This week's Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The football: VAR. But more the how than the why. If we accept the new technology is here to stay, how can it be applied more successfully? And is its introduction proof that football cares more about its TV audience than its match-going fans? (This episode is brought to you in association with a referee putting his finger to his ear for an infuriatingly long amount of time, with no explanation whatsoever.) The ...
Mar 21, 2018•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast A special bonus edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The football: some number crunching after your gracious involvement in our discussion about pressing reset on English football. If we were to construct a 20 team top flight that best represented the history, achievement, current status and, importantly, geographical spread of football in England, how might it look? Includes disagreements, facts (& fiction) and a little massaging of the data. The f...
Mar 16, 2018•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The football: Have politics and football become irreversibly intertwined? The game has rules preventing the two from mixing, but it seems there's no keeping them apart. The food: gingerbread biscuits (made by Rory), and orange cake (made by Hugh, although the others don't believe it). Get in touch via twitter @setpiecemenu and email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com STAND BY for an extra pod about the 20 team SPMPL later i...
Mar 14, 2018•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The football: Chinch on... corners. A masterclass from our former England international about the set piece that made him (kinda) famous. The food: pasta and meatballs. Not at all a masterclass from our former England international as they are microwave meals from M&S and he got his mother in law to cook them. Get in touch: @setpiecemenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com Keep your suggestions for our 20-team SPMPL coming in...
Mar 07, 2018•1 hr 8 min•Transcript available on Metacast Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The football: What happened to some of the traditional 'big clubs'? Why are previously successful and illustrious names in football languishing outside the elite? The food: is actually a drink. To reduce washing up, Hugh blends our meal - a Granola, Yogurt, Banana, Berry and Pomegranate Smoothie that was surprisingly satisfying. Thanks for your input on this week's podcast. Please continue to get in touch via twitter @setpi...
Feb 28, 2018•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The football: What's the best goal? Simple question, no simple answers (because there's a podcast to fill...)Do you like a team goal, a long range belter, an overhead kick or dainty chip? The food: paninis, including a tuna one, which offends most of the group. Plus a soccer story that reveals why Chinch didn't join Spurs, and more of your unsung heroes. Thanks for all your tweets and emails! Get in touch with what ...
Feb 21, 2018•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The football - Which is better for a domestic league: one dominant club, or a cartel of up to six? Do you prefer knowing who's going to win the title or who's going to make up the European places? The food: lent-defying chocolates, courtesy of Hugh's uncle's trip to the House of Lords. Plus, if Set Piece Menu was a football club, which club would we be? Get in touch with your suggestions via twitter @setpiecemenu...
Feb 14, 2018•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast This is the latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The football: the Honesty Episode - how much cheating should be allowed, and who's fault is it there's any in the first place? The food: American-style pancakes, provided (eventually) by Rory, after he realises quantity is much more important than quality. Get in touch with the team on twitter @setpiecemenu or email setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Feb 07, 2018•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast The latest episode of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The football: Unsung Heroes. Whose efforts do the team suggest should be trumpeted, while they go under the radar elsewhere? The food: poached everything, a delightful healthy lunch presented by Steven Wyeth. Follow us on twitter @setpiecemenu to see how you changed our 'Don't You Forget About Me XI' - thanks for all your suggestions! Get in touch on email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com And if you haven't yet...
Jan 31, 2018•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk about football over food. The football: The Set Piece Menu 'Don't You Forget About Me' XI (aka the bickering episode). We pick a team from those players forgotten, ignored or cast out from the Premier League's top six, and wonder if they might be good enough to get into the top six. The food: commemorative Donald Trump-endorsed* chocolates, bought with great thought, and little cost, from duty free at Kansas City airport. Get in tou...
Jan 24, 2018•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast This is the latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The football: Does 'parking the bus' ever work, and is the tactic actually as nihilistic as many think? The food: roast chicken salad, revealed (to major acclaim) during the pod, eaten just after. Plus - what point does Steve make that Rory calls the best in the history of Set Piece Menu? Thanks for all your correspondence, we'd love to hear from you on twitter: @setpiecemenu Or email: setpiecemenu@gmail....
Jan 17, 2018•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends discuss football over food. The football: This week, overwhelmed by your response to the issues raised in our series on The Media, we thought it only right to properly address as many contributions as possible in The Media: a follow-up edition. The food: basically anything we had left over from the festivities. Pate, crackers, chutney, Christmas cake, the fudge Rory got instead of the books he asked for... Thanks for all the feedback, this ...
Jan 10, 2018•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast Happy New Year from Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. This week part three of our seasonal series on The Media. The football: the changing football media landscape. What impact has social and club media made and is the truth now harder to come by? The food: a sensational cheesecake made in Chinch's home, but thankfully not homemade by Chinch... Please keep the feedback coming via @setpiecemenu on twitter and our email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com and don't forge...
Jan 03, 2018•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merry Christmas from Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. We continue the seasonal cheer with part two of our series on the media. The football: how the media uses football, and how football uses the media. The food: 'dirty' breakfast barms, which form part two of the Mrs N. Hinchcliffe triptych. Thanks to all those who have got in touch about part one of our media special. We'd love you all to join the conversation: @setpiecemenu on twitter setpiecemenu@gmail...
Dec 27, 2017•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's a Seasonal Spectacular from Set Piece Menu, the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The football: The Media, Part One - is the media biased? The food: the beginning of a breakfast triptych, served by Nicky. First course - granola, in cocktail glasses. Parts two and three of our media series will be with you over Christmas and the New Year! Thanks for all your tweets and emails - keep them coming at setpiecemenu@gmail.com or @setpiecemenu Happy Christmas everyone!
Dec 20, 2017•1 hr 5 min•Transcript available on Metacast The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The football: Are older British coaches stopping younger British coaches progressing in the game? It's a complaint you hear from the more 'experienced' homegrown managers: "Why don't more British coaches get Premier League jobs?" The team discusses whether the thing often standing in a young coach's way... is them. The food: gourmet sandwiches, provided by a local bakery, and conforming to all of the various sala...
Dec 13, 2017•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week we celebrate the first birthday of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. It's a (not particularly) special anniversary(ish) edition! The football: Is there always a bigger club? The team discusses the football hierarchy, how it changes, and whether it can be challenged. The food: birthday cake! Get in touch via twitter: @setpiecemenu and email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Thanks for all your support over the last year, keep telling everyone!
Dec 06, 2017•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The football: Why do so many fans seem so miserable? The team wonders if it's sometimes easier to complain, and if wanting to be right can mean a supporter prefers his club to fail. The food: chorizo and pepper omelette from Steve, and glamorous liqueur chocolates from South Africa (well, Joburg airport duty free) from the returning Hugh. We also reflect on what gives you joy in football, so keep the corresponden...
Nov 29, 2017•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast The latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The football: What about football gives you joy? Yes, for one week only, no negativity (ok, there's some negativity) as we try to concentrate on those little aspects of the game that fill us with happiness. The food: Steve finds his local supermarket well stocked with pastries for breakfast, but strangely short of healthy accompaniments. Please continue to rate, review and tell your friends. We're @set...
Nov 22, 2017•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast The latest edition of the podcast where four friends talk football over food - Set Piece Menu. The football: Youth - Part Three. The conclusion of our discussion on the development of young players. What's next for a footballer after breaking into the first team, and how is early promise sustained to ensure a long and decorated career? The food: we're forced to raid Hugh's kitchen for snacks whilst he continues to gently simmer a chicken one-pot lunch. As always, reviews, ratings and spreading o...
Nov 15, 2017•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast The latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The football: Youth - Part Two. How does a young footballer make the step from academy to first-team, and what responsibility does a club have to ensure that potential is fulfilled? The food: Hugh continues to over-promise but under-deliver on a chicken one-pot lunch. Stomachs are rumbling. Please continue to rate, review and spread the Set Piece Menu gospel. You can get in touch via @setpiecemenu or s...
Nov 08, 2017•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The team is reunited for a deep dive multi-parter into one of the game's biggest issues! The football: Youth - Part One. How does a young player (and their parents) navigate those first few, often crucial, steps on the road to becoming a professional; and do academies both help and hinder their development? The food: A chicken one-pot, which is developed and lovingly watched over almost as much as a young footballin...
Nov 01, 2017•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Another chance to catch up on Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The football: part two of our paternity-induced clips show takes you through some of the best bits of our Chinch-based technical pods, and revisits the Script. The food: a sumptuous BLT, or for Steve, a slightly less sumptuous BL, as T is one of the things he doesn't really eat. Thanks for all your correspondence, and do keep it coming! @setpiecemenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com The full team are bac...
Oct 25, 2017•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food, although owing to a couple of happy occasions in the Smith and Hinchcliffe households, and the subsequent granting of paternity and grand-paternity leave, we are down to two. Therefore, the football: a tour through some of the earlier Set Piece Menu best bits to save some of our newer listeners a little time, while we happily take the metrics hit. The food: overnight oats, as Hugh tries to wean Steve off cereal, wit...
Oct 18, 2017•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The football: does actual intelligence help a player, or is football intelligence enough? The food: a platter of delightful Mediterranean mezze, provided by Rory, who admits to making a culinary effort for the first time in a while... Get in touch via twitter @setpiecemenu Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com We'd love you to review us on iTunes and download the episodes you haven't listened to yet, even if the updated ...
Oct 11, 2017•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast This is the latest episode of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The football: Is it getting easier to play away from home? Warning: includes true facts. The food: a Hinchcliffe special breakfast, not in any way contributed to by the only person on the podcast named Hinchcliffe. Get in touch via twitter: @setpiecemenu Or email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Don't forget to catch up with all our other episodes, including the bonus show in which we reveal the listene...
Oct 04, 2017•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast A special bonus edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The football: we've crunched the numbers on your suggestions and reveal the Best of the Rest XI. Is the team, made up of players from the clubs outside the top 7 biggest spenders, capable of challenging at the top of the Premier League? Chinch produces his tactics board as a visual aid; Hugh, Steven and Rory are deeply unimpressed.... Twitter: @setpiecemenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com Do keep the revie...
Oct 02, 2017•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The football: The polarising of the Premier League (and others, but they don't alliterate). Is the gap between the 'haves' and 'have nots' getting wider, and might it be because of a dearth of top class strikers? The food: a bag of caramels, both chocolatey and chewy, that, although tempting, we promise to leave until after we're finished... Twitter: @setpiecemenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com Thanks for all your iTunes...
Sep 27, 2017•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast The latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where a presenter, pundit, commentator and writer talk football over food. The football: Segregation - does it work, or does separating fans cause more problems than it solves? The food & drink: Danish & Colombian. Please rate us on iTunes and follow us on twitter @setpiecemenu
Sep 20, 2017•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast The latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. The football: What’s the most important position? Spoiler alert - it’s not left back, much to Andy’s disappointment. The food: superfood muffins. An oxymoron if ever we heard one. Please rate us on iTunes and follow us on twitter @setpiecemenu!
Sep 13, 2017•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
