Rule The Roost - A Tottenham Hotspur Podcast

Jack and Con reunite after a tedious three-week international break, determined to keep the vibes upbeat as Tottenham prepare for a massive trip to Old Trafford.

We kick things off by discussing Harry Kane matching Peter Shilton's England caps record. We ask why the striker's incredible legacy is still so under-appreciated by rival fans, and put to bed any lingering rumours of a spectacular return to North London. Attention then turns to the academy: with European giants reportedly circling 18-year-old wonderkid Luca Williams-Barnett, we debate whether Roberto De Zerbi needs to start trusting the youth and finally...

With the unprecedented three-week international break mercifully drawing to a close, Jack and Gavin reunite to reflect on a deeply frustrating start to the Tottenham season.

We kick things off by questioning whether the club has lost a piece of its soul. With hundreds of millions spent on new players, why does it feel harder than ever to connect with this squad compared to the organic, passionate teams of the Mauricio Pochettino era? Jack admits his creeping 'weasel' doubts over Sandro Tonali's £100 million arrival, fearing another Tanguy Ndombele situation, while Gavin explores why the scars of past t...

Jack is joined by Dan Kilpatrick from The Athletic to react to the seismic breaking news that an independent commission has found Manchester City guilty of 114 of their 115 financial charges.

We break down the Premier League's damning statement regarding sham contracts and artificially inflated revenues, alongside City's immediate plans to appeal. We then dive into the potential sanctions—ranging from multi-year points deductions to total expulsion—and ask what this historic verdict means for the integrity of the last decade of English football.

Dan explains why Tottenham Hotspur might be the club most heavily impacted by C...

With the international break providing a welcome respite from the current Premier League season, Jack and Phil hit pause to retreat into a happy place and talk about one of the most uniquely brilliant players to ever wear a Spurs shirt: Dele Alli.

Sparked by his recent training videos, the duo take a misty-eyed trip down memory lane to celebrate Dele's alien-like talent and his unbelievable highlights reel. From the jaw-dropping flick and volley against Crystal Palace to his dominant brace against Real Madrid and that impossible Ajax assist, we recount the moments that made him a...

Jack is joined by professional football coach Harry Brooks to take an unfiltered, black-and-white look at the reality of Tottenham Hotspur sitting at the bottom of the Premier League table.

We kick things off by addressing Harry's reputation for being 'negative' online, explaining why his analytical coaching perspective prevents him from blindly clapping along to the club's unprecedented summer spending. We dissect the "utterly disgraceful" squad building that saw Spurs spend hundreds of millions without securing a dominant presence in either the attacking or defending penalty boxes, leaving the team with a physically struggling Dominic Solanke as...

Spurs lose again, this is becoming a theme. Don't expect much joy or bright-siding on this one. You've been warned. Pitiful home performance to a Villa side facing their own problems at the moment. Something has to change, and quick.

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Spurs lose to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup. Another loss at Anfield. It was looking like a joyless evening, until a few subs saw things start to get going... until a Szoboszlai screamer sealed the deal.

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Jack and Baker reunite to unpack Tottenham's agonising 407-minute goal drought and figure out exactly where the attack is misfiring.

We dive deep into the underlying numbers, revealing that despite leading the league with 111 take-ons and dominating penalty box touches, Spurs have generated an abysmal 2.22 xG from open play. Baker argues it is time for fans to embrace "FC Stinky" and rely on grinding out set-piece goals, especially with centre-backs Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke currently topping the squad's expected goals charts. We also put Dominic Solanke's lack of aggression under the microscope...

Jack jumps on to discuss Tottenham vs Everton, the first goalless draw at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium. Spurs controlled the game for the most part, but still, no goals. Is it the lack of a quality striker? Is it the lack of a creative number 10? Or is it becoming ever more apparent that the ground is built upon a Saxon burial ground and vengeful, disturbed spirits plague our fortunes?

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Jack sits down with James Maw from The Athletic for a Thursday catch-up and a huge listener mailbag.

We kick things off with Mauricio Pochettino's latest comments, as the former boss claims he would return to manage Spurs in any division. We also unpack his explosive demand that Chelsea be stripped of their 2016-17 Premier League title for financial breaches and the trophy be handed to Tottenham. James shares exactly how he would feel about a retrospective title parade, before giving his verdict on Roberto De Zerbi's start to the season.

The second half of...

Jack is back behind the mic! After recovering from throat surgery, he joins Gavin to recount his viral away-day experience travelling from Tottenham to Nottingham ONLY using public buses.

Attention then turns to the pitch, where Spurs finally stopped the rot against Nottingham Forest with a largely controlled performance. We break down Rodrigo Bentancur's standout display, exploring how an injury-free run and Sandro Tonali's combative presence helped him thrive in midfield. We also discuss Conor Gallagher's impressive outing, whether the online hate he receives is forced, and why the omission of Mateus Fernandes felt strange given De...

Jack shares his thoughts on Tottenham’s first point of the season at a hostile City Ground. The scoreline doesn’t really convey what was a fairly good, tense affair. Plenty of positives for Tottenham to take from that, despite the lack of cutting edge.

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With Jack taking a cautious approach to his recovery, Tom Foins is joined once again by long-time collaborator Dan Kilpatrick (The Athletic) for a special reunion to dissect a historic £400 million transfer window.

The duo look back at the chaos of the summer and ask whether this unprecedented spending spree is a genuine statement of intent or simply a necessary correction to keep Spurs competitive in the modern Premier League. We discuss the early impressions of Jan Paul van Hecke following Daniel Levy's alleged comments on his fee, heap praise on the massive potential of Mateus Fernandes, a...

Jack returns to the microphone following emergency throat surgery to deliver a raw, honest debrief on Tottenham's disappointing home defeat to Newcastle and the chaotic final days of the transfer window.

We break down what went wrong against Newcastle, examining why teams still arrive in North London believing Spurs can be easily turned over. Jack questions whether Antonin Kinsky is ready to be a Premier League number one, raises fitness concerns around Sandro Tonali, and reflects on the frustrating injury to Savio alongside the bright spark of Omar Marmoush.

Attention then turns to deadline week...

With Jack sidelined recovering from throat surgery, Oly and Rosa of Hometown Glory take the reins to dissect a hectic week of Tottenham Hotspur action and transfer business.

We kick off by reviewing the confidence-boosting 5-1 Carabao Cup victory over Charlton. We dish out heavy praise for Matheus Fernandes, ponder Mikey Moore's place after an impressive performance, marvel at Savio's instant goalscoring impact, and ask whether conceding a late goal highlights a lingering aerial vulnerability in the squad.

Next, we look at the arrival of Omar Marmoush from Manchester City. We discuss whether his time...

Jack is joined by Windy from The Extra Inch podcast to digest a miserable opening weekend for Tottenham Hotspur following a heavy defeat to Brentford.

We dissect everything that went wrong. Are we simply watching a rebuilt team suffering teething problems under Roberto De Zerbi, or did the physical mismatch expose a deeper cultural rot that still lingers at the club? We look closely at Lucas Bergvall's struggles and ask whether De Zerbi deliberately threw him into the deep end to prove a point, before discussing the ongoing concern of Archie Gray having to fill in as...

Jack is back to pick apart that opening day defeat to Brentford.

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Welcome back to a special bonus episode of Rule the Roost! Following our main chat with Spurs presenter and broadcaster Ben Haines, we open up the mailbag to put your questions directly to the man himself.

Ben tackles a brilliant mix of the serious, the insightful, and the completely absurd from our listeners and patrons. We dive straight into the media's anti-Spurs bias, discussing how the club internally views narratives like last year's nonsense that Tottenham getting relegated would be good for the Premier League.

On the footballing side, we look at Antonin Kinsky's incredible...

Jack is joined by broadcaster and Spurs presenter Ben Haines for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the mood, standards, and cultural shifts taking place at Hotspur Way.

Ben shares his unique perspective from behind the microphone, reflecting on what it was really like navigating post-match interviews during the toughest moments of last season and the stark turnaround in energy the moment Roberto De Zerbi walked through the door. We discuss De Zerbi's calm and laser-focused approach day-to-day, how the squad balances immense ambition with hard graft, and why it is time for everyone around the club to...

Jack is joined by Rosa from the Hometown Glory podcast to dissect a massive week of Tottenham Hotspur news, transfers, and pre-season action.

We kick things off with the confirmed departure of Cristian Romero to Atletico Madrid. Jack has been highly critical of the Argentine recently, but Rosa steps up to fiercely defend his legacy—expect a heated debate on how his time in North London will be remembered.

Next, we review the weekend's pre-season double-header against Hoffenheim. We marvel at Sandro Tonali's brilliant performance and discuss what the midfield hierarchy looks like for the li...

Jack is joined by Phil to break down a mammoth week of outgoing and incoming transfer business at Tottenham Hotspur.

We kick off with the massive news that Manchester City's Savinho is edging ever closer to a move to North London. While we are still waiting for the official confirmation, we discuss the excitement surrounding his seemingly imminent arrival and what he will bring to Roberto De Zerbi's frontline.

We then turn to the headline exit: Cristian Romero sealing a move to Atletico Madrid. We reflect on his turbulent career at the club, weighing up...

Jack is joined by Iain from Poddenham Podspur to dissect the latest online Spurs discourse, transfer rumours, and pre-season action.

We start with a meta-look at the Tottenham podcasting landscape over the summer before diving straight into the shocking rumours linking Cristian Romero with a move to Arsenal. Is a deal across North London utterly unacceptable, or is there an uncomfortable, pragmatic "hear me out..." angle to be explored?

Next, we reflect on a fiery pre-season clash against Getafe that laid bare Tottenham's current lack of dynamic options in the final third, gauging Iain's anxiety...

Jack jumps on live to chat about Spurs' preseason fixture against Getafe.

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Jack is joined by Billie T to break down all the latest Tottenham Hotspur transfer chaos, fitness updates, and media narratives.

We open by weighing up the surprising transfer links surrounding Djed Spence and his reported interest from Liverpool. We dive into the pros and cons of letting him go, alongside Billie's general take on our summer window so far—including why he isn't sold on Cody Gakpo and whether it's time to start worrying about the Savinho deal.

Next, we react to exciting training ground footage of Dejan Kulusevski and Mohammed Kudus putting in fu...

Jack is back with Tom Hayward to break down all the key talking points following Tottenham's pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand.

We kick off with a dive into the true value of these far-flung summer tours. We call out the puritanical backlash against overseas pre-seasons, highlighting the hypocrisy of ignoring the global nature of modern squad compositions and the commercial realities that sustain top-flight clubs. We also celebrate Mathys Tel's standout pre-season displays, before assessing Antonin Kinsky's performances and debating Henry Winter’s claim that Spurs still desperately need a new number one.

Ne...

Jack jumps on to discuss this games gone of a preseason fixture between Chelsea and Spurs.

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Jack is joined by Flav from The Fighting Cock to react to a massive week of pre-season news and breaking press conference quotes from Roberto De Zerbi out in Australia.

We kick off with De Zerbi's wild "transfer shark" comments, breaking down his declaration that another transfer "bomba" is imminent and speculating on which marquee attacker could be heading to North London next.

We then react to the huge news that Dejan Kulusevski is back in full training. Just how vital is a fully fit Kulusevski to Spurs' ambitions this season, and how does his...

Tottenham's pre-season rolls on with a win over Sydney FC... on penalties, but a wins a win. It was a largely rotated side, giving a number of youngsters a chance to show their skills. Tel with a wonderful strike to open the scoring, and a frustrating second half with Andy Robertson showing what he's about, nearly creating two more goals. Luca Williams-Barnett also a highlight, as per usual. Ultimately, it's more minutes in the legs.

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Jack is joined by football writer Jack Gallagher to dive into the massive cultural and tactical shifts happening at Tottenham Hotspur under Roberto De Zerbi. We kick off by looking at the heavy Italian influence running through the club, from the dugout to the blockbuster signing of Sandro Tonali, and ask whether our guest finally has a soft spot for Spurs.

Attention then turns to the transfer market and De Zerbi’s ruthless new streak. We discuss the manager's stark ultimatum regarding Lucas Bergvall's future and debate whether letting the highly-rated Swede leave would be a massive mi...

Jack is joined by Bardi to digest Tottenham Hotspur's return to action following their pre-season friendly against MK Dons. We discuss Mateus Fernandes' stunning debut goal and Sandro Tonali's brilliant performance in a double pivot, while looking ahead to how Conor Gallagher and James Maddison might fit into this new-look midfield.

With Xavi Simons singing the club's praises and Spurs aiming for the league without the distraction of European football, we debate whether it is time to truly allow ourselves to dream under Roberto De Zerbi. We then weigh up the transfer dilemma: should Spurs push to...

Jack is joined by Jon Bass to reflect on the climax of the World Cup and look ahead to Tottenham Hotspur's return to action. We open by celebrating Pedro Porro's World Cup triumph with Spain, looking at what it means to have a World Cup-winning player back in N17. We contrast Porro's high with Cristian Romero's tournament, debating whether Roberto De Zerbi will actively look to move Romero on or if he can get the defender fully on side for the campaign ahead. Plus, with Inter Milan reportedly circling for Djed Spence, we ask whether Spurs could realistically sanction...

Welcome to the final episode of the Rule the Roost World Cup Digest! For one last time, I am wrapping up the 2026 World Cup, dissecting a tense and dramatic final, taking a look at England's chaotic bronze medal match, and reflecting on the tournament as a whole.

On today's briefing:

Spain the Rightful Kings: Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time thanks to a 106th-minute winner from Ferran Torres. Ultimately, they are the rightful and unsurprising winners. They have now gone a record-breaking 38 matches unbeaten and conceded just one single goal all tournament. A genuinely...

Jack is joined by Baker to digest a dramatic few days of international heartbreak and Tottenham Hotspur transfer news. We open the show with a painful autopsy of England's 2-1 World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, questioning Thomas Tuchel's in-game management and whether he is to blame for the team dropping too deep after Anthony Gordon's opener.

We then switch our focus to Spurs, tackling the massive squad dilemmas facing the club regarding Cristian Romero and Djed Spence. With Luka Vuskovic officially heading to Brighton, did Romero's performance against England prove he is simply too good for...

Welcome back to the Rule the Roost World Cup Digest! We have reached the final four. Gavin joins me to unpack an incredibly strong set of quarter-final results, dissect the manufactured media narratives, and look ahead to a deeply personal and highly charged semi-final for England.

France's Flaws: Morocco’s incredible World Cup run ends in a rather forgettable match. France get the job done and are brutally clinical, but do they actually look invincible? We're not so sure.

Spain Squeeze Through: A hard-fought 2-1 win for Spain over Belgium. The Belgians showed up and ga...

Jack is joined by lifelong Spurs fan and actor/puppeteer Chris Thatcher for a wide-ranging chat about finding the funny side of following Tottenham Hotspur. We kick off by discussing his brilliant Instagram series, "A day in the life of a Spurs fan," and he shares how creating those comedy videos during the absolute misery of last season's relegation battle actually helped him feel much more attached to the wider Spurs community.

We look at the start of a massive new era at Tottenham. With Sandro Tonali officially unveiled and Mateus Fernandes already secured, we spend a...

Welcome back to the Rule the Roost World Cup Digest! It is a massive Round of 16 bumper edition today, and I am thrilled to be joined by Phil to go through the thrills, spills, and the biggest talking points from an absolutely wild knockout stage.

On today's 15-minute briefing:

Morocco's Fear Factor: Canada gave it a valiant effort, but it is safe to say their race was run. Meanwhile, Morocco are officially announcing themselves at the top table—they are truly a team to be feared now.

Are France the New Brazil?: France se...

Jack is joined by Gavin for a jam-packed episode covering all the drama on the international stage and the latest movements at Hotspur Way. We kick things off with a deep dive into the World Cup, reacting to England's absolute heroics in their thrilling 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca. We discuss the tantalising prospect of Harry Kane lifting the trophy and being immortalised as a World Cup-winning captain, and debate where this brilliant tournament ranks among the best in recent years. We also tackle the bizarre political backdrop of the competition, looking at the troubling reports...

David Ornstein has dropped the bomba this evening that Spurs are spending around the £100m mark for Sandro Tonali from Newcastle... THEY SHOULD HAVE RELEGATED US!! Finally, we're acting like a big club... unreal times!!

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Jack is joined by football.london’s Alasdair Gold to escape the sweltering UK heatwave and take a welcome step back from the frantic transfer window. In a relaxed, wide-ranging discussion, we explore Alasdair's personal journey on the Tottenham beat, looking at what it really takes to cover the club through recent turbulent seasons and finding reasons to look forward to brighter days ahead.

We chat about the shifting landscape at Hotspur Way following the confirmation of the Mateus Fernandes deal and the ongoing pursuit of Sandro Tonali. We also reflect on the broader strategy behind Roberto De...

Jack is joined by Ricky from Lads Anon and The Fighting Cock to digest the latest Tottenham Hotspur transfer news and international talking points. We kick things off with some England World Cup chatter, focusing on the frustrating media fallacy that Harry Kane is only now being recognised as a truly great player because he left Spurs, completely ignoring the world-class levels he consistently hit during his time in N17. We also discuss exactly what this England side needs to do to go all the way and win the competition.

Attention then turns back to Tottenham, starting...