London Is Blue

On this episode of the London Is Blue podcast, Nick, Jés and Nath kick off a two-part 2026 World Cup preview to shift their focus toward international football after a highly frustrating Chelsea club season. The crew details major logistical challenges facing the expanded 48-team tournament, alongside strict new regulatory overhauls regarding time-wasting penalties, tactical dugout technology, and expanded VAR proto...

1 hr 1 min

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Part 2 of the London is Blue Podcast's Xabi Alonso special! Nick and Sam's discussion shifts to Xabi Alonso’s midfield and attacking strategies, which are defined by a fluid "organic, not robotic" approach that prioritizes quick interchanges and third-man combinations. His midfield philosophy often utilizes a double pivot of "all action" midfielders who maintain close proximity to minimize ball losses and dictate t...

39 mins

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On this episode of the London is Blue Podcast, Nick and Sam explore Xabi Alonso’s journey from a "maestro" midfielder at clubs like Liverpool and Real Madrid to an "invincible" manager who transformed Bayer Leverkusen from a relegation-threatened side into Bundesliga champions. His coaching philosophy is rooted in a "collective mentality" that prioritizes the unit over individual stars, favoring a fluid system wher...

1 hr

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Nick and guests Ollie Glanville, and Daniel Childs (SonOfChelsea) gather for a brutal post-mortem on a "gutless" campaign that saw Chelsea plummet to a 10th-place finish. The trio breaks down the "nepotism" and managerial chaos of the Clearlake era, noting that the club's very identity has been "stripped" away. While stars like Joao Pedro and Jarell Hato provided rare highlights, the hosts agree that "when it counted...

1 hr 32 mins

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On this episode of the London is Blue podcast, Nick and Dan are joined by guest Louis Beneventi for part two of their "Keep, Sell, Loan" series. Following the conclusion of the 2025–26 season, the trio evaluates the Chelsea squad's midfield and attackers while navigating the (at the time of recording pre-Xabi) uncertainty of a new manager and the club's "reflection period" under Clearlake Capital. The panel reach...

1 hr 4 mins

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On this episode of the London Is Blue podcast, hosts Dan, Nick, and guest Louis Beneventi tackle the annual "Keep, Sell, Loan" segment to address a Chelsea squad heading into what Nick describes as "complete and utter chaos" next season. While debating goalkeepers, Louis proposes a bold transfer for Manuel Neuer, arguing he is a "proven talent" and "senior figure who's won everything" needed for the dressing room. Ul...

1 hr

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Chelsea's season concluded with a "shambolic" 2-1 defeat to Sunderland, leaving them 10th in the table and 33 points behind rivals Arsenal. Nick and Jéss describe the squad as a "bunch of losers" lacking desire, highlighting Wesley Fofana’s second red card of the season as a symbol of the club's "discipline issue". Looking ahead, the "only thing" providing hope is the appointment of Xabi Alonso, who faces a "massi...

1 hr

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Entering the final match of the 2025/26 campaign against Sunderland, Chelsea finds themselves in a "new world" following the appointment of Xabi Alonso, a manager with a "capital M". Despite a season where things have "completely sideways," Dan and Sam analyzes that a victory could see the club "back into a Europa League position". This transition marks the "start of a 2.0 project from BlueCo," signaling a shift towa...

39 mins

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