

Straight Outta Cobham: The Athletic FC's Chelsea show
The Athletic
The Athletic's Chelsea experts - Simon Johnson, Liam Twomey, Luke Bosher, Sam Parkin and Dom Fifield - are alongside host Matt Davies-Adams to bring you behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge. Expect unrivalled insight, honest opinion and stimulating debate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 11, 2025 • 46min
George & Acheampong shine in Poland - so is Sunday an audition for Liam Delap?
Tyrique George... you love to see it!Matt Davies-Adams has got Jessy Parker Humphreys and Luke Bosher with him to give their verdict as Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 victory over Legia Warszawa over in Poland on Thursday night. We heap praise on academy graduates George and Acheampong for seizing their opportunities - but also ponder why it was such a painfully slow start to the game and whether Enzo Maresca should be more critical of the first half woes which continues to be a plague this side. We've got a look ahead to Sunday's visit of an Ipswich Town side who are on the brink of relegation - but hoping to do the league double over Chelsea! Plus, is this an audition for Liam Delap at Stamford Bridge?We touch base with the women's team - back in action after the international break and with the small matter of an FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool to look ahead to as Sonia Bompastor's side enter a defining month of action. And of course... a quiz! We'll be back on Monday to reflect on the visit of the Tractor Boys and look ahead to the second leg of the Conference League quarter-final tie against Legia. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher, Jessy Parker Humphreys and Liam Twomey PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 7, 2025 • 35min
Away woes continue after drab goalless draw at Brentford
What much better things could we have been doing with those two hours of our lives? Matt Davies-Adams, Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey have the unfortunate task of talking about the 0-0 draw at Brentford on Sunday.There was eyebrow raising team selection, an abundance of long kicks, the ongoing Nkunku problem and a sense of one steps forward, two steps back for Enzo Maresca. Then, we look ahead to Thursday's trip to Poland to take on Legia Warszawa in the first leg of their Europa Conference League quarterfinal first leg. Who's making the starting XI?!We'll be back on Friday to find out how the Blues got on, plus look ahead to the visit of Ipswich in the Premier League AND CFCW's FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool.HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 4, 2025 • 51min
Spurs battered 1-0 - can Chelsea's away fortunes change at Brentford?
Poor old Ange...Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher in tow to look back on the fiery and thoroughly deserved 1-0 victory over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.We talk the triumphant return of Nicholas Jackson, Caicedo's extraordinary engine and the much-improved showing from the Blues, buoyed on by a raucous crowd. Now - can they translate that home form to Sunday's away day at Brentford?! Enzo Maresca's side are hoping to avoid suffering five straight Premier League defeats on the road when they face the Bees. We'll be back on Monday to reflect on the short trip to the Gtech and preview Thursday's Conference League quarterfinal first leg in Poland! HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson PRODUCER: Lucy OlivaWe're asking you to fill out a quick survey about you and your podcast habits by going to theathletic.com/athletic/survey25. Three lucky entries will win £/$100 worth of Amazon vouchers too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 31, 2025 • 54min
An axed day off, stadiums, Spurs - and John Terry on *that* historic 04-05 defence
Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher to get back up to speed with all things Chelsea Football Club after the international break. We begin with a round up of the latest Blues news since we've been off - including more stadium uncertainty, a new wonderkid and a revoked day off...We've got a special guest, as club legend John Terry speaks to Simon Johnson to commemorate the 20th anniversary of THAT remarkable defence that conceded just 15 goals in 38 Premier League games in their record-breaking first title charge under Jose Mourinho in 2004-2005. Then, Jessy Parker Humphreys does their best to round up a pretty crazy fortnight in the world of CFCW as they booked their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League in dramatic circumstances.On Thursday it's all eyes on the Premier League as Spurs make the short trip across town to Stamford Bridge. We preview that game and it's importance for Enzo Maresca as the run-in to the end of the season begins in earnest. We'll be back on Friday to run the rule over the visit of Tottenham and look ahead to the trip to Brentford!HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher, Liam Twomey and Jessy Parker Humphreys PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 27, 2025 • 34min
120 years of Chelsea: the new-look Blues
On the 10th of March, Chelsea Football Club celebrated its 120th anniversary. It’s fair to say from 1905 to 2025 there’s been chaos, controversy, jubilation, heartache, success, failure and everything in between. On this episode, we follow the club into the modern day and discuss the seismic changes that have taken place behind the scenes since the takeover by BlueCo in 2022. Matt Davies-Adams has got Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey alongside him to analyse the current state of the men’s team - which it’s fair to say is going through a bit of a tumultuous time! Then, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Dan Sheldon, who’s recently investigated some of the concerns around the ‘CFC LDN’ rebrand and whether there are wider connotations… We had to finish on a high note, so Jessy Parker Humphreys is with us to explain how despite it all - the women’s team have maintained their standards of excellence (Man City 1st leg aside!) and continued to win trophies while the men’s team have struggled to compete. Read Simon's piece on Chelsea's rich history before 2003 Read Liam's piece on Chelsea's most important match from each decadeBack on Monday to look ahead to the return to Premier League action with the small matter of Tottenham coming to Stamford Bridge - plus we'll check in on the fortunes of CFCW!HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Simon Johnson, Liam Twomey, Dan Sheldon and Jessy Parker HumphreysPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 24, 2025 • 58min
120 years of Chelsea: the Roman Empire
On the 10th of March, Chelsea Football Club celebrated its 120th anniversary. It’s fair to say from 1905 to 2025 there’s been chaos, controversy, jubilation, heartache, success, failure and everything in between. On this episode, we go back to July 1st, 2003 - and the day the course of the club’s history changed forever when Roman Abramovich became owner. Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic’s Dom Fifield and Simon Johnson alongside him to reminisce about the glory days, the José years - and the experience of covering the club during that period. And what was it like to be a fan growing up in that era? Younger fans are often tarred with a glory hunter brush, but Luke Bosher explains what it was like to be introduced to the club when they were serial winners and at the height of their powers. Plus, Liam Twomey’s back to help us finish off our overview of the defining fixtures from each decade, from the 1980s through to the modern day. Read Simon's piece on Chelsea's rich history before 2003 Read Liam's piece on Chelsea's most important match from each decadeHOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Simon Johnson, Liam Twomey, Luke Bosher & Dom Fifield PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 20, 2025 • 55min
120 years of Chelsea: the early(ish) days
On the 10th of March, Chelsea Football Club celebrated its 120th anniversary. It’s fair to say from 1905 to 2025 there’s been chaos, controversy, jubilation, heartache, success, failure and everything in between. On this episode, Matt Davies-Adams is joined by The Athletic’s Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey to delve into the history of the club from its formation in 1905 through to the latter stages of the 20th century. Yes, Chelsea really did exist before 2003! What about some of the club’s forgotten figures? The Chelsea Graves Society was set up by fans, dedicated to tracing the final resting places of former players and significant others associated with the club. Member Andrew Rowley joins to tell us more.Then, we take a decade-by-decade look at some of the defining fixtures which shaped the club - and paved the way for the Chelsea we know and love today. Read Simon's piece on Chelsea's rich history before 2003 Read Liam's piece on Chelsea's most important match from each decadeHOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Simon Johnson and Liam TwomeyPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 17, 2025 • 42min
Palmerless and toothless in Arsenal defeat - while CFCW lift the League Cup
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 Sancho's form and will he be heading back to Manchester United?Then it's back to far happier times 24 hours earlier, as Chelsea Women picked up their first piece of silverware under Sonia Bompastor in a hard-fought 2-1 win over Manchester City at a sandpit in Derby.We'll be back on Thursday with the first of a special series of podcasts charting the 120-year history of the club through all the ups, downs, controversy, trophies and chaos in SW6!HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Liam Twomey & Simon JohnsonPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 14, 2025 • 53min
Can Chelsea upset Arsenal? And will the League Cup curse be broken?
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 final where a certain curse needs to be broken (!)Plus, lots of sandwich chat, a word from Sonia Bompastor on her winning mentality - and a quiz.We'll be back on Monday to look back on a pivotal weekend for CFC & CFCW against Arsenal and Man City...HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Simon Johnson and Jessy Parker HumphreysPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 10, 2025 • 38min
Cucurella saves the day after penalty 13 proved unlucky for Palmer
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 to the game and the positive impact of Pedro Neto and goalscorer Marc Cucurella - after Cole Palmer's surprise miss from the penalty spot for the first time.Next up, Copenhagen come to town with the Blues looking to maintain their slim advantage in the Conference League round of 16 second leg. How many changes will we see with Arsenal on the horizon?Elsewhere, Chelsea Women had Lauren James to thank (again) as her goal sealed an FA Cup semi-final showdown with Liverpool after their 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at Kingsmeadow.We'll be back on Friday - hopefully celebrating safe passage to a European quarter final and looking ahead to Sunday's trip to Arsenal in the Premier League.HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher and Liam TwomeyPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


