The Second Captains Podcast

We’d another barn-storming week this week, with the main story being Mo Salah’s rapidly-deteriorating relationship with Liverpool Football Club, which we covered in depth.We had a brilliant chat with Danny Rensch, the co-founder of chess.com, which went from being a successful start-up to a billion dollar company during the pandemic, thanks largely to people being stuck at home. As a kid, Danny was a prodigy, a national champion in the US, who ultimately became disillusioned with the sport. But his story is far more complicated than that, given he grew up in a cult called the Church of Immortal Consciousness.We also spoke to Armagh All Ireland winner Rory Grugan about the new rules and his time in France spreading the GAA gospel and Beñat Gutiérrez joined us from Spain to look at the factors deciding Xabi Alonso’s future.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this lively discussion, Irish rugby journalist Gerry Thornley and former Munster prop Dave Kilcoyne dive into Munster's tough Champions Cup opener against Bath, highlighting early line-out issues and Tadhg Beirne's yellow card. They also assess Leinster's shaky performance against Harlequins and the potential impact of Rieko Ioane on the team. The podcast delves into various tactical debates, including ball-carrying techniques and the implications of the World Cup draw for Ireland, making for a dynamic analysis of the rugby landscape.

Football journalist Ben Fisher joins the conversation after covering Aston Villa's thrilling win over Arsenal. He breaks down how Villa managed to disrupt Arsenal's dominance, detailing Unai Emery's intense management style. Fisher raises eyebrows by comparing the rising star Morgan Rogers to Jude Bellingham, suggesting Rogers' potential is explosive. The discussion also touches on Villa's squad depth and their chances in the title race, leaving listeners pondering if they might be genuine contenders!

Footballer Jimmy Dunne shares insights from his journey with the Republic of Ireland, highlighting his call-up and debut. He discusses the importance of bench spirit and squad unity, contrasting his captaincy at QPR with his quieter role on the national team. Dunne reflects on the team's emotional celebrations after the Portugal win and the leadership of Seamus Coleman in turning criticism into motivation. Hasan Piker dives into the concerning erosion of democracy in the US, exploring the dark implications of violence in politics and media.

Caitriona Jennings is the proud World Record holder over the terrifying distance of 100 miles and she spoke to us in studio about how and why she was able to run this distance, what it feels like mid race, and her harrowing London Olympics marathon experience.We discuss Charlie Smyth’s extraordinary journey from the Down senior Gaelic football team to kicking a 56-yard field goal on his NFL debut yesterday, having skipped high school and college American Football altogether.There’s also Murph’s most vivid sports dreams, rugby losing its marbles, and why the Barrett brothers are in the ha’penny place when it comes to the Wall family. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just as a watched pot never boils, an obsessively tracked Irish striker in Europe does not deliver goals under the desperate hungry eyes of the nation. Is it time for us to back off Troy and Ev and give them some space to do their thing? Maybe, but not today! James Horncastle joins us to talk about Roma v Napoli. How happy is Gian Piero Gasperini likely to be with the performances of his young centre forward? Has Antonio Conte finally... mellowed? And just what is going on at Como that is drawing galactico celebs of the stature of - Fabrizio Romano - to their games? As we have grown used to complaints about football becoming robotic and predictable, it fell to Moises Caicedo and Lucas Paqueta to remind us that many footballers remain human, all too human...Toy Drive for children living in the International Protection system and Homeless Accommodation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liverpool faces a humbling 4-1 defeat as discussions ignite about leadership and lack of anger on the pitch. The contrasting philosophies of Arne Slott and Luis Enrique generate debate on style versus results. They explore the overlooked fighting spirit of Japan at the World Cup and the implications of Slott's offensive mindset. Tantalizing World Cup prospects arise, from players reconsidering their national allegiances to the identity challenges of Kieran Dewsbury-Hall. Can a shift in mentality reinvigorate teams as they prepare for international glory?

GOOOOOLAZZOOOO... OK Evan Ferguson's first goal for Roma was not quite in that category but we can say now that the Eternal City has officially entered Fergie Time. Meanwhile Troy Parrott scored another nice goal: is this an unprecedented attacking selection headache for Ireland? What's the deal with playing two strikers anyway? How many teams are doing it in the Premier League right now? The answer may surprise you, as may the copious documentation of the answer.We address recent criticism that Ken doesn't talk about Liverpool enough by talking a bit about the latest struggles of the PL crisis club and how Arne Slot's treatment of one overlooked squad member hints at the deeper problems.We talk about some choppy waters in Scotland's capital of football. Dermot Desmond's son Ross tried to pour oil on the troubled waters and now the sea is on fire.Miguel Delaney and Jonathan Wilson join us to look back at some of the weekend's football. Arsenal's destruction of Tottenham showed why Opta now give them a 75% chance of winning the PL title, with Eberechi Eze dominating the derby: how did Spurs fumble that one? And who can Liverpool get to fix their broken boiler?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

South Africa beat Ireland 24-13 but in reality it was a demolition by Rassie's men. Did the whole game hang on James Ryan's deserved red card, or could Ireland have done more to adapt to the situation against the world's best team?We chat to our man in South Africa, Craig Ray about the rash of reds and yellows, if refs get influenced by external noise, if Ireland could ever dream of having a scrum as good as South Africa's and how long Rassie's reign of terror will last.Andrew Trimble examines the Ryan red fallout, if the scrum dominates the sport too much and how far off the top table Ireland now are, with France away in Paris next up.Plus there's a Murph scapegoat masterclass, the Tom Court rebuttal, stop start rugby, and the mystery bunker man. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daniel Norcross, a seasoned cricket commentator from Test Match Special, joins the conversation to delve into the electrifying vibe surrounding the Ashes. He shares insights on England's fearless approach, dubbed 'basball,' that ignites a cultural clash with traditional Australian cricket. Discussing the impact of injuries to key Australian players, Norcross highlights a potential opening for England. The tactical strategies behind England's aggressive batting style also reshape Test dynamics, making for a compelling cricket showdown.