Straight Outta Cobham: The Athletic FC's Chelsea show

Some week ahead...Matt Davies-Adams has got Cerys Jones and Sam Parkin alongside him for all the fallout from Saturday's ultimately comfortable 2-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor.It might not have been the most memorable of encounters - but we lavish praise on Andrey Santos and his MOTM performance, ponder Liam Delap's importance despite his struggles in front of goal - and lament Cole Palmer's door frame after his freak injury extends his lay-off from action. It tees us up for an absolutely pivotal week - with Barcelona visiting Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, before Arsenal make the trip over from North London in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.We look ahead to the Champions League MD5 meeting against the Spanish giants - with The Athletic's Barca reporter Pol Ballús on hand to give us some insight into what to expect from Hansi Flick's side. Simon Johnson was in SW6 for the pre-match press conferences of Enzo Maresca and Marc Cucurella - so we've got a bit of a flavour of that for you too! We'll be back on Wednesday morning with Simon's official verdict from the Bridge - before Matt and the gang return on Monday morning with our full post-Arsenal pod.HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Cerys Jones and Sam ParkinPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No more international breaks until March!? Hallelujah!Matt Davies-Adams has got Cerys Jones and Luke Bosher along for the ride as we relish the return of the Premier League - and Saturday's long trip to Turf Moor to take on Burnley.We've got a round up of the international Blues in action - before pondering how that will impact upon Enzo Maresca's ever-unpredictable team selection, why this could be a big opportunity for Liam Delap to kickstart his season - and whether Cole Palmer should be risked with Barca and Arsenal on the horizon?!CFCW suffered disappointment at the weekend, held to a 1-1 draw by bottom of the table Liverpool to see them fall three points behind Man City at the top of the WSL table. Can they use that as fuel when they face old foes Barcelona in the Champions League on Thursday night?We'll be back on Monday to round up events in Lancashire - and look ahead to the visit of Spanish champions Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday!Listen to the Totally Football Show - The Art of Enjoying Hazard Join the Straight Outta Cobham fantasy league! HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher and Cerys JonesPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

165 games later...Matt Davies-Adams has got Cerys Jones and Liam Twomey alongside him for the seismic fallout from Malo Gusto scoring his first ever senior goal - which got the ball rolling on Chelsea's ultimately incredibly comfortable 3-0 win over Wolves at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night.We talk the ongoing great rotation debate, whether starboy Estêvão should be in from the start - and whether this enforced break will give some of the team a chance to get back to something like full fitness after a punishing schedule. Cerys did the double-header on Saturday, also in place at The Emirates for the eventful 1-1 draw between Arsenal and Chelsea in the WSL. We've got reaction to that one and a simply sensational first league goal from Alyssa Thompson. We'll take a pause for the last international break until March (hallelujah!) - but return the back end of next week to look ahead to the trip to Turf Moor AND the visit of Barcelona in the Champions League in midweek.Join the Straight Outta Cobham Fantasy League! HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Cerys Jones and Liam TwomeyPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Qarabag had lost all seven of their previous matches against English opposition, but that's fine... Producer Lucy's got reaction from the 2-2 draw with the Azerbaijani champions out in Baku - with Cerys Jones across the game for The Athletic on a night where the Blues avoided the embarrassment of a shock defeat, but still suffered a major blow to their hopes of finishing in the top eight of the league phase table. Are Chelsea suffering due to the ongoing lack of stability in the starting XI? Why was there such little urgency from the heavily-rotated side? And what does this mean going into the visit of Wolves on Saturday?! Matt Davies-Adams will be back with a full show on Monday looking back on that game under the lights at Stamford Bridge, as well as the huge WSL clash between Arsenal and Chelsea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.Join the Straight Outta Cobham fantasy league! HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher and Simon JohnsonPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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! Join the Straight Outta Cobham fantasy league! League Code: 7lntvqHOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Cerys Jones and Sam ParkinPRODUCER: 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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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-AdamsWITH: Simon Johnson and Sam ParkinPRODUCER: Lucy OlivaJoin the Straight Outta Cobham fantasy league! League Code: 7lntvq Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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-AdamsWITH: Dom Fifield, Sam Parkin & Cerys JonesPRODUCER: 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-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher and Simon JohnsonPRODUCER: 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...!Join the Straight Outta Cobham PL Fantasy League! HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher and Liam TwomeyPRODUCER: 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-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher and Simon JohnsonPRODUCER: 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! Join the Straight Outta Cobham PL Fantasy League! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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-AdamsWITH: Simon Johnson and Thom HarrisPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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-AdamsWITH: Thom Harris and Sam ParkinPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

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-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher and Simon JohnsonPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher, Liam Twomey and Roshane ThomasPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher, Liam Twomey & Dom FifieldPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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-AdamsWITH: Simon Johnson, Liam Twomey & Seb Stafford-BloorPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

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.

The Estêvão Derby is upon us... Matt Davies-Adams has got Liam Twomey and Sam Parkin back with him to look ahead to Friday night's Club World Cup quarter-final against Palmeiras in Philadelphia. Brazilian football aficionado Jack Lang pops by for a closer look at the Blues' opponents - and what we should expect from Estêvão going forward...We've got reflections on Kepa's departure (we'll always have the 2019 Carabao Cup Final, ey?!) - excitement around what João Pedro could bring to the squad, and a quiz!We'll be back on Monday to review the Palmeiras clash and with any luck be looking ahead to a semi-final tie as the CWC enters the final stages... HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Liam Twomey, Sam Parkin & Jack LangPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We hope no one had any plans on Sunday morning...Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson alongside him to look back on the bonkers 4-1 (AET) victory over Benfica in a crazy match that lasted more than four hours and included a near two-hour delay due to extreme weather.We discuss the pretty farcical scenes in Charlotte which the Blues boss labelled a 'joke', the wonderful resurgence of Reece James who looks well and truly back to his best - and we salute Christopher Nkunku's contribution - even if he still looks set to leave the club after the tournament! Elsewhere, there have been some eye-catching transfer developments with the news that João Pedro and Jamie Gittens look to officially be on their way to Stamford Bridge. What do those signings mean for the current crop of attacking talent and what will they bring to Enzo Maresca's side?We'll be back on Thursday to look ahead to the last eight showdown with Palmeiras in the early hours of Saturday morning in the UK!HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher and Simon JohnsonPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bank of America Stadium awaits...Matt Davies-Adams has got Liam Twomey and Sam Parkin in tow for your latest dose of Club World Cup chatter!We start with the MD3 3-0 victory over ES Tunis on Tuesday night in a balmy Philadelphia which saw the much-changed Blues comfortably wrap up 2nd place in the group - and arguably a much more favourable route to the final... Then, attention turns to Charlotte and Saturday's last 16 meeting with Portuguese powerhouse Benfica. With so much history between the two clubs - it would be remise of Matt not to conduct a quiz...We'll be back on Monday to review Saturday's Benfica showdown and hopefully have a quarterfinal to look forward to!HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Liam Twomey and Sam ParkinPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We didn't want to go to Miami anyway...Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Chelsea experts Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson alongside him to look back on the 3-1 defeat by Flamengo in Philadelphia which means there's work to do if they want to progress to the knockout stages of the Club World Cup.We talk Nicolas Jackson's red, more confusing selection and tactical decisions, Cole Palmer's struggles and whether we should be cutting this group more slack given the circumstances...So it's a shootout for second place in the group on Tuesday night in Philly as Enzo Maresca's side take on Es Tunis. What can we expect from them - and what do we want to see from Chelsea as they look to bounce back from Friday's disappointment? Elsewhere, we react to the news that Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged by the FA with violating its anti-doping rules - and could now face up to a four-year ban.We'll be back on Thursday to discuss all the fallout from the ES Tunis game - and hope that the Blues have set up a round of 16 tie to look forward to on Saturday night!HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Simon Johnson and Liam TwomeyPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

22,137...Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher alongside him to look back on Chelsea's opening Club World Cup victory, beating LAFC 2-0 in a much less than half empty Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.We discuss the bizarre atmosphere inside an arena that's intended to house 71,000 raucous spectators - analyse the contributions of Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap who'll be vying for that starting No. 9 position - and the balance of the team with Enzo Fernandez having to be satisfied with a goal off the bench. Plus - a bonus bit of Olivier Giroud who has rather fond memories of his time at Stamford Bridge!Next up in the competition the Blues are off to Philadelphia to take on a Flamengo side who sit top of the table in the ongoing Brazilian Serie A - and are managed by Filipe Luís and have Jorginho amongst their ranks! Will it prove a step up in quality?And finally - get yourselves ready for the VisitMalta Weekender (!) at Stamford Bridge... we discuss the bizarre truncated pre-season that Enzo Maresca and the players are having to contend with with Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan lined up as opponents in the week before the start of the new Premier League season.We'll be back next week to look back on Chelsea's remaining CWC group games against Flamengo and ES Tunis as they look to secure safe passage to the next round of the competition and book a trip to Miami... HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Liam Twomey and Luke BosherPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who's hyped for the Club World Cup then...anyone...anyone!?Matt Davies-Adams has got Liam Twomey and Sam Parkin alongside him as we take a considered look back at the 2024-25 campaign following last week's Conference League victory out in Poland.Then, we pivot to the upcoming CWC over in the USA - with another piece of silverware up for grabs. So - who actually cares?! And will the players be motivated to perform on this stage?We've got the latest transfer news with Liam Delap all but official, Jadon Sancho NOT returning to Stamford Bridge next season - and reported interest in a number of eye-catching names to add to the collection...Plus - Matt couldn't go without a quiz!We're taking a short break but we'll be back after the first Club World Cup game against LAFC out in Atlanta. In the meantime, keep right across all the latest Blues news via The Athletic!HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Liam Twomey and Sam ParkinPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva--------------*Have your say and let us know what you think of the pod!* https://forms.gle/JpkvkcBtSAin92KL8 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've won it all...Matt Davies-Adams, Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher assemble to celebrate Chelsea's Europa Conference League triumph as they came from a goal down to beat Real Betis 4-1 in Wrocław!We talk through the dramatic evening in Poland including eyebrow-raising team news, a tumultuous first 45 minutes, a sprinkling of Palmer magic and an emphatic comeback.What will this trophy mean for the club going forward? How big a show of character was the second half performance? And how much of a success has Enzo Maresca's first season in charge been?We also react to the breaking news that it looks like Liam Delap could be on his way to Stamford Bridge...We'll be back next week for a more considered look at the 2024-25 campaign as a whole - and look ahead to the impending Club World Cup!HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher and Simon JohnsonPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva----------------*Have your say and let us know what you think of the pod!* https://forms.gle/JpkvkcBtSAin92KL8 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was never, ever in doubt...Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey alongside him to wrap up the 1-0 final day victory over Nottingham Forest to seal Chelsea's participation in next season's Champions League.Liam was on hand to soak up the atmosphere at the final whistle - and was in the room as Enzo Maresca silenced the haters with a... kind of F-bomb?!! We reflect on their defensive steeliness, ability to get over the line and dig deep and banish their poor away form to get back at Europe's top table after a two-year absence. Then, it's all eyes on Wrocław as we preview Wednesday evening's Europa Conference League final showdown with Real Betis. Who makes the starting XI given there's been so much chop and change between the league and cup sides? And how important is it for the Blues to finish the season on a high by adding this trophy to their cabinet?We'll be back with our post-final round up on Thursday! HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher and Liam TwomeyPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It all comes down to this...Matt Davies-Adams has got Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher alongside him to look ahead to the final day of the Premier League season aka Nottingham Forest (A) aka the MDA Derby to end all MDA Derbies.The Athletic's Nick Miller - who happens to be a Forest fan - stops by to give us an insight into what the Blues should expect from the hosts at the City Ground - who still harbour hopes of nabbing a Champions League spot should they win and results elsewhere go their way.So, what are Chelsea's chances of getting the win? Who will Enzo Maresca trust up top? And what are the ramifications if they fall short? Plus, we've got a quick look ahead to next week's Conference League final, following the midweek pre-match media day which saw the boss express his frustration at the scheduling and confirm that Filip Jörgensen WILL start in goal.And of course - we've got a quiz with a Forest flavour.We'll be back on Monday to hopefully be celebrating Chelsea's safe passage into next season's Champions League AND a look ahead to Wednesday's final.HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher, Simon Johnson and Nick MillerPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was never going to be pretty, was it?!Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Chelsea experts Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson alongside him to look back on the narrow 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Premier League on Friday night.We talk Marc Cucurella's incredible hot streak in front of goal, the invaluable contribution of Reece James which is making team selection difficult for Enzo Maresca - and the changing mood around the club and in the boardroom following the final home game of the season. Then it's off to Wembley - where CFCW wrapped up their remarkable domestic campaign in style by completing the treble in a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Man United. We'll be back on Thursday to look ahead to the MDA Derby to end all MDA Derbies... yikes!HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Liam Twomey and Simon JohnsonPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Surely they have to beat *this* Man United team?!Matt Davies-Adams, Liam Twomey and Sam Parkin assemble to look ahead to a huge Friday night and Sunday afternoon for Chelsea Football Club.We begin under the lights at Stamford Bridge, where at 20:15 on Friday evening the Blues host a Manchester United side who sit 16th in the table, haven't won a game in the Premier League since the 16th March, haven’t won back-to-back league games all season AND are averaging less than a point a game under manager Ruben Amorim. So - why are we still not 100% sure that Enzo Maresca's side will be able to come away with the win? And who's going to fill the void left behind by Nicholas Jackson? The Athletic's United writer Carl Anka is on hand to give us the inside scoop on the opponents and their struggles. Then it's all about CFCW - looking to wrap up the domestic treble on Sunday afternoon when they take on Manchester United at Wembley. Carl sticks around to help us preview that one too as Sonia Bompastor's side look to sign off from this season in style. And - of course - we finish with a fiendishly tricky quiz...We'll be back on Monday to run the rule over the Manchester United double header in the Premier League and Women's FA Cup Final! HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Liam Twomey, Sam Parkin and Carl AnkaPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oh, Nicolas...Matt Davies-Adams is joined by The Athletic's Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher to run the rule over Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Newcastle.There's only one place to start (unfortunately) - we get the post-match thoughts of Simon Johnson from the St. James' Park press box and hear him in conversation with Enzo Maresca following the 36th-minute red card handed out to Nicolas Jackson after his senseless forearm smash on Sven Botman.We touch on the lack of intensity from the very first minute, the tactical naivety of the side which seemed to have been found out by Eddie Howe - and what this means for hopes of securing a top five finish with just Manchester United and Nottingham Forest to come in the Premier League.As is almost always the case, CFCW provided some joy as they wrapped up a historic unbeaten WSL season in their last-gasp 1-0 win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge!We'll be back at the slightly earlier time of Wednesday to look ahead to Friday night's really, really must-win game against hapless Manchester United at the Bridge - and we'll preview Sunday's Women's FA Cup Final at Wembley.HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher, Liam Twomey and Simon JohnsonPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The most low-key semi-final second leg ever?!Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher alongside him to run the rule over Thursday night's 1-0 victory over Djurgården.It's a result that sealed a 5-1 aggregate victory as the Blues cruised into the Conference League final - where they'll face Real Betis in what's surely going to be a far more competitive contest on the 28th of May.We round up events at Stamford Bridge - and the shocking number of away fans in the home stands - before looking ahead to Sunday afternoon's top five showdown at Newcastle United.Plus, Chelsea Women look go complete an undefeated WSL season when they host Liverpool at the Bridge on the final day of the campaign!We'll be back on Monday to look back on all the action across the weekend - with CFCW looking to go unbeaten and CFC looking to take a huge step towards locking in a top five finish.HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher and Simon JohnsonPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Where would Chelsea be in the table if Romeo Lavia had been fit all season?!Matt Davies-Adams has The Athletic's Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey alongside him to look back on the huge 3-1 victory over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. We talk Cole Palmer's masterful performance, Romeo Lavia's pivotal role which as been sorely missed too often in this campaign - and the tireless work of Moises Caicedo as the three points helped Enzo Maresca's side move a step closer to Champions League football next season. We celebrate the winners at the end of season awards, look ahead to Thursday night's second leg against Djurgården which the Blues take a commanding lead into - and shoutout CFCW who got a guard of honour AND a win at Tottenham for good measure.We'll be back on Friday to hope that the men have put in a better performance than the last Conference League return leg... and look ahead to another massive game with the trip to Brentford on the horizon! HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First came Didier, then came Romelu, then came...Matt Davies-Adams has got Dom Fifield and the returning Super Sammy Parkin alongside him to look back on the comprehensive 4-1 Conference League semi-final first leg victory over Djurgården. Simon Johnson spoke to us at full-time to give a flavour of events on the ground in Sweden.Then our focus shifts back to the Premier League and the visit of Liverpool to Stamford Bridge on Sunday. We might be subjected to a guard of honour - but can Chelsea get the better of the champions and take another huge step towards securing Champions League football next season?There's jubilation for CFCW who wrapped up their sixth straight WSL title on Wednesday night with the 1-0 victory at Manchester United. The Athletic's Megan Feringa is back with her assessment of how big an achievement it is in Sonia Bompastor's first season in charge.We've got a pretty mouthwatering quiz with Sam looking to reclaim his old crown as the most fearsome competitor of all.Plus, we pay our tributes to a man who was the definition of 'Proper Chels' following the incredibly sad news of Paul Lagan's passing.We'll be back on Monday to reflect on the visit of Liverpool and look ahead to the second leg against Djurgården on Thursday night.HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Dom Fifield, Simon Johnson, Megan Feringa and Sam ParkinPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does your Djurgården need watering?Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher for your Monday dose of Chelsea chat.We begin with a look back on the 1-0 victory over Everton on Saturday - with Jackson back amongst the goals, Lavia back in the starting line up - and Chelsea looking like they're back in with a realistic chance of a top five finish. Then, it's all eyes on the Conference League semi-final first leg, with the Blues on their way out to Djurgården. And finally, there was disappointment at Stamford Bridge as CFCW suffered another battering at the hands of a relentless Barcelona, beaten 4-1 on the day and 8-2 (yikes) on aggregate. The Athletic's Megan Feringa helps us look ahead to what this means for the rest of the season for Sonia Bompastor's side and how they recover. We'll be back on Friday to reflect on the trip to Sweden and look ahead to the visit of champions Liverpool to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now is not the time to get stuck in a spot of bother...Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Chelsea experts Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey alongside him to look ahead to Saturday's visit of the Toffees at Stamford Bridge.On Sunday Chelsea Women try and pull off the unthinkable and overturn a three-goal deficit against Barcelona in their Champions League semi-final second leg. Megan Feringa gives us her take on their chances of turning the tie on its head.Plus, what's being done to create a fiercer and more lively atmosphere at Stamford Bridge? Richard and Alex from We Are The Shed join us to explain the steps being put in place to try and make the Bridge a fortress and bring more colour and noise to the Shed End. We'll be back on Monday to look back on the early kick-off against Everton, hope for a CFCW miracle against Barca and look ahead to Thursday's trip to Djurgården in the Conference League.!HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just returning the favour after Boxing Day...Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher to reflect on the unlikely Easter Sunday comeback which saw Chelsea score two late goals to beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage.We talk half-time tweaks, the outpouring of emotion at full-time from the players and fans - and what this means for the chances of Champions League football next season. Not such good news for CFCW though - who were humbled in a 4-1 defeat at a dominant and ruthless Barcelona in their Champions League semi-final first leg encounter. Plenty of work for Sonia Bompastor's side to do if they're to keep their quadruple hopes alive when they face off again at Stamford Bridge next Sunday.We'll be back on Thursday to look ahead to that game and Saturday's early kick-off against Everton in the Premier League. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has a team ever reached a European semi-final but been booed off the pitch? Asking for a friend...Matt Davies-Adams, Luke Bosher and Dom Fifield unite BEFORE the Legia game to look ahead to Sunday's visit to Fulham in the Premier League. But don't worry - thanks to the magic of editing we also hear from Simon Johnson in the press box after the hugely demoralising 2-1 defeat by Legia Warsaw in the Conference League which threw up more questions than answers. We look ahead to the small matter of a Champions League semi-final first leg over in Barcelona for CFCW, talk agents fees and veteran strikers and hear from Pat Harding - son of Matthew - who's following in his father's footsteps after becoming chairman of Hassocks FC. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher, Dom Fifield and Simon Johnson PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is it about Ipswich?!Matt Davies-Adams has got Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson alongside him to mull over the pretty disastrous 2-2 draw with the Tractor Boys at Stamford Bridge.We touch on the fractious relationship between Enzo Maresca and the fans after his pointed post-match comments, the lack of leadership amongst the squad and the costliness of the back-to-back draws with a pretty treacherous run-in to come. Then it's onto Thursday's visit of Legia in the Conference League quarter-final second leg. The Blues take a 3-0 advantage into the tie... surely they can't mess that up!?Plus, there was late drama for CFCW as Aggie Beever-Jones scored a 94th minute winner as Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-1 to book their place in the FA Cup final!We'll be back on Friday to round up the Thursday night's European escapades and look ahead to the tricky trip just down the road to take on Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tyrique George... you love to see it!Matt Davies-Adams has got Jessy Parker Humphreys and Luke Bosher with him to give their verdict as Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 victory over Legia Warszawa over in Poland on Thursday night. We heap praise on academy graduates George and Acheampong for seizing their opportunities - but also ponder why it was such a painfully slow start to the game and whether Enzo Maresca should be more critical of the first half woes which continues to be a plague this side. We've got a look ahead to Sunday's visit of an Ipswich Town side who are on the brink of relegation - but hoping to do the league double over Chelsea! Plus, is this an audition for Liam Delap at Stamford Bridge?We touch base with the women's team - back in action after the international break and with the small matter of an FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool to look ahead to as Sonia Bompastor's side enter a defining month of action. And of course... a quiz! We'll be back on Monday to reflect on the visit of the Tractor Boys and look ahead to the second leg of the Conference League quarter-final tie against Legia. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher, Jessy Parker Humphreys and Liam Twomey PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What much better things could we have been doing with those two hours of our lives? Matt Davies-Adams, Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey have the unfortunate task of talking about the 0-0 draw at Brentford on Sunday.There was eyebrow raising team selection, an abundance of long kicks, the ongoing Nkunku problem and a sense of one steps forward, two steps back for Enzo Maresca. Then, we look ahead to Thursday's trip to Poland to take on Legia Warszawa in the first leg of their Europa Conference League quarterfinal first leg. Who's making the starting XI?!We'll be back on Friday to find out how the Blues got on, plus look ahead to the visit of Ipswich in the Premier League AND CFCW's FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool.HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Poor old Ange...Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher in tow to look back on the fiery and thoroughly deserved 1-0 victory over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.We talk the triumphant return of Nicholas Jackson, Caicedo's extraordinary engine and the much-improved showing from the Blues, buoyed on by a raucous crowd. Now - can they translate that home form to Sunday's away day at Brentford?! Enzo Maresca's side are hoping to avoid suffering five straight Premier League defeats on the road when they face the Bees. We'll be back on Monday to reflect on the short trip to the Gtech and preview Thursday's Conference League quarterfinal first leg in Poland! HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson PRODUCER: Lucy OlivaWe're asking you to fill out a quick survey about you and your podcast habits by going to theathletic.com/athletic/survey25. Three lucky entries will win £/$100 worth of Amazon vouchers too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher to get back up to speed with all things Chelsea Football Club after the international break. We begin with a round up of the latest Blues news since we've been off - including more stadium uncertainty, a new wonderkid and a revoked day off...We've got a special guest, as club legend John Terry speaks to Simon Johnson to commemorate the 20th anniversary of THAT remarkable defence that conceded just 15 goals in 38 Premier League games in their record-breaking first title charge under Jose Mourinho in 2004-2005. Then, Jessy Parker Humphreys does their best to round up a pretty crazy fortnight in the world of CFCW as they booked their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League in dramatic circumstances.On Thursday it's all eyes on the Premier League as Spurs make the short trip across town to Stamford Bridge. We preview that game and it's importance for Enzo Maresca as the run-in to the end of the season begins in earnest. We'll be back on Friday to run the rule over the visit of Tottenham and look ahead to the trip to Brentford!HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher, Liam Twomey and Jessy Parker Humphreys PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the 10th of March, Chelsea Football Club celebrated its 120th anniversary. It’s fair to say from 1905 to 2025 there’s been chaos, controversy, jubilation, heartache, success, failure and everything in between. On this episode, we follow the club into the modern day and discuss the seismic changes that have taken place behind the scenes since the takeover by BlueCo in 2022. Matt Davies-Adams has got Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey alongside him to analyse the current state of the men’s team - which it’s fair to say is going through a bit of a tumultuous time! Then, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Dan Sheldon, who’s recently investigated some of the concerns around the ‘CFC LDN’ rebrand and whether there are wider connotations… We had to finish on a high note, so Jessy Parker Humphreys is with us to explain how despite it all - the women’s team have maintained their standards of excellence (Man City 1st leg aside!) and continued to win trophies while the men’s team have struggled to compete. Read Simon's piece on Chelsea's rich history before 2003 Read Liam's piece on Chelsea's most important match from each decadeBack on Monday to look ahead to the return to Premier League action with the small matter of Tottenham coming to Stamford Bridge - plus we'll check in on the fortunes of CFCW!HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Simon Johnson, Liam Twomey, Dan Sheldon and Jessy Parker HumphreysPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the 10th of March, Chelsea Football Club celebrated its 120th anniversary. It’s fair to say from 1905 to 2025 there’s been chaos, controversy, jubilation, heartache, success, failure and everything in between. On this episode, we go back to July 1st, 2003 - and the day the course of the club’s history changed forever when Roman Abramovich became owner. Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic’s Dom Fifield and Simon Johnson alongside him to reminisce about the glory days, the José years - and the experience of covering the club during that period. And what was it like to be a fan growing up in that era? Younger fans are often tarred with a glory hunter brush, but Luke Bosher explains what it was like to be introduced to the club when they were serial winners and at the height of their powers. Plus, Liam Twomey’s back to help us finish off our overview of the defining fixtures from each decade, from the 1980s through to the modern day. Read Simon's piece on Chelsea's rich history before 2003 Read Liam's piece on Chelsea's most important match from each decadeHOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Simon Johnson, Liam Twomey, Luke Bosher & Dom Fifield PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the 10th of March, Chelsea Football Club celebrated its 120th anniversary. It’s fair to say from 1905 to 2025 there’s been chaos, controversy, jubilation, heartache, success, failure and everything in between. On this episode, Matt Davies-Adams is joined by The Athletic’s Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey to delve into the history of the club from its formation in 1905 through to the latter stages of the 20th century. Yes, Chelsea really did exist before 2003! What about some of the club’s forgotten figures? The Chelsea Graves Society was set up by fans, dedicated to tracing the final resting places of former players and significant others associated with the club. Member Andrew Rowley joins to tell us more.Then, we take a decade-by-decade look at some of the defining fixtures which shaped the club - and paved the way for the Chelsea we know and love today. Read Simon's piece on Chelsea's rich history before 2003 Read Liam's piece on Chelsea's most important match from each decadeHOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Simon Johnson and Liam TwomeyPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.