Son of Chelsea

Ten games into Xabi Alonso’s reign, what are Chelsea actually trying to do? Fahd Ahmed of Thinking Tactics joins me to break down the Sunderland defeat, the striker question, why Palmer is dropping so deep, the case for and against Wesley Fofana, and where Chelsea’s recruitment still falls short. Follow Fahd: https://x.com/fahdahmed987 Thinking Tactics: https://www.youtube.com/@ThinkingTactics Free Son of Chelsea instant-win competition: 499 tickets, every ticket wins, UK only: https://footballprizes.co.uk/product/son-of-chelsea/ T&Cs apply. ENTER Football Prizes Chelsea competition. £25k of Chelsea prizes, tickets 79p, 18+, T&Cs apply: https://footballprizes.co.uk/club-competitions/chelsea/utm_source=sonofchelsea&utm_medium=creator&utm_campaign=chelsea 00:00 Fahd Ahmed joins the show 01:20 What went wrong at Sunderland 03:11 Macro and micro tactics 05:58 The striker question 09:04 Neto, cutbacks and crosses 11:56 Football Prizes (sponsored) 13:15 What are Alonso's Chelsea trying to do? 16:34 Flexibility as the style 18:51 Alonso's Chelsea in one sentence 19:18 Why is Palmer dropping so deep? 21:12 Palmer's road back to his best 25:00 Fofana: the case for and against 32:07 Too young at the back? 34:05 Recruitment and Clearlake's responsibility 36:59 How far away are Chelsea? 38:45 Where to find Fahd SUBSCRIBE to my Substack: https://sonofchelsea.substack.com/ LISTEN to the show: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/son-of-chelsea/id1538018736 SUBSCRIBE for notifications! 🔔http://bit.ly/1TMkqH9🔔 👑 SOCIAL CHANNELS 👑 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sonofchelsea.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/SonOfChelsea Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonofchelsea TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sonofchelsea Listen to the SonOfChelsea Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and is a part of the Sport Social Podcast Network. EMAIL The Show: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Malo Gusto is reportedly open to leaving in January, but Chelsea’s £75m valuation looks unrealistic. Plus Acheampong’s withdrawal from the England Under-21s, football.london’s ranking of the summer signings, and why José Feliciano’s comments to Bloomberg show Clearlake now own every decision. 📬 Substack: https://sonofchelsea.substack.com/ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/sonofchelsea ✉️ [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Miguel Delaney reports Chelsea are monitoring Martín Zubimendi at Xabi Alonso’s personal request, with Arsenal wanting around £58m. He’s had just 100 Premier League minutes this season, but would he fix Chelsea’s midfield? Plus the Chelsea players to watch this international break, and how Cole Palmer’s numbers compare with his breakout season. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:09 Chelsea players on international duty 02:56 Chelsea monitoring Zubimendi 03:30 Zubimendi's lack of minutes at Arsenal 04:58 Does he fix Chelsea's midfield? 06:54 Would Arsenal even sell? 08:28 Cole Palmer now v 2023-24 10:49 Why Palmer's positioning matters 11:45 Sign-off 📬 Substack: new piece on Levi Colwill out today, and paid subscribers get Morning Blues ad-free: https://sonofchelsea.substack.com/ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/sonofchelsea ✉️ [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Levi Colwill hasn’t hit the level he reached at the end of last season, and Si Phillips now reports interest from Barcelona. Is it the Achilles injury, the system, or something else? Plus Dermot Gallagher’s explanation of the Palmer penalty call, a refereeing-errors table that doesn’t match what we’ve seen, and Pochettino linked with Man United as Carrick nears the exit. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:33 Colwill linked with Barcelona 02:02 The Achilles injury in context 02:56 Colwill’s form this season 04:36 Is his place under threat? 06:10 Dermot Gallagher on the Palmer foul 07:55 A law that makes no sense 08:25 The refereeing-errors table 10:33 Remember the Josh King goal? 10:59 Carrick on the brink, Pochettino linked 📬 Substack: https://sonofchelsea.substack.com/ 📺 YouTube: latest show, plus the Football Prizes competitions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wnH-UGh_kw ✉️ [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Football Prizes GIVEAWAY! Didier Drogba signed Panini card: 68 tickets at £2.95, open until 7.30pm Wednesday, live draw Thursday at 12pm. 20% off with code SOC20: https://footballprizes.co.uk/club-competitions/chelsea/?utm_source=sonofchelsea&utm_medium=creator&utm_campaign=chelsea Free Son of Chelsea instant-win competition: 499 tickets, every ticket wins, UK only: https://footballprizes.co.uk/product/son-of-chelsea/ T&Cs apply. On today's episode we react to the latest Chelsea news as some concerning stats emerge from Xabi Alonso's Blues in the Premier League. The striker situaiton, transfer links to centre backs in January and FPL leaks. SUBSCRIBE to my Substack: https://sonofchelsea.substack.com/ LISTEN to the show: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/son-of-chelsea/id1538018736 SUBSCRIBE for notifications! 🔔http://bit.ly/1TMkqH9🔔 👑 SOCIAL CHANNELS 👑 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sonofchelsea.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/SonOfChelsea Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonofchelsea TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sonofchelsea Listen to the SonOfChelsea Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and is a part of the Sport Social Podcast Network. EMAIL The Show: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After the defeat at Sunderland, Alonso has four league losses in ten games, level with Pochettino and quicker than any recent Chelsea head coach except Potter. Chelsea have one open-play goal in three games, and Alonso said little about another poor refereeing display. Plus the centre-back links, and whether that’s now a bigger January priority than midfield. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:05 Centre-back or midfield in January? 01:56 Four league defeats in ten games 02:27 Why Chelsea only win or lose 03:23 Gillett, VAR and the officiating 05:15 Why Alonso has to speak out 06:36 The Mourinho precedent 09:11 One open-play goal in three games 09:57 Chelsea chasing a centre-back 10:39 Is centre-back the bigger priority? 11:51 International break plans 📬 Substack: paid subscribers get Morning Blues ad-free, plus the post-match piece on Sunderland: https://sonofchelsea.substack.com/ 📺 Full Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea reaction on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI6EYJchUa0 ✉️ [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

ENTER Football Prizes Chelsea competition. £25k of Chelsea prizes, tickets 79p, 18+, T&Cs apply: https://footballprizes.co.uk/club-competitions/chelsea/?utm_source=sonofchelsea&utm_medium=creator&utm_campaign=chelsea Reacting to Chelsea's depressing 1-0 loss to Sunderland on Sunday in the Premier League. Reacting to the abysmal officiating by Jared Gillet, penalty denials and Xabi Alonso's Chelsea tactics. SUBSCRIBE to my Substack: https://sonofchelsea.substack.com/ LISTEN to the show: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/son-of-chelsea/id1538018736 SUBSCRIBE for notifications! 🔔http://bit.ly/1TMkqH9🔔 👑 SOCIAL CHANNELS 👑 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sonofchelsea.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/SonOfChelsea Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonofchelsea TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sonofchelsea Listen to the SonOfChelsea Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and is a part of the Sport Social Podcast Network. EMAIL The Show: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chelsea go to the Stadium of Light hoping to end a long run of misery there, against a Sunderland side in freefall under Régis Le Bris. Moises Caicedo is a late fitness check, so here’s my predicted XI, including why Acheampong should move into centre back, why Estêvão keeps his place, and why Chelsea need a recognised striker. SUBSCRIBE to my Substack: https://sonofchelsea.substack.com/ LISTEN to the show: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/son-of-chelsea/id1538018736 SUBSCRIBE for notifications! 🔔http://bit.ly/1TMkqH9🔔 👑 SOCIAL CHANNELS 👑 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sonofchelsea.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/SonOfChelsea Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonofchelsea TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sonofchelsea Listen to the SonOfChelsea Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and is a part of the Sport Social Podcast Network. EMAIL The Show: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emi Martínez is back in training far sooner than expected, but Moises Caicedo wasn’t pictured, three days before Sunderland. Plus Chelsea’s growing injury list, why Andrey Santos’s £50m fee still made sense, and seven years since that 4-4 with Ajax at the Bridge. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:47 Seven years since Chelsea 4-4 Ajax 02:34 Emi Martínez back in training 04:54 Martínez or Penders? 05:30 Henderson and Anselmino return 05:44 Where is Caicedo? 06:18 Chelsea's injury count 07:31 Andrey Santos and the £50m fee 10:05 Sign-off ✉️ Send your thoughts: [email protected] 📬 Substack: https://sonofchelsea.substack.com/ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/sonofchelsea Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we breakdown Xabi Alonso's Chelsea tactics in midfield after the win over Manchester United. Looking at a piece questioning if Xabi Alonso is overthinking his tactics? The impressive display of Romeo Lavia, Cole Palmer's position and the data looking good for Chelsea. SOURCES: FourFourTwo piece: https://www.fourfourtwo.com/tactic/xabi-alonsos-overthinking-isnt-helping-a-chelsea-side-already-defined-by-muddled-thoughts Fahd: https://x.com/fahdahmed987/status/2117604775604658536?a=Ds1Pl999y6vtIOAIi_0&s=20 Sam CFC: https://x.com/SamCFC_footy/status/2116588732589752823?a=AaDrlK_u52oc2shZSo0&s=20 SUBSCRIBE to my Substack: https://sonofchelsea.substack.com/ LISTEN to the show: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/son-of-chelsea/id1538018736 SUBSCRIBE for notifications! 🔔http://bit.ly/1TMkqH9🔔 👑 SOCIAL CHANNELS 👑 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sonofchelsea.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/SonOfChelsea Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonofchelsea TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sonofchelsea Listen to the SonOfChelsea Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and is a part of the Sport Social Podcast Network. EMAIL The Show: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices