Michael Oliver tried to plunge another dagger into the heart of Arsenal but his wicked plan backfired as the substitute he caused to be introduced, Riccardo Calafiori, scored the winning goal against Wolves. At least that's one popular narrative of what happened at Molineux on Saturday. We discuss whether Oliver might be the real victim of injustice here. Ruben Amorim has turned 40 and his comments on Marcus Rashford are getting more unpleasant. Is there a strategy here or is Amorim simply getti...
Jan 27, 2025•1 hr 10 min
Welcome to our weekly world service best of show which this week includes Ken's Man City eulogy, hatin' on Dublin superclubs and US Murph on "the drop" and the rookie QB lighting up the playoffs. Join the party for just a fiver a month—no contracts, no sign-up fee, no minimum stay, no hidden charges, and no ads. Head to secondcaptains.com/join for more details. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 23, 2025•42 min
Jack Crowley gave two brilliant try assists, kicked a touchline conversion, made big tackles, launched counter attacks, caught high kicks, geed up the crowd, and at the very end of Munster's game in Northampton, made a line break that could have secured home advantage for the Champions Cup Round of 16. It wasn't quite enough for Munster, but will it be enough to get him the Ireland 10 jersey? If Leinster wanted to stress test their blitz defence then they had just the man in Finn Russell, who pu...
Jan 20, 2025•59 min
Sometimes as a manager you have to take the opportunity to do a quick victory lap. On Saturday evening at the G-Tech, Arne Slot felt the time was right. Darwin Nunez in his occasional thrilling moments of success can have that intoxicating effect on people. We also talk about a weekend of heartbreak for Arsenal, hear about Jose Mourinho's latest commercial venture and catch up on FIFA president "Johnny" who has joined the thousands of pilgrims making their way to Washington today to kiss the fee...
Jan 20, 2025•1 hr 27 min
On today's World Service pod two of the finest footballing minds in our stable, Rory Smith and Jonathan Wilson, tried to answer an existential question: just who or what is Declan Rice as a footballer? And who should he be aiming to be? Earlier in the week, serial All Ireland club title winner Oisín McConville joined us to chat about how brilliant Peter Canavan's sons Ruairí and Darragh have been for Errigal Ciarán ahead of their club decider against Cuala this weekend. And a determined Brian Mu...
Jan 16, 2025•37 min
Not even the La Rogelle fans waving half Munster / half La Rochelle flags could stop Leinster on Sunday afternoon, as a world class defensive effort led by Caelan Doris and Josh van der Flier soaked up the pressure to secure a third win in a row over their old rivals. That's the battle won, but ROG wasn't long reminding us all that the war happens in May. It was an enthralling European Cup encounter in keeping with the previous evening's fare in Thomond Park; do we have our Champions Cup back? W...
Jan 13, 2025•50 min
"I think the Arsenal team felt that maybe today is not their day." Ruben Amorim's newly resilient Manchester United had their best day so far, knocking Arsenal out of the Cup with ten men. The next question: can they do it in front of their own fans? Miguel Delaney joins us to discuss the situation at Arsenal with appropriate understanding and compassion. As it enters the sixth year, is this Arteta project still on track? Are Arsenal going to do anything in what remains of this transfer window? ...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr 5 min
Welcome to our weekly taster of the world service which this week included TGL golf, the Buffalo Bills, Robbie's move to Hungary, Arsenal's self image, Musk's monarchy, Spurs' win over Liverpool and Var. Join the party for just a fiver a month—no contracts, no sign-up fee, no minimum stay, no hidden charges, and no ads. Head to secondcaptains.com/join for more details. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 09, 2025•28 min
On Friday night at the Ally Pally 17 year old Luke Littler became the youngest world champion in darts history, and he made it look easy. Given his youth, popularity and alcohol-free path to greatness, has he changed the sport forever? We chat to long time darts fan and darts journalist for The Guardian, Jonathan Liew, about the sport's moment in the sun, darts parents, Littler's talent, the historical link between pubs and darts, the "no excuses" sport, and what's with all the double 10's? We d...
Jan 06, 2025•43 min
Three weeks ago we hailed the Amad-inspired win at Manchester City as the moment when Ruben Amorim truly became the manager of Manchester United. United promptly lost the next four games in a row. Today we hail another new dawn. Amorim really is getting his feet under the table now... We also talk about the meteoric rise of a Premier League chairman of days gone by, sifting through current social media posts, AI slop and legacy media lies in search of a clear picture of the elusive Rupert Lowe. ...
Jan 06, 2025•1 hr 29 min
Welcome to a taster of the world service which this week included Arsenal fan feedback, Rhys McClenaghan's risk reward ratio, Leinster being fully Bokked, and the legendary Timmy McCarthy on his philosophy on life and basketball. Join the party for just a fiver a month—no contracts, no sign-up fee, no minimum stay, no hidden charges, and no ads. Head to secondcaptains.com/join for more details. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 03, 2025•32 min
Neil Atkinson and John Brewin join us to talk about the weekend's football. How has Mohamed Salah unlocked his current level? What specifically do Liverpool fans find most annoying about the prospect of Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving for Real Madrid? And as Sean Dyche becomes a cultural touchstone - is he still a footballing one? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 30, 2024•54 min
Back in September, the Second Captains crew flew to London for a live show at the EartH Theatre Hackney. But, as a very special added bonus, we also got to sit down with Pogues legend Spider Stacy at his very own kitchen table which, unsurprisingly, was one of our favourite episodes of the year. With that in mind, today we're making it free for everyone to listen to. Merry Christmas! -- With the North London derby just a couple of days away, we decided to take the temperature on the ground with ...
Dec 26, 2024•44 min
Before our final pre-Christmas football show, Ken bought himself an early Christmas present which reveals the unsuspected parallels between Pep Guardiola and another dark brooding superhero. We discuss the continuing leakiness at Manchester United and whether Trent Alexander-Arnold should make a multimillion pound donation to the billionaire John Henry in order to make Liverpool feel better about not renewing his contract a couple of years ago. Rich Jolly joins us after covering the two biggest ...
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr 11 min
This week on the Second Captains World Service we had Stephen Kenny in studio for his first major broadcast interview about his time with Ireland, we had an emotional chat with US Murph about his 2024 highlights, we spoke to Gav Cooney about Spurs' madness and Rovers in Europe, we discussed Mudryk's positive test and we hosted a quiz that was both a massive success and a massive failure. Join the party for just a fiver a month—no contracts, no sign-up fee, no minimum stay, no hidden charges, and...
Dec 20, 2024•25 min
New coach, new environment, new tactics, new hemisphere, but no problems for Jordie Barrett who has started like a train for Leinster. We chat to Gerry Thornley and Chris Jones of the BBC about Leinster's drive for five, the lineout virus infecting the country, Munster's blunderfest in Castres, the rich getting richer in Europe and the lack of fan/player/media/South African engagement with the Champions Cup. Plus there's Carbery turning heel and a reluctant MOTM winner. Hosted on Acast. See acas...
Dec 16, 2024•47 min
Empires: large, unwieldy structures. We’ve seen them crumble, topple and collapse. But have we ever seen one just… evaporate? The latest phase of Manchester City’s shocking dematerialisation was another night of glory for Ruben Amorim, whose brave decisions paid off as Amad seized the day. We also talk about the departures, for now, of Russell Martin and Gary O’Neil from the Premier League stage. Then we’re joined by Mark Critchley and Jamie Hamilton for the What’s The Matter With City section. ...
Dec 16, 2024•1 hr 29 min
This week on the Second Captains World Service, Ken brings us up to speed on FIFAs decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia and the frankly bizarre ceremony that went with it. Meanwhile, Murph caught up with US Murph to chat about Juan Soto's new contract with the New York Mets - the largest in professional sports history. Plus, we look back on our chat with GAA heavyweights Rian O'Neill, Oisín McConville and Brian Fenton from Liberty Hall. Join the party for just a fiver a month—no ...
Dec 12, 2024•43 min
Leinster were in a knife fight in Bristol, then took out their rocket launchers, RG and Jordie. Is it fair that a team already this good gets to sign two of the best players in the world? We talk to Ruaidhri O'Connor of the Irish Independent about the launch of Leinster's Galacticos era, JVDF's beatific smile, the eternal Peter O'Mahony, Stade's insanity, and the status of the Champions Cup in 2024. Plus there's Brian Fenton on retirement and culture vulture Ciarán "Murph" Murphy. Hosted on Acas...
Dec 09, 2024•52 min
Manchester United's exciting defeat to Nottingham Forest was followed the next morning by the news that star sporting director Dan Ashworth had walked the plank after five months in the job. We reminisce about a spectacular weekend for Sir Big Jim, who got the ball rolling with a "let them eat cake" interview with United We Stand. Who's the Dumb Money now? Barney Ronay and Miguel Delaney join us to talk about the weekend's football. Can Chelsea win the title? Has Ange run out of road at Spurs? N...
Dec 09, 2024•1 hr 14 min
It’s been a tough week on the Second Captains World Service if you're an Ireland football fan with the women losing out to Wales and Kelleher letting one sail over his head to allow Newcastle score a late equaliser. We ever so slightly deflate the Kelleher hype balloon, attempt to define what constitutes a Premier league legend and chat to Ireland player Chloe Mustaki about the link between physical and mental health. To listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second ...
Dec 05, 2024•39 min
The 48 enhancements that added up to the biggest change in the 140-year history of Gaelic football sailed through a Special Congress on Saturday, and will profoundly alter the game at club and county level for 2025 and beyond. FRC member Eamonn Fitzmaurice and Paul Flynn tell us why this had to happen, why there's still room left for tweaks, and what it tells us for the GAA's approach to tackling the biggest issues from here on out. We salute Coolera/Strandhill's achievement in winning the Conna...
Dec 02, 2024•42 min
We've seen teams and managers in crisis before, but not this team and not this manager. So nobody can tear their eyes away from the spectacle of Pep Guardiola having apparently no idea how to stop Manchester City's spiral, beyond spouting ancient wisdom-phrases even he does not appear to be actually paying any attention to. Meanwhile some of Guardiola's former charges were helping Chelsea make mincemeat of Aston Villa, while for Ruben Amorim's Manchester United, the tiny frenetic figure of Amad ...
Dec 02, 2024•1 hr 21 min
After the "Where Is George Gibney?" podcast was released three years ago, people couldn't help asking Mark Horgan what was next. What's next is "Stakeknife", his new BBC Sounds podcast series with Ciarán Cassidy, the first two episodes of which were released last week - and Mark is in studio with us today. In his role for the IRA, Freddie Scappaticci was a notorious enforcer for an internal security unit called the 'nutting squad', where torture and the summary executions of informers were commo...
Nov 27, 2024•1 hr 2 min
Last Friday, after eight days of evidence and three days listening to closing speeches, a jury of eight women and four men found Nikita Hand had been assaulted by Conor McGregor in a hotel room back in December 2018, awarding her almost €250,000 in damages. We talk to Sinead O'Carroll of the42.ie , who we spoke to after the Paddy Jackson Belfast Rape Trial , about the verdict, the evidence given during the case, and the relevance of the size of the damages awarded to Nikita Hand. We also discuss...
Nov 25, 2024•38 min
City are sinking, Spurs are surging, Salah is scoring and unsigned, Man Utd have their saviour and Liverpool are now 8 points clear at the top, but first we have McDevitt's "Five Takeaways From My Premier League Weekend". The biggest game boiled down to a debate over whether Kyle Walker is finished? We look at the evidence for and against. We also discuss Southampton's samurai-like dedication to their self-destructive principles, and why Ruben Amorim has a better chance of taking Manchester Unit...
Nov 25, 2024•1 hr 22 min
Brian Fenton broke the (GAA) internet this week by announcing his retirement. We spoke to Fenton’s former Dublin teammate Paul Flynn, who thinks the Leinster Football Championship is now up for grabs. Gavan Casey and Andy Lee joined us to discuss Hawk Tuah, Rosie Perez and Taylor V Serrano. Miguel Delaney chatted with Ken about his new book States of Play, and we give a sneak peek of our Shane O’Donnell interview live from The Olympia Theatre. Join the party for just a fiver a month—no contracts...
Nov 21, 2024•58 min
Ireland were ahead 22-9 at half time, at home, with three tries banked and the fans fully behind them - but instead of a comfortable win, they survived a last minute Argentinian onslaught to scrape home by 3 points. It was a win, against a good team, but the coaches didn't look too happy afterwards. We chat to Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley about the 13 penalties conceded, Ireland's issues with phase play and kick chase, the good form of both 10s, and the big decisions Farrell will have to make...
Nov 18, 2024•55 min
Richie Sadlier joins us to talk about Ireland's... memorable trip to Wembley. We talk about the first half and how we all felt at half-time. We talk about the unpleasant turn things took in the second half and how by the end we felt nothing at all. It's humiliating to talk about positives but maybe we can compare degrees of negativity. For example, it's officially Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Nov 18, 2024•47 min
Are You Sick Of Winning Yet? Sure, Finland could have scored several goals and were desperately unfortunate to lose by a goal to nil - but as the Scoreboard Captains podcast has always insisted, winning isn't everything, it's the only thing. We talk about how high the standard of expectation needs to be set for Evan Ferguson and gush about how Ireland are enchanting a new generation of young fans. Damien Delaney joins us to analyse the game: what was the system anyway? why did we look defensivel...
Nov 15, 2024•1 hr 5 min
