Si Phillips Talks Chelsea

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Every Friday, Simon Phillips and Dan McCarthy take you on a deep dive into all the key Chelsea FC news and issues with a subscriber only podcast, featuring guest commentary from players, former players, club insiders and other Chelsea reporters. siphillipstalkschelsea.substack.com

  1. SPTC Podcast: Time for Burnley + Cole and Reece Return!

    5D AGO

    SPTC Podcast: Time for Burnley + Cole and Reece Return!

    This week offered something approaching calm at Chelsea with much of the squad scattered across various coastlines pretending, however briefly, that football does not exist. In the absence of chaos we did what all reasonable observers do in quieter moments and speculated. We began with an assessment of Rosenior and what, if anything, can be meaningfully concluded at this stage. Early impressions tend to be either wildly optimistic or needlessly fatalistic, so we attempted something unfashionable in modern discourse which is restraint. There are encouraging signs, certainly, though encouragement at Chelsea is often a provisional state. From there we turned to the likely return of Nicolas Jackson this summer, a subject that inspires equal parts intrigue and exasperation. Is he the answer, a useful component, or simply another chapter in a recruitment strategy that prefers potential to certainty. Raheem Sterling’s move to Feyenoord also came under review, a transfer that feels less like a headline and more like a footnote to a broader reshuffling. More positively, the return of Reece James and Cole Palmer restores a measure of credibility to the enterprise. Finally we looked ahead to Saturday where a struggling yet persistently awkward Burnley await. League position offers little comfort in such fixtures. Chelsea will need more than good intentions to leave with the appropriate result. Apologies for the terrible connection on my end - rural wifi is still an issue in 2026 it seems! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit siphillipstalkschelsea.substack.com/subscribe

    35 min
  2. JAN 16

    SPTC Podcast: Interview with Chelsea Protest Leaders

    Today I spoke with two individuals who, for obvious reasons, must remain unnamed yet are deeply involved in organising the forthcoming protests against Chelsea’s current ownership. Their perspective is neither theatrical nor hysterical but rather rooted in a sustained unease about the direction of the club. It made for a conversation that was at once sobering and revealing, and one suspects their concerns will resonate far beyond the immediate circle of disgruntled supporters. See here: Follow them HERE. From there we turned to the now familiar subject of defensive recruitment. In particular we examined Chelsea’s longstanding interest in Jeremy Jacquet. Not a headline grabber but a player whose profile suggests discipline, composure and a quiet reliability that has been conspicuously absent at times. Finally we cast an eye towards Chelsea’s upcoming trip to face an in form Brentford. A team who may lack the glamour of the traditional elite but possess both structure and self belief, making them a decidedly awkward proposition on their own turf. It is the kind of fixture that promises no comfort, only complication. Whether Chelsea can impose themselves or merely navigate the difficulty remains to be seen, but the stage is certainly set for another testing afternoon. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit siphillipstalkschelsea.substack.com/subscribe

    50 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Every Friday, Simon Phillips and Dan McCarthy take you on a deep dive into all the key Chelsea FC news and issues with a subscriber only podcast, featuring guest commentary from players, former players, club insiders and other Chelsea reporters. siphillipstalkschelsea.substack.com

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