Straight Outta Cobham: The Athletic FC's Chelsea show

An afternoon of complete nothingness... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by The Athletic's Chelsea experts Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson to look back on the drab 1-0 defeat at The Emirates. We delve into the reasons behind the squad being bereft of confidence, the complete lack of ambition in front of goal, and the struggles without Cole Palmer around to save the day. Plus - what's happened to Jadon Sa...

That was a fun night of football, said no one... ever... Matt Davies-Adams has got Jessy Parker Humphreys and Simon Johnson in tow for a bumper look at all things Chelsea ahead of a busy few days for the club. We've got England call ups, we've got an extraordinarily underwhelming Conference League victory, we've got a huge game against Arsenal in the Premier League - and we've got a League Cup fin...

Not PlayStation football, eh? Matt Davies-Adams, Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher are on duty to look back on the narrow and thoroughly unconvincing 1-0 win over Leicester at Stamford Bridge... which has taken Chelsea back into the Premier League's top four! We reflect on Enzo's fiery post-match press conference comments as he again challenged fans to get behind the team, before turning our attention t...

Well, it certainly wasn't a classic European night... Matt Davies-Adams and Luke Bosher team up for a closer look at the 2-1 victory over Copenhagen in the first leg of their Conference League round of 16 tie. Matt caught up with Simon after the match out in Denmark to get his take on the narrow win - and the selection dilemma it poses for Enzo Maresca next Thursday with Arsenal on the horizon......

Off to Denmark we go… Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic’s Chelsea experts Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey alongside him to look ahead to the return of the Conference League on Thursday evening. So, who starts in goal? Will Caicedo *actually* be given a rest? And who are you trusting to lead the line? We try and predict Enzo Maresca’s starting XI for the round of 16 first leg tie.  Elsewhere, we...

Back in the top four... for 24 hours at least! Matt Davies-Adams, Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher are back to reflect on the much-needed 4-0 victory over a sorry Southampton at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night. We focus on some of the key positives from a game Enzo Maresca's side simply couldn't lose - before turning our attention to Cole Palmer's visible frustration as his struggles in front of goal...

Two wins in 10 Premier League games, 15 points dropped from winning positions this season... Matt Davies-Adams, Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher are back to run the rule over the 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa. We begin with an epic Simon Johnson voice note live from Villa Park just moments after the final whistle - before taking a closer look at the ongoing goalkeeping conundrum, the dramatic drop-off of C...

The only way is up after Friday night... Matt Davies-Adams is back with The Athletic's Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey alongside him to preview Saturday evening's Premier League clash at Aston Villa. It's fair to say expectations are pretty low as we consider the tactical tweaks that could make a difference against Unai Emery's side, the lack of confidence across the squad and the need for leaders in...

We didn't think it was possible to get worse than last weekend... Matt Davies-Adams, Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher are back to run the rule over the shambolic 3-0 Premier League defeat at Brighton on Friday night. Sounding like a broken record comes to mind, but we try and get to the bottom of the complete lack of intensity or fight displayed by the side, the lack of leadership and quality on disp...

False 9, anyone!? Matt Davies-Adams, Jessy Parker Humphreys and Liam Twomey are back for your second weekly dose of Chelsea chat. It's back to the seaside we go for the second game in a row as we preview the Premier League trip to the Amex. Our conversation is led by the big news that Nicholas Jackson has been ruled out for "around six to eight weeks" with a hamstring injury. Enzo Maresca says the...

Well, that didn't go very well... Matt Davies-Adams has got Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson alongside him to look back on the pretty abject 2-1 defeat by Brighton on Saturday night which saw Chelsea dumped out of the FA Cup. We take a deep dive into the lacklustre performance, the absence of any fight or desire from the players - and the growing feeling of discontent around the job that Enzo Maresca...

Nothing says magic of the FA Cup like a trip to the seaside at 8pm on a Saturday night... Matt Davies-Adams has got Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher alongside him to look ahead to the first of two visits to take on Brighton in the space of less than a week. We're joined by The Athletic's football tactics writer - and Brighton fan - Liam Tharme to get an insight into the Seagulls AND a word on some of...

We don't want your shorts, Enzo... Matt Davies-Adams has got Jessy Parker Humphreys and Liam Twomey alongside him run the rule over the *slamming shut* of the transfer window AND the crucial three points against the Hammers. We begin with events on the field, as Chelsea came from behind to win a Premier League game at Stamford Bridge in which they’ve trailed at half time for the first time since D...

We're in for a very busy Monday... Matt Davies-Adams has got Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey in tow to look ahead to the impending Graham Potter reunion. But we begin with everyone's favourite transfer window rumour mill chat - including the ongoing interest in Mathys Tel, potential late approaches for a striker, the sorry Ben Chilwell situation, the peculiar case of Deivid Washington AND an audacious...

Therapy's in session, buckle up... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by The Athletic's Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson to take a look back on the fairly disastrous 3-1 defeat at Manchester City. There's no hanging about as we dissect the tactical ineptitude, lack of accountability on the pitch and failings from the manager through to the sporting directors... One thing we can ALWAYS count on though are th...

Be more PSG, Chelsea... Matt Davies-Adams has got two of The Athletic's finest, Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson alongside him for your second weekly dose of Blues chat. We begin with a look at the latest transfer news - including the record-breaking arrival of USA defender Naomi Girma. We pushed the emergency voice note klaxon so Jessy Parker Humphreys could tell us all about the 24-year-old and wha...

Welcome back, Trevoh... Matt Davies-Adams has got Liam Twomey and Jessy Parker Humphrey's alongside him to look back on the much-needed 3-1 victory over Wolves on Monday night. We highlight Chalobah's triumphant return to Stamford Bridge, the ongoing concerns around Robert Sanchez which just aren't going away - and worry about the lack of midfield options following the latest potentially long-term...

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...