Ah that brief, tantalising window of hope that X is down for good

𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗗! 🚨 @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social & @lukebosher.bsky.social join @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social for your first SOC of the week: 🏆 FA Cup progress after Hull victory 3⃣ Neto's hat-trick 3⃣ Delap's assists (and miss!) 😮‍💨 Mamadou Sarr impresses 🏖️ No midweek game! #CFC pod.fo/e/3906f8

There will be tougher tests, but that was a very impressive first start for Mamadou Sarr. Presence and poise far beyond his years

He surely won’t care if he wins the title, but Eze to Arsenal feels like this season’s version of Grealish to Manchester City: one of the Premier League’s most entertaining players reduced to a joyless cog in a high-functioning machine. When he even gets on the pitch

Giannis Antetokounmpo joined Chelsea Women’s ownership group this week. He spoke exclusively to Eric Nehm about why he got involved for this piece on what this new partnership could mean for the club 👇 www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

I’m struggling to see how this makes sense for the FA. Tuchel is a World Cup or bust mercenary hire (I say that as a fan of the appointment). If he wins the tournament, will he even want to continue? If he doesn’t, will the FA? I’m sceptical it will quell speculation if a big club approaches

Well in fairness, I do trust Monaco resident Jim Ratcliffe’s expertise on the practice of draining resources from the British state news.sky.com/story/the-uk...

𝑸𝑼𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑺? A remarkable night for @acjimbo.bsky.social, @jaydmharris.bsky.social, JJ Bull & @liamtwomey.bsky.social to discuss with you tomorrow morning🎙️ Who's feeling worried?😟 Who's feeling good?😃

Without a doubt my favourite Joao Pedro skill is the one where a defender just pushes him to the ground in the box for no reason

There’s so much more expression in all of Chelsea’s attackers in the final third, but chiefly Palmer. Those first-time flicks around the corner are a massive tell, and so hard to defend

Andrey Santos is getting better and better at the base of Chelsea’s midfield. He’s got great instincts for when to pass safe and when to break the opposition lines. My piece on his key role under Rosenior 👇 www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

"A masterpiece torn apart.” Inside CFCW crisis: Green's exit, club's “disgraceful” email to staff + ops, leadership interference from men's side, recruitment failings, staff division + more @reallycerys.bsky.social @charpur.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

One of the Premier League's more relatable moments of recent years, without a doubt

I'm firmly in the 'bin VAR' camp, but can't we just enjoy how funny Haaland vs Szoboszlai was in those final seconds? Two of the world's best footballers on one of the biggest stages of the season, reduced to tussling like schoolkids in a playground as they race after a trundling ball

After months of speculation about his future, Giannis Antetokounmpo announces a deal with… Chelsea Women! Full story 👇 www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

Enzo Fernandez is scoring goals just like Frank Lampard did. He told Sky Sports this week he’s been watching old videos of Chelsea’s all-time top goalscorer. A piece on his transformation 👇 www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

𝗪𝗘𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗗! 🚨 @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social, @lukebosher.bsky.social & @liamtwomey.bsky.social with the fallout from #CFC's League Cup exit... 🔴 Havertz seals Carabao defeat 🤔 Was the approach right? 🐺 Non-negotiable must-win at Wolves 💤 A pretty quiet deadline day pod.fo/e/387ea2

To some, Rosenior’s game plan yesterday was an admission of inferiority. But was it not an admission of reality? Arsenal are a better team than Chelsea, in yesterday’s circumstances and in general. Piece from the Emirates 👇 www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

I'm at the Emirates for Arsenal vs Chelsea. You can follow my updates on our dedicated live blog here 👇 www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

I'm at the Emirates for Arsenal vs Chelsea. You can follow my updates on our dedicated live blog here 👇 www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

Definitive proof that we're all living in someone's Football Manager save, and they've reached the point where the game engine has started having fun with the newgen names

A piece on Mamadou Sarr, who ended up being Chelsea's defensive reinforcement in January. Rosenior knows and believes in him. Will that translate to regular minutes? www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗗! 🚨 @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social & Sam Parkin holding down the SOC fort, plus... 🤯 West Ham chaos w/ @reallycerys.bsky.social & @liamtwomey.bsky.social 🏆 Another comeback on the cards vs Arsenal? 💰 Deadline Day deals w/ @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social 🫣 #CFCW battered #CFC pod.fo/e/3862ef

Cherki is far too maverick to be a traditional Guardiola player, but his style is what makes football worth watching

Rosenior has made responding to setbacks his first of point of emphasis with this team. Chelsea made it their calling card this week. A piece from Stamford Bridge 👇 www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

Jarrod Bowen's every touch in this game oozes class

Garnacho vs Wan-Bissaka 1v1 is not the advantageous match-up that Chelsea seem to think it is, to put it mildly

A piece on Andrey Santos. Compared by Rosenior to Dunga a year ago, he’s increasingly prominent as the anchor of a rebalanced Chelsea midfield. 👇 #CFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

𝗧𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗗! 🚨 @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social, @liamtwomey.bsky.social & Sam Parkin chatting: 🏆 Last 16? No problem! 🇮🇹 @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social in Naples! 🇧🇷 João shines 💪 Palmer's positive half ⚒️ Hammers up next 👋 So long, Sterling #CFC pod.fo/e/3836ac

🚨THURSDAY POD!🚨 Digesting a smorgasbord of UCL action, it's @acjimbo.bsky.social, @oilysailor.bsky.social, @tomwfootball.bsky.social & @liamtwomey.bsky.social 🥪 🧤Benfica goalie goal w/@NickMiller79 😬Man City head to Spurs ♥️Don't worry, be happy Arsenal ❓What next for Sterling pod.fo/e/383641

I’m generally agnostic about this Champions League format, but it was refreshing to see Napoli and Chelsea both acting on a clear incentive to win in the final 30 minutes or so

They’ve done it! An extraordinary night in Naples sees #CFC seal a top eight finish to head straight through to the last 16! We’ll be revelling in the win on the pod with @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social, @liamtwomey.bsky.social, Sam Parkin - and a bit of @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social! Have your say! 💬

This is the best - and funniest - Champions League moment I’ve seen in a while. The fact it’s Mourinho vs Real Madrid is just *chef’s kiss*

The commentator every time Napoli’s No4 gets the ball

I feel like child mascots mimicking their favourite goal celebrations for the pre-match camera is both a hearty, wholesome trend and a peak #gamesgone moment

My column on Raheem Sterling's departure from Chelsea, and the mutual termination of a union that was set up to fail from the outset. Moving on now brings relief for both parties 👇 www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

I'm finally back on writing duty. Some words on a routine Chelsea win at Selhurst Park with @reallycerys 👇 www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...

Happy 20th birthday to the greatest album this century has produced

𝗧𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗗! 🚨 @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social, @reallycerys.bsky.social & @liamtwomey.bsky.social discussing... 🇨🇾 Pafos (only just) dealt with 🦅 Palace's plight w/ @domfifield.bsky.social 🏆 #CFCW bloody love a cup final 🔟 Shocking 'top 10' recall #CFC pod.fo/e/37e6a0

Increasingly convinced that in addition to his many, many other qualities, Caicedo is the best striker of a ball in the Chelsea squad. Can’t remember a single scuff

I whole-heartedly condemn David Luiz sitting on the Pafos bench at Stamford Bridge as a crime against narrative

𝗧𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗗! 🚨 @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social, @lukebosher.bsky.social & @liamtwomey.bsky.social here with your second weekly dose of SOC... 🏆 League Cup in the balance (just) w/ @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social 🧤 Sanchez slips up 🇦🇷 Garnacho gets goals 🐝 Bees could sting on Saturday #CFC pod.fo/e/37973f

Gyokeres and Guiu are strikingly similar. Decide for yourselves how good or bad that is for either party

Sorry, but playing ‘Freed from Desire’ at half-time in extra time of a close cup tie should be punishable by an immediate equaliser

An encouraging start to the Roseniera. Arsenal on Wednesday will reveal a lot more

What’s this then? A second episode of the week of Straight Outta Cobham? With @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social, @reallycerys.bsky.social & @liamtwomey.bsky.social? 👀 #CFC pod.fo/e/374a43

Harry Wilson is a lovely footballer. He’s also having one of the better contract years in recent memory

Plenty of nice quotes from Liam Rosenior in Chelsea’s statement announcing his arrival. Nothing at all from ownership or the sporting leadership, which isn’t a great look when you’ve decided to give out a 6.5-year contract

United set Amorim up to fail in a million different ways, but it’s also hard to imagine him inflicting more damage on what was a hugely promising reputation in just 14 months at Old Trafford. Does he ever get another Premier League job?

As always, here’s @theathleticfc.bsky.social read on a change of head coach at #CFC. Read how: • Maresca given 2 votes of confidence • didn’t talk to players after final game • medical dept recommendations major issue for parting ways • new contract wanted www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...