Second Captains

splendid101

Cartman78 wrote: »

It's on a par with Football Weekly imho

On a par? It's far better, in my opinion. Football Weekly is grand but they scoot over things a bit too much. Second Captains introduce it and discuss it themselves, and then get a journalist who was probably at the match on and discuss it more in depth. They have features, such as on the recent stories about the fires at a football ground 30 years ago (forget the grounds). Football Weekly would never do something like that. They just brush over the surface and talk about the matches, who kicked the ball etc. Second Captains are far more in depth and a lot more cerebral.

I do enjoy Football Weekly (I listen to every episode), but it's much lighter weight.

I've heard Second Captains being mentioned by Barry Glendenning before. I think he must listen to it.

bur

splendid101 wrote: »

I've heard Second Captains being mentioned by Barry Glendenning before. I think he must listen to it.

Ken Early has been on FW before or did i dream that?

splendid101

bur wrote: »

Ken Early has been on FW before or did i dream that?

Yeah, February 2009, before my time as a listener.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/audio/2009/feb/16/football-weekly-podcast

That's quite surprising to me. How did that come about I wonder? I don't think presenting would be Ken's forte.

Cartman78

splendid101 wrote: »

On a par? It's far better, in my opinion. Football Weekly is grand but they scoot over things a bit too much. Second Captains introduce it and discuss it themselves, and then get a journalist who was probably at the match on and discuss it more in depth. They have features, such as on the recent stories about the fires at a football ground 30 years ago (forget the grounds). Football Weekly would never do something like that. They just brush over the surface and talk about the matches, who kicked the ball etc. Second Captains are far more in depth and a lot more cerebral.

I do enjoy Football Weekly (I listen to every episode), but it's much lighter weight.

I've heard Second Captains being mentioned by Barry Glendenning before. I think he must listen to it.

I'm a big fan of both too to be honest.....you're right about FWeekly being bright and breezy....for me they complement each other quite well on a weekly basis.

Ken hosted the show before I think a couple of times....seems to be a social media chum of Barry alright.

Anyone know if the Football show will be taking a summer break....Ken will struggle big time with only a couple of Ireland games to work off

bren2001

Cartman78 wrote: »

I'm a big fan of both too to be honest.....you're right about FWeekly being bright and breezy....for me they complement each other quite well on a weekly basis.

Ken hosted the show before I think a couple of times....seems to be a social media chum of Barry alright.

Anyone know if the Football show will be taking a summer break....Ken will struggle big time with only a couple of Ireland games to work off

No, they keep both shows running all summer. They usually break it up a bit with a few interviews though. The report on sport is much smaller.

Loafing Oaf

bren2001 wrote: »

No, they keep both shows running all summer. They usually break it up a bit with a few interviews though. The report on sport is much smaller.

Maybe they only kept the football show going through summer last year because of the World Cup? Hard to see how they're going to fill it for the next two months...

splendid101

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

Ken, please change it up.
We get it, you don't like LFC.... move on & talk about something else.

I presume you're a Liverpool supporter?

He doesn't talk about Liverpool any more than any other big team.

foxtrot101

Ken's going to be on Prime Time tonight.

RTÉ Prime Time ‏@RTE_PrimeTime 35m35 minutes ago Tonight - what next for @SeppBlatter and FIFA? @kenearlys & @Davidsgoldblatt join @MiriamOCal to discuss the corruption saga. #rtept

Loafing Oaf

foxtrot101 wrote: »

Ken's going to be on Prime Time tonight.

Wonder will there be a "Ferguson threw a hairdryer at Beckham" moment from MOC:P?

Cartman78

Some absolute gold in the recent football podcast:

Ken admitting his guilt after watching an illegal online stream:
"I stole Trevillion's corn, so that I could watch the second half of Liverpool-Stoke" and then saying afterward that it was like his computer's brain was suffering from CJD

I also actually lol'd in the work carpark at Eoin's comment about Brendan Rodger's perilious situation:
"So has it gone from a rap on the knuckles to a bullet in the heart?"

Diabhal Beag

Don't expect the boys to stay too quiet over DOB's recent attention.

buyer95

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Don't expect the boys to stay too quiet over DOB's recent attention.

No chance Ken will be able to resist an inferred, semi closeted dig at DOB!

glued

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

The main podcast was great.
Very much liked the interview with the boxer.

Ken, please change it up.
We get it, you don't like LFC.... move on & talk about something else.

What a bizarre post considering that he's a Liverpool fan. He's just being honest. SucK it up and move on.

Aidric

The recent interview with Chris Bascombe from the Daily Telegraph on the latest goings on in Liverpool reminded me why this is the best football podcast around.

He was erudite and humorous without ever resorting to the cliched platitudes that football fans have become tired of.

The greatest skill a great interviewer has is to be a good listener. McDevitt does this with aplomb and knows the value of a good contributor. He only interjects when necessary and when he does, with the assistance of Ken, it only serves to further the interview.

Say Your Number

The lads won't be doing the GAA show they did every Sunday evening during the Championship last year, Marty Morrissey has replaced them.

www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/the-marty-squad-marty-morrissey-to-front-new-gaa-championship-show-31275498.html7

Edit: They've tweeted about it

https://twitter.com/SecondCaptains/status/606166913094438913

Also they have a special Pod out today about Blatter resigning, I thought they'd leave it till tomorrow, seeing as there is feck all football to talk about at the minute.

buyer95

Explosive podcast today on Blatter's resignation with Ken and James Montague really going at it, comedic value is heightened by the fact that the argument is taking place between two guys shouting into phones, this being beamed back to McDevitt and co. in the studio. They really went at it hammer and thongs, Ken was having none of Montague trying to say Blatter was powerless to do anything about all the corruption going on in FIFA. Fantastic radio! Or fantastic podcasting, (is podcasting a term?) Montague really works himself up into a tizzy, getting very excited altogether, but does make some brilliant points, and gives as good as he gets in the verbal clash with Ken. Great stuff!

dulpit

I really enjoyed the special episode this week, but that dude James came across as almost a shill for Fifa if you ask me. Good man Ken for sticking to your guns.

BoJack Horseman

dulpit wrote: »

I really enjoyed the special episode this week, but that dude James came across as almost a shill for Fifa if you ask me. Good man Ken for sticking to your guns.

That guy did seem a bit of an apologist alright. I'm not sure if it was intentional mind, living in Qatar & within its dictatorship bubble he probably sees no issue.

Ken is right though, Its a curious kind of democracy that sees Montserrat, with its population the size of Blessington receive the same funding & wield the same power as Germany or Brazil.

dulpit

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

That guy did seem a bit of an apologist alright. I'm not sure if it was intentional mind, living in Qatar & within its dictatorship bubble he probably sees no issue.

Ken is right though, Its a curious kind of democracy that sees Montserrat, with its population the size of Blessington receive the same funding & wield the same power as Germany or Brazil.

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the EU - the way that the MEPs are weighted by country, with smaller countries getting a proportionally higher number of MEPs than they should get, but with the larger countries getting (obviously) more seats.

foxtrot101

dulpit wrote: »

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the EU - the way that the MEPs are weighted by country, with smaller countries getting a proportionally higher number of MEPs than they should get, but with the larger countries getting (obviously) more seats.

Perhaps not the best example though, considering how Germany have dominated how the EU responded to the economic crises.

Arghus

dulpit wrote: »

I really enjoyed the special episode this week, but that dude James came across as almost a shill for Fifa if you ask me. Good man Ken for sticking to your guns.

They've had James Montague on a few times. He always takes a vaguely pro-Blatter point of view. He says things like "I'm not condoning Blatter..." and then proceeds to defend Herr Sepp from whatever accusation gets thrown at him.

I think a lot of the criticism Blatter faces is justified and he should have gone a long, long time ago, but I do think some of it's a simplification of bigger problems and slagging him can often be a case of easy and cynical opportunism by those in the public eye. David Goldblatt or Andrew Jennings are the only two really worth listening to on this issue. They talk sense and know the facts.

In this case, I think Montague was a joke. His definition of democracy was laughable and Ken should have gone to town on him more than he actually did. I would have welcomed full-on Ken. He might be well used to it though, I'd imagine he's busy enough this week in media work- being the only English journalist who will put in a good word for Sepp.

dr.kenneth noisewater

I think a week like this shows why the lads need to be back on prime time radio, every podcast they have done on FIFA has been followed by a bigger announcement or scandal and they're scrambling to catch up the following day!
Tuesday podcast all about Blatter staying and whats next and then that evening Blatter resigns.
Thursday podcast comes out and then the John Delaney/FAI FIFA payment story comes out and they miss out again!

Utopia Parkway

Is anyone still stuck with the problem of iTunes downloading old episodes of the podcast every time you refresh?

wnolan1992

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Is anyone still stuck with the problem of iTunes downloading old episodes of the podcast every time you refresh?

Yes. And it's doing my head in.

I almost have every episode now and they're taking up a hell of an amount of space. But once I mark as played and delete, it'll download them again. Incredibly annoying.

Utopia Parkway

wnolan1992 wrote: »

Yes. And it's doing my head in.

I almost have every episode now and they're taking up a hell of an amount of space. But once I mark as played and delete, it'll download them again. Incredibly annoying.

Surprised they haven't fixed it by now to be honest. Been doing it for weeks now.

Spanish Johnny

Just listened to the Montague/Ken debate....take a much different view than those on here. Thought Montague made the much better argument. Phillipe Auclair, Vickery and Montague seem to know FIFA way better as a whole than the Majority of the press. Their arguments are much more than the Euro-centric anti Blatter stuff ya get. And none of them are apologists for Blatter...they are explaining the world view and looking at the much bigger picture of FIFA, the confederations and the epidemic corruption in it all.

Also...not everyone in the world plays football. To make a population argument like Ken did about the USA and its political system with an organisation that represents football is silly.

Loafing Oaf

From Ken's IT article, hammering home the point in case anyone had missed it in the podcast:

There was Delaney last week, sternly holding Blatter to account, slamming him in terms that would perhaps raise the eyebrows of any follower of Irish football. Dictator, surrounded himself with yes men, felt entitled to the job, gigantic ego, shameless, believed he was invincible, etc.

dr.kenneth noisewater

Anyone else find Mondays podcast skipping from around the end of the GAA talk?

Loafing Oaf

Ken on Dave Fanning talking about the game right now. Boys definitely building decent post-NT careers for themselves...

Say Your Number

Murph's Junior 'A' game story was hilarious, loved when he was describing trying to stop the other lad from scoring :pac:

Arghus

As irritating as he sometimes can be, Ken was a big loss during the last football show. It was dull without him, could have done with a bit of ranting and raving about the copa america.

dr.kenneth noisewater

Interview with the lad on Mt. Everest on Monday was great stuff. Really interesting story, hopefully more of these come during a quiet summer of sport

Ol' Donie

dr.kenneth noisewater wrote: »

Interview with the lad on Mt. Everest on Monday was great stuff. Really interesting story, hopefully more of these come during a quiet summer of sport

Had that exact thought as I was listening to it.

Beersmith

Loved the part this week where the were talking about holiday recommendations and ken said to murph 'i that was me that recommended that'

Mr.Prodston

Ken Early being alone in and commenting on his experiences in Las Vegas is one of the greatest things in the world

Langdon Alger

Judging by these pictures Ken seems to be having a great time

https://twitter.com/SecondCaptains/status/619157361899474944

seiphil

Why did they send Ken to Vegas to cover McGregor. I thought it was obvious he didn't like him or the sport.

BoJack Horseman

seiphil wrote: »

I thought it was obvious he didn't like him or the sport.

That's the reason.

The IT probably wanted someone on the beat for the fight & Ken is the 'fish out of water' that can make it work.

Pinturicchio

seiphil wrote: »

Why did they send Ken to Vegas to cover McGregor. I thought it was obvious he didn't like him or the sport.

He's there as a reporter, not a fan.

seiphil

Pinturicchio wrote: »

He's there as a reporter, not a fan.

A football reporter.

Deedsie

seiphil wrote: »

A football reporter.

A sports journalist for the Irish times who also happens to be a member of the second captains team?

keane2097

seiphil wrote: »

A football reporter.

Surely - SURELY - there's plenty of fawning, uncritical coverage of Conor McGregor available if that's what you're in the market for.

connundrum

I found Ken's reporting of the event to be pretty good, and honest.

I had it in my mind that he'd go over a bit cynical of the entire situation, which I think he was at the outset, and then he appeared to change his mind a bit having seen the main card and appreciated the fighters for their skill and athleticism.

As previously mentioned, there are mountains of fanboy blogs, podcasts and other media pieces to read if you want it.

Ken gives the aura of the disapproving school master, surveying the behaviour of 'typical Irish travelling fans'. As I would class myself as a stereotypical travelling fan at most sports events, I can't disagree with the points he makes

Arghus

seiphil wrote: »

Why did they send Ken to Vegas to cover McGregor. I thought it was obvious he didn't like him or the sport.

I think they couldn't turn down the opportunity to unleash Ken's jaundiced worldview on Vegas.

I thought Ken did a brilliant job of painting a picture of the weekend, mainly from a journalistic perspective, not as a McGregor acolyte. This was a blissful alternative to the many other outlets in the Irish media who had no interest in having anything worthwhile to say about the whole situation, aside from pandering shamelessly to the thousands of clicks that McGregor's name now generates for Irish "sports" websites.

I think Ken ended up loving McGregor by the end of the weekend. He wouldn't be the type to be screaming it out loud that he thought Conor was the greatest man in the history of men, but I was left in no doubt that he viewed him as a genuine star. He also made special mention of McGregor's courage in the fight, how that was the aspect of his character that people responded too the most. I felt his admiration was pretty clear.

Deedsie

Arghus wrote: »

I think they couldn't turn down the opportunity to unleash Ken's jaundiced worldview on Vegas.

I thought Ken did a brilliant job of painting a picture of the weekend, mainly from a journalistic perspective, not as a McGregor acolyte. This was a blissful alternative to the many other outlets in the Irish media who had no interest in having anything worthwhile to say about the whole situation, aside from pandering shamelessly to the thousands of clicks that McGregor's name now generates for Irish "sports" websites.

I think Ken ended up loving McGregor by the end of the weekend. He wouldn't be the type to be screaming it out loud that he thought Conor was the greatest man in the history of men, but I was left in no doubt that he viewed him as a genuine star. He also made special mention of McGregor's courage in the fight, how that was the aspect of his character that people responded too the most. I felt his admiration was pretty clear.

Well said, I thought Ken was a brilliant choice to cover it.

seiphil

Listened to the podcast yesterday and it was much better than the first time he reported on it imo.

I'm not looking for him to talk about his admiration or lack of for McGregor or the sport. It irked me a bit that on the biggest fight week of the year he decided to delve into fighters union and pay. Something he knew very little on and how the UFC works. Fighters generally get paid more than what is publicly stated and this has been known for quite some time.

Ken for me is excellent at reporting at football. When it comes to any other sport theres a lot to be desired.

But thats my own opinion.

Loafing Oaf

That Ronaldo/Greeek Island stuff was brilliant. "He didn't buy Corfu":D

Amazon should sign up these three guys and forget those petrolhead bores...

Cartman78

The last few weeks of this podcast have been excellent imho....some real top quality stuff with the balance of banter and content just right.

Enjoy it while it last chaps.....nearly all my favourite podcasts I've listened to over the years eventually come to a messy end.....The Bugle being the latest example :mad::(:mad::(:mad::(

dulpit

The podcasts improve in quality when there's less sport going on. Once the premier league is back and then the rugby they'll have less time for non sequiturs or less covered sports.

jooksavage

dulpit wrote: »

The podcasts improve in quality when there's less sport going on. Once the premier league is back and then the rugby they'll have less time for non sequiturs or less covered sports.

Yup. I'd listen to Eoin and Ken chinwag about pretty much anything.