Straight Outta Cobham: The Athletic FC's Chelsea show

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 the January transfer window very much open we ponder some of the potential movers and shakers. What does the future hold for the likes of Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka? Will the club be tempted to sign a striker? Are any loan moves on the cards?We'll be back on Thursday to preview the visit of League Two strugglers Morecambe in the third round of the FA Cup!HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher, Liam Twomey and Dom FifieldPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 top four finish, weaknesses within the squad and the pressure it puts on Enzo Maresca to find solutions.Then, our old friend Dom Fifield stops by to help us look ahead to Saturday's trip to a resurgent Crystal Palace.We'll be back on Monday to reflect on the visit to Selhurst and bring you up to speed with anything else that's happened in the wonderful world of Chelsea.HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Simon Johnson, Liam Twomey and Dom FifieldPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 their reflections on the past 12 months at Stamford Bridge and beyond.We're taking our Christmas break BUT we'll be back with you on Thursday 2nd January to look back on the festive fixtures against Fulham and Ipswich, look ahead to the trip to Crystal Palace - and catch you up with any of the Blues news we've missed while we've been away.(With apologies for the quality of Liam's audio - Santa needs to bring him a new microphone...)HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Liam TwomeyPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 phase. We praise the tenacity of Marc Guiu, the impressive showing from Josh Acheampong and the future of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.Next up a trip to unhappy hunting ground Goodison Park awaits! We preview Sunday’s trip to Merseyside as the Blues look to end a run which has seen them lose five of their last six visits to Everton.But before that, we discuss the news which broke on Tuesday morning that  Mykhailo Mudryk has been provisionally suspended by the FA after an "adverse finding in a routine urine test".Plus, there’s a round up of the rest of the Blues news elsewhere including another Champions League win for CFCW - and the last quiz of the year! HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher and Simon JohnsonPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 race.Then, there's one last Conference League group phase game to navigate as Dublin's Shamrock Rovers make the trip to Stamford Bridge on matchday six. We ponder team selection and issue an apology for our incorrect naming conventions!Plus, CFCW's bid for a perfect season came to an end as they were held to a surprise 1-1 draw by WSL strugglers Leicester City. No such problems for the under-18s though, who produced a stunning comeback to progress to the 4th round of the FA Youth Cup at the expense of the Foxes. We'll be back on Friday to reflect on that final Conference League group game against Shamrock Rovers AND look ahead to Sunday's final trip to Goodison Park.HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher and Simon JohnsonPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 made them make the 3000+ mile journey to follow the Blues abroad!Attention then turns to Sunday night's showdown with fellow West Londoners Brentford, who rather enjoy playing at Stamford Bridge...Plus - Jessy brings us up to speed with the latest goings on for the women's team - and we do a quiz!We'll be back on Monday with our reflections on the visit of bogey team the Bees and a look ahead to the final Conference League group game against Shamrock Rovers!HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Liam Twomey and Jessy Parker HumphreysPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 of talk of title charges.Then, anyone for a trip to Kazakstan?! We preview Thursday's arctic encounter with Astana.Elsewhere, Chelsea Women returned from the international break with yet another victory - this time beating previous banana skin Brighton 4-2. Sonia Bompastor's side are back in action against Twente in the Champions League on Wednesday night.We'll be back on Friday (or maybe late Thursday night if Producer Lucy can stay awake in Almaty and finish the edit in time) to reflect on the latest Conference League adventure and preview Sunday evening's visit of Brentford.HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Liam Twomey and Simon JohnsonPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 it means nothing if they can't go across to their old friends in North London and get a result on Sunday afternoon...The Athletic's Tottenham report Jay Harris stops by to give us an insight into Ange Postecoglou's enigmatic Spurs side ahead of the big meeting in N17.CFCW are back in action on Sunday as they host Brighton - looking to make it eight wins from eight in the WSL. Plus - who'll come out on top in the quiz?!HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher and Liam TwomeyPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 hoping to bottle up the current positivity when they make the trip to Southampton on Wednesday evening. We look ahead to that game against an injury and suspension-ravaged Saints side.We'll be back on Thursday to reflect on the trip to St Mary's and look ahead to the small matter of Sunday's showdown with Tottenham in North London!HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher and Simon JohnsonPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 contenders for a top four spot - or even higher?As usual we exploit Jessy for their WSL expertise to check in on the rather excellent fortunes of CFCW - before a quiz AND some Nicholas Jackson karaoke...We'll be back on Monday to reflect on Sunday's Aston Villa match and look ahead to the midweek trip to Southampton!HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Jessy Parker Humphreys and Dom FifieldPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices