with a 1-0 victory over Leicester City.

We'll be back on Monday to look back on Saturday's meeting with Brighton - and preview the return of a certain Jose Mourinho in the Champions League with Benfica coming to town on Tuesday night!

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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

Not *quite* the return to Europe's top table we were looking for...

Producer Lucy's got The Athletic's Chelsea reporter Simon Johnson on hand to bring his post-match reaction to the 3-1 defeat by Bayern Munich in Matchday 1 of the 2025-26 Champions League campaign.

We hear from Enzo Maresca on how the Blues can 'build something special from this defeat', discuss the huge gulf in experience on this stage but how well the young team acquitted themselves in the circumstances - and look ahead to Saturday's trip to Old Trafford.

Very pleased to say that normal service will resume on Monday and Matt and the gang will be back to round up the Blues' fortunes from across the weekend - and look ahead to Lincoln City!

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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.

• Join the Straight Outta Cobham PL Fantasy League!

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Simon Johnson and Thom Harris

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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