Straight Outta Cobham: The Athletic FC's Chelsea show

We wish this weekend's results were an April Fools... Simon Johnson and Dom Fifield are alongside Matt Davies Adams to look back on the pitiful 2-2 draw with 10-man Burnley at Stamford Bridge. Mason Mount and Manchester United are in town on Thursday evening in a battle of two clubs who are pining for former glories... we look ahead to that one and ponder what kind of reception the Cobham kid will...

Good riddance, international break... Matt Davies Adams has got Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey in tow to look ahead to a busy weekend of action for Chelsea Football Club. We begin with your questions - including the fallout from the FAB statement, the always looming threat of PSR - and whether progress has indeed been made under Pochettino. Then attention turns to the return of the Premier League - w...

Is just one normal, straightforward victory too much to ask for? Matt Davies-Adams is joined by The Athletic's Chelsea experts Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson to look back on the mayhem of the 4-2 FA Cup quarterfinal victory over Leicester at Stamford Bridge. We talk an afternoon to forget for Raheem Sterling, yet more Palmer brilliance and the unseriousness of this team. Plus, Jessy Parker Humphrey...

To Wembley or not to Wembley? Matt Davies-Adams has got Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher in tow to preview Sunday afternoon's FA Cup quarterfinal tie with Leicester at Stamford Bridge. There's a huge Friday night in store for Chelsea Women - hosting Arsenal at Kingsmeadow in a match that could have major ramifications on the title race. Plus - who'll triumph in the latest Johnson v Bosher quiz battle...

A five goal thriller under the lights, you say? Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Liam Twomey and Dom Fifield to look back on the 3-2 victory over Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge. There's praise for Nicholas Jackson, an analysis of the constant chaos around Chelsea's defending - and the obligatory love after yet another man of the match performance from Cole Palmer. Plus, our friend Jessy Parker...

We asked for your questions and delivered suitably depressing answers... Matt Davies-Adams has got two of The Athletic's finest - Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey - alongside him for your second dose of Chelsea chatter. With no midweek game to look back on we open the mailbag - including the future of Pochettino, the root of the cause of the problems - and whether the tactical plan is working. Then w...

Another doom and gloom Monday... Matt Davies-Adams has got Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher alongside him to reflect on the 2-2 draw at Brentford - which has led to plenty of questions about the future of Mauricio Pochettino. Liam Twomey brings us the story of the game on the full-time whistle before we poll your thoughts to gauge the mood around the manager, state of the performance against the Bees...

You can't beat the feeling of a late winner... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Dom Fifield and Luke Bosher to look back on the 3-2 FA Cup win over Leeds United to set up a quarterfinal showdown with Leicester City. There's a mega voicenote from Matt and Simon Johnson at the Bridge just after the final whistle - before we talk through the importance of the result and the importance of this competiti...

Sixth time unlucky... Matt Davies-Adams, Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey are in place to reflect on another devastating Wembley defeat following the 1-0 extra time League Cup loss at the hands of Liverpool. There's on the whistle reaction from the gang inside the stadium, before more considered reflections and your thoughts on where it all went wrong for Chelsea and what this means going forward. No...

All eyes on Wembley... Matt Davies-Adams has two of The Atheltic's finest alongside him - Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher - to look ahead to Sunday's showpiece final as Chelsea face Liverpool in the League Cup. There's a comprehensive preview of the game including team selection, Liverpool's injury woes, the importance of this competition for the Blues and what it would mean if they were able to come...

Well that was rather good... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by two of The Athletic's finest - Dom Fifield and Simon Johnson - to reflect on the hugely impressive 1-1 draw with Manchester City at The Etihad. There's a glowing on-the-whistle report from Liam Twomey as Poch's men put in a performance to remember to take another point off the title favourites. Not such good news for CFCW though - beaten...

What a weekend for a double dose of Manchester City, hey... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher to look ahead to Saturday evening's visit to the Etihad to take on the Premier League champions - currently on an 11 game winning streak in all competitions! Meanwhile on Friday night, CFC welcome nearest title rivals City to Kingsmeadow in a game that could go a long way to decid...

Thirteen certainly isn't unlucky for some... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by The Athletic's Chelsea experts Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey to reflect on the dramatic late 3-1 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. There was also FA Cup joy for the women's team against Palace - narrowly beating the Championship side 1-0 thanks to a glorious, audacious finish from Mayra Ramirez. And you guessed it...

A pretty monumental win... Matt Davies Adams is joined by two of The Athletic's finest - Liam Twomey and Dom Fifield - to reflect on the hugely impressive and important 3-1 win over Aston Villa. Simon Johnson sends in perhaps his most positive post-match report of the season, before we dive into the performance, its significance, team selection and what it means for Pochettino. Now - can they take...

Normal service resumed... Matt Davies Adams is joined by Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher to pick through the bones of a pretty miserable 4-2 defeat by Wolves at Stamford Bridge. We try and get to the bottom of where it all went wrong after another hugely disappointing result which left a sour atmosphere come the final whistle. No time to feel sorry for themselves - with the unenviable task of a trip...

All those draws were boring anyway... Matt Davies-Adams enlists the services of Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey to look back at the 4-1 defeat dished out by Liverpool on Wednesday night. We begin with the transfer latest on deadline day, before turning our attention to events at Anfield with the help of a doom and gloom Simon Johnson on the whistle report. Next up, Wolves come to town on Sunday aftern...

They needed some extra games to turn the away form around anyway... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by two of the Athletic's finest - Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey - to look back on Friday night's relatively entertaining goalless draw with Aston Villa in the FA Cup. Then there's a look ahead to Wednesday night's trip to Anfield, where Jürgen Klopp's farewell tour begins in earnest. Meanwhile, CFCW kep...

Penalty shootout with Liverpool, anyone?! Matt Davies-Adams has two of The Athletic's finest alongside him - Dom Fifield and Simon Johnson - to reflect on the emphatic 6-2 aggregate win over Boro to confirm Chelsea's safe passage to the League Cup final. We hear from Liam on the final whistle and celebrate the hugely influential return of Ben Chilwell and continued mastery of Cole Palmer. The cup...

All hail Emma Hayes... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher as the Blues gear up for arguably their biggest game of the season against Middlesbrough on Tuesday night. But we start with some love for CFCW manager Emma Hayes - who because the first woman to be honoured with the Football Writers' Tribute award at a ceremony on Sunday night. We hear from Hayes herself - and Fran...

Pure profit, anyone? Matt Davies-Adams has got Dom Fifield and Liam Twomey alongside him for your second weekly dose of Chelsea chat. We begin with the news broken by The Athletic's David Ornstein that the club are prepared to listen to offers for striker Armando Broja. Then we take your questions - including whether progress has been made, dream fully fit XI's, and when José Mourinho will return...

Argylle, anyone? Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher to reflect on the 1-0 victory over Fulham at Stamford Bridge... Liam Twomey sends in his on the whistle report - before we take your thoughts and round up the story of the game, which wasn't necessarily pretty but secured the Blues' fourth straight home win for the first time since 2020. Meanwhile, CFCW were back in acti...

Are we sure it's not still 2023? Matt Davies-Adams is joined by The Athletic's Chelsea experts Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey with the unenviable task of looking back on the 1-0 League Cup semi-final first leg defeat by Middlesbrough. We plough through some of your angry thoughts and questions as we analyse the result - and where the blame should lie. No time to dwell - with Fulham making the short...

Well, we enjoyed the last 45 minutes at least... Matt Davies-Adams has got Dom Fifield and Liam Twomey alongside him to reflect on the 4-0 victory over Preston North End in the third round of the FA Cup. We round up the game of two halves, ask whether Sterling is back in Poch's good books after that stunning free kick - and give some love to Alfie Gilchrist and the other Cobham kids who got the ch...

A whirlwind week and a half of festive football... Matt Davies-Adams is back! With two of The Athletic's finest - Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson alongside him - to reflect on the Blues' fortunes over Christmas and New Year. There's lessons from the disappointing defeat at Wolves, late victory from the penalty spot against Crystal Palace and chaos at Kenilworth Road - which left MoPo's side with 6 p...

Season's greetings... Matt Davies-Adams has got the WHOLE gang alongside him as we sign off for 2023 in a buoyant mood following the penalty shootout triumph over Newcastle. There's a review of that game, a look back on a ~testing~ 2023 for CFC, plus a look ahead to hopefully happier times as we speculate as to what 2024 could have in store for Poch & co. There's a preview of the upcoming game...