Second Captains @ The Irish Times

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about Alan Pardew's happiness for Claudio Ranieri, Big Sam's football face, Jurgen Klopp's lack of chemistry with Christian Benteke, and another unexpected, timely triumph for Louis van Gaal.Jack Pitt-Brooke compares Spurs' prospects over the next few weeks with those of Leicester. And John Brewin joins us to discuss the huge job confronting Pep Guardiola at Manchester City this summer. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ireland finish mid-table in this year's Six Nations, but what will the report card say? Shane Horgan and Mattie Williams see an Ireland team that hasn't progressed a whole lot, and a fixture list coming down the tracks that leaves little margin for error.Cork hurling has had a dark spring - 5 games in the League, and 5 defeats. Eoin Kelly describes it as a team in crisis. Plus there's rugby's moral high ground, lovely Leicester, and why twitter is now a glorified football website. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Fellaini's elbows, proactive Pep, the dark side of Liverpool - Man United rivalry, PSV's shame and Klopp's confidence flower.Jonathan Wilson joins us to analyse Liverpool's win at Old Trafford and tries to figure out why Louis van Gaal keeps picking Fellaini. Plus there's a Nigerian FA update, plucky outsiders Man City and why the Champions League QF's are becoming a bit like the All Ireland Football QF's. 18/3/16 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Liam Neeson's Antrim street cred, grown men with green eyebrows, the education of young Jimmy Nesbitt and Breen Bros big day out in Croker - welcome to our Second Captains Saint Podcast Day Special!Eddie O'Sullivan talks to us about the Joe Marler incident, what a farce the Six Nations disciplinary committee has been this year, and why Ireland shouldn't fear Scotland. Plus Limerick star David Breen tells us what it's like to wake up as an All-Ireland club hurling final winner, and Oisin McConville analyses the football final. 18/3/16 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Second Captains are excited to present a special edition BONUS podcast - French World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit was in Dublin today on behalf of Carlsberg and Eoin and Ken caught up with him to talk football, politics and social networking... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ireland finally cut loose against a terrible Italy team - what did we learn about the players and the gameplan, and how big a threat do a buoyant Scotland pose to Joe Schmidt's team? Shane Jennings and Gerry Thornley are in studio.As Cheltenham cranks up, we discuss former track cyclist Victoria Pendleton's rapid rise as an amateur jockey. Plus there's the reason why Ken can't dance, a pregnant Eoin McDevitt, and the pig farming fiascos that link Johann Cruyff and Saint Patrick. 14/3/16 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Max Kruse's bad night in Berlin, Fergie's title race predictions, FA Cup goooaals, and Real Madrid's impassioned defence of Rafael Nadal.Andrew Mangan joins us in studio to talk about a miserable run for Arsenal that even Wenger has been forced to describe as a "farce". And Miguel Delaney was at Old Trafford yesterday to see Dmitri Payet score one of the great free-kicks of recent years. 14/3/16 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Three games in and Ireland are still looking for their first win in the 6 Nations - we've heard from Matt Williams and Shane Horgan throughout the competition, both of them have strong opinions on what we've been doing right, and wrong, so far, and they're on together to debate the direction we're taking under Joe Schmidt. US Murph tells us what the hell is going on with Donald Trump, and we talk live for the first time to one of our beloved scumbag emailers. Plus there's Sharapova, Kenz Friendz and Murph's beef with Sean O'Brien. 10/3/16 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ken and Ciaran talk about the mother of all games, handsy Jurgen Klopp, Pochettino's dilemma and why everyone is blanking Blatter.Jonathan Wilson joins us to talk about the end of Chelsea's Champions League era.And Rory Smith analyses whether Newcastle really is the right move for Rafael Benitez. 10/3/16 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

"Everyone has a plan until they get a punch in the face", said Mike Tyson, and the Conor McGregor plan for world domination was rocked to its core by Nate Diaz on Saturday night - Jeremy Botter of Bleacher Report joins the lads.We discuss how Connacht rugby have become the Leicester City of the Pro-12, and what options Joe Schmidt has for the Italy game. Plus we talk finger-bending blood-baths, Eoin's tap-out record, Diaz's smack talk, and there's a Jimmy Nesbitt update. 7/3/16 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ken and Ciaran are beginning to come around to the idea that Leicester might actually be about to do this. Also up for discussion - LVG's numbers game and why the money don't work. Tony Barrett joins us to talk about the takeover at Everton and Liverpool's form going into the Europa League tie against Man United.And Michael Walker talks to us about Ashley's misrule at Newcastle. 7/3/16 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the mindless chaos of the Premier League title race after a midweek pile-up that left Leicester looking more nailed-on than ever. Richard Sadlier has had a chance to look at Arsenal up close and he's come to some disturbing conclusions about Arsene Wenger's side.Plus there's the rich kid at the arcade, the West Ham have nots, and the end of the PL world. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

US Murph joins us to tell us about the sports event from the last week that is 'the greatest thing that's ever happened', while Conor McGregor piles on the pounds in preparation for his first fight at welterweight.We discuss Donald Trump and his cosy relationship with the power-brokers of golf, and proposals in the UK to ban tackling in schools rugby. There's also General Haig counting his dead, stingy PBESOers, and Ken's dry eye sockets. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Still no win for Ireland in the 6 Nations championship this year - Gerry Thornley and Shane Jennings are in studio to give us their verdicts on a fourth game in a row where we had chances to win, and failed to take them. The mark is now a part of Gaelic football, and we talk to Karol Mannion about how this will affect how the game is played (if at all).And there's the omnipresent James Nesbitt, the Steph Curry zone, Carl Frampton's profile 'down South', and what Gay Byrne needs to do to boost his numbers 'up North'. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about promise-keeping Manuel Pellegrini, risk-taking Claudio Ranieri, and team-mate-under-the-bus-throwing Cristiano Ronaldo.Jonathan Wilson joins us to discuss Manchester United's injury-driven renaissance and whether Rashford is as good as his scoring record suggests. And Joshua Robinson of the Wall Street Journal fills us on on the implications of Gianni Infantino's election as FIFA President. 29/2/16 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ireland-England is the main event this weekend, and Ireland have given first caps to 2 of our brightest stars... but is Twickenham the place for Josh Van Der Flier and Stuart McCloskey to make a big splash? Ugo Monye and Gerry Thornley aid with the pre-match build-up.We discuss warm beer at The Emirates, boxing coaches that straight up don't like each other, good little un's, and Conor McGregor's Sports Illustrated cover story. Plus former world champ Bernard Dunne looks ahead to Carl Frampton's fight against Scott Quigg on Saturday night. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's the Patcast, as we give you our interview with Patrick Kluivert in London before the first leg of the Arsenal-Barcelona Champions League last-16 tie this week. Ken outlines the smoke-and-mirrors with our live audience, before Kluivert tells us about being the youngest player to score in a Champions League final for Ajax in 1995, putting an end to the team that Jack built in Anfield in November 1995 and the future for Van Gaal. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran ponder FIFA's presidential messaging toolkit, and give their views on who should take over the country. Does democracy even work?Gabriel Marcotti reports from Zurich as FIFA prepare to elect a new President. And Terry Daley gives his verdict on whether Antonio Conte is the right man to take over at Chelsea. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ireland's dreams of a third Six Nations title may lie in tatters, our players may be ailling or injured, but we have the remedy for your February blues... as Shane Horgan talks us through the try that changed his life.Malachy Clerkin and 2010 All Ireland winner Shane McGrath debate whether Tipperary and Kilkenny can even be called a rivalry anymore. And we have the future of sports entertainment, Jerry Flannery potty-talk and the importance of blind panic. 22/2/16 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran regard the FA Cup fifth round fixtures with despondency, on a weekend when most of the talking points were provided by various teams abusing referees.Jonathan Wilson joins us to fulminate against Manuel Pellegrini's chickening out of the contest against Chelsea. And Miguel Delaney tries to make some sense of the swirl of rumours surrounding Manchester United and Jose. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.