The Second Captains Podcast

We're into what looks like the defining week of the Premier League season, as nine months of Mikel Arteta's careful order, structure and planning may just be about to be confounded by the spirit of pure chaos in the form of Rayan Cherki. Lars Sivertsen and John Brewin join us to talk about the weekend's football. Why did the Emirates boo at the end of Saturday's game? Have Arsenal's efforts to hype up their title run-in fixtures proved counterproductive? How have Manchester City of all people apparently been anointed as the People's Champions? Is this finally it for Spurs... and might that actually be a good thing? 

Champions League quarter-finals, The Masters teeing off with Rory McIlroy looking to do an exceedingly rare two-in-a-row, a Ken Early politics podcast to come tomorrow - what a time to be part of the World Service. Join the gang and get independent, ad-free podcasts every day for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join now. 

The Champions League quarter-finals is usually one of the most exciting weeks of the football calendar and an entertaining bunch of FA Cup quarter-finals got things off to a good start, with family members of participants like Maria Guardiola and Danny Dyer adding to the gaiety, and Finn Azaz, Ryan Manning and Tomas Soucek experiencing reversals of fortune.Arsenal began "the most beautiful part of the season" with defeat at Southampton but they're still going to do it right? There's nothing to worry about... right? Meanwhile, Liverpool completed their three match series against Manchester City this season and their record reads: played three, lost three, scored one, conceded nine. How have Slot's team come to be so awful?We also speculate as to why Chelsea have come down so hard on Enzo Fernandez for giving the same "South American player would probably rather play in Spain" interview nearly every South American Premier League footballer gives on a regular basis.

Welcome to our World Service taster show and this week it's all about the Prague come-down and the build-up to the Masters.As we watched on with horror as Czechia booked their place at this summer's World Cup, Ken was able to find the slimmest of silver linings; at least we're not Italian.And as Rory aims to go back-to-back at  next week's Masters, we speak to some Golf writing Big Beasts as Kevin Van Valkenburg joins us to chat about the latest ignominious episode in the world of Tiger Woods and Alan Shipnuck stops by to chat Rory!To become a member and hear our shows all week it costs 5 euro a month and there’s no ads, no sign up fee, no minimum stay, no contract, and we’re independent and member led – go to secondcaptains.com/join

Passing through the latter stages of grief today. Eoin, on the hunt for victims, puts Ken in the dock, accusing him of blaming the Ireland fans for our defeat in Prague. On the positive side, at least being out of the World Cup frees us up to talk more about the shadow of evil looming over the tournament.Elsewhere - Roberto de Zerbi might be about to take over at Tottenham, and thanks also to Richard Keys for doing his part to brighten up a depressing weekend. Dion Fanning joins us in studio to pick over the bones of our shared dreams. Does he support Ken's alleged astonishing attack on the Ireland fans? What about the listener who believes it's time to SACK Heimir? What really went wrong out there? And how are we all feeling about tomorrow night, where the next chapter begins against North Macedonia? 

The pain of Thursday night will last a long time in all our hearts, so let's hold hands and podcast together.Oisin McConville joins us to discuss Donegal's one sided league final win over Kerry, Michael Murphy's baffling yellow card, the huge influence kick outs now have on the game and his own heartbreak after Wicklow failed to gain promotion to Division 3.Plus there's disappearing Dresden, "Comfortably Numb", and Branno on the beat.

The World Cup Dream is Dead, Prague Week EndsIt’s goodbye to Prague, farewell Denmark, so long Azteca Stadium. Over and out from Czechia. We reflect on the final whistle.We’re in Berlin after one of the great weeks on The Second Captains Podcast (before the extreme heartbreak took over). 

Prague Week starts with Kenny Cunningham joining us in studio to talk about how he wants to see Ireland approach the World Cup playoff on Tuesday night. Caution: Kenny's team may shock you. We talk about the Carabao Cup final, and whether the tactical match-up of baiting the press vs refusing to press is the worst thing ever to happen to football. While all this is happening Ken goes out to Abbottstown to hear the latest from the Ireland camp, where John O'Shea and Nathan Collins were holding court. Plus Arne Slot's use of resources, Chelsea's misbegotten alignment strategy, and whether basic overexposure to football is making Ken more irritable with the kinds of goals he sees teams giving away.