Playmaker

Introducing: Sport Sensemaker from Tortoise

August 23, 2022 04:00 - 1 minute - 2.31 MB

Sign up to our new free weekly newsletter here: https://torto.se/3Ag3MfV We're delighted to announce the launch of a new, free weekly newsletter covering the inner workings of global sport. Each week, award-winning sports writer Paul Hayward will bring analysis of how the world of sport really operates, asking: where does the power lie? How will sports evolve? What is their role in modern life? Sign up for free here: https://torto.se/3Ag3MfV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m...

Ep 190: End of season review - part two

May 20, 2022 04:00 - 7 minutes - 10.7 MB

Chloe Beresford and Andrew Butler continue to reflect on the 2021/2022 season. In this final episode of the Playmaker they discuss club ownership, diversity in football and the overall state of English football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 189: End of season review - part one

May 19, 2022 04:00 - 7 minutes - 10.4 MB

Chloe Beresford and Andrew Butler reflect on the 2021/2022 season. In part one they discuss the return of fans to stadiums after Covid restrictions, preparations for the Qatar World Cup and the state of the women's game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 188: A day of great importance

May 18, 2022 05:00 - 6 minutes - 14.5 MB

17-year-old Jake Daniels has become the first male footballer in the UK to come out as gay in 32 years. So how has the journey to get here taken so long? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 187: Milan’s glory days return

May 17, 2022 04:00 - 5 minutes - 12.4 MB

Seven years ago, neither of Milan’s clubs made the top four in Italian football. Now, they’re vying for the Serie A title. How have the good times returned to the city? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 186: The Ewood Express

May 16, 2022 04:00 - 5 minutes - 7.65 MB

Yasir Sufi is the award-winning integration and development manager at Blackburn Rovers. His work is making a huge difference to a town where racial disparities have been a problem for decades. How has he done it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 185: The world’s most expensive football shirt

May 13, 2022 04:00 - 6 minutes - 133 MB

Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ shirt has sold for over £7million – and in the process has made former England midfielder Steve Hodge incredibly rich. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 184: The King of Angel City

May 12, 2022 04:00 - 5 minutes - 7.02 MB

Angel City FC sold out its first ever match in the US National Women’s Soccer League. But it aims to be more than just a success on the pitch, thanks to its star-studded backers like tennis veteran Billie-Jean King. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 183: The Iñaki Williams method

May 11, 2022 04:00 - 5 minutes - 7.33 MB

Athletic Bilbao forward Iñaki Williams has set the standard for playing time in Spain, having played more consecutive matches than any other player in history. What’s his secret? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 182: The fall of the penalty king

May 10, 2022 04:00 - 6 minutes - 8.5 MB

Jorginho was Chelsea’s star penalty taker. But recently he hasn’t been able to convert. What happened to the penalty king? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 181: Moustapha Cisse’s extraordinary season

May 09, 2022 04:00 - 5 minutes - 7.85 MB

Football is awash with stories that describe one player’s improbable rise through the ranks to sporting fame. But none quite come close to Moustapha Cisse’s rise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 180: The return of Bury FC

May 06, 2022 04:00 - 7 minutes - 17.6 MB

Bury FC have been bought out of administration three years after their league expulsion. But the hard work in starting again has more hurdles than you might think. The Playmaker from Tortoise - one story every day to make sense of the beautiful game. Tortoise is a news start-up devoted to slow journalism. We take news slowly. We tell stories that really matter, and take time to see the full picture. If you want more slow and considered journalism, you can become a member of Tortoise and ...

Ep 179: The Misunderstanding of Paul Pogba

May 05, 2022 04:00 - 5 minutes - 7.19 MB

Reports suggest that Paul Pogba will leave Manchester United this summer. He’s often been an unpopular figure at Old Trafford, but has he really been as much of a failure as people say? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 178: Newcastle’s Mission Possible

May 04, 2022 04:00 - 6 minutes - 14.5 MB

Newcastle looked doomed to almost certain relegation when Eddie Howe took over in November. But in the end they achieved safety with games to spare. How has he done it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 177: Football’s crypto bros

May 03, 2022 04:00 - 9 minutes - 12.8 MB

The worlds of football, cryptocurrencies and their associated industries have collided more this season than ever before. What can we expect in the future from these fledgling businesses? Listen to The Backstory here: torto.se/3xVAYcX Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 176: The adventures (and misadventures) of football's crypto bros

April 29, 2022 04:00 - 7 minutes - 11 MB

This season has seen the emergence of NFTs and other crypto products in the world of football. So where do clubs and the wider game go next in these markets? The Playmaker from Tortoise – one story every day to make sense of the beautiful game. Tortoise is a news start-up devoted to slow journalism. We take news slowly. We tell stories that really matter, and take time to see the full picture. If you want more slow and considered journalism, you can become a member of Tortoise and get acc...

Ep 175: England’s El Clasico

April 27, 2022 23:00 - 5 minutes - 12.3 MB

Manchester City and Liverpool have been dominating the Premier League for the last few years. Is this fixture becoming England’s El Clasico? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 174: Oldham’s long road back

April 27, 2022 04:00 - 6 minutes - 14.4 MB

Unpopular owner Abdullah Lemsagam has seen his club Oldham relegated out of the football league for the first time in their history. Can they find their way back? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 173: Manchester United’s open heart surgery

April 26, 2022 04:00 - 5 minutes - 7.63 MB

Erik Ten Hag will be the Manchester United manager from next season. But if the team needs “open heart surgery,” will he be given the space he needs to complete the job? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 172: Karren Brady kicking down doors

April 25, 2022 04:00 - 5 minutes - 12 MB

Karren Brady has paved the way for women in leadership roles in football. But 30 years after she took over at Birmingham City, why are there still only a small percentage of women in roles like hers? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 171: Football’s next superstar

April 22, 2022 04:00 - 6 minutes - 8.82 MB

Erling Haaland has been described as the ‘perfect’ footballer, and has reportedly told Manchester City he wants to sign for them. So just how good could the 21-year-old become? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 170: Kenny Shiels gets emotional

April 21, 2022 04:00 - 4 minutes - 6.61 MB

Northern Ireland Women’s manager Kenny Shiels caused controversy when he claimed that female players are more emotional than their male counterparts. But isn’t emotion just part of football? The Playmaker from Tortoise – one story every day to make sense of the beautiful game. Tortoise is a news start-up devoted to slow journalism. We take news slowly. We tell stories that really matter, and take time to see the full picture. If you want more slow and considered journalism, you can become...

Ep 169: The Sean Dyche sacking

April 20, 2022 04:00 - 5 minutes - 11.8 MB

Relegation-threatened Burnley shocked the world of football by firing long serving manager Sean Dyche with just eight games to go on his contract. Why did they do it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 168: The new England captain

April 19, 2022 04:00 - 5 minutes - 7.35 MB

England is hosting the Women’s Euros this summer. With hundreds of thousands of tickets already sold, new captain Leah Williamson has an important role to play. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 167: The Championship cheat code

April 14, 2022 04:00 - 6 minutes - 8.9 MB

Aleksander Mitrovic recently broke the Championship record for most goals scored in a season. What more does he need to do to prove himself as an elite striker? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 166: Qatar under the microscope

April 13, 2022 04:00 - 5 minutes - 8.15 MB

Qatar has consistently denied that migrant workers involved in preparations for this year’s World Cup have suffered human rights abuses. But a new Amnesty International report has forced them to admit some of the problems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 165: Neil Warnock’s goodbye

April 12, 2022 05:00 - 5 minutes - 12.4 MB

Neil Warnock has retired from football management after a record-breaking 41 years. There have been plenty of funny moments, but he will be remembered for more than his jokes and outbursts. The Playmaker from Tortoise – one story every day to make sense of the beautiful game. Tortoise is a news start-up devoted to slow journalism. We take news slowly. We tell stories that really matter, and take time to see the full picture. If you want more slow and considered journalism, you can become...

Ep 164: Gambling ads ban

April 11, 2022 04:00 - 5 minutes - 7.41 MB

Sports stars will no longer be allowed to advertise gambling products in the UK from October. But there’s more to this rule change than you might think. The Playmaker from Tortoise – one story every day to make sense of the beautiful game. Tortoise is a news start-up devoted to slow journalism. We take news slowly. We tell stories that really matter, and take time to see the full picture. If you want more slow and considered journalism, you can become a member of Tortoise and get access t...

Ep 163: English football’s independence day?

April 08, 2022 04:00 - 7 minutes - 9.71 MB

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in parliament that English football should have an independent regulator. But will it ever actually happen? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 162: Wembley travel chaos

April 07, 2022 04:00 - 5 minutes - 12.9 MB

Manchester City and Liverpool fans are unable to travel by train to Wembley for their FA Cup semi-final because of planned engineering works. What is the FA doing about it? The Playmaker from Tortoise - one story every day to make sense of the beautiful game. Tortoise is a news start-up devoted to slow journalism. We take news slowly. We tell stories that really matter, and take time to see the full picture. If you want more slow and considered journalism, you can become a member of Torto...

Ep 161: The Italian Job

April 06, 2022 04:00 - 5 minutes - 7.77 MB

It’s been a bumpy ride so far for new Spurs managing director of football Fabio Paratici, but together with fellow Italian Antonio Conte he seems to be succeeding. The Playmaker from Tortoise - one story every day to make sense of the beautiful game. Tortoise is a news start-up devoted to slow journalism. We take news slowly. We tell stories that really matter, and take time to see the full picture. If you want more slow and considered journalism, you can become a member of Tortoise and g...

Ep 160: The Fab Five

April 05, 2022 04:00 - 5 minutes - 7.49 MB

After voting against the introduction of five substitutes on three separate occasions, the Premier League has now agreed to the new rule from next season. Who will it benefit? The Playmaker from Tortoise - one story every day to make sense of the beautiful game. Tortoise is a news start-up devoted to slow journalism. We take news slowly. We tell stories that really matter, and take time to see the full picture. If you want more slow and considered journalism, you can become a member of To...

Ep 159: Fasting footballers

April 04, 2022 04:00 - 6 minutes - 8.46 MB

During the month of Ramadan, those who observe it cannot eat or drink from dawn until sunset. How do you cope if you’re a Muslim footballer who fasts? The Playmaker from Tortoise - one story every day to make sense of the beautiful game. Tortoise is a news start-up devoted to slow journalism. We take news slowly. We tell stories that really matter, and take time to see the full picture. If you want more slow and considered journalism, you can become a member of Tortoise and get access to ...

Ep 158: The World Cup’s other English manager

April 01, 2022 04:00 - 6 minutes - 9.06 MB

Canada has qualified for the World Cup for only the second time in their history – and it’s all been made possible by their English manager, John Herdman. The Playmaker from Tortoise - one story every day to make sense of the beautiful game. Tortoise is a news start-up devoted to slow journalism. We take news slowly. We tell stories that really matter, and take time to see the full picture. If you want more slow and considered journalism, you can become a member of Tortoise and get access...

Ep 157: Goodbye to FFP

March 31, 2022 04:00 - 5 minutes - 13.1 MB

Financial Fair Play was brought in by UEFA in 2011, but now it’s being scrapped in favour of a new financial monitoring system for clubs. What will the changes mean? The Playmaker from Tortoise - one story every day to make sense of the beautiful game. Tortoise is a news start-up devoted to slow journalism. We take news slowly. We tell stories that really matter, and take time to see the full picture. If you want more slow and considered journalism, you can become a member of Tortoise and...

Ep 156: Gerrard versus Saka

March 30, 2022 05:00 - 5 minutes - 12.8 MB

Bukayo Saka says sometimes players need more protection from being fouled, but ex-players like Steven Gerrard disagree. Who is right? The Playmaker from Tortoise - one story every day to make sense of the beautiful game. Tortoise is a news start-up devoted to slow journalism. We take news slowly. We tell stories that really matter, and take time to see the full picture. If you want more slow and considered journalism, you can become a member of Tortoise and get access to more of our stori...

Ep 155: Tammy the King of Rome

March 29, 2022 04:00 - 5 minutes - 7.63 MB

Tammy Abraham has quickly become a hero among Roma fans. But how has he adapted to life abroad so well when others have failed to do so? The Playmaker from Tortoise - one story every day to make sense of the beautiful game. Tortoise is a news start-up devoted to slow journalism. We take news slowly. We tell stories that really matter, and take time to see the full picture. If you want more slow and considered journalism, you can become a member of Tortoise and get access to more of our st...

Ep 154: The unstoppable Luton Town

March 28, 2022 04:00 - 5 minutes - 7.21 MB

Five years ago, Luton Town were sixth in the fourth tier of English football. Now, they stand on the brink of the Premier League. The Playmaker from Tortoise – one story every day to make sense of the beautiful game. Tortoise is a news start-up devoted to slow journalism. We take news slowly. We tell stories that really matter, and take time to see the full picture. If you want more slow and considered journalism, you can become a member of Tortoise and get access to more of our stories, ...

Ep 153: Messi’s Parisian nightmare

March 25, 2022 05:00 - 6 minutes - 102 MB

Lionel Messi’s arrival at Paris Saint-Germain was supposed to be the icing on the cake for the French club. He’s now getting booed. What’s gone wrong? The Playmaker from Tortoise - one story every day to make sense of the beautiful game. Tortoise is a news start-up devoted to slow journalism. We take news slowly. We tell stories that really matter, and take time to uncover the full picture. If you want more slow and considered journalism, you can become a member of Tortoise and get acces...

Ep 152: Trinity Rodman’s role model

March 24, 2022 05:00 - 5 minutes - 8.02 MB

Trinity Rodman is setting her own precedents in the US Women’s Soccer League, but her role model isn’t who you might think. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 151: Everton in trouble

March 23, 2022 05:00 - 6 minutes - 8.74 MB

Everton has made huge financial losses under owner Farhad Moshiri. What would relegation mean for the club? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 150: West Ham’s Ukrainian hero

March 22, 2022 05:00 - 5 minutes - 7.38 MB

Andriy Yarmolenko was given compassionate leave when his home country of Ukraine was invaded by Russia. Now, he’s led West Ham to an historic European quarter-final. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 149: Old Trafford versus the bulldozer

March 21, 2022 05:00 - 6 minutes - 8.91 MB

Plans to redevelop Manchester United’s iconic stadium include the option to knock it down completely and build a new ground, but fans are reluctant. How important is a stadium to a team’s success? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 148: Another way

March 18, 2022 05:10 - 8 minutes - 20.5 MB

Amidst Newcastle’s takeover and sanctions against Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, what can League Two club Forest Green Rovers teach us about a different approach to football club ownership? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 147: What next for Chelsea Women?

March 17, 2022 05:00 - 5 minutes - 8.02 MB

What will the sanctions against Roman Abramovich, Chelsea’s owner, mean for Emma Hayes and the women’s team? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 146: When a transfer becomes political

March 16, 2022 05:00 - 5 minutes - 8.92 MB

When Yaroslav Rakitskyi moved from Shakhtar Donetsk to Zenit St. Petersburg, he was dropped from the Ukrainian National team. Why did it take a war for him to fully realise the implications of his move? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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