Straight Outta Cobham: The Athletic FC's Chelsea show

Halloween came early for CFC... Matt Davies-Adams has got Jessy Parker-Humphreys and Simon Johnson alongside him for a post-mortem following the shock 4-1 defeat at Brighton. We try to get to the bottom of where it all went wrong, why Raheem Sterling has looked so poor, and whether there's any reason to panic. It's Matchday 6 in the Champions League and a dead rubber against Matchday 1 foes Dinamo...

It was never, ever in doubt... Jessy Parker-Humphrey's and Sam Parkin are with Matt Davies-Adams for your second weekly dose of SOC as Chelsea book their place in the last 16 of the Champions League AND top Group E after a 2-1 win at RB Salzburg. Next up for Graham Potter's side is a trip to his old stomping ground - and a meeting with Brighton at the Amex on Saturday afternoon. There's EIGHT goal...

Rumour has it Chelsea and Manchester United quite like draws? Matt Davies-Adams has got Jessy Parker-Humphreys and Sam Parkin alongside him to reflect on the seemingly inevitable 1-1 scoreline at Stamford Bridge. We've got a whole lotta love for Trevoh Chalobah, concerns about Raheem Sterling's form - and find out what it's like to be hooked before HT. It's Matchday Five in the Champions League as...

Not much sting in that one... The Athletic's Chelsea experts Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey are alongside Matt Davies-Adams to look back on the goalless draw with Brentford. There's bafflement over Kai Havertz, praise for the impact subs, and a word on Broja's first start - with no Sam in sight! We've then got eyes on events at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening - with Manchester United in town fo...

This is a Kepa Arrizabalaga appreciation pod... Jessy Parker-Humphreys and Dom Fifield join Matt Davies-Adams to reflect on a fifth straight win for Graham Potter's side courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa. We chat Kepa heroics, the loss of Reece James and two long overdue goals for Mason Mount. There's a quick turnaround with a trip to Brentford on Wednesday night - we preview that game, q...

Just a bit *too much* Big Fik Energy... Simon Johnson and Sam Parkin are in the hot seat alongside Matt Davies-Adams to reflect on the 2-0 win over AC Milan - as Graham Potter's men surged to the top of Group E after an eventful evening at the San Siro. The Blues are back in Premier League action on Sunday afternoon as they make the trip to Villa Park - we look ahead to that game - round up the ne...

Wolves... tamed. Liam Twomey and Jessy Parker Humphrey's are alongside Matt Davies-Adams to look back on the 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge - as Graham Potter's side capped off a week with three straight wins in style. There's love for Diego, special praise for Azpi and Gallagher - and whether Kai Havertz is *finally* really hitting his stride. Next up - it's a trip to...

A big step forward? Simon Johnson and Sam Parkin join Matt Davies-Adams to look back on the big 3-0 win over AC Milan at Stamford Bridge to reinvigorate the Blues' Champions League campaign. There's praise for Aubameyang and James, fingers crossed for Fofana - and whether this is a sign of a real turning point for the squad with a chaotic month of fixtures to come. Next up in the Premier League -...

There's nothing quite like a last minute winner... The Athletic's Chelsea experts Dom Fifield and Liam Twomey are alongside Matt Davies-Adams to look back on the dramatic 2-1 win over Crystal Palace - courtesy of a last-gasp screamer from Conor Gallagher. With the Premier League points in the bag - attention turns to the crucial visit of AC Milan in the Champions League - with three points looking...

Until the World Cup, international break... Sam Parkin and Dom Fifield are alongside Matt Davies-Adams as we gear up for the return of the men's domestic football. We begin with memories of Ramires and John Obi Mikel - who both announced their retirement from the game in midweek - with iconic goals, bags of appearances and plenty of medals between them. Chelsea Women made it two wins from three af...

There's good genes, and then there's James genes... Jessy Parker-Humphreys and Liam Twomey are alongside Matt Davies-Adams to look back on Chelsea Women's 2-0 win over Manchester City as they registered their first three points of the WSL season. As the international break rumbles on for the men's team - Matt opens his mailbag to take your questions - including priorities for Potter, players who m...

You've (not) got a Freund in me... Matt Davies-Adams has got Simon Johnson and Sam Parkin in tow to mull over the latest Blues news. We begin with the ongoing search for a sporting director, with target Christoph Freund seemingly committing his future to RB Salzburg. There's the latest on the search to fill the role - plus the unpleasant business surrounding the sacking of commercial director Dami...

Not quite the start we were expecting... Jessy Parker Humphreys and Dom Fifiield join Matt Davies-Adams to reflect on the clash between Chelsea and Liverpool which *did* go ahead - as Emma Hayes' side were shocked courtesy of two penalties in the 2-1 defeat to begin their WSL campaign. The international break may now be underway - but there's plenty of other Blues news to round up including the ru...

Not-so-all-star... The Athletic's Chelsea experts Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson are alongside Matt Davies-Adams to look back on the 1-1 draw with RB Salzburg in Graham Potter's first game in charge of the Blues. We chat team selection, xG and same old problems as the position in Group E looks increasingly precarious after picking up just one point from the opening two games. Todd Boehly's comments...

Graham Stephen Potter... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Dom Fifield and Sam Parkin to take a closer look at the arrival of the new man at the helm at Stamford Bridge. The Athletic's Brighton expert Andy Naylor give us an insight to the man himself, his coaching staff - and what he'll bring to the club. Then, we highlight five key areas that will sit top of Potter's in tray as he gets his feet unde...

Full title credit goes to Simon Johnson... The Athletic's Chelsea expert Simon and Dom Fifield are alongside Matt Davies-Adams to reflect on the sacking of Thomas Tuchel - and the arrival of Graham Potter. Recorded on Thursday morning - before the appointment was officially confirmed - we take a forensic look at how the Blues reached this point, why the decision was made to part company with Tuche...

One normal day of Chelsea... Thomas Tuchel has been sacked by the Blues just a month into the new season. Join Mark Chapman, David Ornstein and Liam Twomey on an emergency episode of The Athletic Football Podcast as they discuss how the club came to the decision and where they might go next. The usual Straight Outta Cobham episode will be back later this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privac...

Absolutely *nothing* to see here... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Liam Twomey and Sam Parkin to reflect on the incredibly controversial yet incredibly needed 2-1 win over West Ham and Stamford Bridge. We hail super subs Ben Chilwell and Kai Havertz, question another suspect and uninspiring performance - and give our verdict on *that* VAR decision. Then it's all eyes on the Champions League - with...

And just like that, the transfer window slams shut... Simon Johnson and Sam Parkin are in the hot seat alongside Matt Davies-Adams to rejoice as the summer transfer window FINALLY ends. We round up the last minute deals - including the arrival of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - which had looked unlikely just a couple of days earlier. There's outgoings too - with bright prospect Billy Gilmour off to Br...

Not to be outfoxed... Matt Davies-Adams has got all the latest Blues news covered with the help of Simon Johnson and Jessy Parker Humphreys. We begin with the hard-fought 2-1 win over Leicester - which saw Sterling get off the mark - and Gallagher get dismissed. The Premier League action keeps coming, with a look ahead to Tuesday night's trip to Southampton and some of the key selection questions...

From the negotiating table to the pitch... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Dom Fifield and Sam Parkin to look ahead to the visit of Leicester City. We begin with a look at the Foxes - and the ongoing Wesley Fofana transfer saga - with the help of The Athletic's Leicester expert Rob Tanner. There's also talk of selection conundrums, the potential return of a key midfielder - and whether Thomas Tuche...

Back down to earth with a bang... Jessy Parker-Humphreys and Liam Twomey are alongside Matt Davies-Adams to unpick the nightmarish 3-0 defeat at Elland Road. We question Édouard Mendy's decision making, the struggles of some of the senior players - and why Chelsea's attackers seem incapable of scoring goals. Away from the doom and gloom of the match - there's an eye on the transfer window and what...

To Elland Road we go... Dom Fifield and Sam Parkin are alongside Matt Davies-Adams to look ahead to Chelsea's trip to Leeds on Sunday. The Athletic's Leeds writer Phil Hay pops along to give us the insight into Jesse Marsch's side and what the Blues can expect from their trip to Yorkshire. We've got the latest transfer chit chat handled - with a closer look at the potential deal to bring Anthony G...

The handshake that shook the world... Matt Davies-Adams has Liam Twomey and Sam Parkin alongside him to *try* and sum up the fiery, feisty and controversy-filled 2-2 draw with Tottenham at Stamford Bridge. There's an examination of the officiating, praise for the extraordinary Reece James - and a look at what Chelsea could and should have done (within their control) to take all three points. We ha...

Will the unbeaten streak continue... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Liam Twomey and Jessy Parker Humphreys with the visit of rivals Tottenham just around the corner. The Athletic's Spurs correspondent Charlie Eccleshare drops in to let us know what we can expect from Antonio Conte's side after their flying start to the new season. But we begin with a transfer round-up - with plenty of movement sin...