Are You Not Entertained?

The lads are joined by the legendary golf author John Hopkins, to discuss golfing heroes, the beauty and the codes of great sports writing, and a million anecdotes from inside the ropes. Wonderful listening from a true craftsman. In the margins: a very honest discussion around the resignation of the CEO of English football and some chat around sports films like Ford v Ferrari. 

Simon Hallett, the new owner of a Plymouth Argyle talks about running a community club on 2019, attracting new audiences, player strategies, and “no dickheads”; league politics, and media strategies. Is football like running an investment firm? Obviously discussing mourinho, Bale, sex before games, and Magic Johnson.

The lads are joined by senior sports insider Andy “the nugget” Sutherden from industry giant CAA. Very spikey discussions around Gomez/Sterling; “media bollocks”; PE investment in sport; new faces in tennis; Man City and FFP; Taylor Swift getting “scootered”; defending the Carabao Cup; Logan/KSI; did the Leeds doc turn boomerang; great insight into building the Beckham brand; are bookmakers good s...

Statler and Waldorf come back for their Goal Own Goal “ok boomer” rants. This week its fake boxing, the end of influencers, glorious Lionesses, and a full health check around the glorious game of Association Football. From the Kop, to Inter; from unreasonable coaches, to algo player trading strategies; from selling our Champions league soul, to banning heading. And part 2 of our series on Realpoli...

The lads are joined by the world famous caddy Craig Connolly (the wee man) and ex LPGA pro and golf visionary Jeehae Lee from TopGolf. A roundtable discussion on the future of Golf. Can it attract new audiences; where are the characters; will we ever see a Nicklaus/Jacklin moment again; Tiger not getting it off the tee. Amazing stuff. Just way way too short.

The team are joined by rugby legend Gavin Hastings on the eve of a world cup final for an eye-opening discussion. We discuss the Haka; TMO; tiny margins and accepting those defeats; rugby parents; has Union become League?; winning in Paris 95 and rugby afterparties; the 1990 Grand Slam; the zenith that is the Lions; the players with gravitas. And, of course, a prediction for The Final.

The lads are schooled by Phil Liggett, the Oracle of Cycling, who talks about Mercx, Bartoli, Coppi and now all the fresh exciting young riders. Astonishingly frank statements around Mr Armstrong and loyalty. Phil tells us his view as to where cycling (and Lance) go from here. Recorded on 14 October 2019

Grant and Roger discuss realpolitik in sports. Having “shameless liars” as fit and proper owners; who really cares about international football; closing an eye to drugs and shoes in athletics; Wagatha Christie; gangsters running Italian football; the Tokyo International Allstars in rugby; and PR disasters from the NBA in China. It doesn’t get any richer than that.

Chris Sweeney joins Giles, Grant and Roger to discuss his book on Thomas Gravesen, the last of the football mavericks. From porn stars to poker and knocking out Ronaldo’s teeth. What is today's role of the sporting maverick. Will we ever see the likes of John Daly, Brian Barnes, Gazza, or Cantona again? How DO you coach them? And how do sponsors manage the latent risks? Leave any snowflake tendenc...

Roger and Grant discuss the impossible job of running a league, as sport polarises and money talks; the impact of fan-run leagues; managers and their "shelf-life"; Roy Keane's punditry; what could possibly be wrong with the Rugby World Cup and the Athletics in Doha; German goalies; and of course Bernardo Silva and the Milky Bar Kid.

Giles Morgan joins the home team for an astonishing conversation with Mark Oliver, one of the most prescient minds in sport. We get to see the future on new formats, new business models, new leagues.  From Football to Cricket, Rugby to Golf and everything in-between.

Grant and Roger come back for Season 2 and review an amazing summer of sport, both on and off the field. Cricket, Tennis, Golf, Politics, and of course Fulham and Football. Biting honesty as always. 

Grant and Roger do their season finale Goal Own Goal, and reflect on their passion project experience as authentically as possible. Arrivederci hopefully.

The boys host the founder of Wyscout, Matteo Campodonico, who explains  how he developed his vision for moneyball for European football. From his love of Genoa FC, detesting Sampdoria, to being shown Sacchi videos as a player, and realizing the immense market for sports data in scouting and coaching. It’s a unique window into how the player and coach transfer market REALLY works. And how football...

Grant and Roger are joined by F1’s Zarah Al-Kudcy to discuss balance and progress in sport. From Highbury to Hockenheim, via cricket and rugby, this amazing young sports executive was a delight, and an education. Take away? Sports at the top level needs more women!

Grant and Roger give us their own personal views on an amazing week for football both on and off the pitch. From their own inimitable perspective. No punches pulled. No sacred cows.

Grant and Roger welcome world class, and very erudite, cricketer Chris Cairns for a very honest conversation. Discussing being the son of a great sportsman; the future of New Zealand sport; Allblacks and CVC; what takes a sportsperson to elite level; inside stories of great all rounders; Miller and the Don; Christchurch and the role of sports; matchfixing; and the future of sport content and rende...

A unique insight into the mindset and DNA of a top top golfer and very impressive young man. On and off the course, he is astonishingly deep, and yet not too serious. Just perfect. All you we can say is we’ve got our golfer for the next generation. 

Matt Rogan, son of sporting parents; a reluctant wing back wanting to be Nevin; standing in the Shed; loving the lonely mental battle of tennis and golf; the attraction of the David Speedies in life; leadership culture in sport, Adrian Moorhouse, and building a great company vision; challenging governing bodies to grow and get better; sport, following music, a deep dive on modern data driven sport...

From Malibu to Augusta National our hosts discuss NCAA and true sportsmanship, German bottle crashing at Dortmund, Neeta’s story changing young girls’ lives; Augusta showcasing women’s golf in all its splendor; “stop the greed” for ticket prices; Fulham going down; rebranding the FA for the politically correct; Strachan becoming MrAngry; not liking the scousers; soft London football. Splendid chat...

Grant and Roger delve into the world of Italian football with Federico Smanio. Ex pro, ex league director, currently running the wonderful Wylab sports incubator. His insight into the sport from all perspectives is totally authentic.

Grant enjoys commenting on the international week, dwelling on diverging fortunes for the home nations; the ongoing purgatory of Scotland, and the fearless youth of England. The return of Vialli to his beloved Sampdoria? Playing Serie A in china....thin end of the wedge? Points deductions for breaking FFP, end of “speculate to accumulate”? Ronnie back at No1. The clear evidence of the rise of wome...

Roger and Grant host a very special guest in Richard Gillis. Journalist, author (The Captain Myth) and all round thought leader in sport. Astonishing insight on PE investors, leadership, sport polarisation, sporting myths, and authentic punditry (like Benaud). Also discussing Grant’s medal partner Eddy Pepperell, epic rugby comebacks, and f1 sports documentaries. One of our best episodes. So much...

Grant and Roger discuss charming the ladies at baseball, English clubs doing the business in Europe, fan invasions and paying the price, bribing sports directors to get into Uni, and the magnificent chaos of Italian football. 

The lads welcome @CormackDavie. Based in the US and a massively successful tech founder, he still gives his time and money to his hometown team of @AberdeenFC. We talk Harper, Clark and the arrival of Fergie. Winning attitudes. The upside of 1 team cities, new stadia, and polarisarion.