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Straight Outta Cobham: The Athletic FC's Chelsea show
Renewed hope for a top five finish after João Pedro's Villa Park hat-trick
You can't stay mad at them for long...
Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher with him for a look back on Wednesday night's 4-1 win at Aston Villa - to take Chelsea back to 5th in the Premier League table.
Simon Johnson sends us his post-match dispatch from the press box - before we discuss the bold decision to drop Robert Sánchez, the continuation of João Pedro's sensational form - and whether this game was proof that playing the big teams in this difficult upcoming run could actually prove to be in Chelsea's favour.
Next up - Wrexham in the FA Cup! The Athletic's Wrexham reporter Richard Sutcliffe drops by to give us the lowdown on Saturday's hosts - who are going for back-to-back-to-back-to-back promotions - and will certainly be up for the cup when they welcome a Premier League side to the Racecourse Ground - aspiring to be in the top flight with them next season.
We'll be back on Monday to discuss that fixture AND look ahead to the small matter of PSG in the Champions League round of 16 1st leg on Wednesday night!
HOST: Matt Davies-Adams
WITH: Luke Bosher, Liam Twomey & Simon Johnson
PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva
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Sanctions, huddles, injuries, defeats - and mounting concerns over Chelsea's season
53:44|Respectfully...Matt Davies-Adams is joined by the SOC OG's Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey for a look back at events at Stamford Bridge on Saturday as Chelsea's top five hopes were dealt another blow.But we begin with a double dose of bad breaking news to come out of the club on Monday - with Reece James injured and the club handed a suspended one-year ban from signing first-team players and given a £10million fine from the Premier League relating to breaches of financial rules during Roman Abramovich’s time as owner.If that wasn't fun enough - we get stuchin into the farcical pre-match huddle situation - before finally focusing on the lowlights of the 1-0 defeat by Newcastle.Things don't get much easier - with PSG in town on Tuesday with the unenviable task of trying to overcome a 5-2 deficit.As has so often been the case in the past - thank goodness for CFCW! They picked up their first silverware of the season thanks to the 2-0 League Cup final victory over Manchester United.We'll be back on Wednesday to look back on the miracle against PSG????! And a look ahead to Saturday evening's trip to Everton... and any other bad news that wants to darken our door in the meantime!HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Simon Johnson and Liam TwomeyPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva
Chelsea collapse at PSG as the goalkeeping situation reaches its nadir
50:34|It was all going (kinda) well for 73 minutes...Matt Davies-Adams has got Cerys Jones and Sam Parkin for company for a look back on the 5-2 defeat by PSG on Wednesday night.Liam Twomey was on the ground at the Parc des Princes - and he sends his thoughts on the calamitous end to an otherwise positive performance in Paris.While PSG can put their feet up for the weekend, the Blues have to navigate the visit of Newcastle on Saturday evening. We've got a look ahead to that - where we hope Eddie Howe's side will be resting players with one eye on Barca seeing as they've still got something to play for in that tie?! Plus - there's silverware on offer this weekend! CFCW take on Manchester United in the League Cup final at Ashton Gate. We preview the first final of the season for Sonia Bompastor's side. HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Cerys Jones and Sam ParkinPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva
Chelsea need extra-time to beat Wrexham - now time for the PSG rematch
41:48|It was certainly a welcome...Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey in tow to look back on the 4-2 (AET) victory over Wrexham in the 5th round of the FA Cup.It certainly wasn't pretty - but we take a closer look at how Rosenior's side eventually got over the line, the silver linings from the laboured performance - and how Garnacho is taking his chance with options on the wing so limited.Then, we turn our attention on another jetsetting trip for the Blues - from Wrexham to Paris! It's a Club World Cup final rematch as Chelsea travel to take on the reigning French and European champions PSG.We'll be back on Thursday morning with all the fallout from events at the Parc des Princes - and a look ahead to the trip to Newcastle on Saturday evening.HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Simon Johnson and Liam TwomeyPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva
A red card? Conceding from corners?! Welcome to the Chelsea experience
57:26|We've seen this movie far too many times now...Matt Davies-Adams has got Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson in tow to look back on the hugely frustrating and in many ways avoidable 2-1 defeat by Arsenal at The Emirates.We begin with a pretty dismayed Liam Twomey and his thoughts from the press box - before reflecting on Robert Sanchez's disastrous afternoon, the unfortunate gulf in class between Arsenal and Chelsea in this current iteration - and the latest red card in a shocking string of inexcusable dismissals which have cost the Blues so dearly.There's no time to sulk though - with a trip to Birmingham and a faltering Aston Villa on Wednesday night. The hosts have only won two of their last seven in the league - and Rosenior's side could close the gap on them to three points if they could come away with a win.Plus, our thoughts on a meeting with Club World Cup friends PSG in the Champions League which is just around the corner...We're back in your ears on Thursday with reaction from the trip to Villa - and a look ahead to the visit to Wrexham in the 5th round of the FA Cup! HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher and Simon JohnsonPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva
Will the Arsenal hoodoo end?! Can Chelsea rise to the challenge against the league leaders?
52:36|Ninth time lucky in the Premier League against Arsenal?!Matt Davies-Adams has got Luke Bosher and Sam Parkin for company as we look ahead to the trip across London to take on the league leaders of Sunday afternoon.We discuss the remaining fixture list which the infamous Opta Supercomputer has deemed the hardest in the league - but could it actually work to their advantage? Plus, who's going to come into the back-line?! And which approach will come out on top in the balance between caution and proactiveness?Then - Simon Johnson pops by to talk us through his interview with Omari Kellyman - who is flourishing on loan at high-flying Cardiff City after a difficult start to his life at Chelsea plagued by injury. We hear from the man himself about the support he received from the likes of Reece James - who's proved that a comeback from serious setbacks is possible.Plus - who takes the ill-discipline crown in our latest Chelsea Top 10's?We'll be back on Monday to reflect on event at The Emirates - and look ahead to the midweek trip to Birmingham to take on top five rivals Aston Villa!Join the Straight Outta Cobham fantasy league HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher, Sam Parkin & Simon JohnsonPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva
Yet more dropped points (and red cards) in calamitous Burnley draw
46:14|19 points dropped... NINETEEN POINTS!Matt Davies-Adams is joined by two of The Athletic's finest - Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey - to look back on the shocker of a 1-1 draw with Burnley at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.We discuss the overall poor level of performance, the defensive substitutions and the mistakes that this team just don't seem to be learning from week in, week out. Elsewhere, new shirt sponsor alert! We're only seven months into the season - but we've got an IFS.ai update - and why the club aren't in a rush to secure a long-term front of shirt partner... As we've said so often in the past - thank goodness for CFCW! It wasn't pretty - but they booked their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup thanks to a 2-1 win over Manchester United AET. Cerys was there and sent her thoughts on what could prove to be a crucial victory to set the tone for the rest of the season.HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Simon Johnson and Liam TwomeyPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva
Is Burnley must-win if Chelsea want to achieve a top-five finish?
40:12|Coming to a Dubai nightclub near you soon...Matt Davies-Adams has got Liam Twomey and Cerys Jones with him for a closer look at the Premier League clash with (surely?) Championship-bound Burnley at Stamford Bridge.Why is Cole Palmer so good at taking penalties? What makes Andrey Santos such an important cog in Liam Rosenior's system? And how have Chelsea given up the most xG in the Premier League from defensive set-pieces this season!? And how important is this game to cement their position as a top-five side given they've already dropped points against Sunderland and Leeds at home...Plus - can Chelsea Women progress in the FA Cup? They host frequent foes Manchester United in the fifth round of Sunday - we preview that game.And most importantly - which Chelsea player would you most like to go on holiday with? That's the kind of content you come for!We'll be back on Monday to run the rule over Saturday's visit of Burnley - and discuss whether CFCW have booked their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup!Join the Straight Outta Cobham FPL League! HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Cerys Jones and Liam TwomeyPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva
Neto's hat-trick of goals, Delap's hat-trick of assists - and a whole week off!
39:44|Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher for a look back on the 4-0 victory at Hull on Friday night to safely book their place in the 5th round of the FA Cup.We discuss why Pedro Neto perhaps doesn't get the plaudits despite his three goals, another peculiar night for Liam Delap - and the Mamadou Sarr revelation as he impresses on his full debut for the club. Then - with an *actual* midweek without football for the first time since the end of December - we wonder what Liam Rosenior will be prioritising on the training pitch now he's got some time with his players for the first time!Plus - CFCW reacted to a difficult week off the pitch in a positive manner - beating Liverpool 2-0 in the WSL to keep their hopes of a top three finish alive.We'll be back on Wednesday to look ahead to Saturday's visit of Burnley to Stamford Bridge - and CFCW's FA Cup 5th round FA Cup tie with Manchester United! HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher and Simon JohnsonPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva