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Second Captains

ballsymchugh

Thought I'd update the OP with links and stuff for anyone who stumbles across this.

The former Off the Ball hosts have partnered with The Irish Times to do a series of weekly podcasts. They go online each Tuesday and cover a variety of sports, with a number of contributors including Sid Lowe, Richie Sadlier, Gerry Thornley and Shane Horgan.

They can be found:
On The Irish Times' site: http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/second-captains
On Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/secondcaptains-it-com
On iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/second-captains-irish-times/id647893016?mt=2

Or if you prefer not to use iTunes for your podcasts, use this link in whatever app you use (Thanks to youcancallmeal): http://feeds.feedburner.com/secondcaptainsitcom

And here are their Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Cheers,
wnolan1992

so they're almost finished their gardening leave...

where will they end up?

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Rumpy Pumpy

Cienciano wrote: »

As long as its entertaining I couldn't give a rats ass if its fair and balanced

+1

This whole fair and balanced thing is overrated. I sometime watch Bill O'Reilly just for the laugh. I'll listen to Early as he's an interesting polemicist with strong opinions on politics.

Ol' Donie

yosser hughes wrote: »

It's not the point. I don't want to fund Ken's juvenile echo chamber witterings on politics. I accept that many do want their opinions reinforced and what they gain from that is beyond me; but I think it's not very healthy debate.
Now, if he was prepared to get someone on to argue the toss and offer an alternative view, then maybe....

Not to go off topic...but you saying other people want their opinions reinforced sounds a lot like saying you don't want to hear your views being challenged.

That just how it reads, what do i know.

Seamy Fitz

I too am happy to support for €60 a year just to keep the lads in funds for the forseeable future. I owe them that for the last 4 years of laughter. I like others won't get time to listen to all 7 podcasts a week but nice to be able to pick and chose.

I don't like bashing the set up but I really question the introduction of Richie as a presenter. Why do the lads love him so much? His voice goes through me and he doesn't bring anything to the table in terms of opinions. Not a bad lad but they have enough talent in the 5 of them without him on air.

Dots1982

When Second captains do an item on English football, they talk to an English based football journo, when they do an item on Spanish football they talk to aSpanish based football journo..etc etc.

I hope to God they realize they will need to do the same when it comes to politics. If they want to talk about US politics and Trump they will need informed US based political journos.

If its Ken and some other SoCoDo based talking head discussing about how to put the US to rights from leafy Dublin then I might unsubscribe on general principle.

The politics show might actually be good if they pay balanced informed contributors based in the UK/US or mainland Europe. Interesting debates where Ken is challenged could occur.

In other words I hope it will be entirely different to the politics segments they have done up to now.

Trent Houseboat

Dots1982 wrote: »

When Second captains do an item on English football, they talk to an English based football journo, when they do an item on Spanish football they talk to aSpanish based football journo..etc etc.

I hope to God they realize they will need to do the same when it comes to politics. If they want to talk about US politics and Trump they will need informed US based political journos.

If its Ken and some other SoCoDo based talking head discussing about how to put the US to rights from leafy Dublin then I might unsubscribe on general principle.

The politics show might actually be good if they pay balanced informed contributors based in the UK/US or mainland Europe. Interesting debates where Ken is challenged could occur.

In other words I hope it will be entirely different to the politics segments they have done up to now.

In fairness they speak with UK and Spanish based journalists with whom they often disagree.
I don't think they pick people based on whether or not they're in agreement but more based on their knowledge and expertise.

If knowledgeable experts agree with Ken on US politics or Trump is it a lack of balance, should they be eschewed? Should he not talk about it until he can find someone willing to oppose?
If Ken wants to talk about the destruction of our environment should they seek out a climate science denier? Flat earthers? Truthers? Birthers? Anti-vaxers? Holocaust deniers? Bigfoot chasers?

Your principles might force you to unsub because Ken and some imagined SoCoDu-er have opinions you've yet to hear? Maybe they can fill the balance quota you seek in the off chance you accidentally read mailonline headline.

Dots1982

Trent Houseboat wrote: »

In fairness they speak with UK and Spanish based journalists with whom they often disagree.
I don't think they pick people based on whether or not they're in agreement but more based on their knowledge and expertise.

If knowledgeable experts agree with Ken on US politics or Trump is it a lack of balance, should they be eschewed? Should he not talk about it until he can find someone willing to oppose?
If Ken wants to talk about the destruction of our environment should they seek out a climate science denier? Flat earthers? Truthers? Birthers? Anti-vaxers? Holocaust deniers? Bigfoot chasers?

Your principles might force you to unsub because Ken and some imagined SoCoDu-er have opinions you've yet to hear? Maybe they can fill the balance quota you seek in the off chance you accidentally read mailonline headline.

What on earth are you talking about?

They need contributors close to the action (closer than Ken would be) who are respected journalists or writers. I would say they are intelligent enough to know this.

Arghus

With this subscription based way of doing things they'll have to ensure shows that will please their listeners, otherwise it will all go tits up.

I agree with Ken a lot when he goes off on one about politics, though I think he tends to pick the low hanging fruit at lot of the time.

[Deleted User]

Ol' Donie wrote: »

Richard Hillman wrote: »

Oh, I like Ken but don't agree with his politics or at least do not like the lack of balance when he does discuss these things.

The listenership can only decline when they segment their audience.

Unless, of course, people agree with him.

Edit: y'know people who don't care about football, but do care about the world being dragged backwards by the remarkable self interest of a small group of ....

Sorry, getting off topic there

Small group of Islamic jihadists? I look forward to Ken obfuscating and fudging that issue rather than face reality. But with Trump it will be the same black and white "he is literally Hitler" type stuff.

Trent Houseboat

Dots1982 wrote: »

What on earth are you talking about?

They need contributors close to the action (closer than Ken would be) who are respected journalists or writers. I would say they are intelligent enough to know this.

Yeah, that's pretty much what it said.

Trent Houseboat wrote: »

In fairness they speak with UK and Spanish based journalists with whom they often disagree.
I don't think they pick people based on whether or not they're in agreement but more based on their knowledge and expertise.

bren2001

yosser hughes wrote: »

It's not the point. I don't want to fund Ken's juvenile echo chamber witterings on politics. I accept that many do want their opinions reinforced and what they gain from that is beyond me; but I think it's not very healthy debate.
Now, if he was prepared to get someone on to argue the toss and offer an alternative view, then maybe....

I understand that you don't want to fund certain Podcast but the a la carte approach is a non-runner at €5 a month. Even if you only listen to one of the paid podcasts a week. It works out at €1.25 per podcast. If you ran the pay as you play approach, I'd be expecting €1 an episode anyway.

I'll certainly run with it until the summer. If I'm listening to them and enjoying the podcasts, I've no qualms to pay for their content.

Dots1982

The comments on 42.ie to the story would not be encouraging for the hope of this flourishing.

http://www.the42.ie/second-captains-world-service-daily-shows-subscription-3225477-Feb2017/

mrk75

I enjoy them to a point. I think they're starting to believe in their own hype a wee bit and the fact they're in their own sorta bubble has led to them treading water slightly, laughing at their own jokes, developing a bit of smugness and perhaps this is slightly over-reaching on their part (particularly going down the politics route).

But the market will obviously decide. Bold move on their part and it'll be interesting to see where it leads.

dulpit

Dots1982 wrote: »

The comments on 42.ie to the story would not be encouraging for the hope of this flourishing.

http://www.the42.ie/second-captains-world-service-daily-shows-subscription-3225477-Feb2017/

Lot of anti-rugby comments there for some reason...

Dots1982

dulpit wrote: »

Lot of anti-rugby comments there for some reason...

Polarising sport in some ways. A lot of people, especially soccer people, see it as elitist and over hyped.

I'm not a rugby person really but I give them their due, they've brought back more trophies to this country then any other Irish team and deserve respect for that.

I do find the chat on Rugby on SC and OTB boring but that's just me.

Brock Turnpike

dulpit wrote: »

Lot of anti-rugby comments there for some reason...

The average user on that piece of trash website wouldn't be much of a barometer for judging these kind of things.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

[Deleted User]

I will subscribe as I have followed them and been a huge fan for years across tge formats, but if they don't provide honest and fair political stuff then I will be voting with my hard won euros and unsubscribing.

Dots1982

Brock Turnpike wrote: »

The average user on that piece of trash website wouldn't be much of a barometer for judging these kind of things.

Don't know, they are average folks posting i would say. I find it impossible to say if this will work out or not but the sentiments on 42.ie aren't encouraging.

BelovedAunt

dulpit wrote: »

Lot of anti-rugby comments there for some reason...

I'd imagine the majority of SC listeners listen mainly to the football show. Plus, as dots said, it's a polarising game. I played it for three years and still can't stand watching it, let alone listening to people talk about it.

Arghus

Dots1982 wrote: »

Don't know, they are average folks posting i would say. I find it impossible to say if this will work out or not but the sentiments on 42.ie aren't encouraging.

There's more than a few there saying they'll subscribe.

Dots1982

Arghus wrote: »

There's more than a few there saying they'll subscribe.

I didn't do a count but it seemed pretty low. Not saying its a huge indication of anything but wouldn't be encouraging.

ballsymchugh

can anyone tell me if they've done any coverage on the league of ireland at all over the past 2 years? i stopped listening after about 18 months due to lack of it (apart from an extremely brief question with Roddy Collins after he was finished talking about what he was originally asked to come in for)

Arghus

Dots1982 wrote: »

I didn't do a count but it seemed pretty low. Not saying its a huge indication of anything but wouldn't be encouraging.

I would be very skeptical about using the comment section of a site like that as a barometer of general interest. The most negative tend to talk the loudest to boot. If you read this thread, in comparison, it appears that the majority of posters are at least willing to give it a shot. Also look at how busy this thread has become since the announcement.

I have no idea if the subscription model is going to work really, I'll subscribe, but I'm sure a large proportion of the audience won't, something which no doubt The Second Captains guys have forseen. It's up to them really after that to provide content that people feel is value for money, which is really the only way they can succeed longterm. Right now they have a lot of brand recognition and loyalty, which I think will allow them to hit the ground running.

Arghus

ballsymchugh wrote: »

can anyone tell me if they've done any coverage on the league of ireland at all over the past 2 years? i stopped listening after about 18 months due to lack of it (apart from an extremely brief question with Roddy Collins after he was finished talking about what he was originally asked to come in for)

They talked a bit about Dundalk and their European adventures, but that's about it. Richie whines about it the odd time too, but I kind of phase Richie out at this stage.

I'm not a LOI fanatic by any means, and sometimes the self-righteousness of sections of the fanbase is off putting, but they (second captains) have always had a notable blindspot about it. I think their focus is more on the "TV" sports.

Cienciano

Arghus wrote: »

They talked a bit about Dundalk and their European adventures, but that's about it. Richie whines about it the odd time too, but I kind of phase Richie out at this stage.

I'm not a LOI fanatic by any means, and sometimes the self-righteousness of sections of the fanbase is off putting, but they (second captains) have always had a notable blindspot about it. I think their focus is more on the "TV" sports.

Motorsports don't exist on Second Captains either.

foxtrot101

ballsymchugh wrote: »

can anyone tell me if they've done any coverage on the league of ireland at all over the past 2 years? i stopped listening after about 18 months due to lack of it (apart from an extremely brief question with Roddy Collins after he was finished talking about what he was originally asked to come in for)

Other than Dundalk, the only thing I can think of is JJ Gabay's ridiculous League of Ireland Brand Report.

Sideshow Mark

I would bet that Richie's show will be a League of Ireland show.

Dots1982

Their LOI coverage didn't extend much beyond a bizarre yet unchallenged proclaimation by Ken that Dundalk's 30 million cash injection would not make a huge difference to the competitiveness of the league.

Richie told a story about being on the St Pats boards and what he thought was an aversion to LOI clubs working together because i think it was Bohs making some sort of protest about Shamrock Rovers getting the Real Madrid friendly. Forget the details but wasn't hugely interesting.

They just have no interest in it so it might be better to ignore it than pay it lip service in a way that is uninformed.

Dots1982

Sideshow Mark wrote: »

I would bet that Richie's show will be a League of Ireland show.

what? every week? on Second Captains? there's no chance of that..

Dots1982

Arghus wrote: »

I would be very skeptical about using the comment section of a site like that as a barometer of general interest.

So would I, I said as much.

Arghus wrote: »

If you read this thread, in comparison, it appears that the majority of posters are at least willing to give it a shot. Also look at how busy this thread has become since the announcement.

I would also be sceptical of using this thead as a barometer of interest. As the people posting here would be the hard core support I would say.

The lads deserve it to succeed. I just hope they can improve certain parts of the product as well.