Straight Outta Cobham: The Athletic FC's Chelsea show

A minor Christmas miracle in the circumstances...Matt Davies-Adams has got Sam Parkin and Cerys Jones alongside him for a look back on the quintessential game of two halves in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle on Saturday lunchtime.We talk the impressive second half comeback after a dicey opening 45 minutes, Reece's spectacular free-kick - and is Garnacho actually any good at football?Aston Villa are in town next weekend - an Aston Villa side who have won no less than TEN matches in a row in all competitions. So - what can Enzo Maresca's side do to put a stop to their rampant form? And is it another game where they'll rise to the challenge against a top side? Meanwhile CFCW put just the NINE past a sorry Liverpool to book their place in the League Cup semi-finals. And - Chelsea players as Christmas things, anyone? We'll be back next Monday to look back on Saturday's visit of high-flying Villa - and preview the clashes with Bournemouth and Manchester City.HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Cerys Jones and Sam ParkinPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Ornstein reports that Chelsea's Enzo Maresca is high on the list to replace Pep Guardiola - with the anticipation of this being his last season at Manchester City.It comes less than a week after Maresca's outburst regarding his 'worst 48 hours' at the club, which came following the 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday. The Athletic FC Podcast assembled to react to the news. Matt Davies-Adams and the gang will have more reaction to the story on Monday's pod - where we'll be reflecting on Saturday's trip to Newcastle as well and looking ahead to the festive fixtures.Host: Adam LeventhalWith: David Ornstein, Oliver Kay, Jack Pitt-Brooke and Simon JohnsonExecutive Producer: Abi PatersonProducer: Guy Clarke Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How was your last 48 hours?!!Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Cerys Jones, Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson (through the medium of extensive voice notes) as we look back on a pretty bonkers few days in the life of Chelsea Football Club.We take a deep dive into Enzo Maresca's post-Everton press conference revelations and the subsequent reluctance to elaborate on his angst. We've got a look back on that 2-0 win over the Toffees on Saturday AND the slightly painful but ultimately successful path through to the League Cup semi-finals after the 3-1 win at Cardiff on Tuesday night.There's a look ahead to the slightly daunting trip to St James' Park on Saturday lunchtime - a venue where the Blues have suffered four straight defeats. Plus - there's a big European tie for CFCW, forgotten £50 million men and FPL woes to boot.We'll be back on Monday with our analysis of that game and a look ahead to what the Christmas period has in store for Enzo's side. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Cerys Jones, Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Non bene... Producer Lucy's joined by The Athletic's Simon Johnson out in Bergamo for some quickfire reaction to the 2-1 defeat by Atalanta - which leaves Chelsea's hopes of a top eight finish in the UCL league phase hanging perilously in the balance.So where did it all go wrong in the second half? What have been the big areas of concern across these that three performances against La Dea, Bournemouth and Leeds? And how much pressure does this put on Saturday's game against Everton?Matt will be back with a thorough look at the visit of the Toffees - and a look ahead to the trip to Cardiff in the League Cup! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the dullest games in recent memory?Matt Davies-Adams has got Luke Bosher and Sam Parkin alongside him with the unenviable task of having to look back on Saturday's drab goalless draw at Bournemouth. Cerys Jones was there and sent her thoughts - and tried to take the positives from the clean sheet! But the misery was compounded by another serious injury to Liam Delap as the curse of the '9' shirt continues...The Blues have to get back to winning ways on Tuesday night, making the trip to Bergamo to face Atalanta in MD6 of the Champions League. The Athletic's Italian football expert James Horncastle sends in his assessment of the challenge the Blues will face against the side who they sit level on points with in the league phase table.Elsewhere, the streak is over! Chelsea Women's unbeaten run ends at 34 games after their shock 1-0 defeat by Everton at Kingsmeadow on Saturday. So does it mean their title hopes are over, sitting six points behind Manchester City at the top of the table?Plus - a chance to hear from Chelsea loanee Leo Castledine - who's impressing at Huddersfield and in a rich vein of goalscoring form in League One!There will be a SOC Extra dropping for you on Wednesday morning off the back of the trip to face Atalanta - before Matt returns with a full squad on Monday to look back on the visit of Everton AND look ahead to the trip to Cardiff in the League Cup on Tuesday night.Join the SOC fantasy leagueRead Simon's piece with Leo CastledineHOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Luke Bosher and Sam ParkinPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.