The Second Captains Podcast

Eoin, Murph and Ken discuss the art of trash talk, the US Republican debates, Conor McGregor's oppressors, and nice guy Rory Best.Rory McIlroy started his 2016 season this week playing alongside Jordan Spieth, in what is the opening salvo of a huge year for the golf, and for the two new superstars of the sport.US Murph talks about the Harlem Globetrotters, Brady V Manning, the greatest throw in history and the NFL championship games Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the FAI's ticket allocation, Ronaldo's lats and Roberto Mancini's calling out of a Serie A colleague.Sid Lowe joins us to talk about Bale's true value, Jorge Mendes, Casillas V De Gea and the impact of Madrid's transfer ban.And Tim Vickery gives his view on Teixeira for Liverpool, Pato for Chelsea and the likely arrival of former Chile boss Jorge Sampaoli in Europe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next up on the corruption merry-go-round... tennis. Match-fixing allegations have erupted on the eve of the Australian Open, hinting at another sport wilfully turning a blind eye to problems at its heart.Munster and Leinster got morale-boosting victories in Europe - Gerry Thornley and Shane Horgan talk about the need for skillful forwards, if the academy system can beat French money and why Munster's problem isn't lack of heart. Plus there's the return of the unloved, unmourned Tommy Murphy Cup, Novak Djokovic's big reveal and a rather surprising mention of Brian McClair's 1991 form-line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran wonder why Stoke fans boo Aaron Ramsey for getting his leg broken, and why Liverpool insist on buying expensive centre-forwards who don't fit into their team.Daniel Harris gives us his view on Manchester United's win at Anfield, LVG's title talk and the recent improvement of Wayne Rooney.And Dion Fanning was there to see Roberto Martinez lash the referee out of it again as Everton lost another winning position at Stamford Bridge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The second half of WADA's report into the IAAF has discovered a systemic failure throughout the organisation... but Seb Coe has managed to dodge criticism from the report's author Dick Pound. We discuss the general lack of beheadings of sports administrators.US Murph talks NFL kickers, the L.A Rams and Patriots hopes, and we speak to British boxer Tony Bellew about his role in the new Rocky movie. Plus there's a Jim Carrey boycott, Tom Brady's tomatoes, and Mrs Huxtable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eoin, Ken and Murph talk about Lineker's humour, the best goals of the week, Mick McCarthy's anti-passing possession football, and the implications of Real and Atletico Madrid's transfer bans. On his birthday Richie Sadlier joins us to look back on the midweek football, and examines Van Gaals' latest press conference tiff.Plus there's Messi's evolving torso, defying gravity, Ricky Gervais' monologue and the Sadlier effect. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anthony Foley questioned his own future as head coach in the aftermath of a dispiriting loss away to Stade Francais yesterday - Mattie Williams and Gerry Thornley try and apportion blame as their season goes from bad to worse.On the day the Ballon d'Or winner is announced, we speak to our good friend Oluwishina Okeleji about the African Player of the Year award, which was not won by Yaya Toure, to the disgust of... Yaya Toure. And there's the history of the fighting clan McGregor, David Bowie, El Chapo and Sean Penn's flatulence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eoin and Ciaran sit through Ken's interminable round-up of the weekend's FA Cup third round goals, and examine Spain's attitude to doping in sport. Dermot Corrigan joins us to talk about Zinedine Zidane's managerial debut at Real Madrid and Bale's next move.And a tuxedo'd Miguel Delaney reports from Zurich as the Ballon D'Or gala gets underway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Farrell is Ireland's new defence coach, in a move that came as a complete bolt from the blue. Shane Horgan was critical of his influence on the English coaching ticket during the World Cup, and he gives us his opinion on the possible reasons for his appointment.US Murph talks to us about Johnny Football and the NFL playoffs. Plus there's incognito superstars, Christy O'Connor Junior, the cowardly heavyweight, and Peyton Manning V Al Jazeera. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the injury epidemic at Liverpool, where Jürgen Klopp finds himself fighting a war on two fronts against an unholy alliance of Big Sam Allardyce and Big Raymond Verheijen.Gabriele Marcotti joins us to analyse how Premier League wealth has bred conservatism. And Sid Lowe gives us his view on the arrival of Zinedine Zidane as coach of Real Madrid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.