Jack is back with Tom Hayward to break down all the key talking points following Tottenham's pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand.

We kick off with a dive into the true value of these far-flung summer tours. We call out the puritanical backlash against overseas pre-seasons, highlighting the hypocrisy of ignoring the global nature of modern squad compositions and the commercial realities that sustain top-flight clubs. We also celebrate Mathys Tel's standout pre-season displays, before assessing Antonin Kinsky's performances and debating Henry Winter’s claim that Spurs still desperately need a new number one.

Next, we tackle the transfer rumour mill. We break down the Victor Osimhen links and explain why his post-tax wage demands make a move to the Premier League completely non-viable, before turning our attention to the intriguing reports linking Cody Gakpo with North London.

Then, we dissect Roberto De Zerbi’s astonishingly open quotes regarding Richarlison’s future as the Brazilian enters the final year of his contract. Is it time to cash in, or can De Zerbi unlock his best form once again?

Finally, we answer a listener request to rank Tottenham's Brazilians from best to worst, featuring everyone from Lucas Moura, Sandro, and Heurelho Gomes to Paulinho, Carlos Vinícius, and Gilberto.

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Jack jumps on to discuss this games gone of a preseason fixture between Chelsea and Spurs.

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Jack is joined by Flav from The Fighting Cock to react to a massive week of pre-season news and breaking press conference quotes from Roberto De Zerbi out in Australia.

We kick off with De Zerbi's wild "transfer shark" comments, breaking down his declaration that another transfer "bomba" is imminent and speculating on which marquee attacker could be heading to North London next.

We then react to the huge news that Dejan Kulusevski is back in full training. Just how vital is a fully fit Kulusevski to Spurs' ambitions this season, and how does his unique creative profile fit into De Zerbi’s tactical setup?

Plus, we dissect De Zerbi's astonishingly candid comments regarding Lucas Bergvall's positional demands. This sparks a broader discussion on the vibe shift under the new manager: why Spurs desperately needed a leader who isn't afraid to have uncomfortable conversations, make ruthless decisions, and set uncompromising standards for the squad. We also briefly touch on Mathys Tel’s wonder strike against Sydney FC and why the youth pathway is far from dead at Hotspur Way, before diving into the listener mailbag for your questions!

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Tottenham's pre-season rolls on with a win over Sydney FC... on penalties, but a wins a win. It was a largely rotated side, giving a number of youngsters a chance to show their skills. Tel with a wonderful strike to open the scoring, and a frustrating second half with Andy Robertson showing what he's about, nearly creating two more goals. Luca Williams-Barnett also a highlight, as per usual. Ultimately, it's more minutes in the legs.

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Jack is joined by football writer Jack Gallagher to dive into the massive cultural and tactical shifts happening at Tottenham Hotspur under Roberto De Zerbi. We kick off by looking at the heavy Italian influence running through the club, from the dugout to the blockbuster signing of Sandro Tonali, and ask whether our guest finally has a soft spot for Spurs.

Attention then turns to the transfer market and De Zerbi’s ruthless new streak. We discuss the manager's stark ultimatum regarding Lucas Bergvall's future and debate whether letting the highly-rated Swede leave would be a massive mistake or simply an inevitable consequence of Mateus Fernandes' arrival. We also dissect Micky van de Ven’s recent quotes, exploring what his comments reveal about the gloomy atmosphere under Thomas Frank last season and the much-needed injection of passion and offensive football De Zerbi has brought to the group.

Finally, we look at the missing pieces of the puzzle. With De Zerbi wanting more attacking talent through the door, we assess our current forward line and discuss whether reported targets like Savinho and Eli Junior Kroupi are the players who can truly move the needle. We wrap up by getting Jack's ultimate predictions for Tottenham in the season ahead.

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Jack is joined by Bardi to digest Tottenham Hotspur's return to action following their pre-season friendly against MK Dons. We discuss Mateus Fernandes' stunning debut goal and Sandro Tonali's brilliant performance in a double pivot, while looking ahead to how Conor Gallagher and James Maddison might fit into this new-look midfield.

With Xavi Simons singing the club's praises and Spurs aiming for the league without the distraction of European football, we debate whether it is time to truly allow ourselves to dream under Roberto De Zerbi. We then weigh up the transfer dilemma: should Spurs push to sign attackers like Savinho, or prioritise minutes for academy standouts like Luca Williams-Barnett and Mikey Moore, especially given the youthful squad taken on the Australia and New Zealand tour?

Finally, we dive into a bumper Thursday Q&A, answering listener questions on everything from Mikey Moore's physical transformation and De Zerbi's five-year vision to Colombian cuisine, Shakira, and the Christian Ziege of Steffen Freunds.

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Jack is joined by Jon Bass to reflect on the climax of the World Cup and look ahead to Tottenham Hotspur's return to action. We open by celebrating Pedro Porro's World Cup triumph with Spain, looking at what it means to have a World Cup-winning player back in N17. We contrast Porro's high with Cristian Romero's tournament, debating whether Roberto De Zerbi will actively look to move Romero on or if he can get the defender fully on side for the campaign ahead. Plus, with Inter Milan reportedly circling for Djed Spence, we ask whether Spurs could realistically sanction a sale given his recent resurgence.

Attention then turns to the fast-approaching pre-season friendlies. Is Jon mentally ready for Tottenham to be back, and what sort of side can we expect De Zerbi to field in these early fixtures?

Finally, we break down the latest news surrounding Spurs' academy stars. Following Tynan Thompson's £4m move to Manchester United, we address growing fan anxieties over losing top young talent, while weighing it against reports that the club firmly rejected attempts to sign defensive prospect Jun'ai Byfield. We wrap up by assessing the club's overall direction of travel under the new hierarchy.

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Welcome to the final episode of the Rule the Roost World Cup Digest! For one last time, I am wrapping up the 2026 World Cup, dissecting a tense and dramatic final, taking a look at England's chaotic bronze medal match, and reflecting on the tournament as a whole.

On today's briefing:

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Jack is joined by Baker to digest a dramatic few days of international heartbreak and Tottenham Hotspur transfer news. We open the show with a painful autopsy of England's 2-1 World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, questioning Thomas Tuchel's in-game management and whether he is to blame for the team dropping too deep after Anthony Gordon's opener.

We then switch our focus to Spurs, tackling the massive squad dilemmas facing the club regarding Cristian Romero and Djed Spence. With Luka Vuskovic officially heading to Brighton, did Romero's performance against England prove he is simply too good for the club to even consider selling? And with Spence in such incredible form on the international stage, would letting him leave this summer be a huge mistake? We also marvel at Pedro Porro's unbelievable Team of the Tournament-worthy form for Spain, reflecting on how inspired of a move it was to keep hold of him.

Finally, we look at the breaking news regarding Nottingham Forest's rejected £38m bid for Lucas Bergvall. With Spurs reportedly holding out for closer to £50m, we debate whether the club should rinse Forest for every penny or just keep hold of the talented midfielder. We wrap up by briefly touching on our forward options, highlighting Will Lankshear and Mikey Moore as exciting prospects we are desperate to see feature under Roberto De Zerbi this season.

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Welcome back to the Rule the Roost World Cup Digest! We have reached the final four. Gavin joins me to unpack an incredibly strong set of quarter-final results, dissect the manufactured media narratives, and look ahead to a deeply personal and highly charged semi-final for England.

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