The Red and Blue Soccer Chat

Welcome back, Reds and Blues! We survived the international break and the first week back. But things have not gone well for the Red-White-and-Blue, the Reds, or the Blues since we last chatted. Let’s get into it.Chelsea desperately needed the international break. 4 losses on the trot had dropped them out of the Champions League spot. They returned to face Port Vale in the FA Cup, and it was a welcome respite as they ran out 7-0 against the League One side. But they were brought back to earth this weekend when they hosted Manchester City. The first half seemed even, but the late-season beast that is City awoke in the 2nd half. 2 goals inside about 15 minutes ended the contest, with a third coming later to rub it in. The return of Enzo Fernandez may be a boost, but they face a Manchester United side that will be looking to bounce back from their loss to local rivals Leeds. Brighton and Leeds round out the month of April, which may decide their European fate.United had an extended break with the first weekend back being dedicated to the FA Cup. But that extra time seemed to add cobwebs rather than freshness. Leeds showed up to Old Trafford ready to fight. They figuratively and literally punched United in the face in the first five minutes and made it clear they were not going to lie down in their own relegation fight. A second goal on the half hour mark and a United red card made a fightback more difficult. An in-perfect cross from Bruno for Casemiro’s header gave the home crowd some hope, but Leeds managed to turn away multiple goal-line opportunities to give Carrick only his 2nd loss in this stint. United will look to revive their top-4 hopes with a trip to Stamford Bridge. The outcome of that game will have massive impact on the future of both clubs.The USMNT played 2 friendlies in further preparation for the upcoming World Cup, and let’s just say we now have more questions than answers. After a decent but probably far too open first half against Belgium, the floodgates were opened and the final score of 5-2 was flattering. It felt like the Belgians scored about every 5 minutes or at least could have. The match against Portugal was only slightly better because of the scoreline. But the US was truly never in the game, as Portugal dominated possession and position. Both games should serve as a reality check for what expectations should be, as well as demonstrating that some players are just not at the level required to go deep in a Cup run. Pulisic’s poor start to 2026 at club level carried over, and a few players should be told now that they are not going to be on the plane. The USMNT now has 2 games to find some semblance of form, or this could a short Cup.The USWNT play a friendly against Japan this evening at 10pm. The field is now set after the last round of playoff matches. We’ll run down who punched their ticket and the likely big matchups.We’ll be wondering what counts as a foul and a card, so join us Wednesday at 7 p.m. live at Chatham Tap, or online via Facebook Live and YouTube Live as well. You can also catch us on the platforms listed below. Like, subscribe, comment, and raise a glass with us wherever you listen. Cheers!⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/@theredandbluesoccerchatinstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byahttps://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-red-and-blue-soccer-chat/id1720060776https://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow

Greetings, Reds and Blues! We’re nearing the business end of the season. Chelsea’s hopes now sit squarely upon the FA Cup. United have a chance to grab a CL spot if they can hold onto their current position. Let’s see how both fared recently.Chelsea’s season is limping toward the finish line. Recent results in the Premier League have not been what they have hoped for at this point, as they sit in 8th place and 10 points off the guaranteed CL spot of 5th. But while the league has not been pleasant for them recently, they have managed to get their hands near a trophy. A nervy but ultimately worthy 1-goal win over a plucky but largely toothless Leeds side sees them head back to Wembley for an FA Cup final against Manchester City, who themselves left it late to overturn a deficit to defeat Southampton. Chelsea won’t play for a full week before resuming next Monday against Forest. They go away to Liverpool the week for their Cup final before rounding out May away to Sunderland.United’s hopes for Champions League football next season took another big step on Monday with a somewhat edgy 2-1 victory over Brentford. United started brightly and got an early goal, but Brentford were full of attacking intent themselves and had multiple golden opportunities that they failed to take. A second goal before halftime should have calmed the nerves, but Carrick seemed to sense the danger and brought on Maz for Amad to bring more defensive composure. It worked well, but Brentford made things lively with a late thunderbolt of a goal. They had one more chance that Lammens held onto, and they now sit all alone in third 3 points above Liverpool and Villa. They welcome Liverpool to Old Trafford next weekend as they look fully solidify their hold on a CL spot. Sunderland, Forest, and Brighton round out the season for United.We’ll be wondering which referees are calling fouls this week, so join us Wednesday at 7 p.m. live at Chatham Tap, or online via Facebook Live and YouTube Live as well. You can also catch us on the platforms listed below. Like, subscribe, comment, and raise a glass with us wherever you listen. Cheers!⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/@theredandbluesoccerchatinstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byahttps://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-red-and-blue-soccer-chat/id1720060776https://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow

Greetings, Reds and Blues! The international break is upon us. So how did our clubs sign off in the league? Chelsea have now lost 4 games in a row and failed to score in the last 3. But it is the manner in which they’ve lost that should be worrisome. The first leg of the PSG CL tie was going along acceptably until the last 20 minutes, during which the wheels fell and have not been located since. A dreary 1-0 at home to Newcastle followed. Then another capitulation to PSG. And finally this past weekend’s dire outing away to Everton. So the break comes at an opportune time for them. And an additional saving grace arrives upon their return to action, as they face Port Vale at home in the FA Cup. But that game is followed by visits from Manchester City and United, respectively. Liam Rosenior has his work cut out for him for the month of April. Michael Carrick is now rumored to be getting the position full-time and a 3-year contract. They looked convincing against Villa, and slightly less so against Bournemouth. But the trajectory has been good, and they appear set to hold firm on third place and a CL spot. But this will add pressure and further questions between now and the end of the season. I personally think there was no harm in waiting to announce the decision, even if all parties knew behind the scenes. The last thing this team needs at the moment is a further distraction. This may ultimately be the real test for Carrick. The USMNT enters their last camp before gathering for the Cup this summer. Belgium awaits on Saturday. How experimental and/or pragmatic Poch will approach this match remains to be seen. The USWNT returns to action mid-April with a friendly against Japan. And several teams will take one step closer to the World Cup on Thursday in the first leg of the playoffs. We’ll be wondering just how and why VAR chooses to get involved, so join us Wednesday at 7 p.m. live at Chatham Tap, or online via Facebook Live and YouTube Live as well. You can also catch us on the platforms listed below. Like, subscribe, comment, and raise a glass with us wherever you listen. Cheers! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat #ChathamTapFishers #ChelseaFC #manchesterunited #USMNT #USWNT https://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchat https://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/ https://www.youtube.com/@theredandbluesoccerchat instagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchat https://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7bya https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-red-and-blue-soccer-chat/id1720060776 https://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow

Hello, Reds and Blues! We took an extra week off, but the football world certainly didn’t. Let’s catch up with our clubs!Chelsea now ignominiously holds the record for most red cards by a team in a single season across all competitions, and they are quickly closing in on the record for the Premier League. That indiscipline has been an Achilles Heel all season, but it was particularly impactful against Arsenal. They clawed their way back into the match thanks to an own goal—despite rarely looking comfortable in it. But a second and completely unnecessary yellow for Pedro Neto made any sustained comeback all the more difficult. They bounced back in a big way against Villa (4-1) before an entertaining extra time thriller against Wrexham (4-2) in the FA Cup. Wrexham showed that they just might be ready for prime time, and Chelsea showed they may not be ready for a sustained run at the top 4. They did manage to pull it out, but they will need to show a more disciplined and cohesive performance against PSG in the Champions League before hosting a resurgent Newcastle in the league on Saturday.Michael Carrick finally suffered a loss as manager of Manchester United. Despite losing to a last-minute worldie, it was really a tepid performance from the United players. Carrick (and certainly fans) may secretly be relieved that the “unbeaten” questions will no longer be asked, and he can focus on the task at hand: top 4. And the opportunity to put some daylight between themselves and their closest points rival when they host Villa this weekend will probably be a welcome challenge. That would solidify their hold on third place before what could be a tricky trip to Bournemouth the following week.The USWNT captured the SheBelieves Cup with a 1-0 win over Colombia on Saturday. They won all 3 matches en route and have not given up a goal since October. Emma has this team flying as they continue the momentum toward next summer’s World Cup in Brazil.We’ll be trying to avoid 23 red cards, so join us Wednesday at 7 p.m. live at Chatham Tap, or online via Facebook Live and YouTube Live as well. You can also catch us on the platforms listed below. Like, subscribe, comment, and raise a glass with us wherever you listen. Cheers!⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺#TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/@theredandbluesoccerchatinstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byahttps://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-red-and-blue-soccer-chat/id1720060776https://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow

Greetings, Reds and Blues! It’s been far too long, and there’s a lot to unpack. The new year has brought new managers—and new hope. Michael Carrick’s second spell as caretaker at United has picked up where he left off. And Liam Rosenior’s move to the Chelsea dugout is already showing signs of life. Let’s assess.Since the loss to Fulham in early January—the last match before Rosenior took charge—Chelsea have looked sharp. Two Carabao Cup defeats to a high-flying Arsenal side shouldn’t overshadow the results. They’re 7–2 in that stretch, with most wins looking comfortable. Cole Palmer’s resurgence has played a part, but the growing consistency across the squad has been just as important.Chelsea welcome a struggling Leeds on Tuesday, followed by an FA Cup trip to Hull. They round out February at home to Burnley. Maximum points will be the goal before a dangerous March that includes trips to Arsenal, Villa, and Everton—plus a visit from a lively Newcastle side.Has Michael Carrick done enough to earn the job full-time? Most of us aren’t ready for that conversation just yet. For now, let’s enjoy the ride. It’s been a while since United fans have felt this kind of buzz. And speaking of buzz, a certain young lad will be watching Tuesday’s clash with West Ham very closely. A win would make it five in a row for the first time in two years. After that, they have a fortnight off before another trip to Everton. Will United still be in the top four come March?On the international front, the USMNT won’t return until late March, but there’s plenty to like with Pulisic and McKennie both in strong form.The USWNT handled business in late-January friendlies against Paraguay and Chile. Next up: Argentina in March.We’ll be hoping our clubs keep the momentum rolling, so join us Wednesday at 7 p.m. live at Chatham Tap, or online via Facebook Live and YouTube Live as well. You can also catch us on the platforms listed below. Like, subscribe, comment, and raise a glass with us wherever you listen. Cheers!⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/@theredandbluesoccerchatinstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byahttps://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-red-and-blue-soccer-chat/id1720060776https://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow

Welcome to 2026, Reds and Blues! The new year has decided to bring surprises early, as both clubs are in management turmoil despite reasonably decent spots in the table. And we have the World Cup draw to discuss as well. Let’s get caught up!It is hard to discuss one club without discussing the other, as there seem to be so many parallels. Knee-jerk management decisions, unclear transfer policies, managers not being given time and control, as well as managers perhaps not being suited for the role in the first place. Without knowing all the details behind the scenes, as fans we are left to wonder exactly what is going on and why 2 storied clubs cannot manage to find stability and further success. That Maresca and Amorim are both gone is not the surprise. And there is no reason to think another untested manager will right things for either club.This week Chelsea will travel a short distance for their London derby with Fulham, while Manchester United go away to Burnley. Both have winnable FA Cup matches at the weekend. What either team will look like in setup and performance is anyone’s guess. Liam Rosenior has been appointed new Chelsea boss, and he is expected to be in charge on gameday. Darren Fletcher has caretaker duties for United.There is a World Cup coming to North America this summer. The draw took place in early December and was unfortunately exactly the gaudy, bloated, and disjointed spectacle one would expect at the moment. But the groups and fixtures are now set. The US got a seemingly favorable draw with Paraguay, Australia, and a playoff winner (likely Turkey?).We’ll be taking odds on manager comings and goings, so join us at 7pm live at Chatham Tap or online through Facebook Live and hopefully YouTube Live. You can also catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺#TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/@theredandbluesoccerchatinstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byahttps://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-red-and-blue-soccer-chat/id1720060776https://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow

Happy Holidays, Reds and Blues! We hope you were able to enjoy spending time with friends and family last week. Silly Season is now upon us, with games every few days to entertain us throughout the holidays. But how did our clubs do prior to all the upcoming chaos? Let’s get into it! Chelsea’s onslaught to remain title contenders saw them return from the international break with a firm victory over lowly Burnley before putting on a masterclass against Barcelona at the Bridge. While Barca still has an impressive attacking force, their defense has been less impressive. And Chelsea took full advantage, with Barca going down to 10 men for the 2nd half. But an even bigger test came this past weekend when they hosted Arsenal. Despite themselves going down to 10 late in the first half, Chelsea managed to get on the board first. They managed the game with great aplomb, but Arsenal did manage to get a goal that could have been a platform to victory. But Chelsea stayed strong and took a valuable point off the hopeful league leaders. A mid-week trip to relegation-sitting Leeds kicks off an 8-game December for the Blues. Can they cure their discipline woes to prevent a holiday slip-up? As was pointed out in our last chat, United can look toothless without true strikers on the field. And such was the case when they faced Everton. Perhaps it was the chaos and confusion of seeing the Toffees go down to 10 men for a player slapping his own teammate in the first 15 minutes, but United’s defense gave far too much space to Dewsbury-Hall to fire home. From there, their low block became their lifeline, and it paid off. United lack the courage and individual talents required to overcome a stubborn defense that is dug in, and they gave up all 3 points that should have been there for the taking. And it briefly appeared they would repeat that recent history by giving up a first-half PK to Palace. United showed good spirit to get back into the game through a rare Zirkzee goal. And a quickly taken free kick allowed Mount to take the lead. United looked shaky but resolved to secure the points. A struggling West Ham side comes to Old Trafford this week as United begin their own run of 6 games in December. Trust the process? The USMNT was largely considered a B squad during the break, but they managed 2 solid victories against Paraguay and Uruguay. As both have qualified for next summer’s Cup, they present what is hopefully the path forward for our Eagles.The USWNT took care of Italy twice in the span of a couple days to end 2025 on a high. Cat Macario had 3 goals across the 2 games. They will hope to follow in the USMNT’s footsteps when they host Paraguay in January.  We’ll be making our lists and checking them twice, so join us at 7pm live at Chatham Tap or online through Facebook Live and hopefully YouTube Live. You can also catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/@theredandbluesoccerchatinstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byahttps://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-red-and-blue-soccer-chat/id1720060776https://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow

Greetings, Reds and Blues! The north wind has blown in, and winter is coming. But has it reached across the pond? Let’s see how our clubs have fared as we race toward the final international break of the year. Chelsea eked out a win in an unnecessarily thrilling Carabao Cup match with Wolves, where they yet again failed to finish with 11 players on the field. This time it was the youngster Delap with a rash challenge late on. Despite their good form, indiscipline may come back to haunt them at some point this season. But at the moment they will be happy with their league form. A 1-0 win over London rivals Spurs and a comfortable 3-0 win over Wolves (twice in the span of a week) sandwiched a long-distance draw with plucky Qarabag in the CL. That sees them head into the break in 2nd place in the Prem. They will return in a fortnight to face Burnley before 2 big tests against Barcelona and then Arsenal see out November. United’s unbeaten run has extended to 5 games since the ugly loss to Brentford. Bryan Mbeumo has been the highlight, but Cunha, De Ligt, and Amad have been big contributors as well. However, Ruben may have some concerns with some others’ focus drifting. Despite taking the lead against Forest and Spurs, United had to work hard to salvage late draws from both. With Sesko set to be out for an extended period with a knee injury, the abundance of number 10s will have to take up the slack. And they may need to utilize the January window to supplement the attack. United will return from the break to face a somewhat disjointed Everton at Old Trafford before ending November with a trip south to Palace. 2 wins would go a long way to putting them within touching distance of the top 4 as Christmas approaches, which seemed a far way off not long ago. The USMNT will definitely be without Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Chris Richards, and Christian Pulisic for their upcoming friendlies with Paraguay and Uruguay. Injuries and a not-quite-complete squad are beginning to be legit worries for Poch with just 7 months to go and few further opportunities to evaluate players. It’s time for those on the fringe to stake their claim or risk driving themselves to next summer’s games. Gio Reyna, we’re looking squarely at you.  The USWNT thrashed New Zealand 6-0 through an Emma Sears hat trick. They will face Italy twice – in Orlando then Ft. Lauderdale – to end 2025. We’ll be trying to make Whitefish Bay before the gales of November arrive, so join us at 7pm live at Chatham Tap or online through Facebook Live and hopefully YouTube Live. You can also catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/@theredandbluesoccerchatinstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byahttps://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-red-and-blue-soccer-chat/id1720060776https://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow

Greetings, Reds and Blues! After an extended break we have returned to bring you all of our thoughts about Chelsea, United, and the US national teams. It’s been a while, so let’s get into it!Chelsea looked to have some good momentum going, especially with the absence of several key players. It appeared they were enjoying their own version of the Ewing Theory, rattling off 4 wins in a row despite no Cole Palmer. But Sunderland is not accidentally in the Top 4. They rocked up to the Bridge with something to prove, and they stole the points late on in stoppage time. Chelsea did manage to keep 11 players on the field, but that will be little consolation to a side looking to push on from their own Top 4 finish last season. They will get a chance to redeem themselves with a mid-week tilt against bottom-feeding Wolves, though form can sometimes go out the window in the Cup competitions. But it will be the weekend trip across London to face 3rd-place Spurs on Saturday that the fans are eager for. That is followed by another mid-week journey to Azerbaijan and the somewhat surprising Qarabag. A reverse of the Wolves fixture is their present before the final international break of 2025. We’ve heard it before, and we’ll say it again: “Football. Bloody Hell!” After a disappointing and disjointed start to the season, United have now won 3 games in a row under Amorim. 2 more and a young fan may just get his first haircut in about a year. It was, of course, the win over Liverpool at Anfield that will get the most hype, but all 3 wins have seen them look more composed and together as a team. BHA got themselves back into at 3-2, but a red-hot Mbeumo sealed all the points. The Reds face a struggling Forest side on Saturday before their own trip to Spurs the following weekend. Heading into the break with 5 on the trot and a fresh fade would be an early holiday treat. The USMNT looked much better with a 1-1 draw with Ecuador followed by a somewhat convincing win over Australia. Paraguay and Uruguay await during their last camp of 2025. Poch hopefully is finalizing his preferred squad for next summer. The USWNT took their foot off the gas against Portugal and were made to pay for it, though their thoughts were clearly more about celebrating USWNT Legend Alex Morgan. They did manage to recover in the 2nd game with a 3-1 victory. They will play New Zealand Wednesday night before finishing the year with 2 games against Italy. We’ll be trying not to have a full field brawl, so join us at 7pm live at Chatham Tap or online through Facebook Live and hopefully YouTube Live. You can also catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/@theredandbluesoccerchatinstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byahttps://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-red-and-blue-soccer-chat/id1720060776https://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow

Greetings, fellow gluttons for punishment! Yes, both the Reds and Blues contrived to lose 3-1 each on Saturday. But the manner in which they chose to do so was spectacularly different. Let’s inspect the corpses. Despite Evan’s poignant, double-edged speculation ahead of last week’s match against United, Chelsea were good value for money in the first half and could have had a larger cushion before disaster struck. As like last weekend, Chelsea were always looking open after a game-changing instant. And former United lad Danny Welbeck popped up to take advantage. The question coming into this game was whether Chelsea could cope for 3 weeks without their talisman Palmer. But he isn’t responsible for reckless passing and rash tackles. They did manage to recover with a victory over Benfica in the Champions League. And while the 3 points are valuable, once again the manner in which they were gained will not instill much hope. Another unnecessary red card late on is also a cause for concern. A visit from a staggering but still strong Liverpool may be an indicator for which direction both teams are heading at the moment.Manchester United. Woof. Is this the worst we’ve seen in the modern era? I (AG) can see no clear system; no intended patterns of play; no cohesiveness in positional and/or transitional play. I’m clearly not a top-tier manager, but I’m not sure that’s required to see that the “system” isn’t working, players aren’t where they should be, and letting them play would at least give them a chance. I have lost faith. They welcome a surprising Sunderland at the weekend. Another loss may be Amorim’s last.  The USMNT has upcoming friendlies with Ecuador, Australia, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The USWNT has 2 upcoming matches with Portugal before facing New Zealand, all in late October. We’ll be trying not to have DOGSO VAR decisions that contradict one another in the same game, so join us at 7pm live at Chatham Tap or online through Facebook Live and hopefully YouTube Live. You can also catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/@theredandbluesoccerchatinstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byahttps://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-red-and-blue-soccer-chat/id1720060776https://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow

Welcome back, Reds and Blues! The international break is over, and that means the return of league and Champions League footy. How did our clubs fare after a few weeks off? Chelsea’s start to the season has been a mixed bag. Coming off a summer run to a trophy – and the extra games and miles on legs that entailed – they have at times looked sluggish. And so it continued on Saturday, as they fell behind to Brentford in the first half. This prompted a trio of changes at halftime and the introduction of their talisman Cole Palmer shortly after. This soon paid off, with Palmer slotting home to tie it up. Alejandro Garnacho made his Chelsea debut as a sub and immediately looked lively, running at and consistently beating his man. This led to a Caicedo goal in the 85th that looked to have wrapped things up. Unfortunately, Garnacho is not quite as active and alert on the defensive end, as he let his man sneak to the back post to salvage a point for the Bees. That should not overshadow his otherwise solid outing, and he’ll hope to get into the action against his former club United on Saturday. But Chelsea must first travel to Munich without a full-strength squad and wary of what Nico Jackson has imparted to the Bayern team behind closed doors. Traveling to Munich and then Manchester (even on their current form; more on that below), is no easy task. If they manage good results from those 2, then Maresca may to be able to ring the changes against League One Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup next week. Manchester United. Surely something has got to give. And given Ruben Amorim’s firm intention to stick with his system or be fired, it seems a change of personnel is really his only option. Despite Bruno having been United’s best player for the better part of the last few years – as well as arguably the most productive attacking midfielder in Europe – it’s obvious to all that he is not suited to the deeper lying role as part of the midfield base of 2. Kobbie Mainoo came on in the 62nd minute and had an immediate impact on a match that was probably already lost. But if he is once again left on the bench in favor of some form of Bruno/Case/Ugarte (2 from 3), then Amorim has only himself to blame. Bruno’s creativity is wasted in such a role. Short of tweaking the system, the only way United will see a different result against Chelsea will be for Amorim to put other players in from the start and give them their chance. With almost no midweek football, there is no excuse for United to not cover every blade and be well-drilled with so many days to train. Are they incrementally getting better and just ran into a rejuvenated City at the wrong time? Or is this all the more fans can expect under Amorim? Saturday is a chance to change the narrative. Speaking of Saturday… it’s the first edition of the 25/26 season Red and Blue Soccer Chat Derby Watch Party! We’ll be rocking up to Chatham Tap Fishers for front row viewing of what will hopefully at least be an entertaining match. Join us as we get hyped with pre-match fan interviews, halftime hot-takes, and the post-game post-mortem. Friendly banter and flowing spirits will be in abundance. Come join the fun.  The USMNT held 2 friendlies during the international break with South Korea and Japan, respectively. South Korea truly played the US off the park, with their very own star man Son grabbing the headlines. But a regrouped side turned things around against a weakened Japan side. Alejandro Zendejas and Flo Balogun put themselves into the WC26 roster mix with a goal apiece, and Captain America Pulisic looked like the player that has been tearing it up for Milan for the past season. It seems the “rift” with Pochettino is perhaps more smoke than fire. They have friendlies scheduled for October and November with Ecuador, Australia, Paraguay, and Uruguay coming up. A rumored match against Ronaldo’s Portugal is on the horizon after the new year. The USWNT has 2 upcoming matches with Portugal before facing New Zealand, all in late October.We’ll be trying not to get bitten or spit on by Luis Suarez, so join us at 7pm live at Chatham Tap or online through Facebook Live and hopefully YouTube Live. You can also catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!  ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/@theredandbluesoccerchatinstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byahttps://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-red-and-blue-soccer-chat/id1720060776https://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow

Hey Reds and Blues, the Premier League is back! The first weekend of matches is in the books. Neither side got off to the start we/they had hoped for, but each club showed signs of what may lie ahead. Let’s see how things have gone so far. Chelsea’s long and successful summer run at the Club World Cup ended in a trophy, but it may have come at a price. Many Chelsea players looked a bit tired and off the pace, with a plucky Palace side showing why they’ve been a thorn in many sides in recent months. The lack of a full pre-season also seemed to be a contributing factor, as Chelsea simply didn’t click. Josh Acheampong, though, looked solid on his debut, but Jamie Gittens struggled to make an impact. A short trip to West Ham may be the tonic to get things going, as the Hammers sputtered out of the gates with a 3-0 loss in their opener. Manchester United and Ruben Amorim got the full pre-season they needed, and it was nominally successful with multiple wins and good showings from their new signings. But an opening fixture at home to Arsenal is not exactly how anyone would have wanted to ease into the season. But the performance spoke for itself. United outplayed the supposed title-chasing Gunners for long stretches and were denied goals by a post and some terrific saves from David Raya. Once again, the new signings looked lively from the off. Matheus Cunha was direct in his dribbling, and Bryan Mbeumo was always an outlet and subsequent threat on the wing. Benjamin Sesko didn’t have many opportunities, but that should as they all learn one another’s movements. A trip down to Fulham, who earned a solid point in their opener, is up next for United. The USMNT has upcoming friendlies with South Korea and Japan in September, while the USWNT is off until late October and 2 friendlies with Portugal.  We’ll be looking for the last pieces of the transfer window puzzle, so join us at 7pm live at Chatham Tap or online through Facebook Live and hopefully YouTube Live. You can also catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/@theredandbluesoccerchatinstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byahttps://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-red-and-blue-soccer-chat/id1720060776https://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow

Hey Reds, Blues, and all soccer fans! We are finally back and ready to once again give our local take on the global game. Who has had the better transfer window? Will these signings have an immediate impact? And who will be lifting the trophy several months from now? Let’s jump in and find out… Chelsea theoretically splashed the cash this summer, though most deals are listed as “Undisclosed”, so full amounts are yet to be known. What is known is their intent. Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, and Joao Pedro have been brought in to bag the goals that were missing last season, while the latest signing of Jorrel Hato from Ajax is meant to keep them out. The list of outgoings is perhaps just as telling, most notably Noni Madueke heading across town to Arsenal. Goalkeeper remains a potential question mark, but these signings combined with the momentum gained from winning the quasi-inaugural Club World Cup show Chelsea’s clear intent: Top 4 or bust.  Manchester United have been slightly quieter during the window, though they have landed 2 of their main targets in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. Diego Luna may be one for the future; time will tell. Another striker, deep-lying midfielder, and goalkeeper also remain necessary gaps to fill, but United’s slow business model may see them start the season as-is. Their summer tour has shown glimpses of what fans will be hoping to see more of: free-flowing passing, actual dribbling at defenders, and a confident team taking more chances in front of goal. Last season’s dismal final standing, and the ignominious loss to Spurs in a final that could have secured European competition this season need to be left in the rearview if this newly gelling group can find success. Top 4 is probably way too much to hope for but landing somewhere in a European spot rightly be seen as improvement. The USMNT endured a tough summer. After losing out in the Nations League they brought what can only be considered a “C” team to the Gold Cup. The fill-ins performed admirably, though, with a few names (Luna, Tillman, Agyemang, McGlynn) making a case to be considered for the upcoming World Cup. The furor came over the names that were missing, with several obligated to the CWC. Most notably, though, Christian Pulisic asked to skip the Gold Cup to recover from his break-out season with Milan. This has divided fans, but a healthy, goal-scoring Captain America will soon have them forgetting it all if he can lead these young eagles deep into a tournament run. We’ll be shaking the sand out of our shorts and getting amped for this weekend’s impending Community Shield – the unofficial kickoff to the EPL – so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday. We should be on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, and we’ll be sure to update as the evening approaches, or you can catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/@theredandbluesoccerchatinstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byahttps://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-red-and-blue-soccer-chat/id1720060776https://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow

Reds and Blues, we are finally back after an extended hiatus. There’s much to catch up on. So let’s dive right in.  Chelsea now sit in sixth place, 1 point behind City and 2 behind Newcastle. A top-four finish is still possible. But the immediate focus is on progression in the Conference, where they take a 3-goal lead into the Bridge on Thursday. Take care of business and advance in a tournament they are heavy favorites to win. A trip to tricky Fulham awaits at the weekend. With a seemingly safe cushion, will Enzo rest some players in anticipation of Sunday’s match? Manchester United’s up-and-down season (mostly down) continues apace. There is no consistency, but they have risen to the big moment at times this season. And Thursday will be another chance to do so as they take what should have been a lead back to Old Trafford against Lyon. A late goal means they must win at home to advance. And that is no longer as straight-forward as it once was. But as their last real hope to salvage anything from this season, it must be their priority. Wolves await at the weekend. The USMNT, still licking their wounds from losses to Panama and Canada, does not return to action until June with 2 friendlies to prepare for the Gold Cup. The USWNT split 2 friendlies with Brazil. They will play China in a friendly in late May.We’ll be trying to get up to game speed as quick as possible, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday. We continue to not be on Facebook Live due to technical issues outside of our control, so look for us on YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!  ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/@theredandbluesoccerchatinstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byahttps://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-red-and-blue-soccer-chat/id1720060776https://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow

Reds, Blues, GFOPs! A soothsayer bids you beware the Ides of March. Set our clubs before us; let us see their form. Chelsea’s fifth-place standing is both blessing and curse. It’s probably enough for future European exploits regardless of Thursday’s trip to Scandinavian shores. But it hides an inconsistency that may be their undoing. They have conceded 5 and scored 4 in their last 3 matches. They could win or lose by similar margins tomorrow and no one would be surprised either way. With only 4 games in March – 2 of which come in the Conference – the margins grow ever thinner.Manchester United are even worse in the consistency stakes. Wins are not convincing; draws feel like small victories. Falling to Fulham on penalties is just the latest in a season-long string of underwhelming performances. A trip to Real Sociedad beckons the last chance of silverware and salvage for the season. While relegation seems unlikely, the fact it’s even a discussion is a testament to just how far they’ve fallen in such a short period of time. The USMNT resumes competitive action later this month against Panama in the Nations League. After 2 solid wins for the B (C?) squad, Poch will be hoping for a healthy A-list to continue the march toward regional dominance. The US women were shocked by Japan in the final of the SheBelieves Cup. It was the first significant loss of the Emma Hayes era. They have a month to think on it before a friendly with Brazil.We’ll be side-eyeing soothsayers and senators alike, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday. We will not be on Facebook Live due to technical issues outside of our control, so look for us on YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/@theredandbluesoccerchatinstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byahttps://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-red-and-blue-soccer-chat/id1720060776https://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow

Welcome back, Reds and Blues! January flew by, and our absence has done the same with February. We have a lot to catch up on, so let’s dive in!The ongoing inconsistency of Manchester United continued this weekend as they fell to Spurs away. United entered February on a 3-game winning streak. But an incredibly limp performance against Palace brought them back to earth. That was followed by another unconvincing win against struggling Leicester in the FA Cup, before this weekend’s turgid affair with Spurs. It was hoped that finishing in the top portion of the Europa table – and the 2 weeks off from mid-week games – would provide some breathing room to advance Amorim’s vision. But injuries, loans, and just the general malaise have all conspired against them. United face a resurgent Everton away this weekend before resuming mid-week competition against Ipswich. Amorim and his squad need to build some sort of momentum as they head into the spring run-in. Languishing in the bottom half of the table may take more than a cup run to save them all from further criticism.Chelsea’s only positives at the moment are that they aren’t Manchester United, and their first half of the season form has placed them in good stead in the table. But 2 losses in a row to the same team – the most recent of which was a 3-0 mauling – have put a dent in their confidence. Injuries and loans are proving problematic for Chelsea as well, with no true striker healthy at the moment. A trip to Villa Park is probably not what they would be hoping for right now either. Maresca’s concerns are growing. The biggest transfer news for each club was United sending Rashford on loan to Villa and Chelsea shipping Felix to Milan on loan as well. Both clubs brought in young and as-yet-untested talent. Dorgu has been tossed into the deep end of the pool due to mounting injuries, and he has shown glimpses of young talent. It remains to be seen if he’s a long-term answer. The USMNT took care of business against Costa Rica, 3-0. 6 goals and a clean sheet over 2 games will have Poch feeling positive. Meanwhile his overseas players continue to impress. The CONCACAF Nations League beckons them in March against Panama. And our US women are preparing for the SheBelieves Cup, with Colombia their first opponent on Feb 20. We’ll be hoping to avoid serious injuries, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HAinstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byahttps://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BRRRR, Reds and Blues! We hope those of you enduring this Midwest cold blast are managing to stay warm and safe. England is also suffering at the hands of the Snow Miser. Let’s see how our teams are handling it. It’s safe to say that Manchester United are struggling to find themselves. While they are able to get up for the big rival matches, they continue to have problems with teams they should historically be beating. But recent history is full of inconsistency and frustration, and that trend continues. Despite putting in a terrific performance and gutsy display to endure with 10 men for over and hour to ultimately defeat Arsenal on penalties, the other version of United showed up against Southampton. They were second best for 80 minutes before Amad stepped up to save their blushes. A twelve-minute hat trick overshadowed a very worrying performance. And that worrying came to further fruition against B&H, with a reversal of the same 3-1 scoreline against the Saints. Once again outplayed for the majority of the match on home soil, United very much look like a team in crisis. And Amorim has acknowledged as much. He will hope that a change of competition can shake their malaise, as they face Rangers in the Europa on Thursday. Fulham’s recent good form will be a concern on Sunday before another trip to Europe to follow. Surely they must begin to build some momentum. But in which direction? Chelsea has a similar if not quite so dire issue of consistency themselves. Though they handily dispatched Morecambe in the FA Cup, they required some late heroics from their captain to gain a point against Bournemouth. A 3-1 scoreline over Wolves was perhaps somewhat flattering given the latter’s commitment. So it’s on to Saturday and a trip to Manchester City who appear to be regaining their early-season dominance. Chelsea will need a full 90 display to take any points, and that is something they have struggled with this season. A confident display against City would bode well as they head into February and a quick succession of matches against teams with similar ambitions as their own.  The USMNT’s mostly domestic-based squad showed good commitment and desire in their 3-1 win over Venezuela. They will hope to continue to impress their new boss this evening against Costa Rica. While many fans scratch their heads at the purpose of the off-cycle friendlies, it does provide an opportunity to younger players trying to muscle their way into the senior squad.  Emma has called in a mixed group for the January camp in preparation for the SheBelieves Cup in February. Their first match is Feb 20 against Colombia.We’ll be hoping not to drop the ball at the feet of an attacker, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HAinstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byahttps://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow

Happy Holidays, Reds and Blues! It’s that time of year, and we are definitely in the midst of the Festive Fixtures. Games are coming thick and fast, so let’s see how our clubs are faring.MANCHESTER. IS. RED. Yes, it was against a City side that appears to be in free-fall, but United haven’t exactly been setting the world alight with their performances either. Despite playing well for long stretches against Arsenal and losing to 2 well-run set pieces, their follow-up effort against Forest was well below par. A mid-week win away to Plzen in the Europa (thank you, Rasmus!) improved the mood prior to the cross-town trek to City. But most fans were probably expecting to see their side huff and puff but ultimately lose. And that seemed in the cards after playing just well enough but conceding to a header from a deflected cross on a broken corner kick routine. United made the running in the second half, though, and were rewarded for the endeavor of Amad. He latched onto a lazy back-pass from Nunes, and then had the patience to dummy the goalie before fishing Nunes into a bad tackle for a pk. Bruno neatly dispatched, but it was the next minute that decided things. Martinez can go from butcher to beauty in a second, and he did just that by floating an enticing ball into Amad. And it may have been a mis-hit, but not a single Red will care. 2-1 to United away at the Etihad. United will face another struggling side in Spurs on Thursday before returning home to face a tricky Bournemouth side on Sunday. Wolves away on Boxing Day and Newcastle at Old Trafford round out December for the Reds. Chelsea’s December has gone about as well as any Blue could have hoped. 7 wins on the bounce since the 1-1 draw with Arsenal. 21 goals. And now firmly in 2nd place in the EPL table. Maresco has quickly found the winning formula. And he’ll believe his side can keep up their run of good form for the remainder of December, as they face Shamrock Rovers at the Bridge in the Europa before finishing up December with 3 straight EPL matches against Everton, Fulham, and Ipswich. Fixture congestion can be tricky, and any of those sides can be a banana peel, but the odds currently favor Chelsea. Liverpool have a game in hand and a 2-point lead. Could Chelsea give themselves an early Christmas present?! The USMNT is off until mid-January when they’ll face Venezuela and Costa Rica in friendlies, while the US women are off until February and the SheBelieves Cup.  We’ll be singing the 12 Days of Cantona and busting out the ugly sweaters, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HAinstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byahttps://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Happy New Year, Reds and Blues! We hope you all had a safe and enjoyable holiday season. The Festive Fixtures are winding down. How did our clubs close out the year and kickoff the new one?  “Chelsea’s December has gone about as well as any Blue could have hoped.” That’s what I wrote just a few weeks ago. But the mid-December form that had some folks talking up a title challenge has disappeared into the wintry mix that has overtaken England. A comfortable win over Irish side Shamrock Rovers in the Conference has been followed by 2 draws and 2 losses. The capitulation against Ipswich is most concerning (though their recent form indicates perhaps The Tractor Boys aren’t quite as bad as we all thought), but having led against Fulham and Palace before conceding late on to lose and draw, respectively, is indicative of fatigue both mentally and physically. Becoming and remaining a Top 4 side requires incredible focus, and that seems to have slipped for the Blues recently. 3 home fixtures in a row is a positive, but after Morecambe there is the unpredictability of the Cherries and Wolves. Enzo will hope to have taken maximum points before rocking up to Manchester City to round out January. Seasons – and trophies – are won and lost in the dark winter of England.  From the highs of the derby win to crashing down to Earth for the next 4 games in which they were thoroughly outplayed (and kept scoreless in 3 of them), most Reds were probably wondering just how many Liverpool might hang on them this time around. But while United are struggling with a new system and finding consistency, they are still able to get up for the big ones. Call them a “cup side” if you want, but if treating these games as the quasi-championships they have so long felt like, then maybe that’s the mindset to take. United looked a completely different side from the previous 4 games, and at times they appeared to take the fight directly to Liverpool. Clearly working to expose TAA, United put on a tactical masterclass and caused problems down the flank all day. Frankly, either side could have won it, with Harry getting one last half-chance at the death. But on current form, a point away at Anfield on the back of a full team performance is a good result. They face another stiff test away to Arsenal in the FA Cup this weekend before 3 straight at Old Trafford. None should be taken for granted. But if they can find a way to reproduce the effort, intensity, and tactical nous they’ve shown against their biggest historical rivals, it should bode well for upcoming results. Fingers crossed. The USMNT will gather mid-January for off-cycle friendlies with Venezuela and Costa Rica in Florida, while the US women are off until February and the SheBelieves Cup. It’s likely doubtful that our biggest names for the men will be made available, but the current form of Captain America et al in Italy and across many other leagues show what we’re going to be looking forward to in upcoming competitive matches. For the women, Emma will look to build on the past year’s successes and new blood in the squad. We’ll be explaining fouls and penalties to Ange and Mikel, respectively, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HAinstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byahttps://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And we’re back! We hope you enjoyed the additional week off for Thanksgiving, America’s oddest holiday celebration. And we’ve made it through the final international break of 2024. How did the USMNT fare in their 2-leg Nations League encounter? And how did our clubs do upon their return from the break? Let’s dig into the leftovers! Chelsea returned from the break with an away day at faltering Leicester, and they seemed hungry from the start. Chelsea dominated for the most part, with only a late pk to spoil their clean sheet. A slightly comfortable win away to Heidenheim keeps them atop the Conference League table, and that was followed up on Sunday with a rousing 3-0 victory over the wobbling Villa to keep them firmly in third in the PL standings. Things are beginning to get congested as they always do in December. Chelsea will travel to Southampton in mid-week before making the short passage across London to face a Spurs side that is unpredictable at best. Chelsea’s form has them in good stead as the year comes to its clogged-up ending. More of the same will be the manager’s talking point for now. The Ruben Amorim era started with a bang that quickly fizzled back into United’s recent form as they scored within 90 seconds against Ipswich only to yet again cough up a soft goal. And it appeared that would carry over to the Europa league as they once again scored early before somehow being opened up for 2 goals in quick succession. But a newfound resilience gave the manager a bounce with Hojlund scoring 2 either side of halftime to spare the new manager’s blushes. A 4-0 thrashing of Everton – who indeed could have scored early themselves – has United fans feeling optimistic heading into the Wednesday fixture against a flying Arsenal before hosting Forest at the weekend. Any positive result away to the Gunners will be welcomed, but it may be too early a test for Amorim’s new formation and strategy. Poch took his young eagles to Kingston and got the sort of grind-it-out result that is so often needed in CONCACAF before coming home to St. Louis and showing what this team is capable of. 1-0 away and 4-2 at home showed that this team can put in the hard running when needed, has the attacking tools to take control, but still has some work to do to keep the opposition out. Poch now has a blueprint and the insight to see what this group needs moving forward. Less than 2 years out, can he find a way to solve those issues? We’ll be making leftover sandwiches for days, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HAhttps://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShowhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byainstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchat

Welcome back, Reds and Blues! We’re at yet another international break, but both clubs have seen some positive results in recent weeks. Let’s look at what they’ve done, and what we can expect from the new USMNT manager as he takes on Jamaica in the Nations League.Chelsea goes into the break on a relative high. They followed up the away draw at Old Trafford with an 8-0 trouncing of Armenian side Noah in the Conference. Then came the big test against Arsenal, and it’s fair to say they got a passing score. It was a tense affair with both teams having similar possession and similarly few shots. Chelsea showed resilience after going behind, and their new signing Neto rewarded their faith with an equalizing goal. The break will hopefully allow a clearly sore and tired Cole Palmer to get back to full fitness before facing Leicester in 10 days. They round out November against Heidenheim in the Conference before beginning a breath-taking run of 9 games in December. Manchester United completed a run of 4 games under interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, who unshackled the squad and saw them win 3 and draw 1. But Ruud has also departed, and new rising star manager Ruben Amorim has taken charge. He’ll have 2 weeks with a majority of his squad to figure out how to begin his new era, and his first matches in charge appear favorable as first they visit Ipswich before hosting Bodo/Glimt in the Europa. United will also play 9 games in December, with Arsenal, City, and Spurs all to come. Poch will lead his Eagles into Kingston to face Jamaica before returning to St. Louis for the return leg in the CONCACAF Nations League. There may be some question marks in specific positions (ahem, goalkeeper), but the form of Pulisic, McKennie, Musah, and Tillman should make other decisions very easy. We’re all too aware of recent slip-ups against Caribbean sides, so Poch should be prepared to get the best out of his squad to alleviate fans’ fears. We’ll be feeling some type of way, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HAhttps://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShowhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byainstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchat

Welcome back, Reds and Blues! We made it through yet another international break. The USMNT was in action under our new coach, and several players from both clubs got much-needed rests. How did the first 2 games under Poch go, and how did our respective clubs fare upon returning from the break? Let’s get into it! Mauricio Pochettino got his first look at his Eagles, and it’s safe to say he must know his work is cut out for him. Panama was the first test, and one not to be taken lightly after this summer’s misfortune. US fans should hardly have been expecting free-flowing football out of the gate, with Poch only having a few days to work with the team before the match. But the US played well enough and ran out 2-0 winners through Yunus Musah’s first goal for his country, as well as a late one from Pepi that will no doubt boost his confidence. The less said about the 2nd match is probably best. Poch let Pulisic (load management…?), McKennie, Weah, and Balogun (all various injury concerns) leave camp early to return to their clubs, making an already difficult task that much harder. The fact that the US got reverse Dos-A-Cero’d is perhaps less concerning than the manner of defeat. The remaining players had an opportunity to show their fortitude if not their talent, and they did not pass that test. One can question whether Pulisic, especially, going home early is more damning of Poch or Pulisic, but other questions must be raised – and quickly – as the window to WC26 shrinks every day. Chelsea returned from the break with a tough task: going to Anfield. Liverpool have not been vintage in performance, but Slot has made them hard to beat. And they proved to be on the day, winning 2-1. Neither team truly controlled the match, but Chelsea will think they should have gotten a point out of this one. Chelsea will travel to Greece later this week for the Europa Conference before facing Newcastle twice in quick succession in the EPL and League Cup. Winnable games, but also ones that may test the boundaries of the squad. Maresco does have them moving in the right direction. Making a strong run to Christmas could solidify that, as well as their position in the table. United would certainly have welcomed the international break. Despite 2 draws after the embarrassing home loss to Spurs, both matches put United’s weaknesses and occasional courage on display. From botching a 2-0 away lead in Europe and requiring a Maguire goal at the death to salvage a 3-3, to an uninspired (but much-needed) draw and point away to Villa, United retained some players who needed a rest from heading off on national team duty. And while it took a little bit to get going, the rest seemed to re-energize the team – especially Garnacho. His all-action display against Brentford was only matched by Rashford’s willingness to drop deep and play-make for his teammates. More of this will be needed, with a daunting trip to Turkey as the next test. West Ham and Leicester aren’t the worst opponents to face at the moment, but momentum must start to build if there is hope to be within touching distance by Christmas. We’ll likely be getting off track but on point with the intersection of sports and politics, so buckle up and join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us.CHEERS!⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HAhttps://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShowhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byainstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchat

Greetings, Reds and Blues fans! We are back for yet another international break. This one feels a little different for USMNT fans, though. Let’s get into why that is and also how our respective clubs have fared as they go into the hiatus.The Poch Era begins in earnest. He took over training just this week. He is saying all the right things, but the reality is that the USMNT underperformed for the past few years under GGG. And the timing of injuries isn’t going to make Poch’s job any easier in the short term. He can, however, call upon a Christian Pulisic who is in the form of his life, as well as a Weston McKennie who should have something to prove. We are less than 2 years away from WC26 in North America. Poch has set high expectations. He must now figure out a way to achieve them.  Chelsea enters the break sitting in 4th on goal differential. Their results may not be an accurate reflection of their performances at times, but their fans won’t care at the moment. Chelsea should expect to always be there or near the Top 4. Was their recent stumble against Forest a blip or a sign that much work is still to be done. They return from the break to immediately face top-of-the-table Liverpool at Anfield. That match is followed by an away trip to Greece in the Conference and then 2 matches with Newcastle. October could tell us a lot about Chelsea’s future.  United has struggled since the flattering 7-0 victory over Barnsley. 4 draws have bookended the embarrassing loss to Spurs at home. They will return from break to face Brentford before making trips to Fenerbahce and West Ham, and then returning home to see Leicester. These are favorable ties… on paper. 4 strong performances – and more importantly, wins – could see them get their season back on track. Otherwise, the patience of Ratcliffe and INEOS may get tested before Christmas.  We’ll be sporting USA’s colors and hoping for the start of a World Cup Finals run, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HAhttps://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShowhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byainstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchat

Welcome back, Reds and Blues fans! We have made it through a fairly boring international break, but it did bring closure to one issue for the USMNT. The focus returns to the EPL this weekend. Let’s see what has happened and what we can expect.  Chelsea’s season appears to be building some momentum. While not always pretty, when you’re re-building (again) the results remain the focus while trying to get the performances to match. They faced Bournemouth first after the international break, and it must be said that they probably didn’t deserve any points, much less all three. But it’s a funny old, and this one saw the Cherries attacking with intent and hitting the crossbar early as well as a (tame) penalty get saved. Bournemouth huffed and puffed, but you could see the legs were gone after spending much of the game on the front foot. And Chelsea took full advantage with Jadon Sancho buzzing around the left wing and finally finding Nkunku who showed skill and strength to turn and finish in the box. And what could have been an even trickier trip across town for their derby with West Ham they scored 2 early to settle the nerves before Palmer sealed things shortly after the break. The mid-week return to the Bridge for the League Cup fixture with League Two Barrow gave them a further chance to continue their form, and they made it look easy with a 5-goal rout. The tricky Albion are up next at the weekend. United returned from the break full of intent as well. And while it took some time to really get going, as well as a fine PK/double-save from Onana, 2 goals late in the first half set them up nicely to settle in for the second half. Garnacho added a late cherry to things. They followed that with a dominating performance over an outmatched League Two Barnsley. But yet again just when things were looking up along comes a day when United played some of their best football of the season but just couldn’t manage the much-needed goal to continue their streak. And Onana was needed late on to save the blushes of a side that should have put the game away much earlier. The Europa League beckons, and FC Twente arrives at Old Trafford on Wednesday to provide further opportunity for trophies this season. Christian Pulisic continues to be a man on fire with multiple goals and assists in his last five games. Weston McKennie is also proving his doubters wrong at Juventus. And 5 Americans graced the pitch on the same day for the first time in the Champions League. Hopefully this is the first sign of the Poch effect. Long may it continue.We’ll be jumping late tackles and throwing soccer balls at heads, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HAhttps://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShowhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byainstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchat-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello, Reds and Blues fans! We have made it through a fairly boring international break, but it did bring closure to one issue for the USMNT. The focus returns to the EPL this weekend. Let’s see what has happened and what we can expect. Chelsea’s season has begun in fits and starts. An unfortunate early-season match-up with City, a fairly easy draw for UEFA Conference League Qualifying (which they ultimately limped through), a big win, and a sluggish draw. They travel to the south coast this weekend to face an unpredictable Bournemouth, and then travel across London for a derby with West Ham the next. They will need to begin building some momentum if they are to fend off accusations of showing little progress thus far.United’s woes have been even worse. They looked sluggish but ultimately got the job done against Fulham, left themselves exposed and vulnerable in their loss to Brighton, and then were humbled by Liverpool in front of their home fans. They’ve been given an ostensibly easier job this weekend away to Southampton, but further slip-ups could begin to bring heat on an already weary Erik ten Hag.The USMNT should have probably skipped the international break. Interim coach Mikey Varas had his work cut out for him against an amped up Canada – who took the game to the US – and then a softball against New Zealand. Both matches demonstrated just how much work new coach Mauricio Pochettino has to do in order to get this battered group ready for 2026.The USWNT and the women’s game in general lost an icon this week when Alex Morgan decided to hang up her boots. Her impact on and off the field will resonate for generations. We salute Alex and her multiple trophies across all competitions, as well as her tireless work advocating for others in the game who didn’t have her voice or platform.We’ll be rising early and staying late for games this weekend, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!#TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HAhttps://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShowhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byainstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchat

Hello, Reds and Blues! So much has happened in just the past few weeks: Olympic finals, season curtain raisers, new coaches, and especially new players. Let’s sort through it all. Chelsea didn’t make many big moves in the transfer market before their season opener with City. And while none of their new signings started, several were subbed on during the match. But the reality is that Chelsea appear to have the same issues as last season. City were the better side, but as with last season the scoreline didn’t tell the whole story. Chelsea had decent possession and created some good chances. But their wastefulness in front of goal and lack of probing in attack picked up where last season left off. Joao Felix is rumored to be making a permanent move to the Bridge, which will see Conor Gallagher finish his move to Atletico as part of the deal. Felix’s form has been inconsistent, but his attacking style could add the flair and unpredictability that Chelsea has so often lacked. A healthy Nkunku gives them further options. But until they find a true goal scorer, this narrative may not change much. Chelsea will play 3 games in 7 days that may help define their immediate future. 2 Europa Conference League qualifying matches sandwich a tough trip to Wolves in the EPL. United had the unofficial season opener against City in the Community Shield, and also the official season opener with a Friday night game against Fulham. The Shield was not quite a carbon copy of last year’s FA Cup Final, but the game did have similar patterns of City having possession deep in United territory and United looking to counter quickly. United were mere minutes from a repeat victory, but a late goal sent things to penalties where City prevailed. The match with Fulham was a slightly different story with United dominating possession and creating multiple opportunities. United’s dominance fell off a bit without Mason Mount harassing Fulham’s defense; however, it would be his replacement who grabbed the headlines. Joshua Zirkzee only played 30 minutes and had few touches, but he started and ended a move late on that secured victory for United and a place for him in club folklore. Erik ten Hag now has the good kind of headache in trying to figure out how to get the best out of what is becoming a side full of young talent. They will travel to Brighton for the early match this Saturday before kicking off September against rivals Liverpool. The USWNT put themselves back on top of the world with 3 straight 1-0 wins to close out the Paris Olympics as gold medal winners. Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson kept up their roles as the Trident to each weigh in with a goal in those 3 games. Emma Hayes has quickly taken last year’s lackluster group and turned them back into the world beaters they’ve been for the past decade or more. The future looks bright.  The USMNT U-23s were bounced from the Olympics by a rampant Moroccan side. But once the dust settled, good news finally arrived. US Soccer announced the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as the man to replace Gregg Berhalter, and there was much rejoicing. Known for his tough training sessions and astute tactics, he may be the right choice to get a group of Americans with obvious talent to finally realize its potential. An early friendly match-up with Jesse Marsch and Canada awaits. We’ll be enjoying less VAR intervention and probably just as much controversy, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HAhttps://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShowhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byainstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchat

Welcome back, Reds and Blues! When last you saw us here, we had audio issues that we didn’t know about in real time. Coupled with our European adventures, it’s been nearly 2 ½ months since we’ve shared this space. So, we’ve got quite a lot to discuss.  The Euros and the Copa have dominated summer entertainment so far, and we got to experience the early rounds firsthand. From arguably the best fan base at the tournament – Turkiye! – to a matchup of pre-tournament heavyweights, we saw 3 matches between Dortmund and Frankfurt. Using Essen as a home base, we also visited Gelsenkirchen’s fan fest and braved the Marienplatz full of Scottish fans in Munich. Most of the games have been riveting, with 3 of 4 quarterfinals going to extra time and 2 being settled on penalties. The first round also saw only 1 scoreless draw (check this), so goals have been on display. Hopefully Spain v France and Netherlands v England will continue the trend. Sadly, the Copa has not brought the same level of quality across the beautiful game. Poor pitches, poor sportsmanship, and a dismal performance from the USMNT have made it hard to follow at times. But American Jesse Marsch has led Canada into the semifinals against a heavily favored Argentina, and Uruguay’s upset of Brazil has them facing off against Colombia. Little movement has been seen for either of our clubs so far in the summer transfer window, but United are beginning to make some moves after the new ownership met and sanctioned some transfers.The USWNT has 2 upcoming friendlies against Mexico and Costa Rica before traveling to France for the summer Olympics. The Emma Hayes era is about to begin, and her recent comments about writing some new history bode well. We’ll be trying to avoid extra time and penalties, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchat

Welcome back, Reds and Blues! It’s been a wild few weeks for us, and that’s not even counting the shenanigans your boys got up to in Vegas! Let’s catch up on all the action.When last you saw/heard us, Chelsea had just broken collective Red hearts. Chelsea jumped out to an early 2-0 lead inside of 20 minutes and were worthy of it. But United hit back twice before the break and followed that up with what seemed to be a decisive third, as they settled after that harrowing opening 20 minutes to take full control of the game. United played some of their finest and consistent football, but their inability to see things out would once again be their undoing. Another late penalty allowed Palmer to tie things up from the spot. Soon after, Dalot – surely trying to make up for his penalty mistake – raced up field to make amends. But this left him out of position from Chelsea’s quick counter. The resulting corner was taken before he could get back, and it was Palmer once again with the heroics for Chelsea deep into stoppage time. Evan and Aaron’s emotions changed rapidly. Evan from another disappointing performance to elation at victory; Aaron from proud winner to the gut-punch that United have done so many times to others. Football. Bloody hell. Chelsea followed that up by reverting to the mean with a 2-2 draw with bottom side Sheffield but bounced back to humble Everton 6-0. They then traveled to Wembley this past weekend for their semifinal encounter with City. And Chelsea would have their opportunities to get to a final, but their inconsistent finishing let them down and let City off the hook. And as City often do, they simply wore Chelsea out and eventually scrambled a winner over the line in the 84th minute. Chelsea then had to turn around on just a few days rest from that battle to take on Arsenal, and things quickly went from bad to worse. After giving up an early Trossard goal Chelsea managed to get a foothold in the game and had a few half-chances to level things up before halftime. Trailing 1-0 at the break, things could have gone either way. Unfortunately, that way was to concede another 4 goals within 25 minutes of the 2nd half. Arsenal were absolutely ruthless; Chelsea were stunned and completely out of ideas. They will have to dust themselves down quickly as they travel to 4th-place Villa on Saturday. After United’s late setback against Chelsea, they quickly had to recover for another encounter with old rivals Liverpool. Having knocked them out of the FA Cup just weeks prior in an instant classic, this game nearly matched it for excitement. Liverpool scored first through Diaz, but United took advantage of a wayward back-pass that Bruno hit first time from 45 yards to chip the keeper. Kobbie followed that up 20 minutes later to give United an unlikely lead. But Liverpool never stopped and eventually got themselves a late penalty that Salah converted. United followed that up with another 2-2 draw away to Bournemouth that essentially ended any hopes of finishing in the CL spots. So, their own Wembley semifinal awaited with Championship side Coventry. And United looked mostly dominant taking a 2-0 lead into the locker room and then added a third. Seemingly coasting to a final matchup with rivals City, the wheels fell completely off. Coventry mounted the pressure and United wilted, giving away 2 cheap and preventable goals and then a penalty in stoppage time. United regained some composure in extra time, but both sides hit the woodwork and had opportunities to end things in active play. Coventry even had the ball in the net late on, but it was correctly disallowed for offside. So, to penalties they went, and things went further awry for United as Casemiro’s half-hearted Panenka was easily saved. But Onana saved one and another one was skied, leaving Rasmus to bury his and send United to a final. The players looked almost embarrassed to celebrate, but a trophy in this topsy turvy season is in sight. They will need to regroup quickly though, as a disjointed Sheffield side await them on Wednesday. In our absence there was action in another sport. Caitlin Clark’s run to a final was brought to an end by a truly amazing and undefeated South Carolina team led by Dawn Staley. As we’ve seen in women’s soccer recently, it’s truly a case of “if you built it, they will come”. The women’s final outdrew the men’s for the first time ever, Clark’s WNBA side is selling tickets hand over fist and will also see a majority of their games televised nationally after having only 1 on TV last season. Support these great athletes and watch what can happen! We’ll yet again be hoping to avoid giving up any late goals (too soon?), so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HAhttps://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShowhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byainstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchat

Greetings, Reds and Blues! The last 2 weeks have been full of goals and excitement for both clubs, which is not something we’ve been able to say much this season. Let’s dive into their performances and results.Chelsea needed a win over Newcastle to keep them within touching distance of the top 10, and possibly even an outside chance of a spot in a Europa competition next season. It was another see-saw affair that Chelsea managed to turn in their favor, but another late opposition goal remains worrying. And that tendency almost got them in trouble again against Championship side Leicester in the FA Cup Quarters. Seemingly in full control, it was a wayward back pass that ended up in their own net that started the nerves jangling. Leicester gained confidence and threw caution to the wind in finding an equalizer. But they were reduced to 10 men after a red card, and Chelsea went in search of victory. They would rain a total of 26 shots down on Leicester, and their efforts paid off in stoppage time as Chukwuemeka and Madueke both got late goals to seal passage to the Semifinals where City awaits them at Wembley. Chelsea will finish the month of March at home to Burnley after the upcoming international break. They’ll be hoping to build on their current momentum before a packed April schedule is upon them.  United have also won 2 in a row thanks to their ability to weather a storm. Everton could – and probably should – have been up at least a goal early on before the young Garnacho took matters into his own hands, winning 12th- and 36th-minute penalties while bamboozling the Everton defense. Bruno and Marcus dispatched them, respectively, but the wayward shooting of the Toffees contributed as much to the victory as they took 23 with only 6 on target. Allowing fewer shots would have definitely been on ManU minds as they prepared to take on Liverpool in their own FA Cup Quarterfinal. And with good reason. United (28/11) and Liverpool would (25/11) combine for 53 total shots and 22 on target in what is definitely an instant classic for the FA Cup. McT came in for the recently injured Casemiro and had an instant impact, scoring in the 10th minute from a spilled save. United could have added a couple more before Liverpool began to push them back, and it seemed they would rue such misses as Liverpool hit a quick-fire double before halftime. It was through the struggling Antony that United were able to prolong a truly thrilling contest, swiveling onto his weaker right foot before slotting into the corner. And so, we got BONUS FOOTBALL! And we were rewarded by 2 teams hell bent on going for the win. Liverpool edged out the first period with a deflected goal through Harvey Elliott. But United’s DNA, even in these rough patches, never goes away. Desperate defending turned into instant offense as McT led a breakaway before feeding Marcus to slot home. And 10 minutes later they got the biggest reward for their efforts. The rarely used Amad came on late to get the winner after charging down a misplaced corner and breaking away before receiving a terrific pass from Garnacho (who is AG’s MOTM). Liverpool had little time to find their own game-saver, and United will now meet Championship side Coventry City at Wembley for a shot at a trophy that could save this sour season. They will face Brentford away after the break before their own congested April kicks off.  The Bi-Annual Red and Blue Soccer Chat Derby Watch Party sees Chelsea host United on Thursday, 4/4, at 3:15pm. We’ll be doing another special show of commentary, banter, and chaos, and we’d love for you to join us. It’s our very own version of Fan Zone, and it’s a blast. Carve out some time on your calendars now. The USWNT survived terrible weather conditions and penalties against Canada through an amazing performance from Alyssa Naeher. Naeher faced an extra time penalty of her own making that sent the game to penalties. But she regained her composure to save 3 pens and score one of her own to send them through to the Finals of the inaugural CONCACAF W Gold Cup. There they faced an organized Brazil side, but a first half header from captain Lindsey Horan was enough to lift the trophy. And they did all this with an interim coach, as current Chelsea head coach Emma Hayes remains with her club until the end of that season. And the future under her looks bright with some great tournament performances from young players like Jenna Nighswonger and Jaedyn Shaw. They recently dropped 2 spots to 4th in international standings, and that won’t sit well with a team used to leading the pack. The USMNT will be hoping the form of so many Yanks abroad can be replicated when they take on Jamaica Thursday night at 7pm in the CONCACAF Nations Cup. Pulisic and McKennie are nearly in the forms of their lives, and many others have been scoring and playing at high levels for their (mostly) European clubs. We’ll be hoping for more BONUS FOOTBALL as well as a special guest, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7pm, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HAhttps://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShowhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byainstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchat

Welcome back, Reds and Blues! March brings with it the start of the home stretch, but results have remained largely unchanged. Let’s discuss whether the performances have as well. Chelsea had an opportunity to get their hands on a trophy (Carabao Cup) this season, but they did not take advantage of it. As has been the case all season long they had periods of good play without really threatening, and then appeared vulnerable at the back. Liverpool opted for a mixed lineup of veterans and youth, as they have a variety of injury troubles mounting up. Chelsea played a similar lineup that they have used frequently in recent matches. Neither side seemed very willing to take control of the game, and that became a more damning commentary on Chelsea as the match wore on and Liverpool had to turn to more youth from the bench. When they should have imposed their will on tiring legs and inexperience, they instead seemed reticent to commit to attack. And that would be their undoing as they conceded a VVD header from a corner kick late into extra time. That loss was then followed by a back-and-forth affair with Leeds in the FA Cup that required a 90th-minute goal from Gallagher. Then nearly more doom and gloom as they again needed a late goal to prevent a loss to Brentford. The performances have largely matched the results and talk of Poch being one and done is gaining momentum. They face a seemingly rejuvenated Newcastle at the Bridge on Monday. They currently sit in 11th with a game in hand. They will need it.  United’s inconsistent form was also again on display as they fell behind to Fulham midway through the 2nd half. They threw caution to the wind and finally got their reward through Harry Maguire in the 89th minute. But United’s historic desire to chase victory deep into stoppage time was their undoing as they were caught out of shape and didn’t take the professional foul when necessary. That allowed the speedy Adama Traore to race up-field and find Iwobi to slot home. They needed another late goal to get past Forest in the FA Cup before lining up for the Manchester Derby this weekend. Playing on the counter they hit first through a Rashford banger from distance. They had further opportunities to increase their lead, but they were also fortunate to not concede on multiple occasions. They survived the first 10 minutes after the break, but you could see City growing into the game. The winner came through Foden who had already matched Rashford’s beauty with one of his own from outside. Haaland’s add-on in stoppage time made the scoreline a little flattering to City, and the recent gulf in class between the 2 sides was very narrow on the day. But only if United can build on a solid losing performance against a title challenger. They face Everton at the weekend in what has to be seen as a must-win game to keep their top-4 chances alive. And they’ll need to keep that momentum and focus when they take on Liverpool in the FA Cup quarters. Despite key injuries, it’s time to stand up and be counted. The USWNT got a feisty win in their W Gold Cup quarterfinal against Colombia, who thought they could intimidate and out-muscle a US team that has an air of concern swirling about them. But Alex Morgan led the charge; winning a penalty and involved in the build-up to the other 2 goals. All 3 game in the first half, and the US shut down Colombia to ensure their advancement to the semis to take on another likely physical side in Canada. There’s quite a rivalry beginning to brew there as well, so Wednesday night may require a similar fire to advance to the finals where either Brazil or a rematch with Mexico awaits. We’ll be sticking around the Tap to watch, so please join us. We’ll be hoping our show isn’t called with the ball in the air, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7pm, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you chooseto find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HAhttps://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShowhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byainstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchat

Greetings, Reds and Blues! February is 2/3 over, so we’ve got a lot to catch up on. What have Chelsea and United been up to this month?Chelsea saw in the month of February in thesame manner as they exited January: by shipping 4 goals to their opponents, Wolves and Liverpool, respectively. But they responded with 2 consecutive away wins. Their first trip was the return leg at Villa Park in the FA Cup. Chelsea scored early and never really looked back, giving up a very late consolation. Then they traveled across London to face Crystal Palace. That one wasn’t quite so straight-forward as they needed a strong second half to recover. And it was perhaps that level of teamwork and never-say-die mentality that they brought with them to the Etihad to take on holders City. City were on a 12-game winning streak across all competitions, and early on they appeared set to take that number to 13. But their sustained possession and pressure failed to create many clear-cut chances, and Chelsea took the lead against the run of play with a lightning quick counter culminating in a Sterling cutback and goal. And Chelsea players may rue the few additional opportunities they managed in the final minutes of the first and opening of the second. City finally settled down and ultimately gave the impression that one goal might open the floodgates. The goal did finally come through Rodrygo after some plinko-ing around in the box kindly fell to him at the edge of the 18. Both teams had half-chances to take all 3 points, but the Blues and their fans will certainly be happier with the result than Pep. Chelsea’s reward for a run of good performances is the opportunity to host the current league leaders Liverpool at the Bridge. They can atone for their not-quite-a-month-ago loss and deal a trophy blow in the process. See you at the Tap for Sunday Funday! United are now unbeaten in 7 straight across all competitions, and they are enjoying a 5-game win streak as well. But it all could have been so different had their new Starboy not popped up late to rescue all 3 points at Molineux after leading early and holding a 2-goal lead after 80 minutes. Kobbie Mainoo joins Garnacho and Hojlund as the new darlings of the Theater of Dreams. Hojlund is especially buzzing as he has now scored in 6 straight PL games to join Ruud, Cristiano, and Eric in such a feat. Rashford appears to have put his head down and got to work as well, and the front 3 are getting plenty of opportunities. Casemiro has also looked closer to last season’s level of influence, and Maguire is taking full advantage of Martinez’s unfortunate absence. Luke Shaw coming off early this weekend is pause for concern, with Malacia not featuring for months and Reguilon gone from his loan spell. Amrabat, fresh from the AFCON, came on late to help out in a deep defensive midfield role, and he could be called into emergency LB duty in the same manner he featured earlier in the season. United will host an inconsistent but capable Fulham on Saturday. Many United streaks will be on the line, but continuing to close the gap on Spurs and Villa is the only real goal to be achieved.Christian Pulisic scored another banger this weekend to help Milan recover (but ultimately lose). Long may this version of CP10 continue.Qatar kept hold of the Asian Cup with a win over Jordan, a shock finalist themselves. Early favorites Japan and South Korea continuously needed late comebacks to keep them alive, but that is not sustainable and proved to be with both failing to reach the semis. Qatar has pored resources into football in recent years, and thus far it has paid off. Japan and South Korea are no longer the standard to be imitated. With Saudi Arabia hosting the next edition as well as the 2034 World Cup, the next decade could see a huge shift in global soccer power. Home side Ivory Coast secured the AFCON after defeating Nigeria 2-1. Despite some great games and unexpected upsets, this edition was sadly marred by more poor officiating and several off-field incidents with media and fans acting out. The quality of play on the field continues to grow rapidly. It’s a shame the authorities cannot seem to get the rest under control. We’ll be making up for missing last week, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7pm, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!  ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchat

Happy New Year, Reds and Blues! Hopefully your 2024 is off to a great start. This cold streak hasn’t put a damper on our fandom, so let’s see how our teams finished 2023 and kicked off the New Year.After dropping points away to Wolves, Chelsea have enjoyed a decent run of form with 2 wins in the league followed by another, easier match with Preston North End in the FA Cup. But their inconsistency reared its head against Boro in the Carabao, though they do have a chance to make amends in the return leg next week. They did recover to beat Fulham 1-0 at the Bridge, but it took some effort with Sterling winning a pk for Palmer to convert. Chelsea have pulled off some gritty wins in the past few weeks, but their weaknesses are still on display. And the upcoming run against Boro, Villa, and away to Liverpool could have more implications than just the match results. Poch will be hoping to find some consistent form before the congested part of the season hits.Manchester United followed up their rousing, come-from-behind win over Villa with a flat performance against Forest. A comfortable 2-0 victory over Wigan in the FA Cup was followed by an exciting draw with Spurs at Old Trafford. Holding the lead twice, they will have been disappointed to not take all 3 points against a team above them in the table. But Rashford and Hojlund have ended their respective goal droughts in recent games, so hopefully they are able to maintain that form while also getting some rest as they don’t play again until Jan 28. The imminent arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe – and potentially some transfer window signings – could be the spark that helps United inch closer to the Top 4. EtH will certainly be hoping that is the case, as discussions of his tenure are growing with each limp result. Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie have been lighting it up in the Serie A this season, and Puli was handed the POTM award. And his jersey sales have skyrocketed as well. It’s great to see our American contingent enjoying their time abroad. Here’s hoping they can bring that form back to the national side as they prepare for the upcoming Copa America here on home soil. We’ll be wearing layers and drinking something warm, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7pm, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchat

Happy Holidays, Reds and Blues! We hope it’s been a festive season for you and your families. And while results have not been going as well as either of us would like, we truly appreciate your support and look forward to bringing you more in the New Year. The footballing gods decided to have some fickle fun these past few days. Let’s see what they’ve had in store for our lads.Chelsea’s stop-start season continued throughout December. After losing 2-0 to Everton they recovered with a same scoreline victory over Sheffield, followed by a scrappy win on penalties against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup. But they failed yet again to build on their performances with a loss away to a Wolves side also struggling for consistency. They have a chance to finish out December with a win at home in another London derby against a floundering Palace side followed by a trip to tricky Luton. In the wake of Poch admitting that he doesn’t believe the club can achieve its objectives this season, it will perhaps be up to the senior players to prove him wrong. Meanwhile, Manchester United showed fearless defensive resilience away to Anfield; stealing a point. But that effort appeared to take too much out of an already fragile side, as they followed up that impressive performance with a limp loss away to the Hammers. Many fans would have either feared the worse or hoped for just some effort against Aston Villa. And those thoughts seemed well-founded after a dismal 45 minutes saw them 2-0 down at the break from 2 terribly defended set pieces and little more from Villa. Erik must have borrowed a hair dryer from Sir Alex, or perhaps these obviously talented but brittle young players finally realized the extent of their potential. Regardless of the impetus, it was on full display in a wild 2nd half. United had the ball in the net early only for VAR to intervene, but that seemed to spur them onward. Garnacho decided to take matters into his own hands and scored a brace before Hojlund’s striker’s instinct set the Theater of Dreams alight with a winner in the 82nd minute. Scenes like that are full of history and joy for United fans, but it will take the full squad and more mental fortitude for it to become the norm after so long. The impending arrival of Sir Ratcliffe and co to take over the sporting matters may be coming at just the right time to see that revival, but not before a final test of the year away at Forest. We truly appreciate our followers and hope this year has been full of fond memories. We’ll continue to bring our local take on the global game in the New Year, and we hope you’ll continue to tune in and join us along the way. We’ll be eating Jojo’s peanut brittle and all the holiday leftovers while watching even more soccer in the next few days, but join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7pm, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchat

Welcome back, Reds and Blues! January has flown by, and the games are coming thick and fast now. Cup competitions and mid-week games are furthering the congestion. How are our teams managing the workload? Chelsea recovered from their shock away loss in the Carabao Cup to give a rousing home performance at the Bridge. Boro did themselves no favors, but Chelsea came to do a job and had things wrapped up before halftime. Chelsea followed that up with an energetic but ultimately goalless display against Villa in the FA Cup, so they will need a good performance in the return leg at Villa Park to advance. But they have a stiffer test ahead of them today when they travel to Liverpool. Much has been made of Chelsea’s recent, steady improvement. Today’s exam will give us a better idea of whether they have had fortunate scheduling or are truly on the path toward a resurgence. 6 games over the next month will also show us their strength in depth. Manchester United cannot seem to get out of their own way. Given a favorable draw against a much lower league side in the FA Cup against Newport County, things appeared to be smooth sailing as they jumped into an early 2-goal lead. But silly goals either side of halftime made things a bit tense before Antony scored (and then promptly over-celebrated) and then Hojlund finished things off. Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford opted to play schoolboy tricks with the headmaster after calling in with the “brown bottle flu” following 2 nights out. The matter has been addressed and considered over, but Rashford – typically professional and quiet – has yet again angered manager and fans at a time when neither have the wiggle room or patience, respectively, for such frivolity. A Thursday encounter away at Wolves followed by a Sunday home test against Moyes and West Ham should give the other returning players more chances to get back on form. But their February is as full as anyone’s, and it is well past time to be worrying about the names on the sheet.  We’ll be drinking away our Seasonal Affective Disorders and dreaming of sunshine, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7pm, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchat

Happy Holidays, Reds and Blues! So far this holiday period has been anything but joyful for both Chelsea and United. And as we approach the truly Festive Fixtures at the end of the season, what can each set of fans expect and hope for? Let’s see what Evan and Aaron have to say! Chelsea kicked off December with a deserved win over Brighton & Hove, but their ongoing issues were still on display. Up 2-1 just minutes before halftime, Conor Gallagher picked up a 2nd yellow card to force Chelsea to play the entire 2nd half with 10 men for the 3rd time in their last few games. Another goal from B&H made things nervy, which may have carried over to their next match against United. ManU started on the front foot and took advantage of Poch’s decision to bring a defiantly attacking mentality to Old Trafford. United dominated from the outset and could have been home and dry well before halftime if they were more clinical (more on that below). 2-1 said a lot about both sides, and a repeat viewing of the match illustrates just what is going wrong for both clubs at the moment. Chelsea followed that up with a poor performance against an aggrieved and rejuvenated Everton side. Chelsea will play 5 matches before the end of the year, and despite Newcastle being the only one in the top half of the table, Chelsea’s 12th-place standing means it’s probably more important to win the other 4 games and hope for a good result against an injured but still dangerous Toon. Manchester United yet again held a 2-goal lead (away at that!) in the Champions League and still managed to slip to a 3-3 draw in Turkey that left it all to play for on the final matchday. Yesterday, Bayern Munich put the final nail in the CL coffin with, for them, a relatively easy away day at Old Trafford. United worked hard, but the gulf in form and class were on full display. In between, United limped to an away defeat at Newcastle, were either unlucky or flattered with their victory over Chelsea, and thoroughly embarrassed at home by a rampant Bournemouth. To make matters worse, United will travel next to Liverpool (site of last season’s horrible 7-0) and West Ham before a Boxing Day fixture at home to Villa and an away trip to Forest. Some fortitude and resilience will be needed to avoid further embarrassment at Anfield. Any further mental damage could see a debilitating slide to end the year. Two Indiana teams made the Great Eight of the College Cup and faced off against one another in the quarters. A hard-fought 1-1 draw was decided on penalties, with Notre Dame’s GK making some big saves to send IU to a second consecutive exit on PKs. Notre Dame would go on to beat Oregon State before succumbing to Clemson in the final. Congrats to both teams for their deep runs in the tournament.  We’ll be decking the halls and hoping Santa brings us some goal-scorers and better leadership for both our clubs. So, join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7pm, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HAhttps://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShowhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byainstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchat

Welcome back, Reds and Blues! The USMNT limped into the next round of the CONCACAF Nations League, Chelsea continued to yo-yo, and United have quietly become the in-form team in the EPL. Can they replicate that recent form in the CL today? Let’s find out.When last we saw Chelsea, they were coming off of a rousing 4-1 victory over a Spurs side that has begun to fall of their strong, early form. That was followed by an even crazier match with City that could have gone either way but ultimately finished at 4 apiece. 8 goals in 2 games gave the impression that they had finally found their form in front of goal. But 2 weeks off apparently made them forget that form and their common sense. Not to take anything away from a Newcastle side that is still exceeding expectations, but most of the damage to Chelsea was self-inflicted. Poor defending, decision-making, and self-control caused them to ship another 4 goals. Will the real Chelsea FC please stand up? They have a chance to do just that at the Bridge against Bright & Hove, but it will not be an easy task as the Albion sit 2 spots higher.Manchester United seem to have found form on the back of some consistency and much-needed returning players. Despite things not going well in the Champions League, they have been the in-form team in the Premier League for several weeks now. Moving Rashford to the right has helped him get back on track thanks to the overlapping runs of Dalot/AWB; something that had been missing during Luke Shaw’s long absence on the left. It has also given Garnacho more game time, and he rewarded United fans (and impartial footy fans everywhere) with a spectacular bicycle kick against Everton. They head to Turkey, where the locals will surely “welcome them to Hell”. Can United produce their recent league form, or would an early exit be a potential blessing in disguise? We’ll find out today.The USMNT played 2 matches over the break against Trinidad & Tobago. The first came with a flattering scoreline as they needed nearly 40 minutes playing against 10 men to finally break them down before it became comfortable. The 2nd should have a bit more straight-forward. And it began that way with the US taking a 4-0 lead on aggregate through a rocket from Antonee Robinson. But Sergino Dest went absolutely insane getting himself sent off, and things went downhill from there. T&T took full advantage and scored either side of halftime, but they US managed to hold on to advance. This team is winning almost in spite of themselves. That does not bode well for a long run in upcoming tournaments.We’ll be wondering what actually qualifies as a handball and being completely wrong in every scenario. So, join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7pm, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!#TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchat

Hello again, Reds and Blues! It’s been a mixed bag of results for both clubs, and it’s hard to know which direction either are truly heading in. And we got a welcome surprise in news surrounding the USWNT. Let’s get into it! Chelsea’s season continues to confound. After putting in a rousing performance against Arsenal for about 75 minutes, it seems letting them claw back a point had a knock-on effect. Brentford rocked up to Stamford Bridge and took all 3 points back home. That 2-0 defeat was followed by a fairly straight-forward 2-0 win over Blackburn in the Carabao Cup. So, onto Monday and a trip up the road to Tottenham. From a neutral’s perspective, this was over 100 minutes of attacking intent. It was also littered with VAR interventions, cards, and goals. Spurs looked to be running away with it early, but red cards and injuries conspired to let Chelsea back into the game before taking full control late on. Games like this are hard to take much away from because of the frenetic nature but scoring 4 goals and ending the run of the only unbeaten team left in the Premier League should raise the spirits of fans, players, and coaching staff alike. Can they repeat such scenes against City at the weekend? Manchester United remains in much the same boat. It is safe to say that the manager and players got it all wrong in the Manchester Derby. Tributes to Sir Bobby Charlton were not enough to lift them against a very clinical City side. And they followed that up with an even more limp display against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup. 2 3-0 defeats in a row made the away trip to Fulham that much more important, and with VAR yet again chalking off a United goal it looked to perhaps be too much for them. But the captain popped up late on with a nice strike to snatch all 3 points in a game they didn’t look likely to get much from. They visit Copenhagen today in the UCL where they desperately need to get all 3 points to keep their chances of advancing alive. A more cohesive performance will be needed to get such a result.The USWNT sacked Vlatko Andonovski after they crashed out of the WWC. Weak tactics and an over-reliance on veteran players at the expense of young talent cost him dearly. And it was loudly questioned as to who could and should be the next in line to lead them on. Those questions were rousingly answered this week as the current Chelsea manager, Emma Hayes, was announced as the next leader of the USWNT. She brings a wealth of experience and success, as Chelsea currently sit atop the WSL. Let’s hope she brings a fresh perspective and some needed confidence to our changing squad.  We’ll be stopping occasionally to randomly review plays but not letting anyone know about it until after. So, join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7pm, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchat

Greetings, Reds and Blues! Our clubs returned from international duty and were immediately thrown into the gauntlet that is the Premier League. And Americans headlined the weekend clash between AC Milan and Juventus. Let’s see how they fared. Chelsea’s first clash on their return from the international break was to host early title challengers Arsenal. While many Chelsea fans would have gladly taken a draw before kickoff, it was the visitors who looked the worse for wear. Poch got his setup just right, and perhaps Arteta was a bit naïve with his own. While Arsenal had the majority of possession, it was largely along their own back line and out wide. But this movement was too slow to drag Chelsea players out of position, and it was Chelsea who struck first through the penalty spot. VAR has intervened far too often and produced inconsistent results, and this incident will surely be a continued talking point. But Cole Palmer yet again coolly slotted the pk home. He is quickly becoming a fan favorite with his effort and goals. Starting the 2nd half with the lead, it was Chelsea who again did the pressing. Mudryk was almost certainly looking to pick out Sterling at the back post, but Raya’s aggressiveness on crosses proved his undoing as the ball sailed high and into the corner of the net. Now up 2-0, Chelsea began to show some of their weaknesses, and Arsenal pounced. A wayward pass from Sanchez allowed Rice to score a long-ranger into an empty net, and then Gusto was caught napping at the back post to give Trossard just enough space to volley home from close range. Chelsea will be disappointed to drop points, but for 75 minutes they had a top team on the ropes. Seeing things out will be the next step in their progression. A visit from bottom-half Brentford may just help that along. Meanwhile, Manchester United continues to confound. Traveling to Sheffield should never be taken lightly, but they do sit bottom. And with McSauce scoring his third goal in 2 games, things looked to be going as well as possible on the day of Sir Bobby Charlton’s passing. But it’s never quite that easy right now, and Scott handled shortly after to allow Sheffield an equalizer from the spot. Things looked to be heading toward a draw as United struggled to break down a rigid defense. But Diogo Dalot popped up late to hit a beautiful curler to take all the points. That should have been a momentum builder, but Copenhagen showed up to Old Trafford to make life difficult. And for 70 minutes it appeared they would succeed. But then 2 players who have struggled for form and support of late came to the rescue. Firstly, Harry Maguire turned home Eriksen’s cross from the wing to take the lead, and then Onana came up huge with an injury-time penalty save that may be the spark for both players and club to push on. The upcoming Manchester Derby will be a gut check. The USMNT showed their good and bad traits in both games during the break. At times looking very attacking and composed, they took a deserved lead against Germany before quickly showing their defensive frailties and inability to convert more chances. But that loss inspired a quick-fire performance against Ghana to take an insurmountable lead into the halftime break. Little else transpired, but perhaps this team is showing signs of being a true contender on home turf at the next Cup. In addition, the Serie A chose to feature 4 Americans in their weekend promo, and all 4 started as Juve narrowly defeated Milan. It is definitely good to see so many of our boys playing on such a big stage. We’ll be holding our arms in unnaturally natural positions to avoid random handballs. So, join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7pm, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchat

Greetings, Reds and Blues! Quite a lot has happened in the past 2 weeks, but sadly little has changed in our respective fortunes. Chelsea continues to look like a collection of individuals rather than a unified squad in Pochettino’s vision. United, on the other hand, seem to have a plan but not quite enough players to implement it just yet. Elsewhere, what should have been a celebration and culmination of a fabulous Women’s World Cup has descended into patriarchal nonsense. Though some justice has been done, there is still much left to do. Let’s get into it!Chelsea bounced back from their early-season loss to West Ham with a decent victory over an already relegation bound Luton and a comeback win over Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup. But their lack of cohesion returned with a home defeat to Forest. Despite the lion’s share of possession, the final product just wouldn’t come. Nkunku’s absence can certainly be listed as a contributor, but Chelsea will need to figure out how to score and win without him over the course of the season, especially against the bottom half of the table. Other new players have not quite settled in just yet. Poch will be hoping that the international break will allow for a fresh start for many, and no additional injuries for others. United appeared to be headed toward a second consecutive loss at home to Forest, as they shipped 2 goals in the first 5 minutes. But they recovered to provide a vintage fightback and salvage a 3-2 win. And for long stretches in their match against Arsenal they appeared composed and willing to spring counterattacks. One of which resulted in a goal late on, only to be chalked off by VAR’s narrowest of margins. The 3-1 scoreline overly flattered Arsenal, as United had been looking the likelier side to take all 3 points. But a deflected goal off a corner was enough, with an even later goal coming for Arsenal with United stretched across the field. While there are positives to take from it, it continues to be off-field issues that are distracting from the squad pushing on. Antony is the latest to make headlines for all the wrong reasons, and the Glazers have yet to finalize a sale that has lingered for nearly a year. The break has come at a good time for EtH.  We should all be basking in the glow a well-played and even more watched/attended Women’s World Cup. Unfortunately it was Spain’s own federation and employees that ruined the party for their newly crowned champions. The RFEF has taken as many steps backward as they have occasionally taken forward. Firing the coach is a good start, but others should follow. It continues to show the blind spots that so many in the game still have with regard to women’s soccer (and women’s sports in general). We must move on from the “boys will be boys” trope, especially when those boys are men who make decisions at the highest level of the game. Finally, the USMNT will be back in action with 2 friendlies coming up. Very little will probably be learned by either the outcomes or squad inclusions, but some Americans will definitely be looking to improve on their good early-season form. Pulisic has hit the ground running in Milan, and Sergino appears to be grabbing his latest opportunity with both hands. Here’s to hoping they, and others, can continue that form through and beyond the window. We’ll be randomly placing VAR lines on floor and hoping no one notices. So, join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchat

Greetings, Reds and Blues! It’s been 3 weeks since we last chatted with you, with an international break squeezed in for good measure. Some things have changed, but much has largely stayed the same. But there is a need for some change at both clubs. How have they fared since their return to action? Chelsea seems to be growing more “Chelsea” by the day. A goalless draw with a struggling Bournemouth side was then followed by an even drearier performance against Villa; losing 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. Poch’s woes seem to be the same that several previous managers have had to endure, and now the owner seems hell bent on getting involved in day-to-day affairs. But until he addresses the fact that his transfer policy is to simply load up on young players that aren’t ready for the Premier League, as well as having little cohesion with one another, Boehly’s dressing room visits will probably not have the impact he’s hoping for. Poch has a tough mandate: win enough games in the present to remain within touching distance (and relevancy) while also building a championship side out of young players who don’t seem to grasp the overall plan. Unenviable, and likely to end exactly as recent history suggests. Chelsea face Brighton (Carabao) at home today, then play Fulham and Burnley away, before home tests against Arsenal and Brentford are followed by a trip to Spurs. The next 6 weeks may be Poch’s most crucial of his career.  United, meanwhile, returned to action with a truly poor performance. And it followed much the same script: dominate early possession and come close to scoring, then concede with nearly the first attack from the opposition. United sunk to a 3-1 defeat, with the only bright spot being a cracker of a goal from young Hannibal. That was followed by a return to the reality of the Champions League, where Bayern Munich was waiting. Again, United looked bright early, only to be undone by 2 goals in quick succession. The goalkeeping was especially poor for a few of the 4 goals they shipped, with positional and tactical awareness also alarming at times. Still, they managed to score 3 goals away in the CL. A far tougher win than it should have been over Burnley also saw the return of Johnny Evans, and his influence was key both in attack and defense. United finally got things going with a comfortable and dominant 3-0 over Palace in the Carabao Cup. A repeat of the fixture and venue awaits at the weekend. They have a favorable run of games leading up to the Manchester Derby at the end of October. Have they turned the corner or simply looked better against truly weaker sides?  The USMNT played 2 largely meaningless friendlies over the break against Uzbekistan (3-0) and Oman (4-0). Little new was learned, but hopefully it built more cohesion among these young players. With news that Berhalter and Gio have talked it out and are ready to move forward, perhaps a side that could potentially challenge for a World Cup on home soil in a few years is slowly coming together. An upcoming test against Germany – for which a health (fingers crossed) Reyna should be involved - in the next window may give us an early glimpse.  We’ll be observing VAR making decisions and then doing the exact opposite when the same situation arises. So, join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchat

Hello, Reds and Blues! The 2nd international break of the Fall is now underway, so let’s catch up on what’s happened with our clubs, as well as what we can expect from the upcoming USMNT friendlies.Chelsea’s results in the past few weeks have been promising, at least when compared to their overall start to the season. Since the home loss to Villa they have won at home against Brighton and picked up 2 away wins against Fulham and Burnley. The performances themselves have not always been quite what they would hope at time, with the Burnley game another example of their occasional shortcomings. But fans will point to 3 wins in a row with 2 clean sheets, and a team performance to come back from an early goal down to comfortably win 4-1. So perhaps the break comes at an inopportune time at the moment, as both players and manager will want to build on these results as well as some momentum. Chelsea returns from the break to face Arsenal and then Brentford, both at home. Good performances in both matches could finally see them turning things around and moving back into the top half of the table as the holidays approach. Question marks abound, but there is reason for optimism. Also, tip of the hat to the retiring Eden Hazard. He is a Chelsea legend, and all fans should be grateful to have seen him play.“Football. Bloody hell!” Sometimes that’s all you can say in the face of the game’s strange events. After completely dominating Palace in the Carabao Cup at home United faced them again only a few days later. But the performance and result were much different. Conceding yet another early goal, United looked completely without ideas on how to break down a defensively compact team. They had more than an hour to find an equalizer, but despite nearly 80% of possession and 19 shot attempts they managed only 4 tamely on target. That was followed by a home fixture in the Champions League against Galatasaray. The team that famously welcomed them to hell in the mid-90s came to Old Trafford to repeat it. Hojlund scored an early goal only for the visitors to respond immediately. This was repeated halfway through the 2nd period with United then Gala scoring minutes apart. That was followed by yet another howler of a pass from GK Onana, which forced Casemiro into another bad decision of a tackle and got sent off. The ensuing penalty was missed badly, but the momentum was truly with the visitors and they bagged a winner late on. Which brings us this past weekend’s match with Brentford. United looked beaten even before the match begun, and more poor defending led to a Brentford goal. And once again United looked unwilling and unable to get things level. Scott McTominay was brought on late, but few could expect what would happen next. But as Sir Alex famously said, this game is sometimes hard to comprehend. Scott would bag 2 goals in injury to take all 3 points in front of a rapturous home crowd. It is obvious that there is much to work on and players that don’t seem to fully buy into the team concept just yet. With 3 games left in October upon their return from break, Erik ten Hag has little time to get them to gel prior to the first Derby of the season. Finally condolences to Sir Alex, who’s wife passed away this weekend.GGG has called up a strong and largely unsurprising squad for the upcoming fixtures against Germany (who is also bringing a decent team) and Ghana. Considering the excellent form of several Yanks so far this season for their clubs, it’s not ridiculous to believe the US should get some positive performances and results. Gio Reyna finally got some minutes for Dortmund, so hopefully he can contribute to what Puli, Weston, Yunus, Timothy, Tim, and several others have been doing. 2 wins would go a long way toward (some) fans finally buying into GGG’s long-term plans.We’ll be hoping for no technical glitches this time around. So, join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7pm, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!#TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchat

Hello again, Reds and Blues! It’s been a while since we last chatted, and a lot has happened. Sadly, the USWNT was dumped from the Women’s World Cup. And things have only marginally changed for our respective club teams. Let’s dive into all of that and more! Chelsea (read: Todd Boehly) reportedly spent over $1 Billion (yes, with a B) in the transfer window, but you wouldn’t really know it from either the names on the team sheet or the performances on the field. A sloppy but workmanlike showing in their first game of the season against Liverpool gave some reason for optimism despite seeing some of the same issues that plagued them last season. And after going down a goal early to West Ham, their play improved with Raheem Sterling and Carney Chukwuemeka both showing glimpses of speed and directness. Chukwuemeka equalized with a strong, solo effort from close range after beating his man in the box. But the ensuing lift in energy and play was not to be. Michail Antonio scored early in the 2nd half to retake the lead, and Chelsea never really looked like getting themselves level again. A late and needless penalty only increased the messy result. Poch looked frustrated well before the final whistle. Moises Caicedo, fresh off his record-breaking transfer, looked lost and more than a step slow. Much will have to change, and quickly, if Chelsea are to have anything resembling a better season than last. If that sounds bad, then things could only be described as worse for a Manchester United squad that was thought to be much further along in their development than Chelsea. They were made to work way too hard on the opening weekend to get all 3 points from Wolves, and many would argue they didn’t deserve them after VAR failed to overturn the ref’s decision to not award a penalty against Andre Onana on his Premier League debut. That result should have been a wake-up call, but their performance against Spurs – outside of the first 20 minutes in which Garnacho looked especially energetic – was even more dire. Despite going into the half at 0-0, Spurs were definitely in control and quickly made their intentions clear shortly after the break. Lisandro Martinez, imperious last season, was responsible for both goals (the 2nd an OG, at that), and the entire team seemed to not really have a clue as to what they were supposed to be doing. Shouts of “ten Hag out!” are definitely premature, especially considering their similar dismal start to last season. But if their goal of pushing City for titles is to be met, he will have to right the ship ASAP. A few more signings may come in, and the protracted sale of the club coming to a conclusion should also settle things. But time and points are precious in the EPL. The USWNT failed to do what no team (men or women) has ever done before, so their failure shouldn’t be looked at as terrible. However, their performances on the field were well below what we have come to expect from them, and they were bounced at the earliest point of a WC tournament in their history. Vlatko resigned, and the search for the next manager of what is supposed to be the strongest team in the world has begun. Megan Rapinoe had already announced her intention to retire before a ball was kicked, but other veterans remain. The new manager will have some tough decisions to make right away in order to get the next generation ready for the Olympics next summer. Some big names on the USMNT made big moves for their club careers. And none was bigger than Christian Pulisic’s move from Chelsea to AC Milan. He setup Milan’s first and then scored an absolute banger for their 2nd after he linked up with his former handsome leading man at Chelsea, Olivier Giroud. Yunus Musah has joined him at Milan as well, with Timothy Weah linking up with Weston McKennie at Juventus, and many other first-teamers connecting at various clubs. Hopefully those club bonds will carry over into cohesive play at the international level. Though we still need a manager to put them all together. We’ll be checking VAR and then promptly ignoring it. So, join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HAhttps://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShowhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byainstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchat

Greetings, Reds and Blues! Things have picked up in the transfer market for both of our clubs. And it looks like there could be more to come. Meanwhile, the reigning Women’s World Cup Champions have looked a bit wobbly in the group stages thus far. Our ladies have not exactly waltzed into the knockout phase, and a goal-hungry Sweden awaits. Chelsea have largely opted for a youth movement in their transfer dealings. Christopher Nkunku is the biggest name thus far, but they appear to be building for the future with several new signings under 20. And while pre-season matches can be tough to judge progress, they have won 3 of 4 matches with just 1 draw. Can Poch get the right mix of youngsters and veterans to gel on the field? Swapping an unhappy Romelu Lukaku for Dusan Vlahovic might be the catalyst for success. Manchester United’s protracted sale by the Glazers continues to linger on with no end in sight. But its impact on the transfer window seems to have waned. Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund have followed Mason Mount to M16, and more signings could be on the way in the form of Sofyan Amrabat. Several names have also been floated as goalkeeper options to give Onana some competition. Are these the missing pieces to finally get them challenging for trophies?  The USWNT has not been easy to watch in the group stage. Even the 3-0 opening match victory over Vietnam looked a bit labored. A come-from-behind draw with the Netherlands showed further signs of disjointedness, but it was the scoreless draw with Portugal in the final group match that got the fans (and former players!) riled up. Perhaps 14 new faces (and key injuries) were too much too soon. They will need to find their cohesion and some goals if they expect to get past a Sweden team that has outscored their opponents 9-1 so far. We’ll be discussing all this and probably some pre-season predictions live from Chatham Tap Fishers. So, join us there or follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat#ChathamTapFishers#ChelseaFC#manchesterunited#USMNT#USWNThttps://linktr.ee/theredandbluesoccerchathttps://feeds.captivate.fm/the-red-and-blue-soccer/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HAhttps://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShowhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7byainstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchat

Hello, Red and Blue fans! The transfer window is in full swing, and at least one of our clubs has been very active, while the other is being bogged down by their owners. Meanwhile, a much-derided USMNT squad has booked passage to the knockout round and will face their northern rivals. Let’s get into it! Chelsea’s mass exodus has slowed somewhat, with Mason Mount the only real new exit since our last chat. But they have also brought in a few fresh faces. So far they have been younger and with an eye on building for the future. It remains to be seen what Poch’s short-term and longer-term plans are. But surely we’ll see more exits to trim their bloated squad, and hopefully a few marquee names to bolster their needs. Manchester United’s off-season has not gone well so far. The protracted saga surrounding the potential sale of the club continues to linger on, with the younger siblings apparently wishing to remain involved. This uncertainty has, in turn, made it difficult to sign new players of quality. Ethan Laird and Zidane Iqbal have been allowed to leave permanently, while several others will continue their loan spells. So that leaves Mason Mount as the sole signing thus far, with the priorities of a striker and now potentially a gk going as yet unfulfilled. De Gea’s contract talks are especially egregious: his previous contract was allowed to run out, and the parties appear far apart with regard to salary and playing time. Inter’s Andre Onana remains a coveted gem for EtH, but that signing is far from done. With the summer competitions on the horizon, now is not the time for United to trip over these hurdles. Despite the overwhelming negativity of US Soccer Twitter in general, and their recent dual bogeymen of Berhalter and an intentionally weaker Gold Cup squad, the USMNT has marched into the quarterfinals. Yes, the 1-1 with Jamaica raised some eyebrows, but 2 convincing attacking performances from them (and especially Jesus Ferreira’s consecutive hat tricks) have the Baby Eagles looking strong as they face Canada next. Not winning this competition would not be the worst thing to happen to this team but making it to the final and/or winning it all would go a long way toward quieting down some of the naysayers. The USWNT roster was recently announced, and it’s quite an interesting mix of young and old. 14 players will be participating in their first WC, while Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Julie Ertz, and Kelley O’Hara will be making their own history. A 3rd consecutive title and all-time greatness status awaits those 4. But their young counterparts will have to be ready from the outset, as all teams will be gunning for US. One last friendly against Wales is left before our ladies travel down under, where Vietnam, Netherlands, and Portugal await. Their journey begins July 21. We’ll be practicing our “I Believe” chants and looking for spare transfer fee money in the couch live from Chatham Tap Fishers. So join us there or follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below to find out. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat #ChathamTapFishers #ChelseaFC #manchesterunited #USMNT https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HA https://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow https://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7bya instagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchat --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/redbluesoccerchat/support

Hello, Red and Blue fans! Today’s the day we’ve all been waiting for. Our raison d’etre. Manchester United versus Chelsea. Let’s dig in. Chelsea’s overall form has continued on much the same trajectory. They have a lone win in May – a 3-1 victory over fellow strugglers Bournemouth – but it continues to be their off-field problems overshadowing any attempts at improvement on the pitch. Mauricio Pochettino’s seemingly imminent announcement should settle some nerves, but his task ahead is obvious and monumental. Traveling to Manchester to face a United side desperate to clinch Champions League football is probably not what they were hoping for. Will interim boss Lampard put out the kids to see who really wants to stay, or stick with the veterans? With another game in just a few days against a most-likely satisfied and already celebrating Newcastle, today may be cause for pragmatism. Either way, they are firmly in the middle of the pack. Manchester United has a straight-forward mandate: gain at least 1 point from their 2 remaining games and secure a Top 4 finish and CL football next season. Their recent performances can best be described as workmanlike. Since their loss to Sevilla, they’ve had 2 draws and a succession of mainly 1-0 wins. They’ve looked very good at times, but they’ve also looked leggy and required DDG to save their skin on more than one occasion. Erik 10 Hag seems to recognize what’s going on, but he simply does not have the squad depth to truly fix it at the moment. He will be hoping that there’s just enough left in their legs and minds to rise to the occasion and professionally see off Chelsea before their final-day matchup with Fulham. We’ll be watching live from Chatham Tap Fishers, so join us there or follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below to find out. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat #ChelseaFC #manchesterunited #USMNT #theevanandaaronshow https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HA https://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow https://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7bya instagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchat https://anchor.fm/redbluesoccerchat --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/redbluesoccerchat/support

Greetings, Red and Blue fans! Another Premier League season is in the books, and it couldn’t have gone much different for our respective clubs. Let’s see how things ended up, and where we each go from here. Chelsea’s season started off in turmoil and really only got worse with very few bright spots along the way. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forced a change at the top, and the trickle-down effect had many casualties. Where to even begin?! A new owner spent millions on seemingly randomly chosen players. One of which was bought specifically for the manager. One week later that same manager was sacked. A promising young manager was brought in next, but Graham Potter’s brief spell of success ultimately sputtered. Frank Lampard, fresh off his own sacking, was entrusted as caretaker manager, but by that point it seems the locker room was gone entirely. Mauricio Pochettino is up next, and he has his work cut out for him. Several players must go, and Poch must instill a new plan and mentality quickly in order to avoid a repeat of this dismal season. Manchester United’s season is not quite over. They have achieved what was hoped for: a Top 4 finish. The Carabao Cup is a nice prize as well but lifting a 13th FA Cup – while also denying their noisy blue neighbors a shot at the Treble – would truly cap off a successful season and set the tone for Erik ten Hag’s second year in charge. There are still a few gaps to be filled, both in starting roles and providing cover, as well as a need to move on certain players. But the real question marks are around the upcoming sale of the club and who the new owners will be. Getting this business taken care of quickly is imperative to maximize EtH’s window. Hopefully the Glazers don’t have one last disappointment for the fans. We’ll be chatting about all of this and celebrating live from Chatham Tap Fishers, so join us there or follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below to find out. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat #ChelseaFC #manchesterunited #USMNT #theevanandaaronshow https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HA https://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow https://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7bya instagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchat https://anchor.fm/redbluesoccerchat --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/redbluesoccerchat/support

Greetings, GFOPs! Happy Solstice. Summer’s here, and the time is right, to catch up on some footy news. There hasn’t been too much to get excited about for either club, but the Baby Eagles have already made us proud and are about to kick off a second summer tournament. And the ladies are poised to hopefully do something no team – men or women – has ever done before. Let’s get into it!Thus far Chelsea has seen more players leaving – or talking about leaving – than new players coming in. Which, given their bloated, disjointed squad, is probably a good start. But the manner of the departures does raise some eyebrows. Few can find much issue with letting N’Golo Kante leave when his contract runs out. He’s almost universally loved and will be a nice addition to the player-laden trophy case the Saudis are amassing at the moment. But allowing Kovacic and potentially Mount and Havertz go to direct rivals while trying to claw their way back into the Big 6 conversation might be cause for consternation. Just how much Mauricio Pochettino has been involved in these discussions remains to be seen. It’s too early to speculate exactly what Poch’s short- and long-term plans are for the club, but the arrival of Christopher Nkunku should demonstrate some ambition. “Long is the way and hard, that out of Hell leads up to the light.” Chelsea fans will hope not too long.Manchester United’s season was not quite capped off as they would have liked. A Cup Final victory over their crosstown rivals was not to be, and salt was further rubbed into the wound as City also managed to grab the Treble after defeating Inter in the CL. But despite such things, the real damage being done right now is by their owners. The continuing saga over selling the club is now beginning to impact transfers at a crucial time for Erik ten Hag. Rumors swirl on the daily, but fans are let down just as often with no resolution in sight. Whether directly responsible for the inability to sign Mason Mount (and Harry Kane, and Declan Rice… and…), it’s obvious this negative impact could stretch on for the summer and cause United to miss out on crucial needs for squad improvement. I (AG) am personally opposed to the PIF taking over and would definitely prefer lifelong fan Ratcliffe be handed the reins, the reality is that a deal needs to be made immediately. Otherwise, whoever the new owners are won’t have the impact either are promising anytime soon.Doom and gloom have surrounded the USMNT since the Dutch spilled us from the Cup and the ensuing soap opera between the Reynas, Berhalters, and USSF became the lead story. And what should have been a successful Nations League victory lap was tainted by the premature announcement that after 6 months, third-party consultants, and independent reviewers, GGG would be returning to the managerial post. While not nearly as apoplectic as many on US Soccer Twitter, we do find the whole production a bit curious. Hopefully GGG can make amends with the very talented but also very injury prone Gio, because what we just saw should make us all excited for what could be coming in 2026. A vastly different group of players are in for the Gold Cup, but a few will surely make a case for their inclusion when the road to US/CAN/MEX begins in earnest.And finally, our women are getting ready to take on the world by way of Australia and New Zealand when the World Cup kicks off next month. A very tongue-in-cheek commercial shows just what the world has to do to get in our way. We’ll be sewing Weston’s jersey back together and making Tres a Cero a new thing, live from Chatham Tap Fishers, so join us there or follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below to find out. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HAhttps://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShowinstagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchat--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/redbluesoccerchat/support

Hello, Red and Blue fans, we’ve missed you! There’s been plenty of action in the soccer world, so hopefully you’ve missed us as well, because we’re ready to jump in and tackle it all. Chelsea’s woes have continued and perhaps gotten worse. What was surely expected to be a showdown between 2 clubs fighting for multiple trophies ultimately became a limp reflection of the sad season parallels between Chelsea and Liverpool, as the game finished 0-0. Since then, Chelsea has lost to Wolves, Madrid twice in the CL, and Brighton. A home tilt against mid-table Brentford closes out April before 6 May dates. Chelsea is in no danger of the drop, but the run-in will go a long way toward showing who wants to stay and fight. Arsenal, City, United, and Newcastle likely won’t make that an easy prospect. Manchester United has 8 more league games and 1 Cup final to finish out their season. The implosion away to Sevilla in the Europa was surprising yet not altogether unexpected. While results have largely continued to go their way, performances have been underwhelming. And the fear that injuries and tired legs (and minds) are finally taking a toll. Their next match is against a team trying to reel them in, but Spurs aren’t setting the world alight themselves. Workmanlike, professional performances and results may get them across the line – they are somewhat comfortable in 4th with 5 points and multiple games in hand – but their final game of the season will come in a Manchester Derby for the FA Cup. Workmanlike will probably not cut it against City, so United need to find some inspiration (and energy). The USMNT played Mexico in what was really a B squads scrimmage. 1-1 was… fine. Not much was learned, and few if any of that team will likely return for the real deal showdown in the CONCACAF Nations League and subsequent Gold Cup matches. Oh, and we appear to be no closer to having a new (or same) manager. We’ll be discussing all that, and probably talking about today’s matches (especially a certain, possibly, maybe title decider?!). Who knows?! So, join us at 7:00 p.m. at Chatham Tap Fishers, on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below to find out. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat #ChelseaFC #manchesterunited #USMNT #theevanandaaronshow https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HA https://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow https://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7bya instagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchat https://anchor.fm/redbluesoccerchat --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/redbluesoccerchat/support

Welcome back, Red and Blue fans! It’s been nearly a month since we last chatted, but the international break always makes it seem even longer. Quite a bit has transpired for both clubs, and most of it has not been great. Let’s dig in! Chelsea had appeared to at least stabilize things as the international break approached. After securing passage to the next round of the Champions League (where an always dangerous Real Madrid are lurking), victory over Leicester and a draw with Everton seemed to be enough. But 2 weeks and an ugly home loss to Villa later spelled the end for Graham Potter. Whether he was THE problem or just A problem is the crux of the matter. But a limp, goalless draw with fellow strugglers Liverpool gave us a glimpse into what awaits the next man up. The long run of good form has hit a brick wall for Manchester United. Despite some decent intervening results, the 7-0 humiliation at the hands of a very poor Liverpool side appears to have exposed a weakness in the minds of many United players. A 4-1 dismantling of Betis was followed by a draw that now feels more like a loss at home to bottom-dwellers Southampton. A businesslike win away to Betis in the 2nd leg was then followed by what was headed for a knockout loss in the FA Cup until Fulham collectively lost the plot in a space of a few minutes. It spared United’s blushes, but only just. 2 weeks of rest should have brought a rejuvenated and hungry squad to St. James’s. Instead, it was truly the first time that EtH appeared to get it all wrong, in selection and substitutions. Yes, absences in key positions forced some changes, but the performance as a whole – from manager to players – is cause for worry as the team now shows signs of cracking. Home clashes with Brentford and Everton may be very telling. The USMNT called in a strong squad of mostly European-based players (yes, Aaron got that wrong) for the CONCACAF Nations League encounters. A trip to Grenada saw them romp to 7 goals, though the 1 they conceded (and the manner) may be more instructional. They followed that with a 1-0 over El Salvador. With Mexico up next in the semifinals, it’s hard to know which result will be built upon. With Tyler Adams ruled out for the remainder of this club campaign (and who knows how much longer), others will need to step up against our oldest rivals. We’ll be discussing all that, and maybe even throwing back to some Evan and Aaron Show topics. Who knows?! So, join us at 7:00 p.m. at Chatham Tap Fishers, on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below to find out. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat #ChelseaFC #manchesterunited #USMNT #theevanandaaronshow https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HA https://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow https://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7bya instagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchat https://anchor.fm/redbluesoccerchat --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/redbluesoccerchat/support

Greetings, Red and Blue soccer fans! We’ve kept you waiting for too long. Work, vacation, life. They all happen. But so did some footy in the past month. And the results have been… interesting? Chelsea’s February went from bad to worse, with a string of successive losses culminating with a 2-0 defeat in their London Derby away to Spurs. But March has seen a slight uptick in results and performances. An important win against a struggling Leeds was enough to lift the mood around the Bridge, but it was their far more impressive performance against Borussia Dortmund to recover their second leg in the Champions League and go through to the next round. Graham Potter will hope to carry that momentum into a tricky tie with a wobbling Leicester before their last game of the March calendar against an Everton side sliding toward relegation. Manchester United. Until Sunday they had been one of the most in-form teams in Europe. Their only blot a hard-fought loss against a truly impressive Arsenal side; they followed that with 7 games unbeaten and 2 great wins along the way: a come-from-behind victory against Barcelona that saw them advance to the next round of the Europa and an easy win over Newcastle in the Carabao Cup Final. Manchester United carried themselves into Anfield on a high after winning their first trophy in several years. And for 43 minutes they continued to be the side we’ve seen for months now. And then against the run of play, it all went pear-shaped. Cody Gakpo turned Diogo Dalot way too easily before finishing coolly past de Gea. And then the route was on. United ultimately shipped 7 against their biggest rivals, and the inquests about nearly every player have come thick and fast. Perhaps a bit over the top in most cases, but how they respond against Real Betis in the first leg of their Europa league tie will go a long way toward showing us whether this was another false dawn or if they have the mental fortitude to put a bad result behind them and continue to pursue 3 more trophies. The USMNT heads into the brief international window at the end of March with questions that still need answered. And they will need to show more than they did against Serbia and Colombia to convince the fans that they are any closer to answering them. No news as yet to the squad being called in, but another heavily domestic-based squad is expected. We’ll be discussing all that as well as some “Hey, Aaron!”. So, join us at 7:00 p.m. at Chatham Tap Fishers, on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS! ⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺⚽🍺 #TheRedandBlueSoccerChat #ChelseaFC #manchesterunited #USMNT #theevanandaaronshow https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH_XXtwLOX74un6Jr367HA https://www.facebook.com/TheEvanAndAaronShow https://open.spotify.com/show/7gC93OQZpUrk1ZKkHG7bya instagram.com/theredandbluesoccerchat https://anchor.fm/redbluesoccerchat --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/redbluesoccerchat/support