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The Second Captains Podcast
The Guehi Lesson, Irish Vibes Are Smilin', The Jim Gavin Question, Them Cowboys
We had a record breaking transfer window with subplots a plenty, World Cup fever has gripped the nation in advance of our qualifiers against Hungary and Armenia, and our star striker is settling in nicely to life in bella Italia. On top of the football, the Ryder Cup is coming soon, the US open is on, and ireland are into a QF at the women's Rugby World Cup. What we're saying is, you can't afford to not become a member of the Second Captains world service for a mere 5 euro a month. Remember there's no ads, no contracts, no sneaky fees, and no minimum stay.
First up on our taster show today its vibes Versus data. David Sneyd of the 42, who is getting a really really good feeling from Heimir and his assistant coach Paddy McCarthy, and Conor O'Neill of The Athletic, who has been looking at the data ahead of Ireland's world cup campaign.
On Tuesday Ken talked about the moral of the Isak/Wissa/Guehi transfers maybe not being quite as obvious as some suggested. We also discussed Jim Gavin's candidacy for the Aras and had US Murph on the brilliant new Dallas Cowboys documentary on Netflix which is about oil man Jerry Jones' building of a dynasty when he bought the franchise back in the 80s.
Today on the Second Captains world service we have the always brilliant Andy Lee and his fighter Paddy Donavan ahead of their fight with Lewis Crocker for the vacant IBF welterweight title, that's in Belfast on 13th September and its the first time two Irish fighters have met for a world title. Next week we will be reviewing Ireland's win over Hungary and the women's World Cup win over NZ, and we may have a little Tim Vickery magic in there too.
The special guest at our live show in London on Wednesday September 24th will be Arsenal legend and one of our favourite people in football, Ian Wright. Last batch of tickets available at https://www.secondcaptains.com/live-events/
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Saudi Money, Howe Low, Jamestown Analytics, Epstein Economics
26:07|Welcome to our weekly World Service taster show! This week we discussed Ronaldo's value to the Saudis, Eddie Howe's rep, Shels using Jamestown Analytics and the ongoing fallout from the latest release of Epstein files.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
Ep 3466: Forget it Pep, It's Artetatown - 02/02/26
01:20:10|Just one week after wondering if the run-in pressure might get to Arsenal we are - once again - handing them the Premier League trophy after they extended their lead at the top in a chaotic and unpredictable weekend. Lars Sivertsen and Gavin Cooney join us to talk through the action. A lot of people probably gave up on Tottenham-City with Guardiola's team 2-0 up at half-time. They missed an unexpected and glorious Spurs fightback which laid bare the identity crisis plaguing Guardiola's team. The new City is packed with powerful finishers, but lacks the masterfield midfield tempo-setters who made sure the game was played the way Guardiola wanted it. Has Pep stuck around just long enough to see his life's work slipping into ruin? We also discuss Manchester United's rediscovered sense of destiny, Cole Palmer's future, Liverpool's future-focused transfer policy, and who really deserves to win Manager of the Year.
Jose Forever, Arteta's Antics, Madrid Rot, Penrose On Heated Rivalry
28:11|Welcome to our weekly World Service taster show! This week we discussed an epic end to the Champions League league phase, Arsenal's Premier League wobble, Arteta's body language, Heated Rivalry, Jose's appeal, Madrid rot, the NFL playoffs, and on Friday it's a Winter Olympics preview. 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
Ep 2461: Shackle-less Gaelic Football As The League Returns, Mayo's Andy Moran Impact, Hooter Hijinks - 26/01/26
48:49|The Gaelic football season is back, and after a winter spent poring over stats sheets and risk-reward scenarios, it looks like the coaching class of 2026 decided to throw the shackles off and have some fun.Paul Flynn is in studio to talk to us about the Andy Moran impact in Mayo, the most impressive of the young guns we saw taking over games this weekend, why the hooter is an agent of confusion, and the extent to which protests over Allianz’s sponsorship materialised.Plus there’s snow-day in the NFL (the American version), and another very busy weekend in Dingle.
Ep 3460: Has The Arsenaling Begun? - 26/01/26
01:09:40|Last night at the Emirates we saw the Premier League game of the season - but will it prove a pivotal moment? That's up to Arsenal and how they react. The one thing we can likely count on with Mikel Arteta is that he will keep doing things his own way until the end.Meanwhile, a new psychological study has revealed the typical personality profile and cognitive skills package of the elite footballer. Today we determine if the brains of either Murph or Eoin have got what it takes. Mark Critchley and Jacob Hawley join us to talk about Arsenal v Man United. Arsenal are top of the league and Champions League and advancing towards a quadruple, so why did the Emirates boo at the end? Do refs need to legislate against Arsenal's set-piece edge? And is there any reason NOT to give Carrick the permanent job?
Slot's Block, Steve G On TV, The Great Injury Mystery, Brooklyn Burns
25:04|Welcome to our weekly World Service taster show! This week we discussed Davos, Greenland, World Cup boycotts, the Beckhams, LIV V PGA, Arne Slot's low block mental block, Steve G's hair, Man City's slump in form and players reimbursing fans.Plus there's Arsenal muscling up, Allianz and the GAA, US Murph on the NFL playoffs and the great injury mystery of San Francisco.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
Ep 3455: AFCON Chaos Final, MCMUFC, Great Man Theory, Rice.gif, (More) Post Human Football, Marty Whelan <3's Ken - 19/01/26
01:41:44|People were calling this AFCON predictable but in the end, it showed us something we've never seen before in a major final - a walk-off that initially looked like a turning point in humanity's war against VAR, and only got weirder from there. After another weekend of ... rugged ... PL games, we discuss why so many fanbases seem angry and whether it has to do with the way the game is being played. Do we blame the Pep style, do we blame the anti-Pep style, or is the truth.... somewhere in between?As Michael Carrick leads Manchester United to a crushing win over Manchester City, we also discuss whether it's time to fish the Great Man Theory out of the bin. With so many smoking ruins to choose from it was hard to pick a stricken club to focus on today but we've gone with Spurs, where the Thomas Frank era looks to be entering its final few days. Jack Pitt-Brooke was there on Saturday to watch all the poisons that lurk in the mud hatch out. Where did it all go wrong for Frank? Which previous managerial reign is Jack reminded of? What about the burgeoning cult of the Lost Leader Ange? And who is next in line to drink deep from the poisoned chalice?
Ep 3454: Munster Down And Out, Leinster's Sweet Draw, Dingle Drama, "Disaster" In Dubai - 19/01/26
58:42|Dingle are the undisputed kings of heroic comebacks with late wins in the Munster final, the All-Ireland semi and now the final. We chat about a classic club final, Geaney's clutch kick, and codebreaker Mark O'Connor.Leinster are also good at comebacks this season, and their win in Bayonne on Saturday means they have Edinburgh at home in the last 16 of the Champions Cup, and they're on the opposite side of the draw from Toulouse, Bordeaux, Bath and Northampton. Andrew Trimble and Shane Horgan look at Leinster's ability to find a way to win, their all-or-nothing defence and tell us who they would pick at 10 for Ireland's opener against France on Feb 5th.Munster were 23 point favourites against Castres but lost at home again and are out of the Champions Cup at the group stage. Shane and Andrew look at how big a project Clayton McMillan has on his hands, if this was an acceptable result given the players he has available, and where Jack Crowley has progressed and regressed this season. Plus there's Lowry's "disaster in Dubai", guttural GAA, Geelong goodness and non-stop baby talk.
Rosenior Speak, Steven Flowe, A Good Manager These Days Is Hard To Find
25:59|Welcome to our weekly World Service taster show which covers LinkedIn's football takeover, Rosenior-speak, the white sneaker manager era, Madrid sacking Alonso, why there are so few good managers for the top clubs to employ, the NFL playoffs and Steven Flowe.Click the player at the top of the page to play the show. Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. There’s no contracts, no hidden fees and shows can be listened to on all good podcast apps, on Spotify or through our website. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, such as our international series’ ‘Where Is George Gibney?’ and Stakeknife.