Straight Outta Cobham: The Athletic FC's Chelsea show

We've missed you, Reece (and Trevoh...)... The Athletic's Chelsea writers Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson are alongside Matt Davies-Adams to look back on the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. We lament yet another second half collapse, weigh up the positives and negatives of Nicholas Jackson - and revisit the accusations of tactical naivety levelled at Enzo Maresca. So, a response is needed on Monday night...

Say it ain't so, Renato... Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Chelsea experts Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson alongside him to analyse the 5-0 victory over Morecambe in the FA Cup to set up a trip to Brighton in the fourth round. We talk missed opportunities for Nkunku, Tosin's goals and leadership - and the surprising news that a certain muse of Luke's could be on his way out the door... Then...

No 'cupsets' welcome round here... The Athletic's Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher are alongside Matt Davies-Adams to preview Saturday's FA Cup third round tie with lowly League Two outfit Morecambe at Stamford Bridge. We look ahead to that game, ponder team selection and the wider importance of the competition to the club. As transfer rumours continue to swirl we take a look at some of latest news t...

The winless run extends to four games... Matt Davies-Adams has got Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher alongside him to run the rule over Saturday's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Our Eagles expert Dom Fifield is back to give his take on the game - before we take a closer look at the Blues' profligacy in front of goal, concerns over squad depth and the leggy midfield problem. Then, with th...

A not so Merry Christmas after all... Matt Davies-Adams is back for the first time in 2025 and joined by The Athletic's Chelsea experts Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson to look back on the damaging back-to-back festive defeats at the hands of Fulham and Ipswich. We've got reports from the final whistle at both, before we reflect on the disappointment and question where this leaves their hopes of a to...

It's a point they haven't managed to get in the past... Matt Davies-Adams has got Liam Twomey in tow to look back on the blustery and attritional goalless draw with Everton at Goodison Park. Then, as it's our final show of the year we take a look back at 2024 in the life of Chelsea - the ups, the downs, the managerial changes and everything in between. A couple of familiar voices drop by to share...

26 goals in six games... don't you just love Thursday nights? Matt Davies-Adams in joined by two of The Athletic’s finest - Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson to round off a rather eventful week at Chelsea Football Club. We begin with matters on the pitch, and another thumping Conference League victory on Thursday night as the Blues beat Shamrock Rovers 5-1 to make it six wins from six in the league ph...

They just can't stop winning... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher to reflect on the frantic 2-1 victory over Brentford at Stamford Bridge. After three straight defeats to the Bees at home the curse is finally over! We heap praise on the relentless Moisés Caicedo, bemoan Marc Cucurella's full-time ill-discipline - and Enzo tells us why Chelsea STILL aren't in the title ra...

Turns out it *really* is really, really cold in Kazakhstan... Matt Davies-Adams has got Jessy Parker Humphreys, Liam Twomey and a whole load of special guests all the way over in Almaty as Chelsea made their longest ever trip for European competition - and came out on top with a comfortable 3-1 win in arctic conditions. We speak to fans from far and wide about their love for the club - and what ma...

Another thoroughly entertaining and rewarding trip to Three Point Lane... Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Chelsea finest - Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey alongside him to look back on the crazy 4-3 victory over Tottenham on Sunday afternoon. We try and unpack the carnage that unfolded with the help of your messages - including how the turnaround came about, love for Sancho - and quelling o...

That did the old goal difference no harm at all... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey to look back on the 5-1 thumping of a sorry Southampton at St Mary's on Wednesday night. Simon Johnson sends his post-match thoughts on what he described as the 'unrecognisable feel-good factor' around the club at the moment after yet another impressive victory for Enzo Maresca's side. But...

So... should we be talking about Chelsea as serious contenders?! Matt Davies-Adams has got two of the Athletic's finest - Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson alongside him to run the rule over the highly convincing 3-0 win over Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. Liam Twomey was on site and sent his dispatch as Enzo and co received the plaudits from a jubilant crowd. The Blues will be ho...

Climbing that hill was worth it... Matt Davies-Adams has got Jessy Parker Humphreys and Dom Fifield with him to look back on the 2-0 Conference League victory over Heidenheim out in Germany. Back to Premier League matters on Sunday - with a faltering Aston Villa in town having won just 1 of their last 7 in the league. So, would a win here mean Chelsea need to start to be considered serious contend...

Anyone else fancy kicking lumps out of Cole Palmer? Matt Davies-Adams has got Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson along for the ride to look back on the 2-1 victory at Leicester - which was in truth far more comfortable a win than the scoreline suggested. We lavish praise on Nicholas Jackson and take a closer look at some of the tactical tweaks Enzo Maresca made in a pretty experimental line up. Then, T...

Not the kind of news we wanted to start with... Matt Davies-Adams has got Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher alongside him to get back in the swing of things ahead of Saturday's Enzo Maresca Derby. But before we get to the game - we start with the news that Reece James has suffered yet another injury setback - picking up a hamstring problem in the international break. It was revealed by Enzo Maresca in h...

Chelsea Women are *literally* perfect... Matt Davies-Adams and Liam Twomey are with you for your Monday dose of Straight Outta Cobham. Jessy Parker Humphreys drops in to reflect on the huge 2-0 victory for CFCW over title rivals Manchester City at Stamford Bridge - which leaves Sonia Bompastor's side with seven wins from seven and a hugely significant three points against their closest challengers...

Is the proper football back yet? Matt Davies-Adams has got Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson with him to tackle some of your questions as we try and pass the hours in the never tedious international break. We touch on defensive fragility, the A/B team dynamic, the latest on the ownership fallout - and tips for getting into sport journalism! Elsewhere, Chelsea Women continued their perfect start to the...

Welcome back, Kai... Two of The Athletic's finest - Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey - are alongside Matt Davies-Adams as we reflect on the feisty and tesne 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. We question the signs of progress against the 'big' sides, Enzo's team tinkering with captain Reece James on the bench - and the continuing Robert Sánchez sized elephant in the room. Elsewhere, Chelsea Wome...

They only managed eight?!? Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Jessy Parker Humphreys and Simon Johnson to revel in the good vibes felt at Stamford Bridge following the 8-0 victory over Noah in the Europa Conference League. It's prompted more questions about the benefits of Chelsea being in the competition and whether they're 'too big' to be competing at this level - but we've all been drinking the ECL...

The wait for an Old Trafford win goes on... Matt Davies-Adams has got two of The Athletic's finest - Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher - alongside him to look back on the frustrating 1-1 draw with Manchester United. We dissect the potential imbalance in Maresca's system, ponder the back line conundrum - and wonder whether Chelsea will ever score from a set piece again... Then it's all eyes on Thursday...

11 changes too many... Matt Davies-Adams has got Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey with him to look back on the disappointing 2-0 cup exit at the hands of Newcastle on Wednesday night. We ponder the wisdom of the decision to field an entirely changed XI - and whether we should be worried about the disparity in quality between the 'A' and 'B' teams. Now to see whether the changes were worth it - as Chels...

The Magpies double-header is off to a good start... Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher alongside him to look back on Sunday afternoon's 2-1 victory over Newcastle in the Premier League. We eulogise over *that* Palmer pass, discuss the return of Reece James amid questions over his 'leadership' credentials - and wonder what this line-up tells us about Enzo's roll in...

They're quite good at this whole Conference League thing... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Jessy Parker Humphreys and Luke Bosher to look back on the hugely comfortable 4-1 win over Panathinaikos over in Athens which leaves Chelsea with three wins from three in Europe. Liam Twomey was at the match for The Athletic and sends his musings. Will anyone be enough to stop Enzo Maresca's side from going...

The winless streak against Liverpool stretches to 10... Matt Davies-Adams has got Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher with him to look back on Sunday afternoon's 2-1 defeat at Anfield. We talk Reece's return, defensive fragility and the Neto v Sancho selection conundrum - plus a chance to hear from Enzo Maresca in conversation with Simon after the game. The attention turns to Thursday night's Conference...

It's about to get real... Matt Davies-Adams has got Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson alongside him as we get back into the swing of domestic matters. We round up all the news from across the international break - including plenty of honours, national team fortunes and the return of Thomas Tuchel... Then it's all eyes on the trip to Anfield! The Athletic's Liverpool correspondent James Pearce stops by...