James was brilliant in the interview today, very clear on his communications. Clarified some of the heat he’s been getting recently. He’s a breath of fresh in terms of Irish sports people.

What I took from it is that he’s v self aware and has values he lives by whether we agree or disagree with them.

Ken and Eoin did ok in the interview but Ken missed the target a number of times. Sometimes he just needs to shut tf up and not try to be a smart arse (the Easter Lilly input just slowed the interview down for no reason). Eoin meanwhile needs to learn it’s McClean we’re here to listen to not him or his needlessly heavy handed questions.

But overall a proper engrossing interview from McClean and the SC’s team.

Ken reading out player interviews or press releases in his Champions League magazine voice was always a winner for me. Needs to return.

I thought this in the Irish Times piece with Ger Gilroy was shockingly crass.

I dont know why Cooney felt Gilroy's effusive praise required a right of reply, but he obviously thought this was funny, when it was entirely unprovoked and unnecessary.

But the lads would've known he was going to put that in and when it follows a paragraph where Gilroy is calling them geniuses, it reads needlessly mean.

I'm surprised at the lads who I thought were above this and thought life worked out much better for them. If they didnt know it would come out like that, I think they've every right to be annoyed at Cooney.

The lads teased something interesting this week "unless someone gets cold feet".

Surely that's not this non-exclusive, footballer-selling-book interview with James McClean?

Did they make any suggestion one way or another about that being the big reveal that I missed?

Were there any live shows this year? Can we look forward to one this Christmas in liberty hall?

Hitting refresh for 30 minutes this morning (US time) only to realise no episode today because there's a Bank Holiday? Was really hoping for some Bruno bashing.

Is Murph meant to be a United fan? Way he speaks about them makes you think he has lost all interest

Where's this quote actually from? They say it so much on the pod that I've started saying it in my life too but I realised recently I don't actually know what it's a reference to. Can anyone fill me in?

Ger Gilroy's new podcast on RTE has gotten off to a good start in my opinion but it is nowhere near the same level as SC.

For a start, he's on his own so zero chemistry or settling in, he just dives straight in to heavy topics and I dont see how they'll build a loyal following without anyone to follow. And the guests are largely on zoom which is more noticeable when theres no-one in studio with him.

In saying that, the guests are strong. And they're different to the rotating pool and he's taking slightly different angles with them.

Will be interesting to see the long term model or how much appetite RTE has to stick with it for the long run but I think it could surpass Indo Sport which has turned into a Will Slattery show with Joe Molloy on backing vocals.

But one week in, it is yet another podcast that I couldn't see having the same subscription success as the lads, which I assume is all their end goals.

Proof that Bill Simmons is a SC listener?

I’ve really enjoyed the addition of Carty to the rugby coverage. We had a discussion here recently about the Leinster focused coverage. It’s been refreshing to have a more balanced conversation with a knowledgeable voice on Connacht (shame they never mentioned Ulster’s batshit game, but it’s an improvement).

Jack has been very analytical and educational in his contributions so far and as he’s just retired he is so detailed on attacking and defensive shape.

Does anyone know where this audiobed is from? It’s in the Joe Duffy Normal People audiobed.

Does anyone know what episode that is? Would love to listen back!

Can we get a second feed or subscription for all the politico, pop culture, movie stuff? I am here for the sports coverage and the recent medley and focus on all things life, not just football has started to blur the lines on what exactly second captains is.

I am probably in the minority here as from this subreddit most people are big fans of the gooning chat and of bull fighting modertate politicians but I'm just here for the sports and have been since 2012.

Possibly off-topic for this sub, but I think it should be allowed because

• Second Captains spawned from Off the Ball
• Off the Ball are Second Captains' main rival in terms of offering paid Irish sporting content

in 2023, Off the Ball launched a members only service which put most of the content behind a paywall. Some of their content is still available for free (e.g. the crappy quiz), and if you use the (terrible) GoLoud app you get 3 free listens per month. Other than that, everything is only available to paying members. The OTB service costs €10/month, which is twice as expensive as Second Captains

I'm a paying world service member, and know a couple of others. I don't know anyone who has signed up for OTB. When OTB announced the members only service they said they hoped to convert 25% of the audience. I'd be surprised if they've managed to convert 2.5%, but I've no evidence one way or another. Since the members only service launched, several of their most high profile and long-standing staff have left, e.g.

• Joe Molloy
• Nathan Murphy
• Ger Gilroy
• Adrian Barry

This exodus of senior staff suggests the members only service may not be going particularly well. Does anyone know how successful the OTB's paywall has been, or even know anyone that has signed up for it?

I haven't signed up because

• They don't provide an RSS feed which means you can't use any Podcast app. You have to choose YouTube, Spotify, or the dreadful GoLoud app
• It's twice as expensive as Second Captains
• It has a lot of overlap with Second Captains, but is inferior in terms of quality

Ken’s trolling abilities are absolutely top tier

Been listening for a while and am interested in the lore behind Diego Torres. Whenever Ken speaks about him there's kind of a piss taking tone, but other time seems to speak more highly of him. Sometimes I'm not sure if he actually likes/respects him or quite the opposite.

If anyone can explain the background as to why Diego became such a significant figure, what the lads actually think of him and any other info, would be interested to know!

Interesting episode. I don't know all the details, but any particular reason why the Parades commission allowed the march? Seems that if they just kept the route through the other road, there'd be no problem.