Straight Outta Cobham: The Athletic FC's Chelsea show

Matt Davies Adams is back with Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson alongside him to assess a relatively relaxing week by recent Chelsea standards.   We talk changes up top for the game against West Ham, who would get your nod between Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku? And a listener asks who’s the right choice for right back with both Malo Gusto and Reece James out injured?  Plus, who'll triumph in the latest quiz?! We'll be back next Thursday to reflect on the trip to the London stadium - and look ahead to hosting Brighton at the Bridge. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Liam Twomey & Simon Johnson PRODUCER: Steve Hankey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Has anyone got a spare yellow card? Matt Davies-Adams is joined by two of The Athletic's finest - Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey - to look back on the scrappy 1-0 win at Bournemouth on Saturday night. We talk big stops from Robert Sánchez, a 45 minute debut to remember for Jadon Sancho - love for Renato Veiga and eye catching headlines... Then, it's all eyes on the WSL as the Sonia Bompastor era officially begins on Friday evening. We draft in our friend Jessy Parker Humphreys to preview the opening day clash against Aston Villa - and hopes for the upcoming season. We'll be back on Thursday to look ahead to Saturday's visit to West Ham - and take another look at Friday night's WSL opener against Villa. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher, Liam Twomey & Jessy Parker Humphreys PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fun fact: it's never, ever, ever, EVER dull at Chelsea Football Club. Matt Davies Adams is back with Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson alongside him to reflect on all the latest Blues news we've missed during the international break. Spoiler alert... quite a lot has happened! We talk ownership crisis and stadium moves - before turning our attention to Saturday night's visit to Bournemouth. Plus, who'll triumph in the latest quiz?! We'll be back on Monday to reflect on the trip to the seaside - and look ahead to the start of the WSL season! HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Liam Twomey & Simon Johnson PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The streak is over... Matt Davies-Adams has got Liam Twomey and Dom Fifield in tow to reflect on the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge. Simon Johnson was in place and sent us his match report - plus we speculate about the role that Christopher Nkunku will have in this team going forward. There's a chance to round up some of the deadline day antics we missed on Friday - including the late arrival of Jadon Sancho and departure of Raheem Sterling and Trevoh Chalobah... Plus - pack your bags for Kazakhstan! We're all going on a Conference League adventure! We're taking our own international break - but we'll be back on Thursday 12th September to look ahead to the trip to Bournemouth and round up any of the Blues news we might have missed. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Dom Fifield & Liam Twomey PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They made very hard work of it... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by The Athletic's Simon Johnson and Dom Fifield to look back on their slightly perilous progress in the Conference League despite the 2-1 defeat by Servette out in Geneva. Liam Twomey was there and sent us an on the whistle report. Our slightly dicey time of recording - Friday morning - means there may have been *plenty* of Deadline Day fun in the meantime - BUT we discuss the latest ins and outs anyway! Then - it's all eyes on the Dom Derby as we preview the visit of Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. Plus - a round up of the latest Blues news elsewhere and an alternative quiz... We'll be back on Monday to reflect on events against the Eagles ahead of the first international break of the season. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Simon Johnson, Dom Fifield & Liam Twomey PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

That's one way to end the Molineux hoodoo! It's a jubilant Bank Holiday pod record as Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher to look back on the 6-2 thrashing of Wolverhampton Wanderers. We salute Noni and his Instagram antics, laud goal and assist machine Cole Palmer - and wonder whether the signs are there that this team could be gelling after a long and tumultuous summer. There's the latest transfer gossip with less than a week to go until the window *slams* shut - including the latest on Armando Broja's departure - and rumours of an approach for Jadon Sancho?! The Blues are back in action on Thursday night as they head out to Switzerland to take on Servette - with a two-goal advantage in their UEFA Conference League play-off tie. Plus - CFCW continued their winning start under Sonia Bompastor with a 1-0 win over Arsenal Stateside. We'll be back on Friday to hopefully report on a smooth-sailing victory in Geneva AND a serene transfer deadline day... HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher & Liam Twomey PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A win's a win... Matt Davies-Adams has got Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher alongside him as we reflect on the first competitive victory of the Enzo Maresca reign in their 2-0 win over Servette on Thursday night. We take a closer look at some of the explosive comments in Enzo's pre-match press conference regarding the size of the squad and futures of Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell. Simon was in the room to witness the spiciness. Then - it's all eyes on Sunday afternoon's trip to Wolves - a place that has NOT been a happy hunting ground for the Blues in recent years. The Athletic's Wolves expert Steve Madeley joins us to shine the spotlight on Gary O'Neil's side. Oh - and it wouldn't be a Thursday (or Friday!) pod without a quiz... We'll be back on Monday to reflect on the trip to Molineux and look ahead to the Conference League second leg out in Geneva. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Simon Johnson, Luke Bosher & Steve Madeley PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well... it could have been worse?! Matt Davies-Adams is joined by The Athletic's Chelsea experts Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson to look back on the 2-0 opening day defeat by Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. We try and take the positives - including the performance of Romeo Lavia, discuss the Enzo Fernández conundrum after he was handed the armband - and shine the spotlight on the debutants thrown on to try and make their mark. Build-up to the game was somewhat overshadowed by a bombshell statement released by Raheem Sterling's camp after he was left out of the matchday squad. We ponder what the wider ramifications could be going forward.... Then, it's all eyes on Thursday night - as the Blues begin their voyage to officially 'win it all' in their first appearance in the UEFA Conference League. We'll be back on Friday to reflect on the play-off first leg against Servette - and look ahead to the tricky trip to Molineux! HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here we go again! Matt Davies-Adams has got two of The Athletic's finest - Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey alongside him to build-up to the first game of the 2024-25 Premier League season. We begin with the latest on the Conor Gallagher/ João Félix saga - and the news that Mauricio Pochettino is in line to become the new USMNT boss! Then it's onto some brief predictions for the campaign ahead - before we turn out attention to Sunday's visitors Manchester City with the help of City correspondent Sam Lee. Plus - after a big win in pre-season, can Liam carry that confidence into the first quiz of the new campaign? We'll be back on Monday to reflect on the opening day shenanigans and look forward to midweek UEFA Conference League fun... HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher, Liam Twomey & Sam Lee PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's nearly here... Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher alongside him as the final preparations for the 2024-25 Premier League season begin. We start with the latest transfer news - including the surprise signing of Pedro Neto and potential shock return of João Félix - which could have a big knock on effect for Conor Gallagher's departure... There are brief reflections from Sunday's 1-1 draw against Inter Milan in the final pre-season fixture of the summer. Then - we've got the unenviable task of trying to audit the entire extraordinarily large squad. Plus - your questions and thoughts as Enzo Maresca's side prepare to get their campaign underway! We'll be back on Thursday with comprehensive build-up to Sunday's Premier League opener against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Liam Twomey & Luke Bosher PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices