Rule The Roost - A Tottenham Hotspur Podcast

Jack welcomes Paul O Keefe back to the show to discuss the latest happenings at Tottenham and ask the ultimate question: is everything really as big a mess as it seems from the outside?

We start by looking back at the decision to keep Thomas Frank in post for as long as the club did. Whose idea was it to delay the inevitable, and what does that hesitation say about the current power structure?

Conversation then turns to Igor Tudor stepping into the hotseat. What does Paul make of the appointment? We discuss whether a strict disciplinarian can actually exert proper control over this group of players when everyone knows he is only a temporary fix.

Finally, Paul answers your listener questions, including:


Have the club already spoken to Mauricio Pochettino about a summer return?


Will Johan Lange and Vinai Venkatesham be the next ones fired?


What are our favourite North London Derby memories?

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Jack welcomes Tom Foins back to the pod to mull over the news that the majority of Thomas Frank's backroom staff have been given the chop.

We discuss the brutal nature of the clearout, specifically Johnny Heitinga departing after just 33 days at the club, and the loss of highly-rated coach Justin Cochrane. Tom reflects on why this is probably for the best in the long run, but acknowledges that the saga is once again reflective of the chaotic decision-making plaguing the club.

The futures of Vinai Venkatesham and Johan Lange are firmly in the spotlight. We ask if the club would be better off without them, and whether a total uprooting of the hierarchy is needed to put this miserable period behind us.

Attention then turns to the appointment of Igor Tudor. We discuss what we can hope and expect from him during his time as Spurs boss, especially with such a depleted squad, will he be forced to tap into the youth team resources?

Finally, we look ahead to the summer: Mauricio Pochettino seems to be the most obvious pick right now, but is he actually the right one?

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Jack jumps on an impromptu call with Gazzetta dello Sport's Tommy Milanese to react to the breaking news that Igor Tudor is all but confirmed as Tottenham's new interim manager.

We dig into Tudor's reputation in Italy to find out exactly what we are getting. Tommy gives the lowdown on his mixed spells with Lazio and Juventus (including that recent 8-game winless run), and we discuss whether his abrasive, high-intensity tactical style can actually blend with this specific group of players, or if it's a disaster waiting to happen.

We also ask the big questions: will he be willing to incorporate the youth players Spurs are so reliant on? And crucially, is he the man to save us from the drop?

Tommy also shares some fascinating insight into Fabio Paratici’s reputation in Italy, and shares a brilliant anecdote about an impromptu lunch date with Jose Mourinho during his time working for the club.

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Jack is joined by Jon Bass to discuss the sacking of Thomas Frank.

We look back on his time at the club and ask the burning question: why on earth did it take the board this long to remove a man who was clearly incompetent for the role? We reflect on the damage done and the "existential spiral" the club now finds itself in.

Attention then turns to the future. We mull over potential alternative appointments, both on an interim basis to save our season, and the long-term vision required to fix the mess.

Jon also answers your listener questions, including a deep dive into whether the injuries are actually being caused by the stadium's retractable surface, and a shout for a "left-field" appointment with a little-known coysy affiliation.

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Thomas Frank is gone - official announcement.

Tottenham's worst manager of the Premier League era and one of their worst managers of all time... but is it all his fault?

Whatever the case, something had to change... but who now? Cochrane? Heitinga? Mason?
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