Straight Outta Cobham: The Athletic FC's Chelsea show

A Chelsea legend gone too soon... Sam Parkin and Jessy Parker Humphreys join Matt Davies-Adams to pay their tributes to Gianluca Vialli - who has died at the age of 58. We get Sam's memories from Cobham, discuss his lasting legacy at the club and salute the man, the player, and the manager. Back on the pitch - we round up the 1-0 defeat to Manchester City - which despite Simon's downbeat voice not...

The positivity was fun while it lasted hey... Simon Johnson and Sam Parkin are alongside Matt Davies-Adams to reflect on the MDA derby as the spoils were shared between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea - and it was Graham Potter's side who were lucky to escape from the City Ground with a point. We've got the latest transfer news, rumours and potential ins and outs with the window now officially open....

We've waited since the 16th of October... Matt Davies-Adams has got Dom Fifield and Jessy Parker-Humphreys in tow as Chelsea finally got back to winning ways in the Premier League thanks to a 2-0 victory over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge. Mason Mount shines on his 150th start, there's promise from Kai Havertz - but another injury worry for Reece James dampens the mood on a rainy evening in SW6....

And just like that, Chelsea are nearly back... Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson alongside him as the Blues prepare to get back to action in the Premier League following the World Cup break. We start with the sad news of Armando Broja's serious injury - and what it could mean for the club in terms of signings in the January transfer window - or the promotion of...

No, it's not just a motorway service station... Matt Davies-Adams has got the whole SOC family alongside him to round up all things Chelsea ahead of the (welcome) World Cup break. First up, Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey reflect on the 1-0 defeat at Newcastle - which sees the Blues sitting eighth in the Premier League table after a third straight league loss. Our mood is lifted with the help of Jes...

He was born in 2004... Fierce quizzing rivals Dom Fifield and Sam Parkin are alongside Matt Davies-Adams to reflect on Chelsea's departure from the League Cup after the 2-0 defeat at Manchester City. But it's not all doom and gloom - as a Simon Johnson voice note live from the Etihad at the final whistle points out - with 18-year-old Lewis Hall playing a starring role and a generally improved perf...

Well, that was pretty grim... The Athletic's Chelsea experts Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey are alongside Matt Davies-Adams to reflect on the disastrous 1-0 defeat by Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. Thankfully Chelsea Women brought some joy to the weekend courtesy of a 3-1 win at Manchester United! Graham Potter's side could be in a world of pain *again* when they make the trip to the Etihad to face Ma...

With the good comes the bad... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by The Athletic's Chelsea experts Liam Twomey and Dom Fifield to look back on the 2-1 win over Zagreb in the final Champions League Group game. There was a debut and goal to remember for Denis Zakaria, late injury heartbreak for Ben Chilwell and reasons for Graham Potter to be positive ahead of a big final week of domestic action. Next up...

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...