Nine goal thriller! Chelsea fight back against Leeds

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1:00Call 1-800-Granjer. Click ranger.com or just stop by. Granger for the ones who get it done. I'm going to have a chat with some of the Academy Lads.

2:04We are going to have a chat ourselves about everything that's happened in the world of Chelsea this week. What's coming up this weekend? Boy, was it a crazy game on Wednesday night? I have got alongside me the Athletic Simon Johnson. Simon, that was a nice easy match report for you to write on Wednesday night. Yeah, I just wrote about the goals and that easily got my word count up to an Athletic sort of old school. For 5,000 words. It was a fantastic night of entertainment. It was for 45 minutes worth. At least some Parkinson's with us too. Samuel and I were commentating on the game. I've had a thing. I don't think I've ever seen eight goals in a second half of football before. And I can't recall a 6-3 really. It was so weird because it was so flat in the first half. And I felt that me and probably you met, I don't want to talk for you, but probably need to pour some water over our head or give ourselves a dig at a half time because I just didn't think anything had happened.

3:06And I felt flat. The game was flat. And then the second half, all of a sudden you transported into this incredible game where we had to raise our levels as well. And be as excited as the players and the supporters with the goals all shelling in. So it was a weird night because it was as tepid performance. I could probably recall for 45 minutes and at half time we were really scratching our heads. So nobody could have predicted what was to come. Yeah. And like Morgan Rogers said post match, we were just bystanders watching the glory as it unfolded. If you've not seen that little clip on Sky Sports of him and Gold Palm of Post Match, seek it out. It is very, very funny. All right. No get surety today then because I'm not at home, which is a shame because I could have picked one of my forest shirts and it obviously would have been all that I know. Because he played for whole and for Chelsea. Have we plugged enough stuff? I mentioned the YouTube channel. If you'd like to subscribe to the athletic to read all of Simon and everybody else's excellent content, just head to the athletic.com slash Chelsea part. And if you're an audio head, leave us a nice review.

4:06Apple Podcast Spotify, wherever you get your pods, we'd appreciate it. Get in touch with the show via email. Let's go see at the athletic.com or find us on X and Blue Sky at SO Cobb and Pod. Right. Let's delve deeper then into Wednesday night madness. Now I know it usually reserves it for seven goals, but the video print is really ought to have spelled this one out. Chelsea 6, S-I-X, leads United 3. But you didn't think that was going to be the final score when Brendan Aronson put leads 2-0 up just after the restart. Simon's piece is live now on the game. It's entitled Chelsea Thrill in leads come back. But are they too reliant on Shabby Alonzo's 18? Simon, you called it the most important win of Alonzo's brief reign so far. Explain why that would be, please. Yeah, there's a number of reasons, but I think, you know, first and foremost, losing to arson and leads in the space of four days is not great for any Chelsea manager or head coach because you're talking about two of Chelsea's rivals.

5:07And, you know, it's, it's, it's, it would have, I'm not saying that fans will suddenly turn against Alonzo, but undoubtedly we've sort of gone, well, that's suddenly checked some of the early optimism about his appointment. But fundamentally, it's about staying in the competition because it's so important for the squad. With no European football, the best way to keep as many players happy, but also to sort of involved is the lead cup because we can already see a sort of A and B team developing just from the players he's been using in the Premier League. So if they had gone out against, against leads, you've been sort of somewhat worried for quite a few of these fringe players like when they would get a get-again. But that's still the case quite frankly because the fourth round isn't till

6:08a good six, seven weeks away. And we of course, we saw some of the fringe members play on on Wednesday night and not, not many of them delivered. And I particularly highlight in my piece, the wingers, who are going to struggle to get in the team anyway because of the Lanzos 3421 preferred formation, but also just the way they're performing. And of course, we saw Esteveau and Jamie Gittens in the first half and we didn't see them in the second half. I don't think it was solely their fault for that. Chelsea just weren't at it as you guys have already suggested, but at the same time, as Leigh DeLap discovered, if you don't deliver when you do get a chance, it's very difficult for any head coach or manager to then say, well, I'm going to give you another go because their players in better form. And we certainly saw that in the second half with the quadruple substitution,

7:12which was obvious, I think, in many respects. But it's still brought back memories of Jose Rino's kind of ruthlessness of you're not cutting it. So I'm going to turn to the guys that I can trust and I am trusting on a regular basis. Yeah, we'll get to those half-time changes shortly. A couple of listeners thought, Stjekel says, with team Morgan on who deserve the match, but Cole was amazing to defences, worrying, but I'm sure Shabby knows that too. Steve, at least it's much more fun now, no aimless passing around for no end product. Just need to sort them in field. And Steph has said after the full of this season will be fun, not relaxing, but fun. So there were nine changes, Sam, from the team that started at Arsenal, only a champ on and Laquois kept their places. And all the buzz around the press box and the stadium was that Reggie Watson, 16 years young, got himself a start, the fourth youngest player ever to play for Chelsea. Difficult for him coming into a game like that where it wasn't a settled side, right? He acquitted himself, okay, I think he was probably only earmarked for 45 minutes anyway,

8:14but that yellow card that he got right at the end of the hour probably rubber stamped that decision. How did he do for you and maybe some of the others who we don't see too often? Well, he was the one at the four that was unfortunate to be taken off at half time. I think that's absolutely right. And he's got nothing to be ashamed about. That was a fine debut. I thought on the ball, neat and tidy, really confident, assured, positionally excellent. And he did his utmost to disrupt leads more than anyone else probably in blue last night in the first half by getting in people's faces. And yeah, I mean, he couldn't keep him on because that was a poor challenge on Henry Wilson and the way he plays if he'd have overstepped the mark again, then Chelsea really would have had an uphill challenge. But yeah, he was unfortunate. The three others, not so much. I mean, it gets in the nest of our didn't do enough. Barker was the fortunate one because he was really bad for 50 minutes an hour. And he's completely contrasted at performance against Luton.

9:16I know it's Premier League on position last night, but he was really off his game. And I thought that was one of the differences. One of the factors in leads being slightly superior was that was their back three from Saturday. And that was a vastly experienced two man midfield in Longstaff and Anpadu. The flip side was Barco and Reggie Watson in the engine room for Chelsea. They're changing the back three, but I've played in these games. They are difficult. I think that's my one caveat. They are tough when you all get thrown in together and you're on the fringes and you're desperate for an opportunity. You'd rather it come because the manager selects you to be the one change or the two changes in a side going into a cup game or a Premier League game. When you all get thrown in together, that can often be the product of that. And also similar shapes, very similar shapes in the first half. I thought it was just two teams canceling each other out, lead slightly better.

10:16And no surprise that the one goal that went in in the first half was from a set piece. So there was not a lot in the game, but Chelsea, of course, lacked that chemistry, which can happen. But it was ruthless from the manager. I was tipped over and around it a half time when we were discussing it on the gantry. Yeah, maybe make one, but you know, some managers give the players the 10, 15 minute window. You sort it out or as Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, A and other. I'm going to have to come out and bail you out. Well, he went for it at half time and it was an inspired decision. So yeah, the other ones that that came in off the top of my head. Yeah, those guys didn't didn't do enough because they had a really poor evening with the ball. I thought him and him and Aaron some revenue contest, early part. The amount of times the ball was turning over between those two players. So he couldn't have any complaints at all.

11:17And obviously we've seen the shape that Alonzo went to in the second half. He started in that in that formation against Luton. And it looked a lot better suited to the players that came in and ultimately had a huge effect. Yes, a lead to head at half time. Mirama, which is header on Barco. MTF says what an arc for Barco terrible first 50 minutes given the ball away for a goal. Couldn't make a pass lost all confidence. Bood target of Falklands or as chance scores goal. Riles opponents becomes pantomime villain gets assist. I'm calling it now the new Cooqueraya. So there's one South American. He went through the full gamut of emotions, not the same Simon for a step out. Andrew says, should we start worrying about a step out? Is pace has gone? He spends more time on the floor than any Chelsea player I can remember. Rogers and Netto look miles ahead of him. Are we expecting too much given the severity of his injury? Or should he be worried about the fact that he seems to have slipped down the pecking order? I think both applies to your question there.

12:19I think you have to bear in mind. It was a bad hamstring and players naturally are very wary. I'm saying we know this better than me, but when you do a hamstring it can be a... It's not just a physical issue when he come back. It can be a mental one because it can play on your mind a little bit. He hasn't played in an awful amount. Some of his freshness is missing. But then I think we saw against Arsenal when he came off the bench. He actually brought us a spark into the attack and almost got the equaliser. It wasn't great. I think what's more alarming is the noise around him. Of course, reports in Brazil last week that he's unsettled and is not happy about the possibility of playing wing back.

13:19I'd say that's more alarming because if there is any sort of truth from his camp or sort of leaking this kind of stuff, and of course we haven't verified it at the athletic. But if there is any noise, I don't think it does him any good whatsoever. He's far too early in the season to be involved in these kind of stories. Particularly when you're not a salad and contradicting yourself. But when you're not doing that much on the pitch when you're playing. I just think Esteval need this what I touched on earlier. The problem for Esteval is when is he going to play? I'm sure, and in fact I was told during the summer that the excitement when Morgan Rogers was signed was that it'd be one of the most exciting attacks

14:21in football with Rogers, Palmer, S.R.O. Pedro and Esteval. Unfortunately, Esteval's name is no longer on that list. The other three are. Will he start against Hull? I don't think so. Will he start against Brentford? Unless there's an injury, I don't think so. I think yes, there is a concern about how he's coming back from the injury, when's he going to play. But I think we should keep some kind of perspective as well. There's a long season, even without European football. And there should be plenty of chances first of all to sort of get things going again. Yeah, and he's 19. He's got time on his side. Here he got dragged at half time as did Watson Gusto and Gitton's James Rogers, Palmer and Netto all coming on. But just as they thought they were going to have an impact, they'd go to near that Brendan Erriston three minutes after the restart. But then Sam, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers take over.

15:23Palmer gets two in two minutes. One at a pretty harshly awarded penalty. And Rogers, we think got four. Some people say no, only three assists. Rob wants to know who ends up with more goals than assists. Palmer, Jal Pedro or Rogers and why? I mean, you and I were purring over Morgan Rogers in that second half in particular. Palmer's second goal was lovely, but Rogers was outrageous at times. You got a slide tackle assist. Yeah, I think the final goal goes down as a well bet. Sorry, a barco assist, isn't it? What's the one that I'm missing then? Yeah, because he thought he got four, didn't he? Sorry, I've lost count of that. It is the goal, but it was the question mark is the assist for barco's goal? Yes. To keep it touch, is it? And I must admit, I unfortunately thought that meant that that doesn't count because once an opponent touches a ball, it... Anyway, I can understand why he claimed it though.

16:23Oh, mate, yeah, that's very pedantic of the adjudication panel. That is his assist. I'm not on the adjudication panel, I just say to you. It wasn't my fault. There was a pass, wasn't there, from Levi Colwell through the line, just after the lead's a second. And Palmer had this velvet touch, then he waited for the lead's defenders legs to part and nutmegged him and in turn found Rogers. And that was the start of it. It was just like, right, I'm on now, I'm relaxed, we're going to get back in this game. And I tried to articulate it in the commentary, and I don't think I did a very good job because I was toiling for the first hour until all those goals started going in. But I just thought the second lead goal was a bit of an irrelevant. It came so early, yes, it gave Chelsea an even further uphill challenge. The quadruple sub had been made, the feeling in the game was going to change. The feeling in the stadium was going to change and Chelsea were going to come back.

17:25Of course, that's married with a very fortunate award of a penalty to get them started. But from that moment, some of the football was just amazing. Just one kind of tactical thing. Rogers, obviously, if you look this morning, will be listed playing as wide on the left hand side. But he doesn't, he's nowhere near the byline. He plays very narrow, which is great because you want to see it's kind of like Alisa and Ezra were for that period at Palace over a longer period. But him and Palmer, ten yards apart, able to combine, look for each other. That was really more evident last night than it has been in any game. It was a beautiful thing. But with him so central, Chava really really pushed on. And also Barco, well, I think that was Chelsea really getting off the big game. Barco, very high on the left hand side when Chelsea were in possession. But yeah, all about Rogers position himself, you know, central where we can really affect things, get shots away. And obviously make chances. So yeah, Rogers was the standout. But, you know, it wasn't a full-gone conclusion because Palmer was the catalyst, had to stick the penalty away.

18:31And then the equalizer is just a brilliant bit of awareness using the lead centre half of the shield. Goldkeeper unsighted and it was a lovely finish. Just the knowingness that it didn't have to be a hammered. It didn't have to be right in the corner. He could just bend it into that side of the goal and the keeper's not going to be able to get there. So yeah, it was an incredible turn around in the second half. And those two towards the tail end, I think Palmer's thigh popped it up to Rogers. Actually was the beginning of one of the final goals. So they were just toying with leads by that stage and despite leads getting back to within one, you always felt that Chelsea could go down the other end and extend their advantage. So I think it's above anything. There's just incredible confidence, seeping through the veins of those two players in particular. And Rogers last night, I think through my headphones I could hear the crowd singing his name over anyone else.

19:35And that's a great thing for him. And I'm sure he's feeling absolutely brilliant this morning knowing that he's got the full backing of everyone. There was part of me as those sort of ones sort of came away having our Xavier Lanzo. I wasn't the only one to ask a sort of somewhat negative question about the sort of like this A and B team that's developing and the fact that the fringe players didn't do the business. And that there's already a bit of an over reliance on the lights of Palmer and Rogers. But also my piece, you know, he's sort of like, you sort of go, oh, I've covered the six three with it. I'm sort of, you know, I'm sure perhaps some readers already is not going, I was a bit, bit Simon Johnson negative. But I think it is, you know, it was valid. I think to talk about this is an issue because there will be times where Chelsea won't get away with it.

20:37And he can't rely on Palmer and Rogers, etc. as Ralph Pedro every time to just outscore the opposition. But at the same time, you just have to enjoy this. And despite appearances, I did enjoy it. It was watching these guys at the moment is an absolute privilege. Even for the last goal, so a lot of people will focus on the fact that the bar co's finish, he sort of shanks it like one of my t-shirts. Good goal for reference there. And and and World Bank is very smart to any in, but the interplay just before that, Neso being his man down the right. And lovely cut back where where I think Morgan flicks it. And there's just this understanding of knowing where Karl Palmer is going to be and Palmer then lays it to bar. It's a lovely move before the actual miss miss miss hit shot.

21:41It was worthy of a goal anyway that interplay. But these guys, honestly, they're there. Of course, we would have liked to see more of that on Sunday against Arsenal, but they're up against. They were up against sort of the best defense in in arguably in Europe at the moment. And it's not going to come up every time, but my word, it's it's great to see entertaining football back at Chelsea. I referenced it after in my match piece after the Brighton game. I feel like I almost need to repost that piece every, every single time Chelsea play because they're great to watch for better round for worse. And certainly in the case at both ends of the pitch, but Morgan Rogers for 117 million pounds. I think I've made this point already on the pod, but he he's no one's talking about his transfer fee at the moment because he's playing like 117 million pound football.

22:43Very, very high level indeed. Just realized that I didn't answer your question, Matt. And where's Danny Wellbeck on the the short list of the goals and assists. Three and two for him. And yeah, he deserves an almost credit. He wasn't really involved in the in the game in the first half, but two sublime finishes the first one, the little turn using them. I think Palmer is a bit of a decoy taking it on his on his right foot on the inside and opening up the shoe. And opening up the shooting opportunity. So he will be absolutely thrilled with the way it started despite not getting many minutes. So to answer your question, Palmer just I would have. I'm going to go I'm going to go Jail Pedro so that I can crowbar in the fact that he's back in Brazil squad and quite right to Simon. Who's going to get more goals and assists? I was the same as Sam completely forgot your question. He was Rob's question. So I apologize.

23:45And it's hilarious. Right. He's going to go my word. More goals and assists. I'm going to go. I'm going to go Palmer. I just I just think he's he he out of the three of them has got the most likelihood to do a lot of both. Just but if more if more he keeps doing what he's doing on his alone, he could set quite a pace. Jessica. Jessica. She was of course coming to my heart. Well GOT7 This is your baby faces. With a Discover Cash Back Card, it's payback time when you earn cash back on everyday purchases. Activate and earn 5% cash back at different categories each quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases. That's 5% cash back at different places each quarter, like grocery stores, on gas, and at restaurants.

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25:49OK, well, we shall see come the end of the season on that one, but they're all looking pretty irresistible at the moment. One more player I wanted to mention Simon before we move on, or maybe speak about Shabby Alonzo afterwards, is Pedro Netto, because it feels like he's having a bit of a redemption to me, because he was one of the players, it was really interesting. When the four players who were coming on in the second half came out a couple of minutes early to warm up, they were all given a raucous salvation, because the people in the stadium needed something had to change, and these guys were all capable of changing it. But we're only a couple of weeks removed from him and Reese having a row on the pitch at full-arm, and it looked like Netto had gone from untouchable to, does anybody fancy this guy, please, because I think we might have a bit of a problem on our hands. He was excellent, scored a great goal, but he's a banter in the Conor Codion sky afterwards. It seems like he's all turned around for him. Yes, I think, when without raining on the parade too much of what you're saying,

26:50there's been an element of fortune for him in the sense of Marco Polestra, sort of one of the stars of preseason, has been injured since just before the start of the season, because Marco Polestra, the way he was playing and the way it was looking, was definitely going to be one of the wingbacks, and certainly you would think that right wingback would have been a strong possibility, even though he played on both flanks during preseason, but right wingback is his natural position. And of course, that's where Pedro Netto has been playing. So I kind of make the point, that point in my matchpiece, that there is a bit of a caveat in the fact that Netto has been the most used winger of the four, because of that reason. But in saying that, you'll write to flag how well he played, and in general how well he's done,

27:52since that, unseemly, what looked like an unseemly altercation with his captain, and he needs to show more of the kind of light hearted side, it's easy for me to say, but that light heart is post-match interview with Conoco, and he of course is his ultimate, so understandably he was a bit more relaxed than when it's someone with the likes of me asking my question. But he needs to keep that form up. He wasn't an untouchable this summer, like Chelsea were, would have listened, if someone had made a ridiculous bid, and I think that is one of the reasons why he's still a Chelsea player now, is no one was willing to match Chelsea's valuation. But I think, you know, if he keeps his form up, then he can certainly become one of Chelsea's untouchables, because he does add a lot, and Alonzo does seem to trust him,

28:53unlike the other three wingers that we've already, well, we haven't even touched on Kwenda actually, he's had just eight minutes, and that was as a substitute in the very first game. He was left out of the next two squads completely, and I'm told it wasn't injury-related, and he's been an unused sub in the next two. So again, a bit like Estevelle, with Shirley Deiz for him, he's only just joined the club, but you do sort of have concerns about when he'll actually get an opportunity to play, and whereas Netto must be looking at it going, yeah, I'm going to be in the team shit on a regular basis, if I keep this up. You say Kwenda, which sort of rhymes with pandas, almost forgot to mention that incredible first half double save that he made. That was a bit of a stretch, wasn't it? It was a bit of a shame that Leeds score pretty much straight afterwards, but that was good from him. Javier Lanzo said, I need to take my own blame and my own responsibility on the things that happen. I need to be able to help them be better,

29:55so they're not responsible, and after you need to react and think what's better for the team. Sam, you were saying during the game that it was good management from him to just make the changes and back himself, rather than say, you look, get 10 minutes, and then I'm bringing these guys on. Is it good management as well from him to not bury the players who struggled in the first half, but say, this is on me because I put too many different people in at the same time, and there was no chance of any cohesion, which was essentially what I read into his post-match comments. Yeah, possibly, maybe one or two, too many, already made my point really on how Leeds is five, if you like, with the three defenders and the two in front were vastly experienced, so they weren't disrupted, probably to the same extent that Chelsea were, but yeah, I think when you turn up and your Chelsea supporter, you still expect a little better than what was shown. They would have probably had two sessions to work on it. The shape, everyone would be a foe with after the preseason,

30:57and the opening weeks of the season, so it was still underwhelming from the guys that were out there. But maybe you go slightly stronger as he did against Luton, which, you know, arriving at the ground last night, I probably would have anticipated maybe Asia, Pedro Rodgers, Palmer being in there from the outset given that it was Woods Leeds United and not 30 opposition. So, yeah, again, I think these games are really difficult when you're all thrown in, and I think it has to be a balance, because it was only 45 minutes, there's nothing to say that there wouldn't have been improvement in the second half, had he made one or two changes, so you can't bury these players, and as Simon rightly said about Estabal, for example, you know, it's cutthroat, I think, at the highest level, sometimes two cutthroat, that some of the players that have been at Chelsea players across the last year or two, get fleeting opportunities and are cast aside. By supporters as well, as club I'm talking about here,

31:58sometimes you have to just be a little bit more balanced and a bit more patient, and that's what these players deserve, because, you know, that was a tough 45 minutes for all of them. Can I also make, can I just give a shout out to Reese James as well? Because I think after the Arsenal game, it wasn't great, I think it's fair to say, in midfield on Sunday, but I thought he had a huge impact on after coming on as well, and not just the way he was making some classic Reese James or tackles and blocks, but I thought his presence in there contributed to Barco's, sort of, suddenly, getting a little after the first five minutes, of course, having been robbed of the ball in the buildup to the second goal, the lead scored. But I thought, I don't think it was a coincidence that Barco seemed to settle down a bit more,

32:58knowing that, no, and there's no sort of dig it, Reggie Watson, but you can sort of understand why, you know, Barco might feel a little bit more comfortable with a such a senior player, suddenly alongside him, and just quickly on pendors, yes, it was a magnificent double save, but I think we saw with the set pieces that followed, because he sort of mispunched the first corner, for another corner, and then was caught completely under the ball for the, for the actual opening goal, and I think we just got a glimpse there of why Chelsea don't want to rush him in to be the first choice goalkeeper, that there is stuff that he needs to improve on, because it didn't look great that the way he handled that corner, he kind of was in no man's land, although it was a fantastic header from such a narrow angle, it has to be said, full credit. So yeah, that was something that

34:03occurred to me, it was just like, yeah, this is, this is just an insight into Chelsea's thinking that the lead cup provides a tremendous opportunity for pendors to get game time, but I think it's the right sort of competition for him to be in, rather than the much more high profile, and the biggest consequences of the Premier League, because you make mistakes that in league games like that, and inevitably the people are going to focus on your weaknesses a lot more. Well, he's got a long time to wait for his next action, one would think, injury permitting, as Simon says, the next round's not until the end of October the draw, his next Wednesday. We're going to switch our focus back to the Premier League next. Fourth, V-third, in the Premier League at Stanford Bridge this weekend, is Chelsea welcome the improbably high flying whole city to West London. The Tigers yet to concede a goal on their return to the top flight as Shabby Alonzo looks to end that record and make it three wins from four

35:06in the league for the Blues. Sam, other than Maxon's the choir and possibly Joshua Champon, wouldn't expect anyone else who started against leads to do so in this game. No, possibly not. He's got a decision to make in the back three, I suppose. The way at Champon has started the season has been really encouraging, because I think we've spoken often about a little bit of a dip last season, a few mistakes creeping into his game, but that's not been evident at all this season. He started really well for foreigners at a great start as well, in my opinion, despite a difficult time down that left hand side at the Emirates, but I think that was a collective thing, maybe more than it was the individual. So that's the big one. I mean, it's difficult to recall exactly how Levi did last night. I think he was at a pretty good level and it gives you the balance with the left foot, but that is probably the one position, isn't it going into this one? If we expect James and Labia to be fit, Nettokun's back in at

36:07wingback, no pulling with that and Hato given that he wasn't involved last night, would be an obvious one to start on the left, but it's a different game, it's a different challenge, because you're going to have to be very concentrated against a counterattack, you're going to have to be very, very robust from set pieces, but ultimately the configuration of the back line, the wingbacks, it's a completely different proposition going to ask, no, then it is face and hull at home, it's going to present different problems. How do you break them down? How do you make opportunities? And therefore, the defensive changes aren't probably as problematic as they would be when you're going away from home against a team challenge for positions in the higher echelons of the league. So difficult game, because they've started unbelievably, but I expect Chelsea to take care of business despite nobody breaching their goal yet. Yeah, Sunderland managed it in the league cup on Tuesday, but Hull had made eight changes to the side that started against Villa. So they've

37:11kept a clean sheet in all three of their Premier League games so far. The last team to do so in their first four were Man City in 2015, 16, no promoted side has ever achieved that. I mean, there's going to be goals in this game, I mean, it's Chelsea 26, 27. Simon, the thing that everybody's worried about is midfield, is it going to be Lavier and Reese again? Is Javier Alonzo as we know by now plays his cards close to his chest when it comes to fitness, but have we had any indication that Moisés Kaisa, there might be available on Saturday? Only I think Alonzo's reluctance to guide too much. And I think we have to get used to this. He clearly doesn't want to tip his hat to the opposition too much. Just referring to what he said in the pre-match press conference. So in the written section, he confirmed his car problem. I wasn't sure if that had been, it's funny if you don't go to if you press conferences and

38:15I'd gone on a run since the pre-season saw of not covering a pre-match press conference. You sort of think, well, surely, surely someone's asked it by now. So you sort of think, do I ask it? Because I still don't think I've seen it anywhere, what he's actually done. And I thought about asking it in the broad section when I normally get my turn. But I was fearful that not for the first time in my life, I'd ask a really obvious question that already belongs to it. So I ended up asking about Henderson and Emmerger instead. And if anyone watched it, I ended up, Alonzo said, ask me on Friday and I hilariously said, it's a date. So yes, I've still got it. Anyway, as always, I've gotten off on a tangent. But so I thought he did a good job of pretending he enjoyed the joke. I've got to say. Yes, he even turned to the Tom Rodney of Chelsea's first office and actually sort of write it down.

39:17Now, I didn't know whether he was saying write it down as in, I must be prepared for the question or write it down. I've got a date with the very handsome Simon Johnson on Friday. I've still got it, as I said. So I joke. But anyway, but it's a sad joke. And so he was asked about say, don't again, one in the broad section and he sort of said, take it game by game or day by day rather. But he repeated how he felt he rushed him back similar comments he made off the Arsenal game that he rushed him back too soon against Brighton, which is where of course he came on substitute and went off. As soon afterwards again, having aggravated the same problem. But he also said that he's back in training. So I think Chelsea must be a little bit tempted

40:20as much as you want Kassado to come back as soon as possible because he leaves such a hole in that midfield and we saw that particularly against Arsenal that you leave Kassado wrapped in cotton wool until after the international break because it also means that he doesn't go away with Ecuador because you can imagine having been out injured for a few weeks now that being on a plane and all that, Monarch is not ideal. So that's the latest. We'll obviously find out more on Friday when I will follow up my amazing Henderson Emigre question as well. But a polestria I think is another one that we have to keep asking about for the very same reasons I sort of flagged earlier.

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42:28No matter your goals or appetite for investing, Schwab has everything you need all in one place. Visit Schwab.com to learn more. The Athletic FC. Okay, yeah, that sounds like a good plan to make a Kaisaido. It's hollow and Saturday, then it's Brentford away on Friday before the international break. Tell us a little bit about a whole then Sam with your EFL hat on because they were promoted against all expectation last season. They've just managed to sustain that momentum despite a big overhaul of the squad. A lot of people, fans of the managers, Sergey Yikirovich. Yeah, it was a really interesting season for the people that have crunched the numbers and what have you in defense and attack really. Only Shepherd Wednesday can see that a higher XG on their own goal. They're the best conversion rate going the other way. Four teams took fewer shots.

43:29So in attack and a defense according to the numbers, they should have been nowhere near it. Obviously finished chic and the first team since 2010 to be promoted from that position. They were the entertainers, the early part of the season and results were going their way. And I think there was a little bit of shift around about Christmas time. There was certainly fewer goals in their games and the playoffs was a success because he changed the system and he went to this back three that we see now. I think it was at the den in the the semi-final with memory serves. And they've carried that through by the final where they gave up very few opportunities to Middlesbrough. And I think the most important thing this season, the reason that they've had early season successes, last season they didn't really want the ball. And we've seen teams get promoted to the Premier League and try and shift styles, try to bring in more ball playing midfield players. For example, try to have a little bit more

44:36and try to evolve but they know exactly who they are. They're happy not to have the ball. Seven of the player finalists started against Ashton Villa the other day. So the core remains the same, vastly experienced guys. That was a big thing for me at the back end of last season. And of course they had an embargo where they could only sign freeze and loans, I believe, under Eukirovich initially. So this will have scored put together a yes with a view to be competitive in the championship. I think they exceeded all expectations. I'm sure the owner would say that as well. But these were guys accumulated that had masses of championship games. The likes of Crooks, Matt Crooks, John Lundstrom, Johnny Egan, McBernie, Coil who's been there for an eternity. So these are guys that knew the championship and you know, late in games last season despite not making an abundance of chances. They were so solid, so savvy with the these guys to kind of run the ship on the pitch for the manager. They were really difficult not

45:41to crack. So yeah, they've obviously added Mendes come into the back three, a new goalkeeper who you would hope won't be as erratic as Panda who's gone off to Rangers now. And yeah, they look like they've got an incredible togetherness. It's obviously going to be incredibly difficult to sustain. But I think that is their their greatest strength really that there hasn't been too much tinkered with you know, over the summer. Trusting in the the shape that got them late season success added a little bit of of gold dust. I'm sure in the in a transfer window. In terms of the front players, McBernie's an obvious threat. Charles has got great delivery from the left hand side. But last year there was kind of Liam Miller who's been allowed to leave for Birmingham scored the the goal at Coventry the other day. Gail Hart is back at the club, but the other four player was part of the kind of front trio. Carl Joseph was allowed to leave for Middlesbrough as well. So yeah, it was quite consistent last season three or those four. And that's obviously been broken up for one reason or another. But amazing start to the season and a difficult

46:46challenge from at the weekend, a different challenge. And there'll be a lot of eyes on them to see how they cope. Chelsea have never lost in 10 Premier League meetings with a whole they'd beat them 4-0 at their place in the FA Cup last season. That's how I got to have a trick. The last meeting at the bridge was also a 4-0 FA Cup win back in 2018. Probably not going to be 4-0 Simon on Saturday, but give me a prediction. It's also going to be the first team to breach holes gold in the Premier League and pick up three points. It's almost worthy of a massive goal celebration, isn't it? I must admit, I was making the obvious comments of like if you'd have picked out of the two teams who would before the ball had been kicked, who would have been going to this game off the back of three clean sheets and who would be coming in with having considered seven goals. In every split, everyone would have thought would have assumed it would be whole, that would be porous at the back. I think it is going to be a really difficult game for Chelsea

47:51because he'll have a full confidence. Despite Austin's fees of Ival, I still think Chelsea look very shaky at set pieces. We saw it against Arsenal. With the first team, we saw it again against Leeds with some of the first team and the second string of course. I think yes, you're right to intimate that this could be a high scoring affair again because that's what Chelsea do. I'm going to go a two-two draw. How about that? Well, that's the good two-neil. When give me a score, Sam? Yeah, two-neil, I fancy, just party, saying it. We'll go with that. Okay, Saturday, three o'clock for that one. We will of course react to it on Monday's pod. Elsewhere in Chelsea news, the women's team going search for their first league winner this season. They go to Manchester United on Sunday. That is a high-noon showdown. In terms of the academy sides, under 21s are Arsenal in PL2 on Saturday, two o'clock kickoff

48:57for that one and the under 18s take on Brighton at 11 o'clock on Saturday. You can watch that one. Live with me on CFC plus if you like. That is where we're going to leave things for today, though, not before I remind you that we've got an FPL league. You can find that in the or the link to that in the show description. It's on our pin post on our x-page as well. If you want to read all of Simon and everybody else's excellent work, go to theathethic.com slash Chelsea pod. Subscribe to our YouTube channel if you'd be so kind or always welcome to leave a comment on there as well. We'll incorporate some of those into the show as we go. And if you'd like to leave some nice review Apple Podcast Spotify, wherever you get your pods, we'd appreciate it as well. Thank you then to Sam to Simon to cast producer Tom and to you for listening or watching. Catch you up with you again on Monday for now. It's goodbye. The Athletic FC With a Discover Cash Back Card, it's payback time when you earn cashback on everyday purchases.

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