The Flag Stays Down

First official L of the season and it was a bad one.  The boys try really hard to stay on topic today and not turn this into an episode of Pod After Dark.  Andy, Matt, and Parker try to answer the following questions:  Where was Kai Havertz?  Was Mason Mount on the pitch?  Who is going to win the looming LWB battle?  What solves our issues?

The boys were in all different parts of the country this weekend and couldn't sit down for a conversation.  So, we introduce you to "Chelsea v Spurs, an Anthology".  The boys give their separate takes on Koulibaly, the high press, Tuchel v Conte, and of course... Anthony Taylor.

The Premier League is BACK.  There were plenty of new things for the boys to discuss at Chelsea Football Club.  We got our first exposure to the away white kits.  Major signings Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly made their first Chelsea starts.  Big signing Marc Cucurella and academy graduate Armando Broja came on in the second half to make their first team debuts.  At...

The boys discuss Barcelona and Chelsea's transfer season rivalry.  Andy gives an explanation of how Barca are able to operate the way they do.

OUR LAST PRESEASON POD OF THE YEAR!!!  Andy, Matt, and Parker break down our predictions for Chelsea and the Premier League this season.  Matt has a take on Thomas Tuchel and the direction he's headed.  The boys pick top goal scorer and break out player of the year.  One of us is off the rocker on both picks.  Finally we make our pick for one last transfer in this window.

Terrible end to a terrible US tour.  0-4 in Orlando to Arsenal.  The boys debate Michy Batshuayi vs Timo Werner.  They look at what area of the pitch needs to improve the most.  Thomas Tuchel's presser is going on as they pod and they react to some of his comments.

We waited for this?  After a lightning strike delayed the match, Chelsea lost 1-1 on penalties to MLS newcomers Charlotte FC.  Matt and Andy had A LOT to say about ESPN's coverage of the match (as we're sure you did, too).  When things got to actual football, they put Callum Hudson-Odoi on blast.  They did have positive things to say, though about Jorginho and Kenedy.  Rah...

THE BOYS ARE BACK.  Not only Chelsea, but the Flag Stays Down.  Preseason friendly #1 is in the books, a 2-1 win over Mexican side Club America.  The boys do their best to break down what can only be described as a Friendly.  The new home kits are starting to turn some heads and our guys are coming around to it.  From Callum Hudson-Odoi to Connor Gallagher to Jorginho. &nb...

A very off-the-cuff episode to close out the season.  Andy, Matt, and Parker pour a few bourbons and and breakdown Chelsea's season position by position.  How did the keepers, the defenders, and midfielders, and forwards fare in 2022-23?  Things get goofy, they get heated, but at the end of the day the boys are proud of this group.

The boys have a lot of grievances with Chelsea Twitter lately.  Mason Mount was made a scapegoat this weekend after his penalty miss at Wembley, but was it deserved.  Is Romelu Lukaku back in the fold?  Does he deserve our forgiveness?  Christian Pulisic is still being hyped up by the American media for his performances lately.  The boys try to decipher if it is justified....

We welcome back the Wheel for the second time this season.  The boys talk about whether Timo Werner looking good is the same as Timo Werner being good.  The wheel brings up transfers, so we discuss if we want Neymar in this side.  Finally, we continue our conversation from earlier in the week about Premier League officiating and VAR.

Boehly season has started!  In this new era in Chelsea Football Club we saw the reemergence of Romelu Lukaku.  Is this a flash in the pan or is this finally what we paid for?  We also saw a new midfield.  It had it's ups and downs, but was the boys' verdict?  Matt had a lot to say about officiating in this match (and it's going to spill over into Pod After Dark).  Fin...

The drinks flowed during Sunday's pod.  Pod After Dark is the aftermath.  Andy continues to defend Marcos Alonso and rips Antonio Rudiger.  Expectedly, Matt and Parker were not thrilled.  Andy also has a Rom hot take that the boys are having any of.  Transfers are discussed, wishlists are made.  Join us for a drink and Pod After Dark!

Matt was a little late today, but Andy and Parker held down the ship.  After a draw and a loss this week, the boys discussed who or what is to blame for this poor run of form.  They take a look at the top four chase.  Finally, Andy Matt and Parker discuss the news that broke last week of Todd Boehly's consortium being announced as preferred bidder.

Andy admits he has changed his mind on Marcos Alonso, once the most hated man on the pod.  Matt and Andy discuss transfers, young USMNT players, and their hate of MLS.

Parker is back, meaning we are at full strength this week!  The boys discuss a pretty poor week at home where we gave up four goals to Arsenal and had to wait until the 90th minute to beat West Ham.  We break it down: who, or what, is to blame?  We also discuss the sad news this week that Antonio Rudiger is confirmed to be leaving.  Is Reece James an option at CB?  Finally...

Parker is out sick, so it's just Andy and Matt holding down the fort this week.  The two, who are normally at odds, had some great conversation about a pretty positive week in Chelsea Football Club.  The boys chatted about how resilient this side is, even though it may be a different look squad in 2022-23.  Ruben Loftus-Cheek earned some praise this week with his stellar play at RWB...

Andy has a theory about Romelu Lukaku and how this season has unfolded.  Matt things transfer fees are too high and we need to avoid "club record signings".  We break down how this season is going to be remembered, three-quarters the way through this campaign.  Matt wants to know who should be our 5-year core.

In this week's episode the boys discuss some low lows and some high highs.  Andreas Christensen was trash this week.  N'Golo Kante is playing out of position.  Timo Werner was good, but also bad.  Mason Mount needs some respect put on his name.  It was an odd week, and we're all about discussing here is on the Flag Stays Down.

Bets are on the table.  Loser owes a bottle of Slipknot No 9 Bourbon to the other two.  We take a look at the draw and determine who will take first and second in each group.

We wait two weeks between Chelsea matches and we get to see them get thumped 4-1 by Brentford.  The boys just want to know, how?  There are a lot of factors in this one, between resting after international matches, a wrong lineup, a "black hole" on the pitch.  Andy, Matt, and Parker break it down and try to figure out the root cause of this thrashing.  As always, the boys also...

On international break, it seems like we're getting a lot of rumblings of players wanting out of the club.  The boys tackle statements from Timo Werner and Jorginho's agent suggesting they may think the grass is greener on the other side.  The boys then discuss Raine Group's shortlist of potential Chelsea buyers.  Surprisingly, they're all in agreement over one party.  Lastly,...

Andy is out of town, but that didn't stop the boys from podding this week.  For seemingly the 100th consecutive episode, the boys discuss Chelsea's sale as the bids for purchase were due on Friday.  It leads to a change of pace discussion of how well the players and staff have done in handling this whole situation.  There are not enough positive words available to talk about Thomas...

Matt starts us off with the age old question: who would you rather have at LB?  That transitions into a do you keep Saul after his loan expires discussion.  Then we get to the elephant in the room - Chelsea's potential new ownership.  Matt is fed up with all of it and the boys discuss the hypocrisy of it all.

Andy, Matt, and Parker are back!  In this week's episode we continue to heap praise on Kai Havertz.  Continuing from last week's discussion, is this the Kai Havertz we paid for?  Was Chelsea ready for Norwich and Newcastle's press?  Just how bad has Timo Werner been?  Finally, the boys address the elephant in the room... new ownership.  Each of the guys lays out what...