Playmaker
208 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 3 ratingsThe Playmaker from Tortoise - one story every day to make sense of the beautiful game.
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Episodes
Ep 48: What makes a footballer great?
October 14, 2021 04:00 - 6 minutes - 15.7 MBSimon Kjaer has been nominated for the biggest individual award in football, the Ballon D'Or. Is it recognition of his skill as a player, or what he did to help save the life of his team-mate, Christian Eriksen? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 47: The Middle East's golden girl
October 13, 2021 04:00 - 6 minutes - 16 MBLast week, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund took a controlling stake of Newcastle United for £300m. It’s the most controversial Premier League takeover to date. But who’s pulling all the strings? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 46: Tyrone Mings, defender - and ally
October 12, 2021 04:00 - 6 minutes - 15.7 MBThe Aston Villa and England defender, Tyrone Mings, spoke out in support of the all-woman team of officials at England's game against Andorra. It's not the first time he has stuck his head above the parapet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 45: Rhys Porter and his critics
October 11, 2021 04:00 - 7 minutes - 16.1 MBRhys Porter is a young Fulham fan who was trolled online because of his disability. He's turned that experience into a big step forward for disabled football supporters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 44: The biggest statistical anomaly in football
October 08, 2021 04:00 - 5 minutes - 13.4 MBWhy are there so few professional footballers in the UK from a South Asian background? The former Arsenal favourite Mesut Ozil is trying to find the answer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 43: How to make a footballer
October 07, 2021 04:00 - 5 minutes - 11.8 MBBecoming a professional footballer is a powerful dream. How do clubs get better at helping young players to cope with the moment when the dream comes to an end? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 42: Rapid fire at Watford
October 06, 2021 04:00 - 7 minutes - 16.9 MBWatford take an unusual approach to their managers: they sack them at the first sign of a poor run of results. Somehow the policy seems to work for the club. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 41: Standing: the supporters' campaign
October 05, 2021 04:00 - 7 minutes - 17.9 MBFrom January next year, leading clubs will be allowed to offer safe standing areas. But it’s something the Football Supporters Association has been calling on for decades. Why did it take so long? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 41: Standing: the supporters' campaign
October 05, 2021 04:00 - 7 minutes - 17.9 MBFrom January next year, leading clubs will be allowed to offer safe standing areas. But it’s something the Football Supporters Association has been calling on for decades. Why did it take so long? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Ep 41: Standing: the supporter's campaign
October 04, 2021 23:00 - 7 minutes - 17.9 MBFrom January next year, leading clubs will be allowed to offer safe standing areas. But it’s something the Football Supporters Association has been calling on for decades. Why did it take so long? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Ep 40: Should loot boxes be in the game?
October 04, 2021 04:00 - 7 minutes - 17.9 MBFIFA 22 came out last week, with some changes to its most controversial feature - loot boxes. Has EA Sports done enough to fend off charges that it's making huge profits from a form of gambling? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 39: Ted Lasso scores
October 01, 2021 04:00 - 5 minutes - 12.5 MBFilm and television have a pretty dismal record making dramas and comedies about football. But now there's Ted Lasso. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 38: Sorry seems to be the easiest word
September 30, 2021 04:00 - 6 minutes - 15.3 MBBruno Fernandes missed a penalty for Manchester United, and later issued a long apology on social media. Cue an almighty row. Should he apologise for his apology? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 37: When referees fight
September 29, 2021 04:00 - 6 minutes - 15.2 MBIn football - a sport worth billions - high refereeing standards are crucial. Could they be undermined if referees are consumed with rivalry and infighting, as a new book alleges? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 36: Norwich's Achilles heel
September 28, 2021 04:00 - 5 minutes - 12.3 MBNorwich are pointless this season and leaking goals. Sometimes it's a mystery why a team is doing badly, but not in Norwich's case. They seem to have a problem in one particular position. To read Felix Tamsut's piece on Germany, football and politics, click here: https://torto.se/3CX5pPn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 35: Measuring the damage done by Football Index
September 26, 2021 04:00 - 5 minutes - 7.88 MBFootball Index was billed as a smart, innovative way to gamble on football. When it collapsed it caused not just heartache but financial ruin as well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 34: It's always sunny in Wrexham
September 24, 2021 04:00 - 6 minutes - 14.5 MBRyan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's takeover of non-league side Wrexham earlier this year left most football fans bemused. But it's likely it would never have happened had it not been for an English comedian. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 33: Iceland's football dynasty
September 23, 2021 04:00 - 5 minutes - 12.8 MBIt wasn’t until 2016 that Iceland saw their side play at a major tournament for the first time. And one Icelandic family in particular have played a starring role. So how did the Guðjohnsen’s come to dominate the sport across the nation? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Ep 33: Iceland's football dynasty
September 23, 2021 04:00 - 5 minutes - 12.8 MBIt wasn’t until 2016 that Iceland saw their side play at a major tournament for the first time. And one Icelandic family in particular have played a starring role. So how did the Guðjohnsen’s come to dominate the sport across the nation? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 32: Football's Candy Crush king
September 22, 2021 04:00 - 6 minutes - 15.8 MBWhen the founder of the popular game Candy Crush bought Derby County, heads turned. But a string of hiring and firing multiple managers, breaking transfer records, and overspending didn't pay off... and the owner Mel Morris has now put the club in administration. So, has he crushed Derby County for good? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 32: Football's Candy Crush king
September 22, 2021 04:00 - 6 minutes - 15.8 MBWhen the founder of the popular game Candy Crush bought Derby County, heads turned. But a string of hiring and firing multiple managers, breaking transfer records, and overspending didn't pay off... and the owner Mel Morris has now put the club in administration. So, has he crushed Derby County for good? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Ep 31: The 'Emptyhad'
September 21, 2021 01:00 - 5 minutes - 12.5 MBPep Guardiola has issued a plea to fans: please, come to matches. In doing so, he ignited a row – and revived a myth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 30: Lonely Pique
September 20, 2021 01:00 - 6 minutes - 13.9 MBHow is Gerard Piqué dealing with the crisis at Barcelona without his famous former team-mates? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Ep 30: Lonely Pique
September 20, 2021 01:00 - 6 minutes - 13.9 MBHow is Gerard Piqué dealing with the crisis at Barcelona without his famous former team-mates? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 29: Scoring Net Zero
September 17, 2021 04:00 - 5 minutes - 13.3 MBThis week, Tottenham Hotspur play Chelsea in a match that will be a first of its kind. But is a 'net zero' football match purely a stunt or signs that things are changing for the better? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 28: Ronaldo v Messi
September 16, 2021 01:00 - 6 minutes - 14.5 MBCristiano Ronaldo’s return to the Premier League with Manchester United was bound to get the conversation going about who, really, can claim the GOAT (greatest of all time) title. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 27: On his jack
September 15, 2021 01:00 - 7 minutes - 16.2 MBWhy is Jack Wilshere – once one of England’s brightest talents – still without a club? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 26: A World Cup every two years - really?
September 14, 2021 04:00 - 7 minutes - 16.7 MBArsene Wenger, the former Arsenal manager, is leading the charge to hold the World Cup every two years not four. Is this an innovation too far from one of football's change-makers? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 25: Francesco Flachi - too close to the fans?
September 13, 2021 04:00 - 6 minutes - 13.9 MBFrancesco Flachi is a Sampdoria legend who was banned for 12 years for using cocaine. To the fans he's "one of us" - but sometimes that's a problem. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 24: Football's vaccine hesitancy problem
September 10, 2021 04:00 - 6 minutes - 14.3 MBA lot of professional footballers are wary of getting the Covid vaccine. What's their problem? And how much of a problem is it for football? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 23: Here we go: the transfer king
September 09, 2021 04:00 - 7 minutes - 16.5 MBFabrizio Romano is the undisputed oracle of football transfer pundits. What's his secret? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 22: Karen Carney, warrior
September 08, 2021 04:00 - 7 minutes - 10.4 MBFormer player now TV pundit Karen Carney is a break-out star in women's football's breakthrough season. She's had to fight all the way for success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 21: The misunderstood midfield maestro
September 07, 2021 04:00 - 6 minutes - 15.4 MBSome pundits don't see the point in Chelsea's Jorginho. He won't care, he's the top contender for this year's Ballon d'Or. You can get the Sensemaker newsletter as an email delivered to your inbox once a day. It’s our editors’ pick of the stories that matter most right now, and why, in brief. You can sign up here for free. Or, if you’d like to join Tortoise as a fully-fledged member, activate your 30-day free trial to access all our journalism. For more information on today's episode, vi...
Ep 20: Covid vs club vs country
September 05, 2021 04:00 - 6 minutes - 15.2 MBIt's one of the oldest grudge matches in football: club versus country. And now the pandemic has made it worse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 19: Keith the duck
September 03, 2021 04:00 - 6 minutes - 15.9 MBA minute's applause rang out at Wigan last weekend for a dead duck called Keith. What does it tell us about who gets commemorated at football matches and why? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 18: Waiting for Kylian
September 02, 2021 08:17 - 6 minutes - 15.7 MBKylian Mbappe hasn’t renewed his contract with PSG. Which means that next summer, one of the best footballers in the world could walk away for free. Will Real Madrid really let that happen? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 17: The rape allegations against Cristiano Ronaldo
September 01, 2021 06:59 - 7 minutes - 16.8 MBCristiano Ronaldo's return to Man Utd was greeted with a huge fanfare. But it overlooks a dark chapter in his past. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 16: Ultra violence in Marseille
August 31, 2021 04:00 - 6 minutes - 14.7 MBFor years, French 'ultras' - hard core supporters linked to violence - have caused havoc within some clubs. Have Marseille's finally gone too far? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 15: Is Bale back?
August 27, 2021 04:00 - 4 minutes - 11.4 MBFor years, Gareth Bale has been something of an enigma - never quite the player we hoped he'd be. Could this season be the one when he catches fire? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 14: The set piece coach
August 26, 2021 04:00 - 6 minutes - 14.5 MBWhen Aston Villa invested in a set piece coach, there was push back that it was one coach too many. But the team's investment in Austin MacPhee is paying off - he's no ordinary specialist. So what do other teams have to learn? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 14: The set piece coach
August 26, 2021 04:00 - 6 minutes - 14.5 MBWhen Aston Villa invested in a set piece coach, there was push back that it was one coach too many. But the team's investment in Austin MacPhee is paying off - he's no ordinary specialist. So what do other teams have to learn? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Ep 13: Emma Hayes changes the game
August 25, 2021 04:00 - 6 minutes - 15.1 MBChelsea women's manager Emma Hayes has changed the perception of what it means to be a woman in football in recent years. How has she done it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 12: Greedy for Grealish
August 24, 2021 04:00 - 5 minutes - 11.9 MBWhen Jack Grealish was signed by Manchester City earlier this summer, the £100m price tag broke British transfer records. So what really sets the midfielder apart from the rest? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Ep 12: Greedy for Grealish
August 24, 2021 04:00 - 5 minutes - 11.9 MBWhen Jack Grealish was signed by Manchester City earlier this summer, the £100m price tag broke British transfer records. So what really sets the midfielder apart from the rest? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 11: Inter trouble
August 23, 2021 04:00 - 6 minutes - 13.9 MBNicolo Barella, one of Italy's most talented players, has just claimed two winners' medals with club and country. But he's returning to a side that's looking precariously close to collapse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 10: The English striker adored in Chile
August 20, 2021 01:00 - 6 minutes - 15.1 MBBen Brereton Diaz has had a year like no other. Born in Stoke-on-Trent and having played at England youth level, how did he become a cult hero this summer in Chile? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 9: Concussion on the pitch
August 19, 2021 04:00 - 5 minutes - 8.18 MBWhen Raul Jimenez suffered from a serious head injury, doctors told him it was a miracle he even survived. But now, he's back playing on the pitch again. So what's changed since for concussion in football? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 9: Concussion on the pitch
August 19, 2021 04:00 - 5 minutes - 8.18 MBWhen Raul Jimenez suffered from a serious head injury, doctors told him it was a miracle he even survived. But now, he's back playing on the pitch again. So what's changed since for concussion in football? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Ep 8: A king’s ransom at King’s Lynn
August 18, 2021 02:00 - 7 minutes - 16.4 MBYou can buy a season ticket cheaper at Premier League side Burnley than at fifth tier King’s Lynn Town. So why has The Linnets’ chairman Stephen Cleeve set such high prices, and will the gamble pay off? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 7: Pochettino and the Galacticos
August 17, 2021 01:00 - 5 minutes - 7.16 MBThis summer, Paris Saint Germain took stardom to a whole new level. With all those egos, and all that expectation, can coach Mauricio 'Poch' Pochettino deliver? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.