Second Captains

This was the goaling-est weekend of the Premier League season thus far, even notwithstanding the tactical chess match that was Chelsea/Arsenal. Gavin Cooney of the42 and Jonathan Wilson join us to discuss Liverpool's win over Spurs, Eddie Howe's rise, trouble at the bridge and Marsch madness.

There are also reports from David Ornstein of the Athletic that Liverpool are up for sale - another chance for some nation-state to get involved maybe?

Plus there's the return of Permutations Man, 10 red cards from Argentina, and the argument for the FAI to dabble in our native tongue.

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Ireland survived an almighty onslaught in the first half against SA before playing some brilliant attacking rugby of their own. Did this game prove this team can cope against the most powerful sides in the world?

We chat to Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley about Ireland's grace under fire, the ability to transition from defence to attack, the job Paul O'Connell is doing in scrum and maul, and if this result means anything for the world cup.

We also examine Rassie's conspiracy tweet, Mack Hansen's licence to roam, and the atmosphere at the Aviva. Plus, there's chill Cheika beating Eddie the workaholic.

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Liverpool battled to a win over Napoli and once again it was hard to take your eyes off Darwin Nunez. Eoin wants someone to measure a footballer's "presence" on the field but Ken is all about the facts and figures and compares him to a few other star PL strikers.

As Iran prepares to play a World Cup on its own doorstep, the country has been swept by waves of protests after the September 16th killing in police custody of 22-year old Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested by the Morality Police in Tehran for wearing her hijab 'loosely'. The security forces cracking down on these protests have since killed at least 284 people, including 45 children, according to Iran's Human Rights Activists News Agency.

Now a group of current and former Iranian athletes has written to FIFA asking that their country be banned from the World Cup for human rights violations, while the Ukrainian FA has asked for Iran to be thrown out in retaliation for supplying Russia with attack drones for its war against Ukraine.To talk about this story, we welcome back to the pod Jason Rezaian, a Washington Post reporter who was arrested and imprisoned in Tehran in 2014, and who first spoke to us on the pod during the 2018 World Cup.

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We talk about Arsenal keeping up their two-point lead, Manchester United keeping up their 85-year run, and as Newcastle roll into the top four, Eoin tries to force Ken to give due credit to Eddie Howe.

After another defeat for Liverpool prompted fresh rounds of comparisons between this season and Klopp's last season at Dortmund, we discuss the relevance of the "seven-year-itch" theory. If you are a Liverpool fan, the conclusions may disturb you...

Then we're joined by David Sneyd to talk about Shamrock Rovers' third successive League of Ireland title. How have they become so dominant, and where is the next challenge likely to come from?

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It takes a big person to admit that they were wrong. This week on The Second Captains World Service, Ken Early was prepared to do just that as he trawled through his own back catalogue to a piece written in advance of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Also, we were joined last night in Windmill Lane by Olympic Champion Kellie Harrington in what was a fascinating chat to launch her excellent new autobiography with Roddy Doyle.

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Munster may have lost on Saturday evening in the Aviva, but were there enough reasons to be cheerful about the manner of their defeat to Leinster - and was it a positive portent for Irish rugby to see two young Irish outhalves playing so well at full-back? We also discuss the Jean Kleyn yellow card and if some moments are impossible to referee.

Kilmacud Crokes are the Dublin Senior Football, Hurling and Women's Football champions for 2022, and Eoin McDevitt for one is in the mood for a celebration. 

Plus there's news from Ken's inbox, and a chance for 10 listeners to join us for the launch of Kellie Harrington's brilliant new book in Windmill Lane this Thursday.

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As the games pile up the flames of crisis are blazing brightly at Leeds, Spurs, Wolves, Brighton and Liverpool, but for one happy club the only light on the horizon is the golden glow of a new dawn. Today is all about Aston Villa's world record new manager bounce. 

We also identify the qualities Casemiro has brought to Manchester United, and why Roy Keane was so eager to defend Ronaldo on Saturday night.

The Ronaldo debate leads into our chat with the Wall Street Journal's Josh Robinson, who has written a new book with Jonathan Clegg: Messi v Ronaldo: One Rivalry, Two GOATS, And The Era That Remade The World's Game - which is published here on November 10th. The book traces the evolution of Ronaldo and Messi's parallel superstardom, and shows how their influence transformed the sport and defined an era. 

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It's been a sparkling week on the World Service as Roddy Collins and Paul Howard joined 30 of our members for what was a highly enjoyable debut live show in our new city centre studios. We also spoke to Dion Fanning & John Brewin about Ronaldo's failure to read the room & Darwin "Shredder" Nunez.

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Munster finally got their season up and running on Saturday with a convincing win over The Bulls. They still butchered a lot of chances but a confident looking Joey Carbery got MOTM, new coach Mike Prendergast got a tune out of his attack and a number of fringe players - Edwin Edogbo, Shane Daly, Tom Ahern and Jack Crowley - all made an impact.

We chat to Shane Horgan about rays of hope down south, improved standards in the URC and with Wasps and Worcester going into administration, why the English Premiership may have more bleak days ahead.

And as we prepare for tonight's live show with Roddy Collins and Paul Howard we have a reading from the Rodfather.

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Liverpool beat Manchester City in a match that had more than the usual share of morbo. We pay tribute to the men who did more than anyone else to make this occasion so memorable: Anthony Taylor and Darwin Nunez.

We also discuss some of the weekend's other action, including Xavi's mediocre record at Barcelona, Jordan Pickford's actually rather exceptional record at saving shots this season, and a scandalous suggestion that Arsenal may have benefited from the L-word in their narrow win at Leeds.

Jonathan Wilson joins us to analyse the match at Anfield. Did Jurgen Klopp's comments about City's funding have a direct influence on what happened on the pitch? What to make of the mess that is 'let it flow'? And will City's loss of control in the second half give Guardiola cause to brood on the best way to approach the big tests to come?

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