Straight Outta Cobham: The Athletic FC's Chelsea show

Can the season just end now?

Matt Davies-Adams enlists The Athletic's Chelsea experts Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson for our latest doomcast after the horror show against an unrecognisable Nottingham Forest.

What can you even say after that performance?! The lack of effort, the shortcomings all over the field, the terrible end to what should have been a special day for Jesse Derry, the magnificent Joao Pedro goal which will sadly be nothing more than an after-thought in an afternoon to forget.

Elsewhere - CFCW seal UWCL football! But the U21's season is over after PL2 play-off quarter-final defeat.

Plus, legendary goalkeeper Petr Cech shares his reflections on the current state of the club.

We'll be back on Thursday for the look ahead to Saturday's trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool... they haven't won their since March 2021 - what could possibly go wrong?

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams
WITH: Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey
PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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MDA Derby pending...

Matt Davies-Adams has got Sam Parkin and Liam Twomey for company - and a smorgasbord of Chelsea-related chatter to get stuck into ahead of a busy weekend of action.

We look ahead to the visit of Nottingham Forest. We discuss any managerial developments and hear from Italian football expert James Horncastle on why it may be difficult to tempt Cesc Fabregas away from Como. We chat Mudryk's CAS appeal and what comes next. We're joined by women's football writer of the year Charlotte Harpur to discuss legend Millie Bright's retirement! And we try and name a bunch of 17-year-olds who made their Premier League debuts.

We'll be back on Tuesday with a look back on the Bank Holiday festivities at Stamford Bridge as the Blues look to keep their hopes of European football alive!

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams
WITH: Liam Twomey, Sam Parkin and Charlotte Harpur
PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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So, that's what effort looks like!?

Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher alongside him for a look back on Sunday's trip to Wembley - where Chelsea set a date with Manchester City in the final after a 1-0 win over Leeds.

We discuss the much-improved performance from the end of the Rosenior reign (although that's not saying much!), discuss the captain Enzo's goal, the crucial role that Joao Pedro plays - and give praise to Calum McFarlane for how he's conducted himself having been thrust back into the spotlight.

Then - we touch base with the runners and riders to become the next man in the dugout. Is Iraola the favourite? Could Cesc be tempted away from Como? Is Xabi Alonso an ideal fit?!

Plus - Levi Colwill was back playing with aplomb for the U21's and CFCW kept up their hunt for a Champions League spot with a big win at Everton.

We'll be back on Thursday for a look ahead to the MDA Derby - with the visit of Nottingham Forest to Stamford Bridge on Bank Holiday Monday.

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams
WITH: Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson
PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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106 days later...

The SOC gang assembles under emergency measures after the news dropped late on Monday afternoon that Liam Rosenior has been sacked by Chelsea after less than four months as the club’s head coach.

Appointed in January to succeed Enzo Maresca - he began by winning eight of his first 11 matches in charge.

But Monday's defeat to Brighton was the seventh time they have lost in their last eight games — the only victory coming against third-tier Port Vale in the FA Cup.

Matt's joined by Liam, Cerys, Luke AND Simon for our immediate reaction to the news. Was this always inevitable? What can Calum McFarlane do to lift the spirits going into Sunday's game at Wembley? Where do the club turn next? Could they convince Cesc Fabregas to join the project? Will the club hierarchy be held accountable for the mess that this season has been turned into?

Keep across The Athletic for the definitive inside read on Rosenior's departure and all the fallout that follows - and we'll of course back with you on Monday hot off the back of a trip to Wembley.

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams
WITH: Cerys Jones, Liam Twomey, Luke Bosher & Simon Johnson
PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva
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What were you doing in 1912?

Matt Davies-Adams, Cerys Jones and Liam Twomey jump aboard the pretty downbeat party bus for a look back on the 3-0 defeat at Brighton which condemns Chelsea to their fifth straight Premier League defeat without scoring.

We get into Liam Rosenior's pointed post-match comments, the bizarre formation, the totally inept performance across the board - and what this latest low means for Rosenior's future and the fate of the rest of the season.

So - what chances of beating a confident, in-form Leeds United at Wembley on Sunday afternoon? Spoiler alert... not very high by our estimations!

Then - the good news keeps coming - with The Athletic's Football Finance Writer Chris Weatherspoon with us for a closer look at his comprehensive piece - 'Exploring BlueCo’s finances and its massive bet on Chelsea'.

Plus - CFCW have a new official home for the next WSL season... Stamford Bridge!

We'll be back on Monday (barring any news in the meantime...) to look back on Sunday's semi-final with Leeds - where Chelsea might have somehow booked their place in the FA Cup final!?

Read Chris's deep dive into BlueCo's finances
Read Liam's post-match post-mortem
Read Conor O'Neill's of Chelsea's 'muddled tactics' under Rosenior

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams
WITH: Liam Twomey, Cerys Jones & Chris Weatherspoon
PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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