Claim OwnershipRule The Roost - A Tottenham Hotspur Podcast
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Rule the Roost is a Spurs podcast where proper football man-isms meet arthouse pretension.
Every Monday, Jack’s joined by a guest to wrestle with whatever state Tottenham are in – from match discussions to transfer talk and identity to existential dread.
Thursdays are for Q&As, your chance to ask serious (or not) questions.
And after every match, there’s a solo pod recorded on the final whistle: unfiltered, emotional, and usually involving Jack crying about Ledley King (and now Son Heung-min too).
If you like your football chat somewhere between pub preacher and quasi-intellectual, you’ll probably get on with this.
Expect plenty of pop-culture references too.
Up the Spurs.
669 Episodes
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Jack is joined by Stu and Jay to try and harness some desperately needed positivity ahead of a monumentally important weekend for Tottenham Hotspur. We kick things off by reflecting on a surprisingly uplifting night in the Champions League. Despite crashing out on aggregate, the 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid showcased a squad genuinely fighting for the shirt. We discuss Igor Tudor finally securing his first win, the brilliance of the Archie Gray and Xavi Simons. We also touch upon that controversial refereeing decision right before Julian Alvarez's equaliser.
Attention then quickly turns to the grim reality of our domestic campaign and the prospect of a relegation six-pointer against Nottingham Forest this Sunday. Stu and Jay take us through the motivation behind their incredible fan-led movement, 'Show Up. Sing Up. Stay Up.' We explore the mental shift required to put our deep-seated anger towards the board to one side for 90 minutes, simply because the alternative of dropping into the Championship is completely unthinkable.
The lads lay out the exact logistical plan for Sunday, urging everyone to gather at The Bricklayers from 11:30 AM. We talk about the sheer impact a massive, vocal crowd can have when the team coach arrives what it will do to both our players and the opposition before kick-off.
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Spurs go out of the Champions League, but win on the night - restoring some pride and keeping their momentum going ahead of a crucial game against Nottingham Forest on the weekend.
Once again, a performance full of promise, heart and desire... you have to ponder if Igor Tudor might actually be pretty good at his job after all.
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Jack welcomes Phil back to the pod to bask in the glory of a Tottenham win. Well, it wasn't actually a win, but it certainly felt like one. The pair discuss the sheer relief of taking a glorious, precious point away from Anfield, the scene of so many historic horrors for Spurs, after relegation Richarlison popped up at the back post to silence the Kop.
We dissect just how vital this point, and more importantly the performance, is in the wider context of this miserable season. The players finally did exactly what we asked of them and showed some genuine fight on the pitch. Huge credit is also handed to Igor Tudor. After navigating a particularly unpleasant post-match interview with flying colours, we ask if the interim boss is finally starting to win the fanbase over.
Attention then briefly turns to the Champions League return leg against Atletico Madrid. We debate whether the fixture holds any real importance anymore, and if Antonin Kinsky should be given the chance to avenge his disastrous away leg. Finally, Jack and Phil reflect on the massive part the fans have to play in keeping Tottenham in the top flight, with the crucial domestic clash against Nottingham Forest looming on the horizon.
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One of Tottenham's best performances in months, of course, came at Anfield? Who could have expected that - a precious point picked up on the road against Liverpool, and a level of fight and courage that many of us thought these lads were incapable of. Come on you Spurs! Fight to the end!
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Jack welcomes stand-up comic James Regal to the podcast to dissect the absolute humiliation we suffered in Madrid at the hands of Atletico. We start by discussing the bizarrely slippery pitch and the catastrophic impact it had on the game, before turning our attention to Antonin Kinsky. The pair express their deep sympathy for the young player, whose dream Champions League debut brutally morphed into a living nightmare on the European stage.
The conversation then shifts to the manager's dugout. We ask if Igor Tudor is entirely to blame for the tactical mess, and debate whether he needs to be replaced immediately if we have any hope of saving Tottenham from the impending drop. Trying to find a sliver of dark comedy in the situation, Jack and James even discuss whether there are actually any hidden positives to Spurs going down to the Championship.
As it is a Q&A day, James also dives into your listener questions. We explore the ultimate financial conundrum of what it would actually take to force ENIC to sell the club, and finish on a lighter, self-deprecating note by discussing which lower-league stadia James is most looking forward to visiting in the event of our relegation.
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An absolute farce of a match in the Champions League for Spurs that must surely signal the end of the Tudor era.
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Jack welcomes Billie from the When The Whistle Blows podcast back to the show to reflect on the current doom spiralling at Tottenham Hotspur. With board neglect, mounting injuries, and a general feeling that the universe is conspiring against us, we try to find a reason to remain hopeful.
We ask if the fans are now the last bastion keeping the club in the Premier League. The pair explore the heavy emotional toll of constantly rallying behind a team that has let the supporters down so often over the past couple of years, and discuss how we can possibly muster the energy to keep going when times are this tricky.
Billie also touches on a fascinating conversation he recently had with renowned journalist Henry Winter on Last Word on Spurs alongside Ricky Sacks. We discuss how disarming, yet incredibly validating, it was to have somebody with such vast footballing knowledge from outside the Tottenham bubble notice the exact same structural failings that Spurs fans have been screaming about.
Finally, attention turns to the Champions League and the upcoming clash with Atletico Madrid. Despite the sad reality that this could be the last game Spurs play in Europe's elite competition for quite some time, we debate whether the fixture simply feels like an unwelcome distraction from the terrifying and all-consuming threat of domestic relegation.
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Jack is joined by Adam Michie to confront the terrifying emotions swirling around the ether after Spurs lost their absolute 'must-win' game to Crystal Palace, making the threat of relegation a harrowing reality.
We dive straight into the criticisms of the current squad. While it has undoubtedly been a difficult season with plenty of mitigating circumstances, we ask why these players consistently fail to shoulder their share of the blame when things get tough.
The ire then shifts firmly towards the ownership. We dissect how ENIC have managed to take their eye off the ball at nearly every opportunity, consistently choosing to prioritise the business side of the club over the actual product on the pitch.
To help make sense of the growing disconnect between the club and the fanbase, we discuss Adam's brilliant book, Orientation. Adam shares his own fan odyssey, detailing his disillusionment with top-flight football and how swapping the Premier League corporate machine for a season ticket at Leyton Orient helped him rediscover the true soul of what it means to support a football club.
Adam also tackles a great selection of listener questions, offering his best 'mental health playbook' for surviving our current existential crisis. We debate the provocative idea of whether winning trophies might actually be bad for Tottenham in the long run, before finishing with a definitive ranking of the biggest derelictions of duty from the owners this season.
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Spurs lose to Crystal Palace. Micky Van de ven sent off. This is darkest hour stuff. Is there any saving us?
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Jack welcomes Phil back to the microphone in the wake of yet another painful Tottenham defeat, this time a 2-1 loss at Craven Cottage. The pair unpack the frustrating Fulham performance, dissecting the problems that were entirely of our own making, whilst desperately trying to cling to the few positives we can take forward.
However, there is an elephant in the room that simply cannot be ignored. Jack and Phil don their tinfoil hats to dive into the growing feeling of a conspiracy against Tottenham, sparked by the referee's refusal to penalise Raul Jimenez for a blatant push on Radu Dragusin in the build-up to Fulham's opener. The sense of victimhood goes into overdrive as the boys discuss the utterly bizarre decision by the Premier League's official social media accounts to post a video openly mocking Guglielmo Vicario. They indulge their frustrations at the disrespect before trying their hardest to bring some level-headed rationality back to the situation.
Attention then turns to Thursday night under the lights against Crystal Palace. What is quickly turning into one of the most important games of our Premier League lives is analysed in depth. The pair discuss whether Spurs can finally turn the tide, exactly what needs to change on the pitch, and ask the terrifying question: would another loss spell certain death for Tottenham's top-flight survival?
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Despite a spirited end to the game, once again we were nowhere to be seen for large periods of this match. Tottenham and Igor Tudor need to shape up quickly. Don't overcomplicate things, get players in their correct positions and fight. Tel has to start. Richarlison has to start.
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Jack welcomes Lara back to the show to try and make sense of the seemingly hopeless situation at Tottenham right now. We ask the big questions: what exactly is going wrong, who is ultimately to blame for this mess, and where on earth do the club go from here?
Lara also tackles a selection of listener questions, diving into some fascinating debates. We discuss which of the 'best worst' players of yesteryear you would happily take back in the current side, and explore the paradox of whether Harry Kane and Son Heung-min are simultaneously the best and worst things to happen to the club in the last 10 years.
The conversation then shifts to the media landscape, asking if Spurs podcasters and creators need to be less negative to help lift the club out of its current strife. Finally, we look at actionable steps and discuss how fans can get better organised to effectively protest the current state of affairs at the club.
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Jack welcomes Con back to the show, and he is angry. After specifically requesting to come on purely to vent his frustrations, the pair pick through the rubble of another painful North London Derby defeat.
With the dust having settled slightly on the 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Arsenal, we desperately try to see if there are any positives to take forward as Tottenham find themselves thoroughly entrenched in a relegation battle. We ask the big questions: do these players actually have the stomach for a scrap at the bottom of the table? Can this squad be trusted when the pressure is truly on?
We also take a microscope to some of the individual performances on the day, and speculate on the uncomfortable truth: if the unthinkable happens and Spurs do go down, who will be the first players to jump ship?
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A bit later than usual, I try my best to break down what exactly went wrong yesterday... what bits did we get right? My fears for Spurs going forwards and just a general sense of trying to get my emotions in check after what was a miserable, miserable defeat. Just when you think the pain that club dishes out on us has maybe stopped, it always seems to find a way to make itself known.
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Jack is joined by Sean Connell, Editor at The Sponsor, to dive deep into the business and commercial reality of Tottenham's current existential spiral.
We start by looking at the elusive stadium naming rights. Following Sean's recent research on the fair market value of European stadiums, we ask if Daniel Levy and the current hierarchy missed the boat by holding out for unrealistic valuations while producing inconsistent results on the pitch.
The conversation then tackles the recent bombshell report from Matt Law, suggesting that long-standing commercial partners are cutting ties due to the ongoing chaos and relegation fears. We get Sean's expert view on what actual power sponsors hold in these scenarios. Can they force the club into making better footballing decisions, and what can the likes of Vinai Venkatesham do to repair the toxic commercial environment?
Finally, we discuss the front-of-shirt dilemma and the massive financial hit Spurs might take if they had to renegotiate their prime real estate in the current climate.
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Jack welcomes Paul O Keefe back to the show to discuss the latest happenings at Tottenham and ask the ultimate question: is everything really as big a mess as it seems from the outside?
We start by looking back at the decision to keep Thomas Frank in post for as long as the club did. Whose idea was it to delay the inevitable, and what does that hesitation say about the current power structure?
Conversation then turns to Igor Tudor stepping into the hotseat. What does Paul make of the appointment? We discuss whether a strict disciplinarian can actually exert proper control over this group of players when everyone knows he is only a temporary fix.
Finally, Paul answers your listener questions, including:
Have the club already spoken to Mauricio Pochettino about a summer return?
Will Johan Lange and Vinai Venkatesham be the next ones fired?
What are our favourite North London Derby memories?
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Jack welcomes Tom Foins back to the pod to mull over the news that the majority of Thomas Frank's backroom staff have been given the chop.
We discuss the brutal nature of the clearout, specifically Johnny Heitinga departing after just 33 days at the club, and the loss of highly-rated coach Justin Cochrane. Tom reflects on why this is probably for the best in the long run, but acknowledges that the saga is once again reflective of the chaotic decision-making plaguing the club.
The futures of Vinai Venkatesham and Johan Lange are firmly in the spotlight. We ask if the club would be better off without them, and whether a total uprooting of the hierarchy is needed to put this miserable period behind us.
Attention then turns to the appointment of Igor Tudor. We discuss what we can hope and expect from him during his time as Spurs boss, especially with such a depleted squad, will he be forced to tap into the youth team resources?
Finally, we look ahead to the summer: Mauricio Pochettino seems to be the most obvious pick right now, but is he actually the right one?
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Jack jumps on an impromptu call with Gazzetta dello Sport's Tommy Milanese to react to the breaking news that Igor Tudor is all but confirmed as Tottenham's new interim manager.
We dig into Tudor's reputation in Italy to find out exactly what we are getting. Tommy gives the lowdown on his mixed spells with Lazio and Juventus (including that recent 8-game winless run), and we discuss whether his abrasive, high-intensity tactical style can actually blend with this specific group of players, or if it's a disaster waiting to happen.
We also ask the big questions: will he be willing to incorporate the youth players Spurs are so reliant on? And crucially, is he the man to save us from the drop?
Tommy also shares some fascinating insight into Fabio Paratici’s reputation in Italy, and shares a brilliant anecdote about an impromptu lunch date with Jose Mourinho during his time working for the club.
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Jack is joined by Jon Bass to discuss the sacking of Thomas Frank.
We look back on his time at the club and ask the burning question: why on earth did it take the board this long to remove a man who was clearly incompetent for the role? We reflect on the damage done and the "existential spiral" the club now finds itself in.
Attention then turns to the future. We mull over potential alternative appointments, both on an interim basis to save our season, and the long-term vision required to fix the mess.
Jon also answers your listener questions, including a deep dive into whether the injuries are actually being caused by the stadium's retractable surface, and a shout for a "left-field" appointment with a little-known coysy affiliation.
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Thomas Frank is gone - official announcement.
Tottenham's worst manager of the Premier League era and one of their worst managers of all time... but is it all his fault?
Whatever the case, something had to change... but who now? Cochrane? Heitinga? Mason?
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brilliant pod - balanced and not a bitter person. A regular on my rotation.
Aged badly in a handful of hours Jack... Great pod. City up next #facup 😁 x
my fav spurs mouth pieces :)
My first stop for Tottdngam nonsense. love your shit mate...and it only costs me a coffee.... 👊🏼🔥❤️
love this Jack... you passed doofbag
Hard times Jack.... keep it up fella👊🏼
Best line re Richarlison and Yves...so true
Nice one Jack..... keep 'em coming ✌️
Conte stubbonness is cokjng to the fore. Refusing to swap out his preferred players will drive the fans mad. Early days but.... I forsee the first signs of a painful divorce. We are playing poorly and scrapping through. No real threat from Royal ever, and keeping Son on. The boy needs a few games rotated. Deki and Doherty or Djed needs to be tried asap.... arghhhhhh
Good ramble chat Jack.... 👏
Pod class 🍺👍✌️
Pretty much my favourite spud pod x
love you pod dude x keep it up
Dele broken hearts
That was good chat lads... more please 🙏