Straight Outta Cobham: The Athletic FC's Chelsea show

It’s another nightmare at the Stadium of Light for Chelsea.

Matt Davies-Adams and Liam Twomey look back at Chelsea’s 1-0 loss to Sunderland, courtesy of a dominant performance by Brian Brobbey and some questionable refereeing decisions.

Why doesn’t Xabi Alonso trust any of his number nines in Joao Pedro’s absence? Should he drop Cole Palmer? And despite a lot of tinkering with the lineup, why does it feel like the manager is making it up as he goes along?

Plus, Chelsea Women were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton, costing them top spot in the WSL, and Lauren James is a doubt for next weekend’s huge clash with Manchester City.

00:00 - Intro
01:58 - Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
04:35 - Were Chelsea naive?
06:24 - Bullied by Brobbey
09:40 - Colwill’s tough start to the season
12:34 - Refereeing controversies
16:10 - False nine struggles
19:53 - Welbeck fails to take his chances
22:04 - Which players does Alonso trust?
24:40 - Will Chelsea buy a new striker?
26:55 - Should Palmer be dropped?
31:07 - Champions League race
34:49 - Elsewhere in Chelsea news

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Can Chelsea head into the international break on a high?

Matt Davies-Adams has got Simon Johnson and Sam Parkin for company to look ahead to Sunday’s trip to Sunderland.

After the chastening defeat at the Stadium of Light which saw Chelsea miss out on European football on the final day of last season, has progress been made under Xabi Alonso since then? How do the Blues go about picking up another three points on the road? And will Lavia and Estevao continue in the team after their performances against Man United?!

00:00 - Intros & MOTs
03:18 - Get Shirty
06:21 - Evaluating the performance v Man United
09:50 - What will it take to get a UCL place?
12:15 - What kind of away performance will we see?
14:14 - Have there been improvements since the last meeting?
16:31 - Could Penders keep the GK jersey?
20:40 - Key team selection issues
22:29 - Romeo Lavia to keep his place?
28:39 - Will Estevao stay in the team?
32:23 - Danny Welbeck’s role
35:01 - Cole Palmer’s current form
36:09 - Would Palmer get back in the England squad?
39:57 - Sunderland (A) predictions / nostalgia
44:53 - Elsewhere in Chelsea news

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Chelsea win at home! And keep a clean sheet! For the first time since January!

Matt Davies-Adams has The Athletic’s Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher for company for a look back on the 2-0 win over Manchester United on Saturday.

After a tumultuous first half where the visitors had Xabi Alonso’s side on the ropes - the second brought far more positive signs. We lavish praise on Acheampong and Lavia, laud Estevao’s first Premier League start of the season (!) - and give Penders his flowers after bouncing back from last weekend’s disappointment.

Plus, Chelsea Women kept up their charge to regain their WSL crown with an emphatic 6-0 win over Charlton on Sunday.

00:00 - Intro
02:51 - Chelsea 2-0 Man United
07:22 - Estevao started (!)
12:12 - Acheampong growing in stature
18:23 - Wes Fofana’s rollercoaster game
21:39 - Did Chelsea get off lightly?
23:46 - Romeo Lavia praise
28:14 - Martinez’s generational headloss
30:40 - Palmer’s poor afternoon
31:13 - Mike Penders redemption arc
33:49 - Pedro Neto up top
41:32 - Elsewhere in Chelsea news

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Chelsea suffer penalty shootout heartache at the hands of Liverpool yet again…

Matt Davies-Adams and The Athletic’s Liam Twomey join forces to look back on the defeat at Anfield in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening - and look ahead to the visit of crisis club Manchester United on Saturday.

What the heck is going on with Estevao? Has the fan sentiment around Xabi Alonso already started to shift? And just how much pressure is their going into what feels like a must-win against a Man United side in complete and utter disarray?

Our old friend Cerys Jones is back - now on the United beat - to tell us how Michael Carrick is still in his post - and what to expect from his side on Saturday lunchtime.

00:00 - Intro
01:43 - Get Shirty
02:47 - Defeat at Anfield
03:27 - Estevao’s exclusion
11:56 - Emegha’s impact off the bench
14:35 - Fofana’s difficult evening
18:57 - Manchester United preview w/ Cerys Jones
20:46 - How is Carrick still in charge?
23:03 - What’s going on with Fernandes?
24:22 - How’s Andrey Santos getting on?
27:44 - Mason Mount’s role
28:52 - How can United hurt Chelsea?
32:04 - Is the optimism draining out of the fanbase?
32:37 - CFCW 2-0 Roma in the UWCL
44:28 - Selection dilemmas / Lacroix’s injury
46:57 - Academy news

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For just the second time in 36 years, Chelsea have been beaten by Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.

Matt Davies-Adams, Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher assemble to look back on the horror 2-0 defeat by rivals Spurs on Saturday evening.

We dissect the hugely disappointing performance and result - which raises questions about Xabi Alonso’s game management. Why weren’t changes made sooner? Why did Cole Palmer lose his head? And what will Chelsea do if Joao Pedro is out for an extended period of time?

Elsewhere, CFCW fought from a goal down to beat Crystal Palace - and go top of the WSL table!

00:00 - Intro
02:15 - Chelsea 0-2 Tottenham review
04:29 - Is the defeat on Alonso?
08:32 - Joao Pedro’s absence
09:05 - Jackson thriving at Villa
17:05 - Poor old Mike Penders
23:02 - Set-piece difficulties continue
24:46 - Palmer’s ill-discipline
32:44 - Is this just what Chelsea are now?
37:04 - Liverpool v Chelsea preview
40:14 - Will Estevao get a start?
44:27 - Predictions?
45:03 - Elsewhere in Chelsea news

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