Claim OwnershipThe Lab (Tottenham Hotspur Podcast)
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Brought to you by the lads at The Fighting Cock, The Lab is a Football podcast that encourages in depth conversation on subject matter that ranges from tactics, to transfer deals, how injuries are treated, to an agent's role, to content creators, to coaches, and much more.
Essentially The Lab is a podcast that talks about everything around the pitch, not just just what happens on it.
106 Episodes
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We get into Romero’s Instagram post and whether “disgrace” was a translation issue or another not-so-subtle dig at the people running Spurs. From a historically dead January window to PSR reality, loan market weirdness, and why the club feels completely directionless, we ask the big one: did we actually try and fail, or just choose not to act? Plus: how much slack does Frank get when the squad is held together with tape, and does the lack of signings quietly buy him time?
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We’re joined by sports psychologist Dan Abrahams to talk about what’s really happening inside a player’s head when the pressure hits. Dan explains his “ANTS” idea (automatic negative thoughts), why mistakes snowball, and how crowd emotion can seep into decision-making. We also get into “game face” as a practical tool, the difference between high and low performance mindsets, and why culture matters if you want any of this to stick. Proper fascinating, and very Spurs-relevant right now.
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We stop doing the “everyone’s rubbish” routine and actually audit the squad. What’s a genuine upgrade, what’s just frustration, and who simply doesn’t fit. Vicario and the modern keeper problem, Dragusin as the obvious sale, Udogie’s injuries, Porro’s trade off, midfield balance (and the Paulinha debate), the Kulusevski and Maddison contract time bomb, and why Tel is the one attacker we’re building around. Plus, we end with the uncomfortable truth: even if you bin Richarlison and send Kolo Muani back, you still need a proper number nine, and Jon’s punt is Osimhen.
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We’re back with Harry Brooks and we get stuck into Conor Gallagher to Spurs, why he’s basically plug and play, and why managers love him. We talk about what he actually gives Spurs off the ball, how he can become the press trigger we’ve been missing, and why his engine and discipline make him such a reliable week to week performer. There’s also a bit on Valiz likely heading back to Brazil, a quick Souza check in, and the bigger question of squad balance and what this means for Sarr, Gray and Bergvall. Plus, yes, Villa fans catching strays after Gallagher picks Spurs.
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“Brazilian fans are brutal… the training ground is being invaded… any kind of malcontent he will see in N17, he’s already been through it all in Santos.”
We’re joined by South American football expert Tim Vickery as Spurs close in on 19-year-old Santos left-back Joao Souza. Tim explains why fans feel trepidation about South American imports, then makes the case for why this one’s different: Souza came through a brutal relegation scrap with training-ground invasions and still stood out because he doesn’t hide. We talk rawness vs readiness, how he compares to Udogie, what his game looks like (driving runs, cutting in or going outside, low deliveries), and whether Spurs should throw him in immediately. Plus Brazil’s wider issues at full-back and central midfield, and a big Richarlison chat about Ancelotti, and criticism in Brazil.
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We sit down with The Athletic's Dan Kilpatrick to talk about the weird new Spurs emotion: numbness. Dan explains how a decade in the press box switched off the “fan brain”, why he’s now trying to work out what kind of supporter he even wants to be, and why watching Spurs can feel like booking time off just to be annoyed. From Romero’s captaincy posts and the club’s outside image, to Frank’s grip on the squad, the lack of leadership, and the muddled structure behind the scenes, it’s a proper zoomed out look at a club that feels riddled with
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We’re back with Anatole Pang to talk about the bit of Spurs you never really see: the structure, the decision-making, and why everything keeps looping back to the manager taking the heat. We get into the missing director of football role, how long proper turnarounds actually take, why the squad feels like it was built without a plan, and what has to change in the next 6 to 12 months if Spurs want a real football identity again.
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We’re joined by Adam Rosenbaum, Brentford season ticket holder and fan culture photographer, after a grim nil nil where Spurs looked like they had no interest in winning. We talk about what Thomas Frank’s Brentford actually were, why none of it is showing up at Tottenham, and whether this is tactics, players, confidence, or just the job swallowing him whole. Plus we get into Brentford fans turning on Keith Andrews despite being ninth, why football discourse has gone fully binary, and the moment we knew Spurs were cooked when Vicario started time wasting after an hour.
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We’re back with coach Harry Brooks to deep-dive on wunderkid Luka Vuskovic and why the hype is getting silly for an 18-year-old centre-back on loan at Hamburg. We chat through what makes him so dominant, why his aerial numbers are outrageous, how he plays off both feet, and why he keeps popping up with goals like he’s a striker. We also get into the one obvious weakness in his profile, whether he can handle the Premier League right now, and what Spurs even do if he comes back when Romero and Van de Ven are already nailed-on starters. Plus a quick detour into what smart development actually looks like and why rushing the steps is rarely worth it.
Sign up to Harry's incredible work here on Patreon.
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We’re back with Harry Brooks to talk about what football’s turned into, why so many players default to the safe option, and how control has started squeezing the life out of decision making, even at youth level. Then we drag it back to Spurs, what Thomas Frank might be getting wrong, why “process vs outcome” matters, and why the club feels like it’s trying routes and patterns without a real foundation underneath. We also get into what “risk” actually is, why U-shape football drives us mad, Brennan Johnson’s place in the system, and why every player Harry speaks to says the same thing about Archie Gray.
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1We’re joined by journalist Tom Barclay for a look behind the curtain. We start with Mo Salah’s explosive mix zone interview, the panicking Liverpool press officer and what life is really like in those corridors after full time. Then it’s Spurs: Vicario getting booed, Thomas Frank calling out “true Tottenham fans”, the tension around performances and why supporters still crave moments and vibes as much as XG. We finish on Brentford, Xavi Simons, Spurs’ search for a left winger, January rumours and a quick plug for Tom’s Spurs book Miracle in Bilbao.
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We got Kish from LilywhiteLab on to dig into Thomas Frank and the big question around Spurs right now. Why are we so blunt in attack? Why are the tactics so conservative when we have the talent to play a more ambitious brand of football? We go through the double pivot obsession, the back five against Arsenal, and what Frank got wrong with Bentancur and Pallinia sitting in front of it. We ask whether this is about the manager, the personnel, or the hangover from finishing seventeenth last season. And most importantly, we talk about what needs to change if Spurs are going to look like a team that can create big chances again. Can Frank do it, and what would it take to unlock this squad?
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Back in 2021, Spooky and Flav sat down to try and figure out something that’s been baked into supporting Tottenham for generations: why do we hate Arsenal so much? This episode digs into the roots of it all, from the early days of the rivalry to how it plays out in the modern game. What’s interesting now is listening back with a bit of distance and asking whether anything has really changed since we recorded it. The context has shifted, the clubs have shifted, but that feeling between the two fanbases is still very real. We thought it was worth bringing this one out again because there’s still loads in here that stands up. If you’re into the history, the culture, or just the raw emotion of Spurs Arsenal, you’ll get something out of this. Enjoy.
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In this one we sit down with Spurs commentator Rob Daly, the voice living rent free in all our heads after Bilbao. We chat about how he finds the right words in the biggest moments, the art of shutting up and letting the crowd breathe, Clive Allen nearly in tears, academy kids changing games from nowhere, and why podcasts are his cheat code for understanding fan mood. It is a proper love letter to commentary, to Spurs, and to that night in Bilbao.
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This episode on The Lab we took a little detour from our usual look into Tottenham Hotspur culture. We had the chance to sit down with Eddie Hearn and Spurs fan, Commonwealth title holder and British title challenger Sam Gilley. Sam is gearing up for his fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the undercard of Chris Eubank versus Conor Benn 2, so we got into everything around the event, the buildup, the atmosphere, and what it means for him at this stage of his career. Eddie gave us great insight into the promotion side and why this fight matters. It’s a different kind of episode for us but a really fun one to record, and a proper look behind the curtain of a big night in British boxing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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We sit down with journalist and author Tom Barclay to unpack Miracle in Bilbao: The Inside Story of the Europa League Triumph, Clowngate, and what really changed tactically in Europe. We talk press room dynamics, Ange’s spiky side, and why the Europa League run was more plan than player mutiny. We get into Thomas Frank’s pragmatism, creativity concerns, and the fan mood at home, plus the Levy shock and how it blindsided everyone outside the club.
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On The Lab we’re joined by Dan Kilpatrick from The Athletic to look at where Spurs are heading under Thomas Frank. We talk about the defensive foundations being built, the exciting talent still to come back, and how key players like Kulusevski can transform the attack. We get into midfield tweaks, Xavi Simons’ potential, and the big opportunities ahead in the January window with fresh backing from the Lewis era. Plenty of reasons to believe this can still turn into a strong season.
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Billie joins us representing Change For Tottenham, discussing a fan-led movement to revive the home atmosphere at Spurs. Working alongside Return of the Shelf and THFCFlags, supporters are pushing for a unified singing section, better engagement from the club, and a stadium experience that reflects the passion of Tottenham Hotspur fans.
From European away days with flags travelling alongside the team, to the legacy of the 1882 movement and grassroots mobilisation, we explore why the atmosphere has dipped, how ticket prices affect younger fans, and the massive opportunity presented by the Chelsea match.
This is a movement built on unity, noise, and supporters taking the lead to restore Tottenham’s identity at home.
Come on you Spurs.
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This week on The Lab feed I’m sharing something a little different. Iain from the excellent Poddingham Podspur invited me on to talk about how The Fighting Cock began, why I started The Lab, and what drives me to keep making Spurs content. I wasn’t planning to release this here since it was recorded for someone else’s show and it can feel a bit self-indulgent to talk about myself. But listening back, I think dedicated Fighting Cock and Lab listeners might enjoy the behind-the-scenes chat. Hopefully it offers some insight and a few laughs. And go check out Poddingham Podspur too.
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Spurs presenter Ben Haines joins The Lab to talk about the Europa League win in Bilbao, how the “Winners” documentary came together, and what changed inside the club under Vinai Venkatesham and Thomas Frank. We get into Ange’s standards, Thomas Frank’s culture work, analysts clipping live during matches, and why increased access has lifted trust among supporters. Ben also shares the story behind Sonny’s emotional farewell interview and what it takes to ask bold questions when you only have ten minutes with a player.
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like all Flavs shows the lab is 5 star
best spurs pod
Great episode. Sam's work is brilliantly evocative. Flavs work as entertaining as it has always been. cheers fellas