Rule The Roost - A Tottenham Hotspur Podcast

WARNING: This episode contains an unfiltered, emotional and deeply cathartic discussion about the state Tottenham Hotspur currently find themselves in. If you’re after a clean-cut rallying cry ahead of the weekend, this probably isn’t the energy you need right now. But if you’re feeling drained, furious, disconnected, bewildered, or simply need to hear a couple of Spurs fans say out loud what so many of us are thinking, then this one might hit home. Jack and Phil unpack absolutely everything as best they can: Arsenal’s title win, Tottenham’s long-term decline, the club’s failure to properly back Mauricio Pochettino, the obsession with commercial growth over football, fans increasingly being treated like “the problem”, the Everton game, the very real fears around where this all goes next, and how it’ll feel when the dust finally settles, whatever happens. It’s an honest attempt to make sense of a football club that currently feels completely broken. This one is angry. It’s emotional. It’s passionate. It’s raw. It pulls absolutely no punches. Proceed with caution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jack is joined by Billie T to dissect yet another miserable defeat at Stamford Bridge, kicking things off by trying to make sense of the latest refereeing controversy. With images clearly showing the ball was in play for the penalty that wasn't given, we vent our frustrations at the officials before confronting the harsh reality of our own underlying numbers. Spurs once again displayed a total lack of quality upfront and in the final delivery. This leads into a painful discussion about Randal Kolo Muani, debating whether he will go down as one of our worst ever signings and what his failure says about the utter lack of care in our recent scouting and transfer policy. Attention then turns to Sunday and the terrifying prospect of the biggest game of our lives against Everton. Knowing we only need a single point to secure survival, we discuss the sheer dread of relying on our rotten home form against a competent side. We examine the recent statement from Change for Tottenham calling for total support for 90 minutes followed by a clear message of discontent towards the owners, before asking whether executives like Johan Lange and Vinai Venkatesham should be sacked immediately if we stay up, or if that would set the rebuild back even further. Finally, Billie tackles a brilliant and bleak selection of the listener questions we managed to squeeze in. We explore coping strategies for a doomsday summer scenario, debate if the club's culture is genuinely beyond repair, ask whether keeping Johan Lange makes relegation inevitable next season, pitch an alternate reality television show where Tottenham are actually functional, and wonder which retired players could genuinely do a better job leading our line right now. Theme is Ghost Cat by Gillen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You didn't really think Tottenham would get something at Stamford Bridge did you? Spurs getting done by Chelsea, making our end of season even less comfortable, as Arsenal win the league - truly the nightmare timeline. It was a game that never really got going, and yet another example of why we're in the mess that we're in... quite simply, we're not very good. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jack is joined by Gavin for a Thursday Q&A to dissect the frustrating fallout from Tottenham's clash with Leeds United. The pair kick things off by venting about the baffling VAR decision to deny James Maddison a clear foul, reacting to the midfielder's own frustrations posted on Instagram. We ask the broader question of whether the current implementation of VAR is fundamentally ruining the sport, before finding a much-needed silver lining in Maddison's return to the pitch. We discuss how, despite lacking full match fitness, his sheer step up in quality was glaringly obvious and ask if he is the missing piece required to secure safety. Attention then turns to the relegation battle and the absolutely monumental weekend clash between Newcastle United and West Ham. Jack asks Gavin just how heavily our survival hinges on that specific result, while trying to nail down exactly what Tottenham need to do to save themselves. Finally, Gavin tackles a massive selection of listener questions, covering everything from the Premier League's potential refereeing conspiracies to the depressing four-year anniversary of beating Arsenal 3-0, debating whether Roberto De Zerbi would actually stick around for a Championship rebuild, and guessing which underwhelming players we will inevitably be linked to if the worst happens. Theme is Ghost Cat by Gillen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Spurs missed the chance to open up a four point gap on West Ham this evening after one of the most shocking examples of officiating many of us will have ever seen took place. It felt like Spurs were in charge after Tel's wonder goal, but he went from hero to zero after his high boot in the box resulted in a penalty for Leeds and Spurs couldn't quite find a way back after that, despite James Maddison returning after more than a year away from the game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices