3 In The Middle Podcast

Chris Lumsdon, Mark “Skip” Boyd and Dylan McGeouch return for an episode dominated by Carlisle United’s devastating play-off defeat, the future of Mark Hughes and the major decisions now facing the club.

The lads explain why Carlisle failed to take advantage of a huge Brunton Park crowd and allowed Boreham Wood to control the match. They question the team’s tactics, fitness and lack of attacking intent before giving their honest verdict on whether Mark Hughes should remain as manager.

They also assess the Carlisle ownership, recruitment and retained list. The owners have transformed the club away from the pitch, but have the footballing decisions been good enough and what must change before another promotion challenge?

Elsewhere, the lads debate whether Cole Palmer’s relaxed playing style is becoming a problem for Chelsea, react to Rangers falling out of the Scottish title race and discuss Arsenal’s pursuit of Premier League and Champions League success.

There are also brilliant stories from footballers’ end-of-season trips, including a party at Francis Jeffers’ villa, a secret Marbella bar and the time Lummy thought Jeremy Beadle wanted to fight him.

Also featuring:

• Why Carlisle’s play-off tactics failed
• Should Mark Hughes remain as manager?
• Carlisle’s retained list and summer recruitment
• Are the owners getting enough for their money?
• Is Cole Palmer overrated?
• Rangers falling out of the title race
• Arsenal’s huge end to the season
• Steven Fletcher and Stephen Ireland in Who Am I?
• Football’s most embarrassing lap-of-honour behaviour
• The lads’ biggest pet peeves and “icks”
• Wild end-of-season football trips
• What do low blocks and inverted full-backs actually mean?
• Why England lacks elite managers
• The reality of completing coaching badges
• Is the football academy system broken?  

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Filming from Warwick Road Furniture Centre
01:24 Neil “Dolly” Dalton’s upcoming episode
01:37 Carlisle United’s play-off collapse
03:21 Were Boreham Wood simply the better team?
05:02 Carlisle’s fitness and tactical problems
07:29 The difference between the two managers
09:53 Should Mark Hughes remain at Carlisle?
11:07 The players Carlisle should keep and release
14:19 Sponsored by Raw Insurance Brokers
15:49 When should Carlisle’s owners be questioned?
16:21 Carlisle’s crucial summer decisions
18:31 Are the owners getting enough for their money?
19:55 Celebrating Carlisle’s young footballers
21:40 Who Am I?
24:20 The turbulent career of Stephen Ireland
25:51 Reacting to a horrific football injury
26:06 Arsenal’s title and Champions League hopes
26:54 Tottenham and West Ham’s survival battle
27:13 The Scottish title race
28:00 Rangers fall apart
29:33 Josh Windass and Ollie McBurnie’s social-media exchange
30:03 A 15-year-old makes his professional debut
30:43 The footballer whose flat looked burgled
31:39 Is Cole Palmer overrated?
33:24 Clown Watch
35:14 Should fans invade the pitch for avoiding relegation?
37:53 The lads reveal their biggest “icks”
41:51 Footballers’ biggest pet peeves
45:00 Wild end-of-season football trips
45:46 Partying at Francis Jeffers’ villa
46:03 Lummy’s intimidating Marbella encounter
47:08 Jeremy Beadle wants a word
48:29 The Sunderland trip that never happened
49:05 Peter Reid’s incredible transfer prediction
51:02 What’s the Crack?
51:40 What do footballers’ corner signals mean?
53:32 Low blocks and inverted full-backs explained
55:51 Why does England lack elite managers?
57:56 The reality of earning coaching badges
01:00:48 Can a new manager save a released player?
01:03:29 Is the football academy system broken?
01:04:49 Would academies coach Wayne Rooney’s individuality away?
01:07:32 Final messages and sponsor thanks
01:08:29 Lummy’s enormous cinema order  

This episode is supported by Warwick Road Furniture Centre and Raw Insurance Brokers.
Subscribe to 3 In The Middle for weekly episodes featuring former professionals Chris Lumsdon and Mark “Skip” Boyd, current player Dylan McGeouch and special guests from across football.

#3InTheMiddle #CarlisleUnited #MarkHughes #ColePalmer #RangersFC #FootballPodcast

Chris Lumsdon, Mark “Skip” Boyd and Dylan McGeouch return for another episode packed with Carlisle United play-off predictions, Premier League debates and brilliant stories from their playing careers.

The lads look ahead to Carlisle’s huge potential showdown with Robbie Savage and Forest Green. Savage has been talking about facing Carlisle for months—but could his comments create the perfect atmosphere at Brunton Park?

They also discuss Liam Rosenior’s difficult spell at Chelsea and whether a reported £4 million payoff makes the criticism easier to accept. Will he rebuild his reputation, or has his time at Stamford Bridge damaged his chances of managing in the Premier League again?

Skip is then asked what has gone wrong at Liverpool. Is their problem poor recruitment, declining performances from key players or something deeper?

Elsewhere, Dylan chooses between Scott Brown and John McGinn as his ideal midfield partner, the lads react to Rangers being outplayed by Motherwell and debate whether three teams should be promoted from the National League.

There are also stories about footballers’ diets, weight fines, painkilling injections and the old-school physios whose medical advice occasionally created more problems than it solved.

Also featuring:

• Carlisle’s potential showdown with Robbie Savage
• Can Carlisle reach Wembley and win promotion?
• Should three teams be promoted from the National League?
• Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea departure
• What has gone wrong at Liverpool?
• Scott Brown versus John McGinn
• Rangers’ defeat against Motherwell
• York and Rochdale’s dramatic finish
• Who Am I?
• Skip’s infamous Magaluf vest
• The gym video that caused a relationship crisis
• Football’s worst medical advice
• Jack Grealish’s end-of-season celebrations
• Painkilling injections in professional football
• The difficult reality facing out-of-contract players

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Liam Rosenior’s £4 million Chelsea payoff
02:00 Remembering Carlisle’s League Two title win
03:39 Should three teams be promoted from the National League?
05:17 Can promoted teams compete in League Two?
07:11 Skip’s county cup victory
08:54 Remembering one of Carlisle’s greatest Sunday teams
09:46 Welcome to the episode
10:01 Sponsored by Dan Brown Mortgages
11:09 Scott Brown or John McGinn?
13:32 How Carlisle nearly signed Darren Gibson
14:23 Who Am I?
19:05 Skip’s infamous Magaluf vest
21:09 The gym video that caused a relationship crisis
22:41 The lads’ biggest pet peeves
26:31 York and Rochdale’s incredible finish
28:15 Can Rochdale recover for the play-offs?
30:59 Carlisle’s potential showdown with Robbie Savage
33:13 Can Carlisle reach Wembley and win promotion?
34:05 Tottenham and West Ham’s survival battle
34:52 Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle
35:46 Rangers outplayed by Motherwell
37:08 Clown Watch
37:25 Did Rochdale’s supporters cost their team?
39:19 Tottenham’s bizarre injury treatment
39:55 Old-school football physio stories
41:11 What’s the Crack?
41:36 What has gone wrong at Liverpool?
44:17 Carlisle’s memorable Newcastle friendly
44:41 What footballers used to eat before matches
46:16 Lummy’s preseason weight fines
47:56 Jack Grealish’s celebrations
49:00 Do big preseason friendlies help players?
50:03 Playing through injuries and painkilling injections
53:05 How footballers process grief
53:54 Carlisle’s upcoming play-off match
55:04 The reality facing out-of-contract players
57:43 Promotion party or emergency podcast?
57:53 Final sponsor message

This episode is sponsored by Dan Brown Mortgages, independent mortgage and protection advisers based near Carlisle.

What’s the Crack? is supported by Warwick Road Bed Centre and Warwick Road Furniture Centre.

Subscribe to 3 In The Middle for weekly episodes featuring former professionals Chris Lumsdon and Mark “Skip” Boyd, current player Dylan McGeouch and special guests from across football.

#3InTheMiddle #CarlisleUnited #RobbieSavage #LiverpoolFC #ChelseaFC #FootballPodcast

Chris Lumsdon, Mark “Skip” Boyd and Dylan McGeouch reveal the brutal reality of football’s “bomb squads” the groups of unwanted players frozen out by managers and forced to train separately from the first team.

Dylan opens up about spending 18 difficult months banished to Gretna’s youth team after being signed by the club’s owner against the manager’s wishes. He explains how the isolation affected his football, confidence and life away from the pitch before finally confronting the manager and negotiating his release.

The lads also share stories involving Michael Bridges, Allan Johnston, Paddy Kenny, Billy Paynter and Gary Dicker. From punishing training schedules to manipulated photographs and deliberately insulting contract offers, they reveal some of the tactics clubs have used to force players out.

Attention then turns to Carlisle United as the lads discuss whether Mark Hughes will leave regardless of promotion. Jack Ross, Luke Garrard and Ryan Lowe are all considered as potential replacements but who would be the best fit?

There’s also debate about the Premier League title race, Declan Rice’s influence at Arsenal and whether Manchester City will come from behind to become champions.

Also featuring:

• Mark “Skip” Boyd’s football comeback at 44  
• Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold  
• Scott Brown’s motivational tactics  
• The reality of football’s bomb squads  
• Dylan’s nightmare 18 months at Gretna  
• Peter Reid freezing players out at Sunderland  
• How clubs pressure players into leaving  
• Carlisle United’s play-off challenge  
• Will Mark Hughes leave Carlisle?  
• Carlisle’s potential next manager  
• Manchester City versus Arsenal for the title  
• The Scottish title race  
• Who Am I?  
• Football’s most aggressive players  
• Kevin Muscat’s tunnel threat  
• Supporting Hospice at Home and suicide-prevention awareness  

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Skip makes his comeback at 44  
02:58 Kane, Bellingham and Trent at the highest level  
04:07 Can elite players reject a manager’s tactics?  
05:26 The lads’ biggest gym pet peeves  
08:43 The problem with filming workouts  
09:40 Roy Keane’s brilliant Ruud Gullit joke  
10:55 Who Am I?  
13:32 Scott Brown’s motivational tactics  
14:47 Sponsored by Capital Industrial Batteries  
16:31 What is a football bomb squad?  
17:06 Peter Reid freezes out two Sunderland stars  
18:18 Dylan’s nightmare experience at Gretna  
19:08 Banished from the first team  
20:03 The brutal training sessions  
21:18 Training alone after being frozen out  
21:57 Dylan confronts the Gretna manager  
22:46 The mental impact of being unwanted  
23:00 Lee Hendrie’s treatment at Sheffield United  
23:32 Life inside Darlington’s bomb squad  
24:00 A player punished after attending a funeral  
26:12 Two frozen-out players save Carlisle  
26:31 The photograph used to embarrass Paddy Kenny  
27:20 Insulting contracts and football loyalty  
29:35 A brilliant Carlisle fan story  
31:00 Carlisle’s latest club news  
34:04 The mentality required in the play-offs  
34:57 Who should Carlisle want in the final?  
37:14 Billy Barr’s remarkable escape  
38:19 The value of experienced players  
41:12 Morecambe’s extraordinary managerial decision  
44:48 Declan Rice and Arsenal’s title challenge  
47:36 Manchester City or Arsenal for the title?  
49:10 The Scottish title race  
51:18 What’s the Crack?  
51:52 Will Mark Hughes leave Carlisle?  
52:21 Three candidates to replace Mark Hughes  
52:29 Jack Ross, Luke Garrard or Ryan Lowe?  
55:28 When Carlisle’s first team won 13–0  
57:03 Can unwanted players force their way back?  
01:01:20 Who should Dylan choose to replace Hughes?  
01:02:07 The players who nearly signed for Carlisle  
01:04:20 The truth behind football contracts  
01:05:43 Sunderland’s disastrous Will Grigg transfer  
01:09:12 The most aggressive players they faced  
01:09:52 Kevin Muscat’s tunnel threat  
01:10:21 Curtis Woodhouse bullies Skip  
01:11:04 The teammate who targeted players’ eyes  
01:12:58 Football’s most intimidating players  
01:15:46 Supporting Chris Brunkill’s charity marathon  
01:17:52 Suicide-prevention awareness in Cumbria  
01:21:14 Final sponsor message  
01:22:08 Final title predictions  
01:22:48 Carlisle City’s cup final  

This episode is sponsored by Capital Industrial Batteries, supplying batteries, chargers and accessories for industrial projects, golf buggies, e-bikes, campervans and engine starting across the UK.

Quote “3 In The Middle” to receive special offers and free delivery on your first order.

What’s the Crack? is supported by Warwick Road Bed Centre and Warwick Road Furniture Centre.

Subscribe to 3 In The Middle for weekly episodes featuring former professionals Chris Lumsdon and Mark “Skip” Boyd, current player Dylan McGeouch and special guests from across football.

#3InTheMiddle #CarlisleUnited #MarkHughes #ManchesterCity #Arsenal #FootballPodcast

This episode is sponsored by BL Removals, helping people and businesses with moves across Carlisle and beyond. What’s the Crack? is sponsored by Warwick Road Bed Centre.

Chris Lumsdon, Mark “Skip” Boyd and Dylan McGeouch return for another episode packed with controversial football opinions, career decisions and unbelievable stories from inside the game.

Skip reacts to a photograph of him confronting a referee that went viral following a Carlisle City match. He explains what actually happened, why the referee’s behaviour angered the dugout and how close he came to being sent off during another recent game.

The lads also debate Regan Linney’s future at Carlisle United. Should he remain where he is loved and scoring goals—or force a move into the Football League while his stock is at its highest?

Attention then turns to Phil Foden and whether he needs to leave Manchester City to become a guaranteed starter. Could Everton offer him the responsibility he needs, or would a move abroad be his only realistic option?

There’s also the extraordinary story of Celtic Nation—the ambitious project that transformed Carlisle City, attracted crowds of Celtic supporters and signed players from much higher levels before everything suddenly collapsed.

The lads discuss the title races involving Celtic, Rangers and Hearts before turning their attention to Arsenal. Are Arsenal’s celebrations and supporters becoming unbearable, and are they wasting their best opportunity to win the Premier League?

Plus, the lads select their greatest managers, reveal which coaches delivered the most brutal hairdryer treatments and remember a full-blown half-time fight between Ian Craney and John Coleman.

Also featuring:

• Skip’s brutal three-out-of-ten match rating
• Growing up with demanding footballing parents
• Steve Harper and football’s unsung heroes
• Regan Linney’s next career decision
• The reality of being placed in a club’s “bomb squad”
• Should Phil Foden leave Manchester City?
• Skip’s final competitive football match
• Are old-school hairdryer treatments still acceptable?
• Rooney, Henry, Kane and Shearer debated
• Skip’s confrontation with a referee
• Roy Keane and the Saipan controversy
• The rise and collapse of Celtic Nation
• Celtic, Rangers and Hearts’ title battle
• Why Arsenal fans are becoming unbearable
• Andy Robertson’s next club
• Football agents and young players
• Carlisle United’s greatest managers
• The best managers the lads played under
• John Coleman’s half-time fist fight
• Advice for young midfielders
• Opportunities to play football overseas
• Carlisle United’s promotion hopes

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Skip’s brutal three-out-of-ten match rating
01:40 Dealing with demanding footballing parents
03:22 Skip’s dad walks away from Newcastle United
06:52 More stories from Bus Head
08:46 The John Toshack betting disaster
09:05 Football’s unsung heroes
09:39 Steve Harper’s importance at Newcastle
12:02 Missing out on a cup final through injury
13:36 Carlisle’s underrated promotion players
14:32 Welcome to the episode
15:39 This episode’s sponsor: BL Removals
16:49 Should Regan Linney leave Carlisle?
19:38 Skip’s opportunity to join Leeds United
21:14 Life inside football’s “bomb squad”
24:35 Does Phil Foden need to leave Manchester City?
27:29 Skip returns to football with the over-35s
28:10 Skip gets dropped from his final match
30:07 Did Carlisle’s young players get a fair chance?
33:14 Are hairdryer treatments still acceptable?
37:42 Rooney, Henry, Kane and Shearer debated
40:33 Skip’s viral confrontation with a referee
43:27 How close Skip came to being sent off
44:17 Clown Watch
44:25 Roy Keane and the Saipan controversy
48:14 The unbelievable rise of Celtic Nation
50:55 How the Celtic Nation project collapsed
52:32 Celtic, Rangers or Hearts for the title?
53:17 Are Arsenal fans becoming unbearable?
55:39 Where will Andy Robertson go next?
56:38 What’s the Crack?
57:24 Are football agents worth the money?
01:01:13 Carlisle United’s greatest managers
01:04:10 The best managers the lads played under
01:07:02 John Coleman’s half-time fist fight
01:11:15 The best advice for young midfielders
01:14:34 The pressure of youth football trials
01:16:45 Opportunities to play football overseas
01:19:52 Dylan’s potential move to Australia
01:23:33 What’s the Crack? concludes
01:24:03 Liam’s CancerCare marathon fundraiser
01:25:49 Thanks to BL Removals
01:26:28 Carlisle’s promotion and play-off hopes
01:27:25 Which Carlisle players will remain next season?
01:30:32 Final messages

Subscribe to 3 In The Middle for weekly episodes featuring former professionals Chris Lumsdon and Skip Boyd, current player Dylan McGeouch and special guests from across football.

#3InTheMiddle #MarkBoyd #CarlisleUnited #Arsenal #Celtic #FootballPodcast

This episode is supported by Flexi Rental, a Cumbria-based vehicle leasing partner helping SMEs and growing businesses.

Former Carlisle United kitman and coach driver Andy “Bus Head” Horn joins Chris Lumsdon, Skip Boyd and Dylan McGeouch for an episode packed with dressing-room pranks, away-day disasters and brilliant stories from behind the scenes at a professional football club.

Bus Head reveals how he became Carlisle’s kitman under Roddy Collins and recalls his first encounter with former owner Michael Knighton. He explains what the job was really like when one person was responsible for the kits, equipment, team coach and almost everything else on a limited budget.

He remembers being sent off by Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, disappearing to collect fish and chips when the manager wanted to make a substitution and nearly being stopped by the police while attempting to get the team to a play-off final.

There are also stories about a disastrous greyhound investment, leaking Burnley’s new Premier League kit on social media and accidentally substituting Scott Dobie while he was chasing a hat-trick.

Bus Head also looks back on working with managers including Paul Simpson, Neil McDonald, John Ward and Roddy Collins, before explaining why his ten years at Carlisle produced memories he could never recreate in another job.

Also featuring:

• Being shown a red card by Mark Clattenburg
• The fish-and-chips substitution disaster
• Driving Carlisle to a play-off final
• Roddy Collins’ ice-cream prank
• The greyhound investment that went horribly wrong
• Accidentally taking Scott Dobie off on a hat-trick
• Leaking Burnley’s Premier League kit
• Carlisle United’s greatest managers
• The decline of old-school dressing-room banter
• Danny Graham’s emotional goal celebration
• Carlisle’s heartbreaking defeat against Leeds
• Cumberland FA’s Ability League

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introducing Andy “Bus Head” Horn
00:40 Becoming Carlisle United’s kitman
01:10 His first encounter with Michael Knighton
02:28 Protecting the kit on a limited budget
03:28 Anfield, Wembley and the best football grounds
04:35 The angriest opposition managers
06:36 The fish-and-chips substitution disaster
07:54 Sent off by Mark Clattenburg
08:26 The signed football prank
09:41 Preparing for matches in non-league
10:47 The chaotic journey to the play-off final
13:12 Carlisle’s vital Conference promotion
13:40 Getting the team coach lost
15:18 Roddy Collins’ ice-cream prank
18:10 The disastrous greyhound investment
20:21 The John Toshack betting disaster
23:02 Substituting Scott Dobie on a hat-trick
23:54 The best manager Bus Head worked with
24:16 Working under Neil McDonald
26:23 Knowing which managers could take a joke
26:47 Flying to League Two away matches
28:24 Driving Eddie Howe’s Burnley team
29:42 Bus Head’s initiation song
29:54 Leaking Burnley’s Premier League kit
31:11 Ten unforgettable years at Carlisle United
31:47 Has dressing-room banter disappeared?
33:16 The best Carlisle dressing-room pranks
35:28 Carlisle’s heartbreaking defeat against Leeds
36:43 Danny Graham’s emotional goal celebration
37:34 Listener messages and Cumberland FA’s Ability League
39:14 Thanks to Flexi Rental
39:59 The lads review their weekend matches
40:34 Final thoughts

Subscribe to 3 In The Middle for weekly episodes featuring former professionals Chris Lumsdon and Skip Boyd, current player Dylan McGeouch and special guests from across football.

#3InTheMiddle #AndyHorn #CarlisleUnited #MarkClattenburg #FootballPodcast

Chris Lumsdon, Mark “Skip” Boyd and Dylan McGeouch return for another episode packed with Premier League debates, Carlisle United analysis and brilliant stories from their playing careers.

The lads react to reports that Mohamed Salah could leave Liverpool and debate whether the time is right for him to move on. They also discuss Trent Alexander-Arnold’s England situation, Casemiro’s future and the decisions facing some of football’s biggest names.

Attention then turns to Tottenham as the club enters another period of uncertainty. Who should take charge, and could an experienced managerial partnership transform their season?

Carlisle United’s latest victory is also analysed, including the form of their 20-goal striker, the difference made by their attacking players and the challenge awaiting them in their next match.

The lads also attempt to choose the Premier League’s greatest-ever strikers, with Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba, Sergio Agüero and Harry Kane all entering the debate.

Plus, they discuss Ben White’s return to the England squad, recall being publicly singled out by managers and ask whether traditional Sunday League football is slowly disappearing.

Also featuring:

• Vieira versus Keane in the greatest midfield debate  
• Carlisle United’s travelling supporters  
• Remembering former Carlisle captain Steve Haywood  
• Mohamed Salah’s possible Liverpool departure  
• The Premier League’s greatest-ever strikers  
• What Alan Shearer was really like at Newcastle  
• The best forwards the lads played alongside  
• Tottenham’s managerial chaos  
• The controversy surrounding Ben White and England  
• Being humiliated in front of the dressing room  
• Why Sunday League football is disappearing  
• Can football intelligence be coached?  

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 The greatest Premier League midfielders  
03:44 Gretna Under-20s win the league  
04:28 Carlisle’s referee controversy and travelling supporters  
05:57 Remembering former Carlisle captain Steve Haywood  
09:30 This episode’s sponsor: Flexi Rental  
10:32 Carlisle United’s latest victory and 20-goal striker  
13:12 Is Mohamed Salah leaving Liverpool?  
14:18 Trent Alexander-Arnold’s England future  
15:11 Casemiro’s possible move to Miami  
16:40 The greatest Premier League strikers  
20:27 What Alan Shearer was really like at Newcastle  
26:12 The best strikers the lads played alongside  
29:31 Tottenham Hotspur’s managerial chaos  
33:13 What’s the Crack?  
33:41 The truth behind Ben White’s England departure  
37:25 Being singled out inside the dressing room  
39:39 Is Sunday League football disappearing?  
44:31 Can football intelligence be coached?  
48:13 Final thoughts  

This episode is sponsored by Flexi Rental. What’s the Crack? is sponsored by Warwick Road Bed Centre and its new and used furniture store on Brook Street.

Subscribe to 3 In The Middle for weekly episodes featuring former professionals Chris Lumsdon and Mark “Skip” Boyd, current player Dylan McGeouch and guests from across football.

#3InTheMiddle #MohamedSalah #LiverpoolFC #Tottenham #CarlisleUnited #FootballPodcast

Chris Lumsdon, Mark “Skip” Boyd and Dylan McGeouch return for another episode packed with Carlisle United memories, unbelievable Sunderland stories and heated Premier League debates.

The lads look back on Carlisle’s remarkable six-goal victory before sharing their experiences of playing for and working with Paul Simpson.

Dylan reveals how a short conversation with Simo convinced him to join Carlisle, while Lummy explains why he continued defending the manager during a difficult League One campaign. Skip also remembers playing alongside Simo during Carlisle’s attempted great escape.

Lummy then continues the story of his Sunderland career, including life around the first team, turning down a new five-year contract and the remarkable occasion when Sunderland allegedly paid £1.5 million for the wrong South American striker.

The lads also attempt to select the greatest three-man midfield in Premier League history. Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes, Patrick Vieira, Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne all enter the debate—but who makes the final three?

Plus, they discuss the hidden pressures facing professional footballers, the politics that influence team selection, Celtic’s title chances and an unforgettable Sunderland trip to Marbella.

Also featuring:

• The best job in professional football
• Brutal three-session preseason trips
• Carlisle United’s six-goal comeback
• Dylan’s first conversation with Paul Simpson
• Why Lummy defended Simo during the League One season
• Carlisle United’s attempted great escape
• Life inside Sunderland’s first-team dressing room
• The £1.5 million wrong-player story
• Why Lummy rejected a five-year Sunderland contract
• Gerrard, Keane, Lampard, Scholes or Rodri?
• The biggest misconceptions about professional footballers
• Michael Bridges’ arrival at Carlisle
• Chris Waddle’s incredible ability at 40
• Celtic, Hearts and the Scottish title race
• Sunderland’s chaotic Marbella trip

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 What is the best job in football?
01:43 The lads’ best and worst preseason trips
08:13 Weekend match reactions
11:06 This episode’s sponsor: The Botanic Room
12:02 Carlisle United’s six-goal comeback
12:50 Memories of playing for Paul Simpson
13:18 How Simo convinced Dylan to join Carlisle
16:21 Why Lummy defended Simo in League One
20:19 Skip plays alongside Simo
23:38 Lummy’s Sunderland career continues
26:30 Should young players stay or go on loan?
28:00 Sunderland signed the wrong £1.5 million striker
30:05 Why Lummy rejected a five-year Sunderland contract
31:02 Newcastle or Sunderland: which club is bigger?
32:23 Clown Watch: playing out from the back
37:41 The greatest Premier League midfielders
42:29 Does Bruno Fernandes belong among the greats?
44:27 What’s the Crack?
45:18 Skip’s journey into professional football
50:59 The biggest misconception about footballers
51:39 Lummy gets attacked after Carlisle’s relegation
52:33 The reality of being frozen out
56:11 Players who immediately looked a different level
56:34 Michael Bridges arrives at Carlisle
57:54 Training with Chris Waddle
59:25 The best managers the lads worked with
01:01:26 Can Celtic still win the title?
01:03:04 Carlisle’s potential Wembley trip
01:03:47 Sunderland’s chaotic Marbella story
01:07:51 The politics behind football team selections
01:12:07 Sir Geoff Hurst is coming to Carlisle
01:13:15 Thanks to The Botanic Room
01:14:09 The final Carlisle United quiz
01:16:00 Final messages

This episode is sponsored by The Botanic Room. What’s the Crack? is sponsored by Warwick Road Bed Centre.

Subscribe to 3 In The Middle for weekly episodes featuring former professionals Chris Lumsdon and Mark “Skip” Boyd, current player Dylan McGeouch and special guests from across football.

#3InTheMiddle #CarlisleUnited #PaulSimpson #SunderlandAFC #PremierLeague #FootballPodcast

Dylan McGeouch reveals what really happened during his final months at Carlisle United and why he found himself separated from the first team after Mark Hughes arrived.

Dylan explains how a serious hamstring injury required surgery, why problems during his rehabilitation delayed his return and the frustrating conversations that followed. He also reveals how he arrived expecting to train with the first team, only to be told he would be working alone—and why one honest conversation could have handled the situation completely differently.

Chris Lumsdon, Mark “Skip” Boyd and Dylan also examine Carlisle’s defeat at Tamworth, the team’s inconsistent performances and the growing frustration among supporters. Has Mark Hughes received enough backing, does the current squad have a recognisable identity and could this be his final season at Brunton Park regardless of whether Carlisle win promotion?

The lads then settle one of English football’s biggest debates: Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes or Frank Lampard? They compare the three Premier League legends before sharing what it was actually like to face Gerrard and Scholes on the pitch.

Lummy also recalls his nightmare Premier League debut against a Chelsea side featuring Gianfranco Zola, Gustavo Poyet, Dan Petrescu and Chris Sutton. Plus, Skip shares another brilliant Sir Bobby Robson story involving Kieron Dyer, a written-off BMW and one unforgettable dressing-room mistake.

Also featuring:

• Dylan McGeouch’s honest account of leaving Carlisle United
• Is Mark Hughes still the right manager for Carlisle?
• Carlisle’s defeat against part-time Tamworth
• Why supporters are struggling to connect with the team
• Has Mark Hughes been properly backed?
• Could Carlisle need a new manager next season?
• Nigel Clibbens’ departure from the club
• Terell Thomas’ ability and concentration problems
• Gerrard vs Scholes vs Lampard
• Facing Paul Scholes and Steven Gerrard
• Lummy’s nightmare Premier League debut against Chelsea
• Sir Bobby Robson’s brilliant Kieron Dyer mistake
• Mike Dean’s brutal comment during an FA Cup match
• The problem with football content creators attacking players
• Life after retiring from professional football
• The truth about footballers’ pre-match meals

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Clown Watch: Chelsea, referees and “respecting the ball”
01:44 Mike Dean’s brutal comment to Lummy
04:54 Football creators disrespecting Premier League players
08:55 Skip and Dylan celebrate important victories
11:36 Lummy’s first bare-knuckle boxing experience
13:47 Sir Bobby Robson’s brilliant Kieron Dyer mistake
15:52 Dressing-room culture and football’s apple-crumble race
17:43 Welcome to Episode Seven
18:25 Sponsored by Peacock Precision Services
19:31 Has Mark Hughes been properly backed?
22:37 Carlisle’s unacceptable defeat at Tamworth
24:10 Does Carlisle United have a playing identity?
27:30 Carlisle’s inconsistency and lack of emotion
30:48 Is Mark Hughes leaving Carlisle this season?
32:16 Why are Carlisle playing so negatively?
36:49 The frustrating talent of Terell Thomas
38:49 Nigel Clibbens leaves Carlisle United
41:21 Lummy’s England Under-18 teammates
45:36 The Tottenham goalkeeper controversy
48:36 Lummy’s nightmare Premier League debut against Chelsea
54:13 Can substituting a young player destroy his confidence?
57:36 What makes a footballer world-class?
59:03 Gerrard vs Scholes vs Lampard
01:01:15 Playing against Gerrard and Scholes
01:03:17 Paul Scholes teaches Celtic a football lesson
01:05:54 What’s the Crack?
01:07:04 Replacing football after retirement
01:09:12 Why Dylan was frozen out at Carlisle
01:15:31 Footballers’ strange pre-match meals
01:19:30 Skip shares an emotional family update
01:19:57 Final messages and sponsor thanks

This episode is sponsored by Peacock Precision Services, covering engineering, surveying and property development. Follow Peacock Precision and Peacock Properties on Instagram.

What’s the Crack? is sponsored by Warwick Road Bed Centre and Warwick New & Used Furniture.

Subscribe to 3 In The Middle for weekly football conversations featuring former professionals Chris Lumsdon and Mark “Skip” Boyd, current player Dylan McGeouch and guests from across the game.

#3InTheMiddle #CarlisleUnited #MarkHughes #DylanMcGeouch #FootballPodcast

This episode is sponsored by Lloyd Kia Carlisle, the bestselling vehicle brand in the area and a European Dealer of the Year. What’s the Crack? is sponsored by Warwick Road Bed Centre.

Chris Lumsdon, Skip Boyd and Dylan McGeouch return for another episode packed with football debates, honest career stories and plenty of dressing-room nonsense.

Dylan continues the story of his career at Celtic, revealing what it was like sharing a dressing room with Scott Brown, Fraser Forster and other major names. He explains why going out on loan transformed his career and why he ultimately decided to leave Celtic permanently for Hibernian.

Dylan also recalls being unexpectedly summoned to Celtic Park for a meeting with Peter Lawwell as negotiations with Hibs reached a crucial stage. He reveals the advice his agent gave him, how he handled the meeting and why joining Hibs proved to be one of his best career decisions.

The lads debate which footballers truly deserve to be called world-class, ranking legends including Pelé, Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer and Steven Gerrard.

They also discuss whether players automatically respect managers who enjoyed successful playing careers, what a typical week looked like for a professional footballer and whether they should have remained at the highest level for longer.

Attention then turns to the latest Old Firm chaos as the lads react to the match between Celtic and Rangers and condemn the ugly scenes involving supporters after the final whistle. They also revisit their title and relegation predictions and discuss Carlisle United’s promotion hopes.

Also featuring:

• Dylan’s Celtic first-team experience
• Sharing a dressing room with Scott Brown
• Fraser Forster’s unbelievable ability
• Why Dylan needed to leave Celtic
• The meeting with Peter Lawwell
• Moving to Hibernian
• The truth about football agents
• Carlisle United’s promotion concerns
• Do famous managers receive more respect?
• Steven Gerrard’s presence as a manager
• World-class versus elite footballers
• Messi, Ronaldo, Maradona and Pelé
• A typical week for a professional footballer
• Why the lads didn’t remain at the highest level
• Bus Head’s greyhound investment
• The people who hold dressing rooms together
• Celtic, Rangers and the Old Firm chaos
• Premier League title and relegation predictions

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Filming from No Limits Carlisle
01:40 The lads review their weekend matches
03:00 Carlisle United and Karl Hawley
03:49 Welcome to Episode Six
04:38 This episode’s sponsor: Lloyd Kia Carlisle
06:29 The worst parts of being a professional footballer
07:40 Carlisle’s brutal fitness sessions
09:25 Carlisle United’s promotion concerns
11:12 Do footballers really need agents?
15:01 Carlisle’s mentality and recent form
16:29 Dylan’s Celtic career and dressing-room stars
16:56 Playing alongside Scott Brown
18:39 How good was Fraser Forster?
20:51 Dylan’s career-changing loan move
23:02 Why Dylan left Celtic for Hibernian
23:38 The unexpected meeting with Peter Lawwell
26:51 The Hibs player who carried his FA Cup medal
28:51 Clown Watch
30:08 David Gilly’s charity match
30:34 Do successful players make better managers?
32:01 Steven Gerrard’s presence at Rangers
32:56 Which footballers were genuinely world-class?
34:21 Shearer and Henry: world-class or elite?
37:30 Ronaldo, Zidane and Scholes debated
41:09 What’s the Crack?
41:28 Sponsored by Warwick Road Bed Centre
42:29 A typical week for a professional footballer
47:58 Should the lads have played at the top for longer?
51:17 Dylan’s move to Sunderland
55:48 The unsung heroes inside football clubs
56:16 Bus Head’s disastrous greyhound investment
01:02:22 What’s the Crack? concludes
01:02:29 Celtic, Rangers and the Old Firm chaos
01:05:26 Title and relegation predictions
01:07:38 Carlisle’s promising young players
01:08:58 Thanks to Lloyd Kia Carlisle
01:09:29 Final messages

Subscribe to 3 In The Middle for weekly episodes featuring former professionals Chris Lumsdon and Skip Boyd, current player Dylan McGeouch and special guests from across football.

#3InTheMiddle #CelticFC #HibernianFC #DylanMcGeouch #OldFirm #FootballPodcast

This episode is sponsored by Male Skin Studio, a male-focused skin specialist offering advanced medical-grade treatments. What’s the Crack? is sponsored by Warwick Road Bed Centre.

Chris Lumsdon, Skip Boyd and Dylan McGeouch return for an episode packed with encounters against football legends, Premier League debates and more brilliant stories from their playing careers.

Dylan recalls facing a full-strength Real Madrid team featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Kaká, Xabi Alonso, Karim Benzema and Ángel Di María. He reveals what it felt like to see Ronaldo standing opposite him in the tunnel—and how he and Adam Matthews attempted to stop him.

Skip remembers playing against a 14-year-old Wayne Rooney in a reserve-team match and realising immediately that Everton had an extraordinary talent on their hands.

The lads also discuss Arsenal’s title challenge, the Champions League draw and the latest Old Firm match before analysing Carlisle United’s recent performances and their position heading towards the play-offs.

Skip continues the story of his career, from training alongside Newcastle’s first team and being hammered by Sir Bobby Robson after a chaotic trip to Marbella, to establishing himself at Port Vale and suffering the heartbreak of being left out at Wembley.

The first edition of What’s the Crack? also features the lads’ most memorable career moments, the best players they ever faced and a debate about whether old-school dressing-room pranks helped build stronger teams.

Also featuring:

• Dylan McGeouch marking Cristiano Ronaldo
• A 14-year-old Wayne Rooney destroying Newcastle’s reserves
• Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge
• The latest Champions League draw
• Celtic and Rangers’ Old Firm battle
• Carlisle United’s play-off preparations
• Skip’s Newcastle United experience
• Sir Bobby Robson’s Marbella team talk
• Being left out of a Wembley final
• The best players the lads ever faced
• Lummy’s battle with Robert Prosinečki
• Old-school dressing-room pranks
• What’s the Crack?

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 The lads review their weekend matches
04:17 Stories about Skip’s dad
05:54 Welcome to Episode Five
07:02 This episode’s sponsor: Male Skin Studio
08:29 Carlisle United’s latest performances
14:21 Should footballers celebrate other teams online?
16:36 Are individual statistics making players selfish?
21:29 Hayden Atkinson makes his senior debut
26:34 Arsenal’s title challenge
28:01 The Champions League draw
30:25 Celtic and Rangers’ Old Firm battle
34:38 Newcastle’s criticism and Pickford’s brilliant save
35:56 West Brom’s managerial problems
39:39 Skip’s Newcastle United career
42:27 The unpredictable genius of Shola Ameobi
43:23 A chaotic trip with Sir Bobby Robson
44:34 Skip’s Port Vale debut
46:36 Choosing Carlisle over League One offers
49:00 Was Skip too nice as a footballer?
49:39 The heartbreak of being left out at Wembley
53:45 Introducing What’s the Crack?
55:03 The lads’ most memorable career moments
57:04 Winning at Wembley
59:11 Beating Rangers in a cup final
01:02:03 The teams and players they hated facing
01:05:59 The best players the lads ever faced
01:06:43 Facing a 14-year-old Wayne Rooney
01:08:10 Dylan faces Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid
01:10:30 Lummy’s battle with Robert Prosinečki
01:13:40 Do old-school dressing-room pranks belong in football?
01:16:50 Leaving Carlisle hospitality to meet your girlfriend
01:18:06 The first What’s the Crack? comes to an end
01:19:12 Thanks to Male Skin Studio
01:19:23 Thanks to Warwick Road Bed Centre
01:20:45 Final messages

Subscribe to 3 In The Middle for weekly episodes featuring former professionals Chris Lumsdon and Skip Boyd, current player Dylan McGeouch and special guests from across football.

#3InTheMiddle #CristianoRonaldo #WayneRooney #Arsenal #CarlisleUnited #FootballPodcast