Set Piece Menu Football Podcast: Recent Episodes
Rory Smith, Andy Hinchcliffe, Steven Wyeth, Hugh Ferris
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk about football over food. They are together a writer, a commentator, a presenter and a pundit. Rory Smith is the Chief Soccer Correspondent of the New York Times, Steven Wyeth commentates for BT Sport and the BBC's Match Of The Day, Hugh Ferris is a presenter at BBC Sport, and Andy Hinchcliffe is a former England international (seven caps) who is now a pundit for Sky Sports. On each episode they discuss one footballing issue, while digesting a delicious lunch or brunch, and almost never reaching any sort of conclusion.
The football: It's our last show, live in London (slightly edited for content like movies on ITV in the 1990s, but still self-indulgently long). We're joined by Nedum Onuoha and an audience of well-wishers to send you off into a future without SPM. There are multiple middle class heckles, some essential beepings out of inappropriate words, and by the end even the odd something in the eye as we say goodbye after five and half years of podding.
To you all, wherever you are, and to whichever level you let us into your lives, thank you. It was about football, of course, but it was also all of us sitting around a virtual lunch or brunch table to have a chat, quite often about nonsense. We will miss you, and if you'd like, we're still available on setpiecemenu@gmail.com, and @setpiecemenu. On the latter, there will be stuff for you to have fun with even in the absence of our audio form.
Hopefully we'll find a similarly self-regarding way to speak to you again in the future. But until then, there'll be a little hole for you to fill in your podcast schedule.
Rory, Steven, Andy and Hugh.
Nedum Onuoha will be our guest at the live show in London! He's joining us for our final episode on July 20th. Get your tickets here: https://myticket.co.uk/gigs/set-piece-menu-live-london-2021-12-16-19-00
The football: With the emergence of European clubs and the nations a lot of their players serve, is the dominance of the US Women's National Team under threat, and what will Euro 2022 tell us about how next year's World Cup might go?
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: At time of recording, three players key to Ajax's recent success had already left during this transfer window, with potentially at least another three heading out (maybe all to Manchester United) before it's over. Rory is annoyed about the financial and demographic realities that has led to another exodus, and wants to tell us why. Steven prepares a whole string orchestra's worth of tiny violins...
LIVE SHOW TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE!!! Head to https://myticket.co.uk/gigs/set-piece-menu-live-london-2021-12-16-19-00 to join us on 20th July at 21 Soho in London
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: Some Set Piece Menu nostalgia. You miss Andy Hinchcliffe, we do too. So in response to requests to revisit some of his stand out 'Soccer Story' moments, Hugh, Rory and Steven introduce a trip down memory lane. Whether it was crustaceans in the bath at Bellfield, Mrs Big Ron's platter of Kit-Kats or the injury that finally ended an entirely sufficient career, Chinch never failed us when a tale from his playing days with all adult behaviour and libel-worthy details removed was required.
The football: 2022 has brought about a notable conscious uncoupling. After 30 beautiful and productive years together the video game partnership between EA Sports and FIFA is ending. How did this happen, why does it matter and whose future looks brighter: the gaming behemoth or the owner of 'the brand'? Plus, a not inconsiderable announcement that we think will make a ticket to SPM Live in London on 20th July even more valuable... https://myticket.co.uk/artists/set-piece-menu-live
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com or twitter: @setpiecemenu
The football: Did Hugh say he'd written a book? Well just in case you missed it, he takes the opportunity of Rory and Steven being distracted by a combination of covid and foreign travel (not both at the same time) to chat with the subject of said book. Nedum Onuoha is a former Manchester City, QPR and Real Salt Lake footballer with a tale to tell about his career and those with whom he shared it, but Kicking Back is about so much more. This conversation focuses on the so much more.
So now we have TWO plugs: The book is out in the UK, and can be bought here (and elsewhere): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kicking-Back-Nedum-Onuoha/dp/1785907476/ref=sr_1_1?crid=19PYI2J78MI62&keywords=nedum+onuoha+book&qid=1653580026&sprefix=nedum%2Caps%2C107&sr=8-1
And tickets for our live show on the 20th July in London are here: https://myticket.co.uk/gigs/set-piece-menu-live-london-2021-12-16-19-00
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Our hiatus-interrupting continues with another new pod, and another reminder to join us for a special SPM LIVE in London on Wednesday 20th July. Get your tickets here: https://myticket.co.uk/gigs/set-piece-menu-live-london-2021-12-16-19-00
The football: The end of the Premier League season brings a comforting inevitability, the Hot Takes and Takeaways episode. We also reveal the standings and stats behind the soaringly successful SPMPLPL.
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
We're breaking into our hiatus to do two things: 1) be with you for a run of mini-pods to mark the end of the Premier League season and more, and 2) for naked financial gain.
The football: It's more than a year since the European Super League came and very quickly went, but it seems all the decisions made by the powers that be since are benefiting those who wanted the ESL in the first place, rather than satisfying the movement that mobilised so passionately against it. So why does football keep doing things that benefit the big clubs?
The financial gain: Our live show is back on! Head to www.myticket.co.uk to join us on Wednesday 20th July at 21 Soho in London as part of the Goals Aloud Podcast Festival. We'll give you more details of the show over the coming weeks, but it'll be a very special night, so get your ticket for SPM Live now!!!
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
SPM returns from hiatus to consider how the sanctions placed on Roman Abramovich will affect Chelsea, the Premier League, and football's billionaire bubble.
We will now politely return to our mini-hibernation, but in the meanwhile if you'd like to send an email, setpiecemenu@gmail.com is permanently open for business.
The football: March 2020 was football's hiatus, January 2022 is ours. With changes afoot in the SPM family, and a relaunch expected later in the year, we thought we'd give you all a bit of a break. Consider it an extended deadline if you haven't yet listened to all the episodes, a cheat code for your homework. We will return, and if you have any strong opinions about how we look when we do (that we can either ignore or take as our own), send them to setpiecemenu@gmail.com
We remain on social media - @setpiecemenu - and could well pop up in your feed at any moment, so stand by and get ready for SPM 2.0!
The food: Steven, in a metaphor for today's pod, which is apparently timed to completely ruin his lunch plans, is snacking on the final few raisins of a bag.
The football: Is Serie A the most exciting league in football right now? And if so, does that mean it has at last shaken off its stereotype - one that hasn't been true on the pitch for a long while now - of dull, defensive football?
The food: A gingerbread biscuit that Rory couldn't wait until the pod to eat. It was the shape of a bee, which leads the others to suggest he's hankering for his old home of Manchester.
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: As the latest Africa Cup of Nations begins to unfortunate characterisations and complaints about scheduling and availability, we ask if those questioning the relevance of competitions that clash with the Premier League and others in Western Europe are guilty of a little too much navel-gazing.
The food: Rory's dog Hector has eaten something, and it has made him ill. Is chicken two days past its sell-date the culprit, or as Rory's son Ed suggests, a poisonous plant (the kind not-at-all native to West Yorkshire)?
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: The Premier League likes attracting the best managerial talent, but what if that talent wants to change the Premier League? Thomas Tuchel, Pep Guardiola, Ralf Rangnick and Jurgen Klopp have all spoken about their opposition to how the festive schedule is unduly punitive on their players, but if they wanted the job in England shouldn't they just accept that's how it's done? Or can we, your humble SPMers, find a solution?
The food: In a shocking twist to our pre-holiday predictions, Rory reveals the true fate of his Christmas nut roast.
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: Part two of our Set Piece Menu Review of the Year allows us to skew negative, and yet it's a shorter episode. Go figure...
The food: Having recorded the pod pre-Christmas, we undertake what has become an annual guessing game about what we ate on the big day, and how much we "enjoyed" it.
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/en-gb/stores/set-piece-menu-podcast
The football: We're getting festively reflective as we bring you our Set Piece Menu Review of the Year, which is in no way attempting to sound or feel like another annual retrospective (the one which Rory gets uppity about). We've split it up into two parts, and because it's Christmas, part one prompts us to be nice about things.
The food: Hugh is desperate to spread the word about Knopper chocolate bars. If you're near an Aldi, seek them out. Now.
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/en-gb/stores/set-piece-menu-podcast
The football: What's the difference between watching a game on TV and being at the stadium itself? A listener poses the question, and we try not to sound too snobby in our response.
The food: Steven is eating a clementine, which prompts Rory to reveal he and his family are lessening their food footprint, which means no more bananas.
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/en-gb/stores/set-piece-menu-podcast
The football: A listener who's relatively new to football wants us to put a little meat on the bones he regularly hears in the coverage of football about 'style', 'identity' and 'philosophy'. What does it all actually mean?
The food: Rory has discovered potato latkes and is immediately devastated that it took him this long.
The announcement: For reasons explained on the pod, we are having to postpone our live show in London. Please forgive us, and have a listen for what to do next!
email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: After Paul Merson wondered whether Ralf Rangnick's lack of experience in English football might make him an inappropriate appointment by Manchester United, we ask if English football has an identity problem. In other words it doesn't really have one, and that's why there's no reason for Rangnick to have experienced it...
The food: Steven has a hangover so severe he can't even eat the pain au raisin he bought from Euston Station.
LIVE SHOW TICKETS: We are in London's Courtyard Theatre for a 5th anniversary live show on Thursday 16th December, and you can be there too!
Click on this link for tickets: https://myticket.co.uk/gigs/set-piece-menu-live-london-2021-12-16-19-00
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/en-gb/stores/set-piece-menu-podcast
The football: In the unforeseen absence of two of our number, we fill their places with people who actually know what they're talking about. Peter Drury and Conor McNamara are some of the finest exponents of the art of commentary, and there's also Steven; together we have a conversation about what people don't realise about the life and craft of the person you might listen to a lot, but not know a lot about.
The food: Hugh is struggling with his voice - which he insists is down to something spurious called Cooing Disease - and so is on a diet of VocalZones and Broncho Stops.
LIVE SHOW TICKETS: We are in London's Courtyard Theatre for a 5th anniversary live show on Thursday 16th December, and you can be there too!
Click on this link for tickets: https://myticket.co.uk/gigs/set-piece-menu-live-london-2021-12-16-19-00
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/en-gb/stores/set-piece-menu-podcast
The football: The qualification campaign for the 2022 World Cup may well end up delivering familiar countries to the finals, but in getting there has it shown us that international football might have more of something than the best of the club game: jeopardy?
The food: Steven has stolen four Viennese Whirls from his partner Katie. Rory, a great lover of biscuits, reveals he's never even had a Viennese Whirl.
LIVE SHOW TICKETS: Here's the link to click on for tickets for our London Live Show, celebrating 5 years of SPM - https://myticket.co.uk/gigs/set-piece-menu-live-london-2021-12-16-19-00
Come and join us at the Courtyard Theatre on 16th December!
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/en-gb/stores/set-piece-menu-podcast
The football: In front of a live audience at Manchester's National Football Museum, we discuss whether football does a good job of curating its own history. Also includes extras!
The food: The live show offers the four of us our first opportunity to eat together since March 2020, until Chinch bails early because he's eaten too many of the hula hoops in the green room.
We have another live show coming up, and this one's to celebrate our 5th anniversary! Join us at the Courtyard Theatre in London's fancy Shoreditch on Thursday 16th December. Tickets available here: https://myticket.co.uk/artists/set-piece-menu-live
MERCH: https://www.teepublic.com/en-gb/stores/set-piece-menu-podcast EMAIL: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: Is complacency football's greatest leveller? All the talk of complacency from those on the pitch is about how to avoid it, but are those in the boardroom falling prey to it all too often?
The food: As we ask you for ideas of what kind of food we could provide our live show audiences, Steve suggests the London show might be a good opportunity to try something new that's hit the capital, but not yet the regions, and that Rory's fancy pot noodle is the perfect example.
Tickets for our London live show, celebrating 5 years of SPM are available here: https://myticket.co.uk/gigs/set-piece-menu-live-london-2021-12-16-19-00
And you can buy merch here: https://www.teepublic.com/en-gb/stores/set-piece-menu-podcast
Email us at setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: After the last round of the EFL Cup (yes we were organised enough to make a plan then and save it for this week's round) Pep Guardiola talked of his young Manchester City bucks benefiting more from playing Wycombe every week than taking on someone their own size. We cycle through the possible solutions to the conundrum Pep poses, some of which Pep won't like.
The food: Steven has been showered with gourmet gifts from his kindly neighbours during his forced period of Covid-related isolation. The descriptions of home made beef pie, lamb curry and M&S-made Colin the Caterpillar cake make the other three wish they had friends like Steven.
LONDON LIVE SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT Join us for a 5th anniversary SPM Live in London on Thursday 16th December at the Courtyard Theatre - tickets are here: https://myticket.co.uk/artists/set-piece-menu-live
MANCHESTER LIVE SHOW REMINDER We're live at the National Football Museum on Thursday November 4th - tickets are here: https://t.co/gTGwN5BynX
For anything else, email us at setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: After Benjamin White revealed he'd never watched a football game that he wasn't a part of himself, we ask Chinch how a player's relationship with the game can run so counter to what many of us assume, and what many more expect.
The food: Chinch is home alone, and without the chef of the family has reduced his diet to crumpets. Only crumpets.
Emails to setpiecemenu@gmail.com And tickets to our live show at the National Football Museum can be found here: https://t.co/JOw261zNKy?amp=1
The football: Following the Saudi (sorry, PIF) takeover of Newcastle (see SPM175 for more) we talk about how money, and the availability of wealth regardless of its origin, is celebrated more than anything else. Why do we hold financial might in such high regard, when there are so many other things we could be praising more?
The food: The Rod Smith Drunk Salad. Rory explains how his father puts together his daily salad of leaves, spring onions, radishes (and occasional cheese), and inhales it as if he were eating ramen in Japan.
LIVE SHOW TICKETS: head to www.nationalfootballmuseum.com to join us for a live show on Thursday 4th November MERCH: head to www.teepublic.com (search for SPM) if you want to wear merch EMAIL: setpiecemenu@gmail.com if you want to email us
The football: After Julian Nagelsmann talked about football potentially introducing an NFL-style playbook we ask if that's completely preposterous, or if in fact we're already headed in that direction. Plus Hugh gets very defensive about how to say the word defence.
The food: Steve (kinda) shares a sausage sandwich on sourdough at a café in Sale with a former Manchester United manager. The rest of the group are embarrassed when they can't guess which one.
LIVE SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT We are doing a live show as part of the Football Writing Festival at the National Football Museum in Manchester. It's on Thursday 4th November (7pm) and ticket details are here: www.nationalfootballmuseum.com
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Merch: www.teepublic.com (search for SPM or set piece menu)
The football: For availability, and as it turns out, expediency reasons (Rory's dad is about to have lunch, and we're not allowed to be in the way) we bring you a second edition of what proved to be a hugely popular (you'll have to trust us on that) Soccer Pod Potpourri. It's our mailbag episode, and deals with everything from the legitimisation of banter to musak.
The food: Chinch has a slice of what we'll call 'Reconstituted Carrot Cake'. Reconstituted because his wife Nicky accidentally let the top half slip out of the fridge onto the floor, which, according to Chinch, has not ruined it in the slightest.
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Merch: www.teepublic.com (just search for SPM or Set Piece Menu)
The football: Upon Jimmy Greaves' passing, his astounding goal-scoring record was brought to the attention to a whole new generation of football fans. Why was it not something that more people instinctively knew about, or remembered? We ask how we strike the right balance between those historical achievements and the modern game.
The food: Rory has visited his parents, and the deli nearby to pick up his favourite lunch item - a chicken tikka, tzatziki and mango chutney salad sandwich on twisted white cobb. He doesn't tell his parents this is actually why he visits them so regularly.
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Merch: www.teepublic.com (search for SPM or set piece menu)
The football: The fact that Cristiano Ronaldo's 're-debut' couldn't be shown on television in the UK was considered by some to be proof that the age-old Saturday 3pm blackout was no longer fit for purpose. So we ask how fiercely we should preserve tradition, even if it seems anachronistic? It's a conversation that very quickly makes us appear like middle-aged men shouting into a void about teenagers.
The food: A nice cup of hot crisps. Minutes before recording, Hugh makes the mistake of indulging in the two things he was once told you should never ingest in advance of broadcasting: a tea, and crisps.
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Merch: www.teepublic.com (just search for SPM or Set Piece Menu)
The football: With caveats abounding that we are men talking about women's football, this week's discussion is about how the new TV deal and associated exposure could give the women's game a chance to forge a different path to the one the men travelled 30 years ago. For those who desire autonomy within the sport, might changing the structure be a (so far unconsidered)way to see that through into the long term future?
The food: The food, according to Rory, is not actual food, but the chance to enjoy food on his own terms. He has sent his son off to pre-school, and immediately enjoyed the first ten minutes of his freedom by sitting in his favourite café.
The email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The merch: www.teepublic.com (search for SPM or Set Piece Menu)
LAST CALL FOR SPMPLPL: Head to www.tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu to enter this year's competition in which we ask you to predict the final Premier League table. You have until the end of Friday 11th September!!
The football: Pep Guardiola suggested Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are players of such stature they can choose the club they play for. Is that true, or is it the financial reality of how few clubs can afford to both secure the top players, and keep them, that is the determining factor?
The food: Lightly cured mackerel, oscietra caviar, Jersey Royal potatoes with almond milk, sardine dressing & kalamata olives; Cumbrian lamb loin, red pepper, Yorkshire black garlic, pak choi, braised shoulder ‘corn dog’; Hetton meadow sweet cheesecake, blackberries, miso caramel and shortbread, sake lees crémeux. Seriously.
MERCH: www.teepublic.com - search for SPM or Set Piece Menu EMAIL: setpiecemenu@gmail.com SPMPLPL: www.tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu - now with an extended deadline of Friday 11th September!
The football: Siege mentalities, or more pertinently, fake ones. Why has what once might have been a genuine management tactic turned into little more than a media trope, happily seized upon by managers looking for a distraction, and players looking for motivation.
The food: Steven is at his parents' house, and has enjoyed a lengthy barbecue, plus chocolate cake, all in celebration of his brother's birthday. He also insists his only beer is that of the low-alcohol variety, but the others will take some convincing of that.
MERCH is available at teepublic.com - just search for SPM or Set Piece Menu
Enter the SPMPLPL now at www.tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu - the deadline is Friday 3rd September
Email us at setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: Why are the 'Top Six' clubs in the Premier League spoken about so much, when some of those 'Top Six' don't fill the top six positions anymore? The European Super League debacle spoke of the 'Big Six' trying to break away because they weren't, and haven't been, the 'Top Six' for a while. And if you are one of those 'Big Six', can you ever be replaced?
The food: Chinch has two chocolate and hazelnut chunky cookies, which he's so enamoured with he eats at the same time, stacked like a sandwich.
WEEKLY MERCH REMINDER Click on this link to see our range, and then buy our range. Our whole range. For everyone you know. https://www.teepublic.com/stores/set-piece-menu-podcast?ref_id=24300
The SPMPLPL is now live for your predictions of how the final Premier League table will look! All the details are at www.tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu Deadline: Friday 3rd September
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: Lionel Messi is leaving Barcelona, but the story - mainly because of the destination - is leaving us cold. We discuss what Messi to PSG says about modern football, and we come up with an answer: A LOT.
The food: Rory has reinvested his most recent BBC fee into buying a fancy pot noodle from Waitrose.
ANNOUNCEMENT We have a new range of Set Piece Menu merchandise, and we would recommend (insist) that you buy it. Literally all of it. Multiple times. Head here for the selection: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/set-piece-menu-podcast?ref_id=24300
Also email us at setpiecemenu@gmail.com, but understand that won't make us any money...
The football: In the final part of our series we ask why the Premier League isn't the centre for tactical innovation in the game, and whether they'd either like to be, or comfortable with the idea they scout and poach the best minds and philosophies from elsewhere. Then we conclude by indulging the very subject of our series, and outlining why the Premier League is indeed exceptional.
The food: Here's Nicky Hinchcliffe's virtual dessert to round off our three course feast. Pear, plum and apple crumble with pumpkin, sesame and sunflower seeds, and dusted with toasted flaked almonds. Served with lashings of Madagascan vanilla custard.
The football: In part two of our summer series, we ask how the Premier League's exceptionalism applies to its finances, transfers and players. Is there a tax for English clubs, because the rest of the world know they have more money than everyone else? And is there a complicity from abroad in allowing the Premier League to have more, and spend more, knowing there'll be a benefit to them?
The food: We're on the main course of Nicky Hinchcliffe's virtual feast. Sit back and enjoy (think about) organic mini chicken breast fillets in a cream and brandy sauce with a hint of tarragon, served with fresh green beans, baby carrots and minted, buttered new potatoes.
The football: The summer series (aka filler content between organised domestic or international football) is back! We have three connected episodes coming at you over next three weeks considering the many different aspects to the idea of Premier League Exceptionalism. The English top flight might be the best, but could that also be the very root of what undermines its exceptionalism? And also is it literally an exception? Does what happens in the Premier League bear no resemblance to achievements or reputation elsewhere?
The food: In a nod to the traditional accompaniment to a multi-part summer series - a multi-course Nicky Hinchcliffe feast - we have asked Chinch to imagine what she might cook were we able to be together. So, the starter: pan-fried scallops with pancetta, bacon and chorizo on a bed of fresh watercress with creme fraiche and zest of lemon dressing.
We're taking a break from reading your emails on the show for these three episodes, but that doesn't mean you should stop sending them to setpiecemenu@gmail.com
SPM 239: Hot Takes and Takeaways (Euro 2020 Edition) by Rory Smith, Andy Hinchcliffe, Steven Wyeth, Hugh Ferris
The football: Rory has an idea of how an expanded Euros could be expanded further, to include 32 teams. He's very proud of it, but clearly can only really commit to its principles once he's workshopped it (had it pulled apart) by his pod colleagues. Step forward Steven, Hugh and Chinch to consider, a little too fully, the plight of Luxembourg.
The food: A cardamom knot, which is part of Rory's bourgeois breakfast.
Email us at setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The World Cups and Euros of our youth are acclaimed through the rose tinted spectacles of nostalgia. In our mature years we are much more likely to find fault. What distorts our memories in favour of historical tournaments and subsequently raises expectations to an unreasonable level for their modern day equivalents?
Plus, in a variation on the theme, a Soccer Story about Chinch not narrated by Chinch. And Steven deputises as host with Hugh cashing in all acceptable excuses for an absence in one go.
Email setpiecemenu@gmail.com or find us on social media: @setpiecemenu
Over time we've be inundated with excellent suggestions from you, the listener. Many have been used & attributed, some nefariously repurposed & claimed as our own and others saved for a rainy day. Well that day has come and the mailbag has produced a potpourri of pod content: the fluidity of nationality, the scarcity of ambipedal players, footballing frustrations worthy of sanction, how to react to a tragedy and the chicken/egg of players' positions.
As for the food? Well after 4 and a half years together we finally discover what happens to Rory when it's 1.30 and he hasn't had lunch.
Want to be in contention for credit next time we empty the mailbag? Email setpiecemenu@gmail.com or find us on social media: @setpiecemenu
The podcast where four friends - presenter Hugh Ferris, writer Rory Smith, commentator Steven Wyeth & pundit Andy Hinchcliffe - talk football over food.
This week: footballing families and the impact a successful player has on their offspring's chance of success. In what seems an increasingly incestuous industry, is a legacy talent a help or a hindrance and does nepotism give a youngster an edge when tough judgements are made about a talent’s potential for fulfilment? And does a genetic disposition and exposure & opportunity ultimately trump a similar talent that lacks the benefit of privilege and contacts?
Plus if you’re thinking footballing fathers & sons would make an ideal SPM Select XI then you are in luck!
The food: Chinch consumes something that sounds like a salon quality shampoo or experimentally cocktail but is apparently good for him.
Emails to setpiecemenu@gmail.com or find us on twitter @setpiecemenu
The football: Do trophies have a different value depending on who wins them, how often, and whether they are claimed by a player that's also associated with individual achievements? Harry Kane has a chance to move from a club that hasn't won anything to one that wins everything, but will those potential future achievements have the same value to him as breaking the Premier League, or England goal-scoring record at some point in his career?
The food: Steven, who according to the MailOnline is living in a no-go area for white people, is forced to eat a dish which is typical of Didsbury, clearly proving the august publication's point: mango chutney-glazed spiced chicken breast with cumin bulgur wheat and roasted carrots.
Emails to setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: After Pep Guardiola seemed to lean into the very narrative that appears to annoy his acolytes more than any other for the Champions League final, we discuss whether something being pre-determined also dictates that it should be the singular cause of any outcome. Did Pep overthink his team? Or did they just play badly? Or, more importantly for this episode, do we have to understand that two things can be true?
The food: Chinch and Steven discuss the relative merits of florentines with either milk or dark chocolate, in what proves to be the most alienating of all the elitist, middle-class conversations we've had over the years.
Email us at setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: The Premier League season has come to an end, but it can't be officially 'put in the books' until we've delivered our annual hot takes and takeaways. Sit back and let these completely unstructured thoughts wash over you...
The food: Rory goes against his wife's specific instructions to not order an ice cream sundae for his son when out for an anniversary meal. It turns out she is not surprised, to the extent she can predict every ingredient within said sundae before it arrives.
We also reveal the new SPMPLPL champion, and prepare to shower them with glory and trinkets, all of which will be priceless (to the extent that they have no value attached to them).
Emails to setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: How does a manager put together a squad for a major international tournament? Is it the 'best 23 players', as the requirement from those who shout the loudest dictates, or is there much more importance in the balance of the squad: the right fit for the right system? And what value should be given to a player's versatility?
The food: Rory insists he hasn't succumbed to a lemsip, as he completely milks the symptoms he's progressing through having had his first shot of the Covid vaccine.
Email us at setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: As a follow up to last week's pod, which turned out to be an inadequate answer to a question posed by a listener, we try to actually answer that question. What factors should players like Harry Kane and Jack Grealish consider when weighing up a potential move away from the club they love, and has brought them to this stage in their career; a stage that may fall short of either what their talent demands, or what those watching on would consider a fulfilment of their potential?
The food: Chinch has been given his wife Nicky's special "Porridge with Two Fruits". One of those two leads to a conversation about whether a kiwi fruit should be subjected to the kind of treatment a Manscaped product might offer.
Also: a very special Soccer Story. Do not miss it.
Emails to setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: Erling Haaland, his dad, and his agent, all have a plan. They've been plotting the player's career ever since he started as a teenager at Bryne in Norway. This is a prime example of a player pathway: when an elite prospect that has the luxury of choosing where to play now, and next, predetermines the route their career will take. We ask if it happens elsewhere (and less publicly), and what goes into making those decisions.
The food: Rory has bought a pizza stone, so that he can cook pizzas using his garden chiminea. If you think this sounds wildly bourgeois, rest assured that he completely botched the whole process.
Emails to setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: The European Super League seemed to re-frame the tribalism that's become such a huge part of modern football culture. Instead of fans railing against each other, they joined together to rail against a new, apparently more pressing foe which, ironically, in some cases appeared to be acting in order to meet the demands of their fanbase. And even though supporters' protests were undeniably a significant contributor to the ESL's precipitous collapse, in opposing the future set out by the 'Dirty Dozen' are they actually consigning their club to a status quo that isn't actually that different?
The food: In a rare pandemic-era lunchtime recording, three of the group take advantage by eating either during, or just moments before joining the zoom. So enjoy some lip-smacking over a chicken pesto salad with blueberries, a chorizo and cheese roll with carrot batons, and, typically from a Yorkshireman, a simple ham sandwich.
Emails to: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The podcast where four friends - presenter Hugh Ferris, writer Rory Smith, commentator Steven Wyeth & pundit Andy Hinchcliffe - talk football over food.
The football: The Super League, blink and you'd have missed it. The ambitions of the owners of the self-proclaimed elite clubs to revolutionise European football wasn't well planned, was terribly executed and a PR disaster for all involved. What will be the consequences, what punishment should they face and what, if anything, will anyone learn?
The food: Wherever Chinch goes, so does his plug-in lunchbox. And that's left a stench of fish pie on gantries from Elland Road to Carrow Road and beyond...
Get in touch via @setpiecemenu and via setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: The European Super League appears to have transitioned from being used in a game of brinkmanship to become a thing of potential reality. Cue the outrage. We have the temerity to think you'd like to hear our views on both the idea, and the fury that followed, so here is a bonus edition to scratch that itch.
The food: THERE'S NO TIME TO EAT, DO YOU NOT KNOW HOW ANGRY EVERYONE IS????!!!!
Any emails to setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: Considering that Kevin de Bruyne appeared not to need one, and Erling Haaland is very obviously using one, we thought we'd talk about agents. Is the bad press they get, particularly in England, warranted? What value (apart from the obvious kind) do they add for a player, and how are modern agents attempting to enhance that value further?
The food: Hugh batch-cooked a large cottage pie. Hugh underestimated quite how large the batch would be, and has been eating cottage pie for a whole week.
Emails to setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: With the recent protests by some players against the conditions faced by migrant workers in Qatar, and the conflict some of us feel when considering some of the elements that have helped our clubs be successful, should we expect the game to match our own moral standards, whatever they may be?
The food: There is a worrying theme developing amongst our audience of what we're calling 'food abominations'. After one confessed eating pasta with ketchup, another has compounded that by revealing their guilty pleasure is pasta, ketchup, and hot dogs. Send any you would like to get off your chest to setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: After an unnecessarily deep dive into the international footballing history of Jonjo Shelvey, a listener suggested we might put together a Select XI of players who have appeared for England six times or fewer, all of whom are therefore, by definition, sub-Chinch. Spoiler alert: six-cap Shelvey misses out.
The food: Chinch reveals his local chip shop includes seared paprika and garlic squid on its menu, which is not at all surprising, on account of that chip shop being in rural Cheshire.
All correspondence to setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: For so long, the phrase 'international level' has been used to designate the 'highest level', but is that still the case? Why does a player that represents his club in, say, the Champions League, need to then 'prove himself at international level'? Or is there a more modern meaning, about emotional maturity, tactical versatility, or mental strength that applies?
The food: We've had a listener tell us about the food that divides his household. He puts ketchup, and only ever ketchup, on pasta. Also, his wife is Italian.
Email us at setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: A year on from the global lockdown, and the football shutdown, why is there no apparent consensus on how to change the game to guarantee for a better future? The pandemic seemed to prove the sport's stakeholders retain self-interest as their guiding principle, but even now, 12 months later, new ideas based partly on that experience are still being dismissed out of hand. So can football find a way to change, and should those making the accusations of self-interest consider their own motivations too?
The food: Divisive foods. For Hugh and Gemma, it's rice pudding. For Rory and Kate, fish pie. Chinch then reveals he takes fish pie leftovers to games, courtesy of his electric lunch box, and to the disgust of his colleagues.
Correspondence to setpiecemenu@gmail.com - we want your soccer stories!
The football: With nearly a year of every Premier League football fixture being on television, have we reached a saturation point? Are we still enjoying the entertainment, or is it suffering from over-exposure?
The food: A final call for any food poverty charities you'd like us to promote. Please send them, and indeed any correspondence, to setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: Following a much-discussed incident from another sport, we try and shine a light on how a post-match interview works from a journalist's point of view. What are the time and editorial constraints? Who is supposed to be the chief beneficiary? How much does deference matter, and is the relationship between the two parties actually much deeper than anything you hear or see?
The food: Once again we are indebted to you for telling us about local food banks or charities helping people out at this difficult time. This week a friend of Hugh's has recommended the food bank in nearby Salford (https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/salford/) after they contributed both food and time to their ongoing efforts.
If you have a cause you'd like to promote, send it to: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
That's also the email address for any other correspondence, including your soccer stories!
The football: When a coach is so wedded to a system that has brought them success, should they modify it when unforeseen circumstances dictate? Or is the eschewing of a winning philosophy defeat in itself, even if it's the very reason things aren't working out?
The food: We have had another suggestion of where you might be able to send your hard-earned cash, so that others can be sent some much needed food. Thanks to listener Euan Hague for telling us about his food bank in Chicago, about which you can learn more here: https://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/
Send us any suggestions to setpiecemenu@gmail.com, which is also the email address for all correspondence, including any soccer stories you'd like us to tell!
The football: Why the obsession with crowning someone as the GOAT? And not even just the GOAT of a particular sport, but an overall GOAT for all sports? Steven is annoyed by the discussion, particularly because it involves Tom Brady; Rory thinks the discussion is pointless; Hugh attempts to have the discussion anyway.
The food: We have had more listener suggestions of local food banks as we continue to ask for you to give generously to those who are struggling to find food right now. Any that mean a lot to you please send to setpiecemenu@gmail.com
We have been nominated for the Football Supporters Association Podcast of the Year! If you'd like to vote for us, which we recommend you do (even if you prefer the other nominees), head to www.thefsa.org.uk and click on the awards link. You only have until the morning (UK time) of the 22nd February, so GET VOTING!!!
The football: We apply the 'Peter Parker Principle' to football statistics, asking if the growing power of data should be wielded in a more responsible way. Can a player's performance be measured by anything other than measurable metrics, and if not, how can there still be room for artistry, and other more intangible, non-data-driven elements of the game?
The food: We are asking for your suggestions of local food banks that you'd like us to mention, as while we're unable to eat together, some are finding it hard to eat at all, and we'd like you to use us to promote a local cause that's doing work you admire. Let us know at setpiecemenu@gmail.com
And we have another listener soccer story, so send us yours and we could be reading it out on a future show!
The football: Why are some teams defined by the success or otherwise of the man who leads them, and why is the story of others told through the prism of their players? Whose fault is it when things go wrong? Who is the chief architect of their triumphs? We discuss if there are managers' teams, and players' teams, and what it says about them.
The food: After an email last week that wondered whether you might like to donate food to those more in need than the four of us during lockdown, a listener has made the first suggestion: a food bank local to Steven and Hugh. If you are so inclined, please head to https://www.justgiving.com/fallowfield-withingtonfoodbank, or please email setpiecemenu@gmail.com with your own ideas of how to help in these difficult times. Thank you!
The football: Following FIFA's threat to bar from their tournaments all those involved in a potential breakaway European Super League, we imagine those 15 clubs have called FIFA's bluff, and envision a World Cup without their players. Rory's done all the research into who would be left, how that effects their national squad, and together we all try to pronounce their names correctly.
The food: Hugh's assertion that the best chicken samosas ever come from a local deli is confirmed by someone with ties to that very deli. Well, someone who knows someone whose uncle works there. Also, a buffalo makes an interesting suggestion as to how to overcome the fact we haven't eaten in each other's presence for nearly a year...
Emails to setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: Now that it's been more than seven months, and an end is not immediately in sight, have we become so accustomed to behind closed doors football that we're not noticing the potential pitfalls anymore? As we enter the second half of the season, when stakes are raised and competitions are decided, will we start to realise the relationship has become a little more comfortable than we'd like, particularly as we're about to experience those seasonal denouements without fans for a second time.
The food: Hugh feels the need to make a public service announcement about the chicken samosas he had at a local deli. Yes, Didsbury has more than one deli, and these are the best samosas he's ever had.
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
And don't forget to enter the competition to get Andy's name (or some sort of ridiculous derivative) in the next Jack Reacher novel: www.jackreacher.com/winyourname
The football: We often describe managers or teams as pragmatic, but has football distorted the meaning of the word? Is it actually the case that those labelled as idealists are arch pragmatists, and that we need to find a new way of describing those who subscribe to a different philosophy?
The food: For the first time the pod recording takes place during the evening, and both Andy and Rory are having dumplings. Make of that what you will...
All emails to setpiecemenu@gmail.com and also don't forget www.jackreacher.com/winyourname (listen to the soccer story for an explanation...)
The football: Whether it's because of Marcelo Bielsa's philosophy or the official club twitter account, it seems everyone is talking about Leeds. We ask why, and answer that question by, inevitably, talking about Leeds.
The food: The pandemic has denied Hugh his normal Christmas cake, traditionally baked for him by his aunt. So into that void steps Steven's partner Katie, who appears to have nailed it first time.
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Twitter and Facebook: Search setpiecemenu
The football: The second part of our festive offering about nostalgia. After the discussion last week about players, we wonder if nostalgia actually most affects the intangible: the feelings, the pictures in our minds, and the incorrectly-sized shorts.
The food: Chinch has been banned from eating crisps in public by his wife, who instead insists he hides away in the bathroom. Apparently the level of crunch is directly proportional to the size of one's jaw, which immediately helps you to understand why Mrs Hinchcliffe makes this request.
Emails to setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Thanks for all your support in 2020!
The football: Over the Christmas period we're bringing you a two-parter on nostalgia; how it effects the way we think about football right now, and whether it's a legitimate foundation for our memories of the game in years gone by. On this week's part one, we talk specifically about players, and if nostalgia leads us to always undervalue the current generation of footballers.
The food: Rory is complaining about how much he'll be required to eat at Christmas, because his wife Kate has decided on making a nut roast, even though there will be no vegetarians present.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings from the SPM team!
The football: After two promotions and glowing notices for his overlapping centre backs, Chris Wilder and Sheffield United are struggling. Has the magic potion he created for his team run out, and if so, how do you replace it? Features an over-extended metaphor about Asterix, and the secrets behind how a modern player avoids giving mixed zone interviews.
The food: Rory has found a new local coffee shop that suits his elevated tastes, and he wants to give them some publicity, even though their usual clientele tend to wear a little too much lycra for his liking.
Plus: Do you own a small business? Does it offer niche goods? Are you based in a non-UK territory? If the answer to these questions is a resounding "yes" then email setpiecemenu@gmail.com if you'd like to follow our Jordanian hardware store in sponsoring the show!
The football: Why do some pundits wear their allegiances on their sleeve, and has the success of Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher changed the age-old convention of impartiality? Tradition has also tended to dictate that journalists keep who they support private as well, but are the exceptions starting to outweigh the rule, and why does it matter to fans anyway?
The food: Pie, of the humble variety. Tenuous we know, but Chinch needs a slice of it after trampling over Rory's attempts to showcase his finest work on his office wall.
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Twitter: @setpiecemenu www.facebook.com/setpiecemenu And subscribe to our YouTube channel!
The football: The passing of Diego Maradona prompted a discussion about both his genius and his flaws. But was he the former because of the latter, and would he have been the same without both? And was he a product unique to the time, or can that conflict still be found in modern footballers?
The food: Mince Pies. Because it's December. And because everyone knows you shouldn't do ANYTHING Christmas-related before the calendar turns to December.
Email: setpiecmenu@gmail.com Follow us on twitter, facebook and our YouTube channel!
The football: A listener describes his own support of the team he loves as a 'diagnosable masochistic disorder', prompting a question about why fans continue to follow their club if there's no significant prospect of success. He calls his team 's**t', but then he's allowed to. We couldn't possibly comment. Although we do. At length. And with A LOT of bleeps.
The food: Chinch is asked if he visited the chippy outside Turf Moor on his way to a recent Burnley game, so we thought we'd start a new feature where you tell us about the best takeaways near your favourite team's ground. Let us know at setpiecemenu@gmail.com and, obviously, if it's a Chinese then Chinch is guaranteed to visit it post match.
email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com twitter: setpiecemenu
We're also on Facebook and YouTube!
The football: What are the crucial criteria that must be met for a game to be considered 'good'? The assumption is that the simple answer is goals; but both high-scoring affairs of little consequence, coupled with the old Italian footballing adage that a nil-nil is the perfect result, suggests there's more of a conversation to be had. Any excuse...
The food: Firstly Chinch and Hugh have a homemade cookie-off, and then our former England international behaves completely inappropriately with a merengue. There is video evidence of this.
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com We're also on Twitter, Facebook and have a YouTube channel!
The football: Following our conversation about sport in general and its relationship with the mainstream, we eventually get around to what last week's episode was originally supposed to be. What happens to a footballer once they enter the mainstream? How are they perceived differently, and how does that e affect the expectations of them on the pitch?
The food: Chinch is wolfing down crumpets with cheese. Why? He has a deadline. Why? The reasons are best left unsaid, which is why Chinch outlines them in great detail.
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com And check us out on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube!
The football: We've had so many intra-episode tangents over the years, why not make a whole episode out of one? An intended conversation about footballers in the mainstream got so sidetracked by Hugh's setup (rant) about sport as a whole and its relationship with the mainstream that we decided to just stick with it. We'll go back to the original plan next week, which we will make appear like a completely planned Part Two...
Also, please stick around for the Soccer Story. It's an important one.
The food: Hugh is very proud of his first ever cottage pie, complete with the (not so) secret ingredient: Worcestershire sauce. Yes, a British culinary staple, but one that it's taken him this long to cook.
Email us at setpiecemenu@gmail.com And find us on twitter, facebook, and our YouTube channel!
The football: Whether it's foresight and proactivity from a position of stability and strength, or alternatively you're in a mess like the current Barcelona, teams need a regular rebuild. We discuss what makes a successful rebuild, how often you need to be planning for one, and whether they're even possible if you don't have money, or a manager with a significant power base.
The food: Maltesers, suspended roughly half a centimetre above Rory's mouth. Because, like, he's 12.
Please send your emails to setpiecemenu@gmail.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel, and give us a follow on Twitter and Facebook!
The football: Can football die? And if so, would football be the reason why? With big clubs attempting to pull the game in one direction, and fans appearing to be resistant to any change whatsoever, is football heading for a potential existential crisis, one that could stretch the relationship between those two sides of the debate to breaking point? Framed in the context of Project Big Picture, pay-per-view Premier League matches, and a potential European Super League, we discuss if football's future might end up being so fractious it becomes self-sabotaging.
The food: Pepperoni pizza, provided by the soccer story. To reveal any more would be a spoiler...
Thanks for all your emails to setpiecemenu@gmail.com - we love hearing from you!
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The football: For a long time, and in the last six months more than once, we've been talking on SPM about how football's structure might have to change, particularly in the context of how its flimsy foundations have been exposed by Covid 19. Well, as it turns out, others have also been discussing potentially seismic changes to the traditions of English football. We consider whether Project Big Picture is devised with the spirit of opportunity in mind, or if it's blatant opportunism, with the architects using the pandemic as an excuse to attempt to get what they've always wanted.
The food: It's our 200th episode, so Hugh bought a cake. This is not only inappropriate, as it's not a birthday, but also in the wrong home, because Rory's son is actually celebrating a birthday. Hugh will be mindful of both these things while he eats the whole thing himself.
Thanks for all your support over the 200 episodes of Set Piece Menu, give yourselves a pat on the back. And then send an email to setpiecemenu@gmail.com, or give us a 5 star review on iTunes!
The football: How effective are the words managers use to both his players, and the media? Is the modern team talk more about tactics than broken tea cups, and is the audience for his media appearances not actually the media?
Plus: We couldn't let the events of the past weekend go unmentioned, so there's more WTF-ery and handball nonsense to consider as well!
The food: Having waved goodbye to daughter and granddaughter, who have moved out of the family home, Andy's wife Nicky immediately cooks their favourite dish without them - pasta with strips of fillet steak.
Emails to: setpiecemenu@gmail.com And you can find us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube!
The football: Can anyone please tell us what the **** is going on in the Premier League? Three rounds of fixtures, and a plethora of goals, mistakes and handballs. Oh, the handballs! We, as ever, attempt to answer our own question, while making sure Steven has enough time to rant about the handballs.
The food: Hugh is particularly pleased with himself as he's eaten a vegan burger for the first time. Just one of the many cool things from three years ago he's only now catching up on.
Don't forget to enter your selection into the SPMPLPL! Head to tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu to take part!
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: The second part of our conversation about early season knee-jerk reactions asks if players are immune to them, or whether in the social media age they're more aware of those premature judgements. Are they capable of inoculating themselves, or can the sanctity of their bubble become compromised by all the talk going on outside the club? And if they do hear it, how do they react?
The food: Hugh is very proud of his Dutch Spiced Apple Cake, which he has purchased from his local garden centre, a place that you wouldn't normally find Dutch Spiced Apple Cake.
PLUS: The team make their own knee-jerk based predictions, in an effort to: a) be childish, and b) undermine everything that has been said in the two most recent podcasts.
There's still time to enter this year's SPMPLPL! Head to tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu to enter your predictions for how you think the final Premier League table will look. Your deadline for submissions is October 5th!
Email the podcast on setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: Why are we so obsessed with coming to such early, sweeping conclusions each and every season? It would appear these knee-jerk reactions are ever-present, and they are opinions that are becoming more and more staunchly held, regardless of how often they are completely disproved.
The food: Rory has moved house, and christened his new abode with his mum's lasagna, which he insists is the best around. Chinch disagrees, leading to the proposal of a lasagna-off, probably the first in history.
Don't forget to enter this year's SPMPLPL! Head to tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu and follow the instructions.
Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: Is the pyramid that has so long been the structure of English football still secure? The new season is about to start with the prospect of lower league clubs playing without fans, something that was considered financially unviable just a few weeks ago, and if some of the bricks at the bottom of the pyramid start to crumble, that would dictate the whole building is under threat. But does the Premier League's relative strength even in the face of a pandemic suggest it doesn't need those clubs who might have previously provided part of the foundation of their success?
The food: Rory has been to Ireland, where he apparently only had one lunch per day. His favourite: socially distanced fish and chips.
NEW FEATURE! If you have a meal you're particularly proud of and would like us to adopt for an episode, send a picture and description to setpiecemenu@gmail.com!
Plus: The SPMPLPL is back! The Set Piece Menu Premier League Predictions League is WAY better than all the other ones on all those other websites. Why? Because there are consequences. Just ask Chinch. You can enter your predictions of how the final Premier League table will look here: tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu and the deadline is 5th October!
All other correspondence to setpiecemenu@gmail.com, twitter and facebook, and please subscribe to our YouTube channel!
The football: As plans were being made for the post-lockdown return of football, many the apocalyptic prediction was made about how the game would suffer without fans being allowed to attend the matches, but have we, the players, and broadcasters come to terms with behind closed doors quicker than we expected, and has that led to us learning something surprising about all three?
The food: Chinch parades an avocado, banana and lime loaf baked by his step-daughter. It leads to him being very confused about the difference between a fruit and a vegetable.
This week Chinch has set you a quiz! Please send your answers to the questions he poses in 'Football Fun: Soccer Story Edition' to setpiecemenu@gmail.com - each listener with all the correct answers gets a shout out on the pod!
You can also check us out on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube!
The football: This year's Champions League last eight tournament had everything we'd expect of the final stages of club football's elite competition, apart from ties played over two legs. If it worked so handsomely, why is it so unlikely to happen again? Rory decides to answer this question by comparing European football to an electric car.
The food: Steven has "eaten out to help out" by returning to the Didsbury Deli for coffee and bacon butties. By doing this when everyone else is on zoom, it transpires the only person he's helping out is himself.
All emails to setpiecemenu@gmail.com You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube!
The football: After three (chaotic, mistake-ridden and VAR-affected) exits in three Champions League quarter finals in a row, we try and work out why the best manager of a generation can't get it done in Europe. Is the narrative about Pep Guardiola 'overthinking' things true? Why are Manchester City's knockout games chaotic, mistake-ridden and VAR-affected? And why does Guardiola make significant tactical changes before each one? It's time... for a Pep talk.
The food: Rory lovingly describes his homemade cookies, flavoured with toffee, an ingredient that is apparently only available because he now owns a toffee hammer.
Emails to: setpiecemenu@gmail.com We're also on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube!
The football: After Juventus took a punt on Andrea Pirlo, a man of legendary status and undoubted elite playing career, to take on their manager's job having had no experience, we consider how rare it is that a world class player becomes a world class manager. Having realised that, as a result, coming up with a (trademarked) SPM Select XI would be a fairly easy task, we do exactly that.
The food: Chinch has broken free of his Cheshire shackles to return to Portugal for the first time since the pre-pandemic era, and he's showing off by having some of his wife Nicky's special scrambled eggs on carcaça (a Portuguese bread, the shape of which is debated at length).
Correspondence, including any suggestions for our latest Select XI, to setpiecemenu@gmail.com Check out our YouTube channel, or on twitter or facebook!
The football: Covid-19 forced football to think differently about the way football is played, run and financed, but will the game learn any of those lessons? Can the only legacy of the lockdown and restart really be five substitutes? We discuss the things that should stay, should go, and should have been given more consideration.
The food: Freshly returned from a trip to Bergamo, Rory reveals the tale of two lunches from his final day in Italy. The second, the one he was eventually culturally satisfied by, is described as: 'ham, field mushrooms and some sort of quite soft cheese inside a freshly-baked focaccia'.
Send us an email! setpiecemenu@gmail.com Send us a tweet! @setpiecemenu Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/setpiecemenu Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Just search for Set Piece Menu
The football: Many traditions have been delayed in this unique Premier League season, but this is the one you've all been waiting for the most. The 3rd Annual Hot Takes and Takeaways episode brings together our typically jumbled but hopefully consistent (ie: repetitive) thoughts about the last 11 and a half months of Premier League football. And yes, we mention VAR.
The food: Steven is on holiday in Devon, and so regales us about the glamorous first breakfast of his summer break. Upsettingly, it includes a pastry in plastic.
PLUS: We reveal the winner of the Set Piece Menu Premier League Predictions League, which once again delivers some extraordinary drama. This time though, it mainly involves Chinch...
Keep your emails coming to setpiecemenu@gmail.com, and check us out on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube!
The football: Why the sudden obsession with records, and attempts to devalue achievements if milestones aren't simultaneously broken? Has modern football discourse become overwhelmed with the idea (to quote coach Coach Reilly in Mighty Ducks) that "it's not worth winning if you can't win big"? The phenomenon we're calling GOATism (TM Rory Smith) applies to teams and players, especially emerging talent, which finds itself burdened with comparisons to icons before their careers have had a chance to mature.
The food: Hugh arrives at Steven's with Krispy Kreme donuts for all, plus the Wyeth offspring. A generous gesture, somewhat undermined by Chinch's complaints that they're not quite the full-sized versions he's clearly all too familiar with.
Your emails are very welcome at setpiecemenu@gmail.com, while we'd love you to visit our twitter, facebook and youtube pages too!
The football: Why have the Premier League's current bottom three so far appeared to show very little fight in their fight against relegation? Norwich are down after losing every game since the restart, while both Aston Villa and Bournemouth have taken until their most recent game to register a first win after the hiatus; not really any typical dramatic against-the-odds victories, or scrapping for a vital draw, and, as a result, dwindling hopes of avoiding the drop. So why has this relegation battle been anything but?
The food: For Andy, Hugh and Steve, some elite level croissants. For Rory, originally nothing, before he discovers a rogue stroopwaffle in his bag.
Your emails are very welcome at setpiecemenu@gmail.com, while we'd love you to visit our twitter, facebook and youtube pages too!
A special bonus pod to discuss the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision to overturn Manchester City's two-year European ban. It's the MCFC FFP UEFA CAS pod of acronyms.
Usual pod still coming on Wednesday!
The football: Reunited in person for the first time since the lockdown, we talk about professionalism. What do we expect of players, and what do they expect of each other? Are footballers held to higher or lower standards than the rest of us, and has it changed over the years? Expect a lot of talk about the Ndombele/Mourinho conflict at Spurs...
The food: Is actually cooked and eaten by all four of the pod crew, and it is the Wyeth special of poached eggs and smoked salmon, with a spinach garnish. All very predictable and pre-lockdown you might think, until you add in the homemade sourdough bread, a very welcome bonus provided by Steve's partner Katie.
Our email address is setpiecemenu@gmail.com, and you can also find us on Twitter and Facebook, while please subscribe to our YouTube channel!
The football: How important is desire? With Liverpool's Premier League title being the product of good data and good decision-making, how much of a role did desire play? Could they have succeeded without the relationship between Jurgen Klopp, his players, and the Kop, and how easy will it be to sustain?
The food: Chinch bucks his recent trend of appalling food choices by parading a wrap filled with jumbo fish fingers, tartare sauce, and home-grown chard and rocket. He, of course, played no part in the making of it.
Get in touch with the podcast via setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: Now the Premier League has returned, have we realised we missed the conversation around football, rather than the football itself? Is the game only partly about the games, and is the football entertainment complex fuelled by much more?
The food: An early morning recording means coffee is the only thing being consumed, although who figured that would lead to the great cinnamon sprinkles debate. Whose side are YOU on?
Thanks for all your emails, keep them coming to setpiecemenu@gmail.com
And don't forget to check out our YouTube channel, just search for Set Piece Menu!
The football: The Premier League returns this week, but given that its marketing sells the league as 'the best in the world' primarily because of the full crowds at its games, will the brand be damaged by the behind closed doors matches that we'll see for the rest of the season at least?
The food: Hugh's brother-in-law was 40 at the weekend, and his wife and daughter baked him a cake, a large slab of which is produced as evidence. Rory disapproves of the lack of icing.
Thanks for all your emails, you can send them to setpiecemenu@gmail.com We're also on facebook, twitter, and now youtube! (just search for Set Piece Menu) And the SPMPLPL is back for its season finale, head to tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu to see how you're doing!
The football: Listeners from all around the world (including Swindon) join the four friends to talk football in the second edition of our live (not live) show. Once again, a Select XI is chosen to ask questions, and once again they're mostly better than ones the pod team would ever think of.
The food: Another listener is asked to provide us with details of their most recent meal, and another listener makes Chinch's culinary habits appear more normal than he'd previously been given credit for, by revealing he's just had a peanut butter sandwich.
All your emails can be sent to setpiecemenu@gmail.com And you can find videos of our zoom calls on twitter and facebook - just search for Set Piece Menu!
The football: We are joined by a live audience over zoom, a Select XI of which ask questions to the team. Some of those questions are deeply thoughtful; one of them is about hair colour.
The food: A listener is chosen to reveal their most recent meal. It's Chinch-in-lockdown-level simplicity: a can of spaghettios with meatballs.
Emails to setpiecemenu@gmail.com, and have a look out on twitter and facebook for some videos!
The football: We discuss how the dynamics of a dressing room have changed over the years, and ask if there can there be a dominant force, or whether cliques are now more prevalent. Chinch walks us through some of those who might fall into either of those categories, while talking altogether more than we expected about Carlton Palmer.
The food: Still in lockdown, the food we're eating isn't particularly noteworthy, apart from Chinch's further reliance on hot dogs, which he now reveals he's eating once a day.
Thanks for all your emails and tweets! You can send the former to setpiecemenu@gmail.com, and the latter to @setpiecemenu
The football: With fame and fortune thrust upon them at such an early age, elite footballers have an opportunity to experience things outside of work that most of us can only achieve a lot later in life. Buying cars and houses, getting married and having children, are all affordable and manageable when you're a successful young player, at a time when you're not traditionally considered mature. We discuss how a youth/maturity paradox has developed, particularly at the top of the game, and how we should be more understanding of how players have to deal with it.
The food: After his confession about pitta bread last week, Chinch has more disturbing lockdown food-eating revelations, this time about a hot dog.
Also: It's the 25th anniversary of the 1995 FA Cup Final, which is obviously the only excuse significant enough for Chinch to mention what he, and nobody else, calls 'The Hinchcliffe Final'...
We have set a deadline of Saturday midnight (BST) for applications to join our upcoming SPM Live (It's Not Live) show - send them, and any correspondence, to setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: The team asks a question of the Premier League, and it's simple. "What are you doing?" Amidst relative clarity elsewhere, the Premier League seems to be awash with indecision regarding a possible restart post-pandemic, and while the constitutional makeup of the league makes its position harder than most, why does there appear to be such an inability to forge a path forward?
The food: Still in lockdown, the food offerings are becoming more and more unimpressive. Steve cooks eggs, Rory has soup, while Chinch is forced into the rare position of having to make his own lunch. After negotiating the troublesome conundrum of what it is that pitta bread does, he simply spreads peanut butter on it.
We are planning a special upcoming show called SPM Live! (It's not Live) - and we want you to be involved. If you'd like the chance to be involved (via Zoom) email us now: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Disclaimer: numbers will be limited and if your name is not on the door you won't be let in!
All other correspondence also to setpiecemenu@gmail.com or @setpiecemenu, www.facebook.com/setpiecemenu
The football: Lockdown has taken real football away, but for many a football fan, it has provided more time for virtual football. For closing in on three decades, Football (previously Championship) Manager and FIFA have not only been entertaining us, but particularly for younger generations, offering a gateway into the game. We discuss (at great length, suggesting we are as addicted to our own voices as millions are to the two games) how they have affected and influenced us, and football.
The food: Macaroni cheese, prepared by Mrs Hinchcliffe for her granddaughter. The dish can also be eaten by adults, which is news to Mr Hinchcliffe.
All emails to setpiecemenu@gmail.com And you can find us on twitter @setpiecemenu and www.facebook.com/setpiecemenu
The football: The SPM Draft. The team each attempt to pick a team's worth of players, following the rules of a draft. Which positions are prioritised, and what strategies are adopted as players come off the board? There is a lot of bickering, and bullying of Hugh, who despite doing all the work to prepare for the draft, turns out to be terrible at it.
The food: Steven is responsible for this week's food the rest of the pod crew can't eat. It's a cheese, chorizo, ham and red pepper omelette, which his family apparently very much enjoyed.
Let us know what you think of our teams - we'll post them on twitter @setpiecemenu Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: We discuss the what, who and why now of the potential takeover of Newcastle United in large part by the Saudi Arabian royal family's sovereign investment fund. With all football, never mind the Premier League, in a state of some financial uncertainty, is this proof that money remains king, regardless of those who might be concerned that the deal represents another example of 'sportswashing'.
The food: A banana and pecan cake, baked by Hugh, and because of the lockdown, entirely eaten by Hugh.
Thanks for all your emails, and we hope you're staying safe. Send any correspondence to setpiecemenu@gmail.com, or @setpiecemenu on twitter.
The football: The coronavirus pandemic has revealed two truths about football, particularly in England, that were perhaps previously hidden. Some of those within the game might be a little too self-serving, and many clubs' finances are very fragile. So the team suggests that football needs one voice, and better accountants.
The food: Lunch in four different places. One is simply an apple and a twirl, while another is pitta bread filled with turkey, avocado, egg and salad. You'll probably be able to guess who is responsible for those two at least...
Thanks for all your emails and tweets! Continue to keep us company during the lockdown by sending them to: setpiecemenu@gmail.com or @setpiecemenu
The football: It's time for the SPM ESL. After many requests to speculate which teams might fill a European Super League, and the (kinda) successful precedent of our reset Premier League in pods gone by, it's time for us to use our trademarked criteria to pick the 20 clubs that'll doubtless annoy everyone. Remember: geographical spread!!!
The food: Steven has stockpiled successfully enough to still have some bagels and bacon, which leads to bacon bagels.
Send any emails to setpiecemenu@gmail.com Or tweets to @setpiecemenu
The football: Part two of our conversation about conversations. In this episode we talk about the erosion of trust between fans and the media, and lay blame squarely (if not equally) at the door of both.
The food: A coconut cake, which Hugh is a little disappointed with, but Steven still eats very loudly.
Email us at setpiecemenu@gmail.com Twitter: @setpiecemenu
The football: Part one of two about how fans talk about football, or as is becoming more apparent, everything but. Why do fans engage with others fans less about the game, but more about, as Marina Hyde put it, football-adjacent topics? And how is this a symptom of a greater malaise in the sport, and society?
The food: Sandwiches from Burton Road Bakery, consumed in record time, particularly by Rory, even though he didn't get the crawfish he asked for.
Emails to setpiecemenu@gmail.com Tweets to @setpiecemenu
Part 2 about fans and the media comes next week!
The football: Such is the fast-moving nature of the coronavirus situation, last week's pod was rendered out of date pretty quickly, but that's not going to stop us making the same mistake again this week. We consider how and when the postponement of all football might eventually be resolved, with several hastily-constructed solutions offered.
The food: Fudge. Perfect for a crisis, and still available in shops. Plus kit-kats, and a 'promise' from Steve of something more substantial, one as vague as the date we'll all have football back in our lives.
Thanks for all your emails (setpiecemenu@gmail.com) and tweets (@setpiecemenu)!
The football: Behind closed doors, a temporary postponement, or a full cancellation? We discuss how the coronavirus outbreak might affect the rest of the European season, and potentially Euro 2020, and ask how much football's response, particularly in England, has been shaped by its desire not to lose money.
The food: Biltong. South African dried, cured meat which has been provided by Hugh, although he'd already polished off around 75% of it prior to the pod recording.
Please keep all your emails coming in to setpiecemenu@gmail.com And post us a 5-star review on iTunes!
The football: As it enters its 25th year, and with a new team partly owned by David Beckham, we talk about MLS. Is it still encumbered by the negative narratives that has dogged its past; or with an aggressive expansion, competitive consistency, and better stadium solutions, should we take MLS more seriously? And if we aren't, is that our problem, not theirs?
The food: Rory has been on his travels, so we welcome him back with something that screams Manchester: some salami from his favourite Italian deli.
Thank you for all your contributions to this episode via email (setpiecemenu@gmail.com) and twitter (@setpiecemenu) - keep them coming on any subject!
The football: With the season about to enter its most crucial stage, how important is the preparation the players do, and the mindset they're in ahead of big games? Is it more mental than physical, and how is it affected by the manager, either in training, or with what he says to the media?
The food: Hot cross buns. Given that the provision of said seasonal snack is universally popular, there is a surprising amount of discord about how they should be presented.
Send your emails to setpiecemenu@gmail.com and please head to iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts to give us five stars and a ridiculously sycophantic review!
The football: Is there a footballer in the team you hate that you don't hate that much? Which player rises above the tribal fury of the age to remain likeable, even if he turns out for your rivals? We attempt to collate, and then arrange a team which appears to contain far too many diminutive Spanish playmakers.
The food: York Fruits. A blast from everybody's past, provided by Hugh, and devoured by everyone else, leaving not nearly enough for Hugh's wife Gemma.
Our weekly request for emails can be responded to thusly: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Also please head to iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts to give us a 5 star review, accompanied by a few words that drip almost unpleasantly with flattery
The football: 2020 has been almost exclusively spent considering the enduring value of England's domestic cup competitions, and so we thought we'd weigh in. Do they still matter, and what do they mean to clubs, players and fans in the modern era?
The food: Rory delivers baked eggs, that have previously appeared on the pod, but in their Mexican form, so he's not repeating himself.
Please give us 5 star ratings and senselessly sycophantic reviews on iTunes! Also send us an email, literally about anything, to setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: Do professional footballers actually enjoy playing the game as much as amateurs? Us mortals love a kick about, and if we're lucky enough, scoring a rare goal. But if those activities and achievements are your job, and part of your daily routine, does it thrill as much?
The food: Steven has been inspired by his local haunt the Burton Road Bakery, and delivered some impressive chicken, mozzarella and red pesto toasted sandwiches.
Email us! setpiecemenu@gmail.com Rate us! Head to iTunes and give us five stars!
The football: Captaincy. What makes a good captain, how much does the on- and off-field role differ, and why was English football accused of obsessing about the role too much by Fabio Capello? Also, we reveal how many games for which Chinch had the role. Hint: He's had both more England caps, and indeed wives.
The food: Stroopwaffles. Yes, not for the first time. Hugh's wife has been to Holland with work before and brought back this Dutch delicacy for the pod crew. But this time they're APPLE flavour. So there.
Send us an email on setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: Charisma. Can a manager be successful without it? And what forms does it take in football beyond the dictionary definition? We talk about all the people you're thinking about now, and also Nigel Pearson.
The food: Crumpets. The offer of savoury or sweet toppings by Hugh produces one single answer: bacon. The accompaniments vary however; with cheese (Chinch), maple syrup (Rory), and ABSOLUTELY NOTHING (Steve, obviously) chosen by the team.
Get in touch via email on setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The football: Does the media treat Manchester City and Liverpool differently? Is there an #agenda against or for either when you compare the coverage of the two? We consider the complaints made by fans and suggest what the remedies might be.
The food: Cake, in duplicate. Rory's made a St Clement's cake, which makes a first appearance, while there's a return for the Ferris family Christmas cake, which Hugh has very much not made.
All emails to setpiecemenu@gmail.com and please head to iTunes and give us a 5 star review!
The football: The last decade brought about a significant power shift in the Premier League, so what are the chances of the 2020s providing more of the same? We consider that predictions of Manchester City's continuing dominance have already turned out to be wrong, so it's likely that everything we say in this episode will be wide of the mark too.
The food: Pastries, provided not by Andy, but by his step-daughter Carly, who insisted on going to Budgens so she could sneak in a cheeky smoke on the way.
2020 is the year of rating and reviewing. Or at least, we'd like it to be. Please head to iTunes and give us 5 stars!
Any emails to setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Happy New Year from Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: New year, new you, old us. Instead of looking ahead to a prosperous 2020, we are filling the final of our festive pod slots with the culmination of an idea we had at the end of 2019, by bringing together your suggestions for a not-yet trademarked Select XI of players that didn't live up to their hype.
NB: We are dissatisfied with one player, so your help is still needed...
The food: Just like millions of households all over the world, we are picking our way through something sugary that might have been given as a cheap and easy Christmas present. You can't remember who it was from, and you're regretting eating it almost immediately. In our case, it's some salted caramel pretzels.
Your suggestions to what we'll call our 'JAB' problem and other correspondence to setpiecemenu@gmail.com and @setpiecemenu
Merry Christmas from Set Piece Menu!
The football: Following a frankly below-average summer outing for the SPM Football Fun quiz, the clamour* has grown for a Christmas special edition, to both entertain you all, and provide easy content for us. Hugh dips back in to his question-a-day calendar to ask an advent-suitable number of 24 for our three intrepid contestants. Will Rory win again? Will Steve be able to answer any without speaking with his mouth full? And most importantly, will Chinch engage with the process at all? Find out with Set Piece Menu's Festive Football Fun!
The food: A Christmas chilli, provided to an astounding level of tastiness by Steven.
*There has been no clamour.
The football: If we accept we use the word 'great' too much, when should we use it? What do we mean when we talk of a player as 'great', or even 'a great', and while we're at it, should we perhaps find a better way of describing a goal as a 'great' goal?
The food: Two sweet treats. One is a home-made non-beetroot brownie lovingly made by Nicky Hinchcliffe; the other is shop-bought off-brand stollen hurriedly purchased by Hugh.
Contact: setpiecemenu@gmail.com @setpiecemenu facebook.com/setpiecemenu
The football: Which players have failed to live up to the hype they received when they were teenagers? Why are they considered the next best thing in the first place, and what are the reasons things turn out differently to those high expectations? And, most importantly, can we get a Select XI out of it?
The food: Rory provides bacon sandwiches that are definitely now in the top 10 of all SPM bacon sandwiches (the other top nine are all courtesy of a Mrs N Hinchcliffe)
Send in your suggestions for our Unfulfilled Potential Select XI to @setpiecemenu or setpiecemenu@gmail.com
And we're also asking you to tell us the goal you want erased from memory so you can watch it again for the first time... send your ideas to the same addresses!
The football: In a world where some clubs are making it increasingly clear the manager's role is decreasing in significance, why then do we talk about them so much? Why do we hang on their every word, and why are the club's narratives driven so much by their successes and failures?
The food: Cinnamon swirls that prove so tasty that Rory's wife Kate comes to grab one after hearing about them from upstairs.
Send us an email to setpiecemenu@gmail.com Send us a tweet to @setpiecemenu
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: When is a club genuinely a crisis club? The word is used too often to describe a short term lurch into misfortune, but is a crisis club actually one more disposed to a longer period of malaise and underachievement? What is the blueprint of a crisis club, and is it one that doesn't have a blueprint?
The food: Not satisfied with catering for the masses at the live show, Nicky Hinchcliffe has provided a hot pot (somehow even better than the last one), and a rhubarb crumble. Enough to need a post lunch nap.
INCLUDES BONUS OUT OF CONTEXT REACHER FEATURE FROM SPM 100: THE LIVE SHOW!
Don't forget to vote for Andy as Pundit of the Year, and Rory as Writer of the Year at the FSA Awards here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/fsa-awards-2019
Keep in touch via twitter @setpiecemenu Email - setpiecemenu@gmail.com
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. And this time they're doing it live!
The 100th Episode Spectacular is upon us, as a room of (actually paying) guests join Andy, Rory, Steven and Hugh as part of the Manchester Podcast Festival.
The football: It Must Have Been Love... But Is It Over Now? We discuss if the enjoyment we get out of football is now outweighed by the things we don't like about it - and wonder if there might even be a need for us both to go on a break. The issue is decided by the panel completing the kind of quiz you'd find in the pages of Just Seventeen.
The food: Brownies (with a special ingredient), made for all 100-plus people in the room by Nicky Hinchcliffe, to whom we are eternally grateful.
Thanks to all those who came to join us for our live show! Pics can be found in all the usual places, including: @setpiecemenu facebook.com/setpiecemenu
And you can email the podcast on setpiecemenu@gmail.com
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: What the script said was not supposed to be a VAR episode... turned into a VAR episode. But there's more too! We ask if the new technology has highlighted a problem with referees, or whether it's shown that we expect too much of the officials.
The food: Steven cooks a chorizo and red pepper omelette, while Hugh brings some left over birthday cake.
Contact: @setpiecemenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com facebook.com/setpiecemenu
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Is it time we admitted we were wrong about some managers who have confounded our preconceptions? There's been a lot of Brendan Rodgers bashing, but his Leicester team are flying high; meanwhile Marco Silva - once the hipsters' choice - can't seem to make it work at Everton. Time for some SPM re-evaluation.
The food: Much to Rory's disgust, having been away from us for a little while, it's another duty free offering from Hugh. Turkish delight from Crete. So Cretan delight then.
The final few tickets remain available for our live show at the Manchester Podcast festival, so don't delay: https://www.manchesterpodcastfestival.com/set-piece-menu
Contact: @setpiecemenu on twitter, and setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Should support be unwavering? Inspired by recent events at Southampton and Arsenal we discuss how and when the patience of fans justifiably cracks. Is it acceptable to beat an early, and hasty retreat in anticipation of a debacle, or send a clear and obvious message to a player you feel is underperforming? And on the subject of clear and obvious, how can we ignore the sudden VAR overcorrection!?
The food: Never previously have we actually recorded at breakfast time, so Steven provides the necessary. Coffee, juice and a Kellogg's Variety Pack. Yes, we're big kids at heart.
The final few tickets remain available for our live show at the Manchester Podcast festival, so don't delay: https://www.manchesterpodcastfestival.com/set-piece-menu
Contact: @setpiecemenu on twitter, and setpiecemenu@gmail.com
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: A sequel to last week's pod, we ask how players do such remarkable things in an environment most of us couldn't imagine, with expectation levels we've never faced.
The food: We're chez Hinchcliffe, and you know what that means. Nicky treats us to a two-course brunch which is indeed a remarkable thing produced despite high expectation levels.
Don't forget to buy your tickets for the 100th Episode Live Spectacular! We will be part of the Manchester Podcast Festival on 13th November, and you can join us! Head to www.manchesterpodcastfestival.com RIGHT NOW!
We are back with the latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Why do footballers do stupid things? A number of recent incidents have brought a player's off field actions into a spotlight that seems to reveal some pretty poor decision making. Is it because they're footballers, or are these human frailties amplified by unique circumstances and scrutiny.
The food: Fajitas, created by Steve, completely devoured by everyone else.
Plus: Rory wanted to thank you all.
@setpiecemenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com www.facebook.com/setpiecemenu
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Is it sufficient to simply support a club, a league, or a type of football outside the mainstream, or do you have to actively promote and proselytise to not be considered part of the problem it faces? Our case study is women's football, but our conversation is about much more.
The food: Doughnuts. Not the expensive type found in a branded refrigerator at the local supermarket, but the cheaper ones just next to it.
DEVELOPING STORY: We are, at last, doing our 100th episode! Set Piece Menu Live is happening on 13th November as part of the Manchester Podcast Festival. Tickets are available here: https://www.manchesterpodcastfestival.com/set-piece-menu
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: After high profile mistakes in recent months by England international defenders, we ask why players tend to make the kind of errors for their country that they wouldn't for their clubs, and whether it's because of the coaching they're getting at club level is the best it has ever been.
The food: A stir-fry. Not prepared prior to the pod, but afterwards, because Hugh is concerned about juggling recording equipment and a very hot wok.
BREAKING NEWS: We are, at last, doing our 100th episode! Set Piece Menu Live is happening on 13th November as part of the Manchester Podcast Festival. Tickets are available here: https://www.manchesterpodcastfestival.com/set-piece-menu
Welcome to the latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Which players are so underrated they're rated? Whether they're at an unfashionable club, or play in an unfashionable position, or they buck an expected trend, some players are described as underrated so much that they've become the opposite.
We make some suggestions, and now we'd like your help in creating an SPM select XI!
Send your players to @setpiecemenu or setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The food: A delightful BLT, or BL, or B, depending on your taste. Preceded by that most traditional of hors d'oeuvres, the shortbread finger.
Thanks for subscribing! Please leave nice 5 star reviews on iTunes, as the more sycophantic they are the more chance they have of being read out on the pod!
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: How would some of the best players from yesteryear fared in today's game? Did some have the skillset to survive, or are their talents non-transferable?
The food: Lemon drizzle cake, shop bought by Rory, but presented in a way to suggest otherwise.
Get in touch with subject suggestions, soccer stories and Out of Context Reacher passages: Twitter @setpiecemenu Email setpiecemenu@gmail.com www.facebook.com/setpiecmenu
This is the latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: In the context of Bury and Bolton's dramatic fight for financial survival, we ask if the Football League can sustain all of its professional clubs. Surprisingly, solutions are offered. Less surprisingly, nobody will pay attention.
The food: Rory surpasses himself, with a lunchtime spread that would be appreciated by any number of the local delis. Except they won't sponsor us so he went to M&S.
This is your final reminder for the SPMPLPL! The deadline for entries is August 30th at 6pm, so head to www.tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu right now! If you'd like to tinker with your original picks then click on 'Edit your submission' on the email received when you made your choices
And send all your Soccer Stories and Out of Context Reacher extracts to setpiecemenu@gmail.com
This is the latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: The Entourage. Neymar has one. Messi has one. Hinchcliffe didn't have one. Who are they and do they actually help or hinder a superstar player's career?
The food: Breakfast baps with a selection of fillings in, and this is crucial, home made muffins, provided by the inestimable Nicky Hinchcliffe.
Don't forget to enter the SPMPLPL for the new Premier League season! Head to www.tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu - the deadline is the 30th August at 6pm.
And get in touch with the podcast at setpiecemenu@gmail.com or on twitter @setpiecemenu
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Wayne Rooney's impending move to Derby posed some questions about the relationship between football and gambling, so we consider the two increasingly comfortable bed fellows.
The food: Steven has prepared a vegetarian feast, because he was recently visited by a vegetarian, who clearly didn't eat enough of the feast to prevent the need for the disposal of leftovers.
Don't forget to enter your predictions into this year's SPMPLPL! Head to www.tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu NOW!
And you can get in touch with SPM via twitter: @setpiecemenu Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com www.facebook.com/setpiecemenu
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: We have some questions, queries, and frankly a few quibbles (well, Rory does) ahead of the new Premier League season, so here is our opportunity to ask if there'll be a title race, if VAR is going to work, and whether the new rules (sorry, laws) will make a difference.
The food: Steve's son George gets to decide, so we're having beans on toast. What's good enough for a growing five year old is good enough for us.
MASSIVE NEWS: The SPMPLPL is back! Our incredibly successful and much copied game of predicting where the Premier League teams will finish the season is up and running.
Entries are now open and can be submitted and edited until the 30th August at 6pm. Enter here: www.tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu
And this season, to follow the trend set by football, we've changed the rules. We've added bonus points and a WILDCARD!!! See the details here: www.facebook.com/setpiecemenu
Good luck!
The new episode of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Tactical Periodisation. A rather boring name for a vital part of the game. What is it, who came up with it, and how has it essentially become football's common sense approach to training.
The food: Rory provides sandwiches, which are bought from the Co-op in the most testing of circumstances, as his sodden clothes can testify.
Please email us on setpiecemenu@gmail.com We're also on twitter and facebook!
The latest episode of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk about football over food.
The football: The Clutch Gene. Why do some sportspeople produce their best under the most intense pressure and in the most crucial moment? And why did Andy Hinchcliffe have none of those qualities? Our former pro reveals how he felt during the most significant day of his career - the 1995 FA Cup Final - and, spoiler alert: it wasn't good.
The food: To thank us for taking him to the very depths of his footballing career, Chinch has offered to buy us lunch. But before that, some leftover rhubarb and lemon curd cake that Hugh baked for his father in law's birthday. And guess what. Steven doesn't like rhubarb.
Get in touch via twitter @setpiecemenu email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com www.facebook.com/setpiecemenu
The final part of a summer series brought to you by Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: We conclude our series on the legitimate voices in football with something that approaches a conclusion (no spoilers here though). After a season that brought these issues almost to boiling point, do we see light at the end of a tunnel we’ve been heading down with a little too much enthusiasm over the last few months in particular, or will temperatures rise even more in the coming years?
Then - the denouement of Football Fun 2019. Yes, it has come to this, via phantom lawnmowers, dodgy recording drop outs and general apathy from the contestants. Who will be crowned the champion? Will Chinch actually participate fully? And how has the quiz been allowed to go on this long?
The food: The beige buffet comes to a triumphant end, although one of the group reveals how they overcome a lack of desire for the cherry part of a cherry bakewell...
The third part of the summer special from Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: We continue the conversation determining who has a legitimate voice in football, asking if it's harder to determine what a legitimate voice is, when we can now listen to so many more of them, and also have so many ways of offering our own opinion.
The food: After eating too many pork-filled pastry items, Rory decides that we should have an episode off, before tackling the daunting amount of cakes that accompany our beige buffet.
Get in touch: Twitter: @setpiecemenu Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/setpiecemenu
This is the latest part of the summer specials provided by Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Part two of our series on the Legitimate Football Voice. We ask where the balance lies between theory and experience. Do former players know everything, and does that come at the expense of those who study the game but have never played it?
The food: Our beige buffet is still going strong, with the sausage-based snacks and crunchy wotsits (carrots) doing very nicely.
Get in touch with the podcast via twitter: @setpiecemenu Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com www.facebook.com/setpiecemenu
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Part one of our summer special series of 2019! Over the next four weeks we're talking about legitimate football voices. Why has football discourse become so polarised, fractious and angry, particularly towards the end of last season? We discuss why so many believe there is a lack of legitimacy in voices other than their own.
The food: A beige buffet. Ever had a meeting over lunch in the office? We try to recreate the kind of spread that is provided for such an occasion, albeit adding in a little too many M&S products. We then throw open Steve's bifold doors and let the sound of Didsbury rush in (the sound is a very loud lawnmower in close proximity).
On the longest day of the year the longest wait is over for the new episode of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Diego Maradona. We speak to Asif Kapadia - the director of the movie(out now, go and see it) about the footballing icon, and how his star rose and fell in Naples during a spell with a previously unsuccessful club on the wrong side of Italian history.
The food: Hershey's Cookie and Cream bars. They are the latest purchase from an airport duty free shop, and Asif is annoyed he doesn't get any.
The full team will return! In the meantime, send us a tweet: @setpiecemenu An email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Or post on our facebook page: just search for Set Piece Menu
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: A Pod Postbag. So many of you get in touch asking us to talk about a topic of your choosing, and on so many occasions we don't get round to it. So here's a chance to make amends, with several of your subject suggestions dealt with in double quick time.
The food: Lasagne, for the second time in recent pod history, but as it's made clear to Hugh, this one is properly home made.
Get in touch: @setpiecemenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com facebook.com/setpiecemenu
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: How did the three teams that gained promotion from the Championship do it, and will it serve them well in the Premier League? We discuss if there's a philosophy that Norwich, Sheffield United and Aston Villa adopted, and if others should use it as a blueprint to follow for potential future promotion to the top flight.
The food: Salt-cured pork presented within an oven-bottom muffin, with a selection of condiments. What's known outside Woodford as a bacon bap.
Get in touch via twitter @setpiecemenu Or on email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Training. Unless you're a member of Marcelo Bielsa's extended entourage, what happens on the training field remains a bit of a mystery. Andy attempts to cast his mind back to tell us how training sessions work, how matches are prepared for, and why some methods are better than others.
The food: Welsh Cakes, provided by Hugh, with strawberry jam, provided by Hugh's mum.
Get in touch via email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Twitter: @setpiecemenu
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Who are Uefa's priority? With the difficulties confronting an ever-decreasing number of fans in getting to Baku for the Europa League final, and astronomical prices for those attempting to attend the Champions League final in Madrid, why aren't supporters at the forefront of geographical and financial considerations when picking host cities?
The food: Rory provides some bagels with smoked salmon and cream cheese, the second of which counts as lubrication, so Steve has his without it.
Thanks for subscribing, and please send us your soccer stories to setpiecemenu@gmail.com!
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Our second annual 'Hot Takes and Takeaways' from the Premier League season. Did we enjoy the title race? Are we surprised by the top four? And should we apologise to Jose Mourinho?
We also reveal our new SPMPLPL champion. Who will it be? And can you remember you entered? (Information can also be discovered without waiting here: tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu)
The food: A continental breakfast suited to the glorious al fresco conditions 'out the back' of Steven's kitchen. Glorious peaches, fresh strawberries, and baked goods the likes of which you'd expect from your local boulangerie (Tesco).
If you have a soccer story send it to us at setpiecemenu@gmail.com And get in touch via twitter @setpiecemenu
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Is there any benefit to being a 'club man'? Does an extra level of understanding and emotional connection to a team help a manager do a better job, or is it easier to operate without them?
The food: Lasagne. Carefully crafted and cooked by Hugh at 8am to make sure it was ready in time.
Don't forget we'd like your soccer stories to fill a potential future Chinch-shaped hole, so send them to setpiecemenu@gmail.com!
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: In the week that the Players' Player of the Year is announced, we ask if footballers are actually any good at deciding who should win the award. If you considered their motivations and inspirations, are they any better than anyone else at picking the best player each year?
The food: Not much, thankfully, because if Rory eats anything it'll immediately escape his virus-ridden body in any number of directions. For the others, chocolates from Croatia, after Hugh's wife Gemma's most recent work trip. Traditions must be observed!
Don't forget we're now asking you for your soccer stories, to fill any future Chinch-shaped holes. Send them to setpiecemenu@gmail.com!
Set Piece Menu, the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: The reinvention of Lionel Messi (and yes, Cristiano Ronaldo too). Inspired by Rory Smith's New York Times article in the aftermath of Messi's latest masterclass against Manchester United, is the ability to adapt & diversify the secret to long-term success, and a trophy laden career?
The food: Steven rustles up three egg omelettes with ham, chorizo, cheese and spinach.
The correspondence this week includes a first listener supplied Soccer Story. More of the same please to @setpiecemenu on twitter and setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Enjoy another edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Do players care about their surroundings? After Kevin de Bruyne gave the impression a stadium doesn't matter to him, we ask if bricks and mortar, and the people inside it, make any difference to footballers.
The food: A fine combined effort. Waffles and fruit, courtesy of Steven and Hugh; and triple choc chip cookies and tiffin, courtesy of Rory and his mum.
Get in touch via twitter - @setpiecemenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com www.facebook.com/setpiecemenu
This is the latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Injuries. We have among our midst one of the leading experts on the injuries of a footballer. 14 surgeries and a broken knee later, Andy Hinchcliffe tells us about what it's like to have to continually go through rehab, and how for some the mental toll might be as much as the physical toll.
The food: A gift of jam, courtesy of Hugh and his holiday. The team squabble over who doesn't have to take the banana-flavoured one.
Please get in touch with the podcast in the usual ways: @setpiecemenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com facebook.com/setpiecemenu
Thanks for downloading the latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Is luck really a thing? After Liverpool beat Spurs with yet another late winner thanks to yet another goalkeeping error, are they just being particularly lucky, or is it an ability to force mistakes that's behind their continuing title challenge in the Premier League? How much does luck play a part in football, when does it intervene, and why?
The food: Rory has provided bacon. That is not new. But it comes enveloped in ciabatta, which is. However, he forgets to boil the water for coffee, so two steps forward, one step back...
You can get in touch with us at setpiecemenu@gmail.com Or on twitter @setpiecemenu facebook.com/setpiecemenu
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: The Modern Football Fan (Part Two). What does a fan's future look like, and is there a right way to go about it? Whether it's a diluting of geographical significance, the promotion of individual over club, or even a connection based on computer games, how will a supporter support in the years to come?
The food: The Chicken and Bacon Sandwich (Part Two). Rory gets seconds, but only after complaining how long it takes for Steve to prepare it.
Twitter: @setpiecemenu Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Facebook: search for Set Piece Menu
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: The Modern Football Fan (Part One). How much has the way you support your club changed? In the era of social media and global fanbases, how is it different to days gone by?
The food: Chicken and bacon baguettes, prepared throughout the show by Steven, who proves he knows a thing or two about what works with guacamole.
Get in touch: @setpiecemenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com facebook.com/setpiecemenu
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Why has the Champions League gone nuts? Is Europe's elite club competition now the repository for football drama and how has this happened? Plus your reaction to our discussion about football on TV, and a Curious Case of Panini Sticker Mistaken Identity.
The food: Chinch provides coffee and pastries for breakfast, seemingly without assistance from his wife, mother-in-law or daughter....
Get in touch via twitter: @setpiecemenu or email setpiecemenu@gmail.com.
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Should more football be on free to air television? As La Liga decides to show some of their games in the UK on ITV4, is this a model that other competitions and broadcasters should follow? And without it, is there a chance football could start to lose its cultural stranglehold?
The food: Pastries, provided by Steven, even though he was unable to provide himself to the podcast.
Get in touch with us via twitter @setpiecemenu, or email setpiecemenu@gmail.com
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: The Insubordination of Kepa. It's said that with great power comes great responsibility, but have players become so powerful they can be publicly irresponsible.
The food: Well, drink. Hugh provides some culturally-interesting Chinese oolong tea, presented alongside traditional teapot and cups. The others are not impressed.
Join our conversation @setpiecemenu on twitter, or on email at setpiecemenu@gmail.com
This is the new episode of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Managers as Mr Motivator. Should coaches be expected to be man managers, and can they succeed without it? How important is their ability to establish trust with their players, or can they prosper by ruling with an iron fist?
The food: Smarties and vimto, left over from an over-zealous shopping trip for a four year old.
You can get in touch with us via twitter @setpiecemenu, or email setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: The evolution of the full back. To mark Chinch's 50th birthday, we consider how the position he used to play (with varying levels of distinction) has changed, particularly in recent years.
The food: a carrot cake, incredibly assembled and lovingly prepared by Steve's partner Katie for Andy's big day.
Get in touch via twitter @setpiecemenu, or email us at setpiecemenu@gmail.com
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: So then, the 2019 January transfer window. What was all that about? A huge reduction in spending, with even the biggest deal involving a player who was sent straight back to the selling club; a preponderance of loan deals; and a very uninspiring deadline day too. We discuss a lot of how's and why's, and whether it even works any more.
The food: Eggs benedict, chosen over the option of eggs royale.
Send your 50th birthday messages to our Chinch via @setpiecemenu on twitter, or email us on setpiecemenu@gmail.com!
The latest Set Piece Menu: the podcast where a presenter, writer, commentator & pundit talk football over food.
The football: why has the FA Cup lost its prestige among Premier League clubs? Inspired by Mauricio Pochettino's belief that domestic cup success would be little more than an ego-trip, we discuss if the Spurs manager is right, or if a trophy is still more important than the longer-term benefits of consistent Champions League football. And Chinch provides a Soccer Story about Hard Men, a breed of player he most certainly was not.
The food: Steven provides cheese, biscuits & cured meats, but needs help with the presentation, and the sourcing of chutney. Plus, chocolate chip muffins, because, well why not?
The email for your correspondence is setpiecemenu@gmail.com. Or tweet @setpiecemenu.
The latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Are some players treated differently than others? If two players dive to win a penalty for example, are their transgressions considered differently if they don't share the same club, position, nationality or race? And why do we default to certain terms when describing non-white players?
The food: Brunch twice removed. Brunch because there's a collection of pastries, fruit and yoghurt to be enjoyed. Twice removed because Chinch instructed his wife's daughter to go to M&S to buy it all.
Your correspondence continues to be very gratefully received, so thank you! Send it to setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Where's the line? You know, the line that separates gaining a fair advantage with unsportsmanlike behaviour? And why have we decided that some things are allowed, and others not? Includes our thoughts on spygate, and long-grass-gate...
The food: Chinch's Chop and Lob Salad, prepared by Hugh. Involves healthy things that the athlete of the group recommends we all eat: quinoa, broccoli, asparagus, feta and orange; all chopped and lobbed in a bowl.
Get in touch via twitter @setpiecemenu Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com www.facebook.com/setpiecemenu
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Life after football. Our resident former pro, Andy Hinchcliffe, reveals the challenges and emotions a player goes through in the immediate aftermath of retirement. From the realisation that you must instantly adapt to a new lifestyle, to how even your closest and most intimate relationships may never be the same.
The food: Meatballs. Glorious Moroccan Meatballs with couscous, prepared by Hugh.
Your correspondence remains very welcome. @setpiecemenu on twitter or setpiecemenu@gmail.com for emails.
Happy New Year from Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: The Atteveld Derby. To continue our festive theme of select XIs, we deliver not one, but two, relating to previous pods about the game's great shouses. Which players are in the House XI, which in the Bag XI, and which would win in a likely bad-tempered match of shousery. All the above is delivered with a parlour game-style silliness which will accompany your New Year's Celebrations perfectly.
The food: Remember we mentioned a banoffee pie before Christmas? Well here it is, preserved and ready to go at the beginning of January. The magic and mystery of broadcasting...
Get in touch with us via twitter @setpiecemenu Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com www.facebook.com/setpiecemenu
Merry Christmas from Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Andy Hinchcliffe's Worst Teammate XI. A special accompaniment to Chinch's soccer stories about the finest players he's ever played with. These are the complete opposite, served as a festive treat with a large dollop of bah humbug. And don't worry, the left back is who you think it is...
The food: We are still on the hot pot. It's that good, and that big, that's is worth savouring. For a whole week.
Hoping you all have a happy holiday season wherever you are!
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: How to run a football club. Admittedly we’re short on collective, tangible experience, but when has that ever stopped us, or anyone else, from having an opinion? Jose Mourinho’s departure from Manchester United has shone a light on the once dominant force of English football. How have they gone from being so far out in front to seemingly falling adrift of the rest of the best? Plus what lessons can other clubs learn about planning for the future, and avoiding complacency, even when the going is good?
The food: Nicky Hinchcliffe’s phenomenal Hot Pot. The perfect pre-Christmas feast.
Thanks for your continuing contributions. Please keep them coming to setpiecemenu@gmail.com Twitter: @setpiecemenu Facebook: www.facebook.com/setpiecemenu
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: The Art of Commentary. Football commentators are the people who provide the soundtrack to every game, but what makes them good (or bad!), and how do they go about their job? We ask you to ask our commentator Steve how it works; he gives the what, while pundit Andy gives you a why. Which is actually kinda how it works.
Thanks for all your questions and comments for this week's episode! Any more? Send them to setpiecemenu@gmail.com Twitter: @setpiecemenu Facebook: www.facebook.com/setpiecemenu
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends (and this week, one of their children) talk football over food.
The football: Is it important? Does football really matter? Do the scenes outside the Monumental in Buenos Aires prove that, sometimes, it can matter too much? We hear Rory's story from the Copa final that never was, and ask Andy if players think the game is as important as fans often do.
The food: Hot dogs. Like, really good ones, provided by Steve, using Hugh's kitchen.
Thanks for all your votes in the FSF Podcast of the Year award. We were proud to represent you all at the ceremony, where we finished (joint) second.
Stay in touch with the podcast on twitter: @setpiecemenu We're also on facebook, and you can email setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Tribalism vs Truth Part Two - The Rules. Could the game's current laws actually be making it harder to establish truth amongst all the arguments? Will VAR fix the problem or make it worse? Rory unloads about offside, and Steve fixes handball.
The food: mince pies. With less than a month to go until Christmas, Hugh attempts to provide seasonal fare. It does not go down well.
Get in touch with Set Piece Menu: Twitter - @setpiecemenu Email - setpiecemenu@gmail.com www.facebook.com/setpiecemenu
This week's Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Tribalism vs Truth Part One. With fans willing to make any argument to support their favourite players or team, is there any chance of finding the truth? And is there any point in trying anyway in a world where any opposing opinion is branded 'fake news'?
The food: sweet potato, pepper and smoked paprika soup with sourdough bread.
Get in touch via twitter @setpiecemenu Email - setpiecemenu@gmail.com www.facebook.com/setpiecemenu
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: XG and packing. An introduction (to many, old hat to others...) to two of the most used types of analytics - what they are and how they work, and why Andy is at the forefront of their adoption in the punditocracy (IE he's just found out about them).
The food: slices, from the cafe in Chinch's gym, featuring varying levels of chocolate and calorific content.
There's not much time until the deadline for voting in the Football Supporters Federation awards! We are nominated in the Podcast of the Year category, and you can vote for us here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/fsf-awards-2018
You have until the 19th November - thank you to everyone who has voted so far!
And do get in touch: @setpiecemenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com facebook.com/setpiecemenu
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: with Manchester City set to potentially dominate the Premier League for a while to come, are they ruining it for everyone? The team debates a particularly petulant question with as much informed nuance as three fully functioning people and one cloth-headed writer from Leeds can muster.
The food: pizza from Rory's oven, served with jamòn, and some garlic flat bread, which is eaten ravenously by the other three while Hugh talks.
If you haven't heard, we have been nominate for the Football Supporters Federation Podcast of the Year! Please, PLEASE vote here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/fsf-awards-2018
The deadline is November 19th!
Get in touch with the pod - we love hearing from you! Twitter: @setpiecemenu Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/setpiecemenu
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
While chronology might dictate a 100th episode, lack of organisation determines that you'll have to wait for our centenary spectacular. Owing to the impertinence of work, pets, children and major building works, we have not had time to figure out and deliver something special; so, to a chorus of boos, here's something ordinary - episode 101.
The football: "What if..." A sliding doors inspired episode, with only one mention of Gwyneth Paltrow. How would football history have changed if certain key moments had gone differently?
The food: bagels, with three different filling options - beef, turkey swiss, or smoked salmon and cream cheese. It's almost like we're in an upper west side deli.
Please get in touch with the pod in the following ways: Twitter: @setpiecemenu Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/setpiecemenu
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: What does a young successful British manager have to do to get a top job? AKA "the Eddie Howe episode".
The food: Coffee. Which isn't food. But is still an achievement, because Chinch now knows how to work the Nespresso machine.
Also - who will fill the midfield and striker spots in Chinch's Soccer Story Select XI?
Get in touch with Set Piece Menu! Twitter: @setpiecemenu Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/setpiecemenu
This week's edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: After recent talk of burnout amongst Premier League players who appeared at the World Cup, we ask if there's too much football.
The food: open breakfast granary baps, with sausage, bacon and a peppered poached egg. Provided - as the description suggests - by Nicky Hinchcliffe.
Get in touch with the podcast via twitter @setpiecemenu Email setpiecemenu@gmail.com Or we're on Facebook - just search for Set Piece Menu
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: What I said last week - Part Two. Such was the response to our episode about the legitimacy of who you support, we decided to carry on the conversation, thanks to your correspondence.
The food: chilli and lime chicken wraps, with no avocado (contrary to the recipe's suggestion), as Steve doesn't like it, and Rory thinks it's nature's most pointless fruit. Oh, and chocolate from the Cadbury's staff shop, which may or may not be out of date.
As hopefully has been illustrated this week, your correspondence is very welcome! Get in touch via twitter @setpiecemenu Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com facebook.com/setpiecemenu
Time for the latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: If you don't support your local or inherited team, can you still be called a legitimate fan? Has localism and tradition made way for a more modern way to select your favourite club, and if it is, is it being frowned upon ?
The food: Rory's oven-bottom muffins filled with a selection of meats and additional optional items (a combination apparently known as a sandwich), with a range of lubrications on offer to satisfy the more particular members of the group.
Keep your suggestions coming for our Atteveld XIs and our 100th episode: @setpiecemenu, setpiecemenu@gmail.com, facebook.com/setpiecemenu
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Does European football need fixing? The Champions League and Europa League are back as the latest forms of European club competition, and they've undergone several tweaks in recent years, but do they need to change further to work?
Plus - Rory's big idea. We commit to tape the competition format Rory thinks will change the face of European club football. Mainly because he's worried someone will steal it, and prevent him from making millions.
The food: Well, drink. Luwak coffee from Indonesia. Hugh insists it's fancy and expensive, everyone else thinks it smells of toilets.
Get in touch via twitter @setpiecemenu Email us setpiecemenu@gmail.com And we're on facebook - just search Set Piece Menu
This is the latest episode of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: S**thouses. Does every team need one, and do we all grudgingly respect their prowess in the dark arts? Comes in association with Sergio Ramos, and with apologies to Ray Atteveld.
The food: falafel, samosas and hummus (so much hummus). These are provided by Rory's wife Kate, and are served with homemade cookies, which are made at home, by Kate's husband Rory.
Thanks for all your tweets and emails, keep them coming @setpiecemenu and setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Our new facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/setpiecemenu - get involved with the conversation!
The latest episode of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: in what guise is the game at its most beautiful - and who's to say what style of football we should admire above all others? Plus Chinch reveals the zen-like preparation that helped him hone a left foot that could "open a can of beans", and Set Piece Menu bingo returns for the 2018/19 season. The food: chocolatey goodness from Mrs Ferris' latest business trip to Croatia. Trips that are in no way becoming suspiciously frequent...
Your correspondence remains crucial to the content. @setpiecemenu on twitter, Facebook.com/setpiecemenu on email setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The latest episode of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Anatomy of a Pundit. We've had Andy Hinchcliffe masterclasses before, now for a mission statement. Chinch analyses what makes a successful football pundit and co-commentator, and details the dos and don'ts of the gantry. He's so determined to raise the standard that there's bullet points, pie charts and a strangely feminine pair of reading glasses.
The food: Bacon sandwiches - cold for Rory because he's late - and two types of muffin. They're served in Andy's house, but obviously made by other members of the Hinchcliffe family.
As always your correspondence is welcome and encouraged. @setpiecemenu on twitter, Facebook.com/setpiecemenu and email setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The latest episode of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Was it a good idea to shorten the Premier League's transfer window? And if not, is it the fault of the Premier League clubs who voted for the change? The team also wonders if it's possible to win or lose in a transfer window, and features a slightly upsetting daydream about Daniel Levy.
The food: Rory (he's back!) provides a salted caramel cheesecake, because he's on a cured meats and hard cheese detox after a month in Italy.
Plus Chinch joins in from Portugal, just before he embarks on a back and biceps session with his personal trainer Joao*.
Get in touch via twitter @setpiecemenu And email setpiecemenu@gmail.com
And don't forget the SPMPLPL closes to entries on 31st August at 6pm. Get your predictions of how the final Premier League table will look at www.tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu
*This is all true, even though it sounds like a subplot from an episode of Days of our Lives.
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: SPM Book Club. Writer Sanj Shetty becomes the first guest in pod history, as he's invited on to talk about the tactics discussed in his book Total Football, a book that Chinch has actually read.
The food: An abundance of Indian snacks, provided by Sanj, and an abundance of banoffee pie, provided by (Mrs) Chinch. Everybody finds room for an abundance of both.
Get in touch: @setpiecmenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Don't forget the SPMPLPL entry window closes on 31st August at 6pm. Get your Premier League teams in the order you think they'll finish in May, and enter our high-profile, low-reward competition at www.tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu
And check out our new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/setpiecmenu
This is the latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Thanks to your help, we complete our 'Inappropriately Skilled XI', named after Shane Long, managed by Paul Jewell. We get some extra help from a Tuscany-touring Rory Smith, and also find out who Andy Hinchcliff is. Yes, without the 'e'.
The food: The final thing to be cooked in Steve's oven before the builders get at it, and the first thing to be cooked for the team by Steve's kids.
The Premier League may have started but there's still time to enter your team in the SPMPLPL! Head to www.tinyurl.setpiecemenu before the 31st August to register your final Premier League table predictions.
And get in touch with the podcast @setpiecemenu on twitter, or setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk about football over food.
The football: Relegation - should we be so hung up on not going down? The team are reunited (kinda) to bring in the new Premier League season, and to ask whether relegation is all that bad after all.
The food: chocolates from Croatia. A gift from Hugh's wife, not a consolation present from the country to four Englishmen.
We'll have your suggestions for our 'Inappropriately Skilled XI' next week, so keep sending them in to @setpiecemenu or setpiecemenu@gmail.com
And don't forget to register your team in the SPMPLPL! Head to www.tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu to select the final positions of the Premier League clubs this season - you could win a massive (not at all massive) prize!!!
The latest episode of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: SPM's Inappropriately Skilled XI. We'd like your help in constructing a team of players who are good footballers, but just not in the position they play. You know - keepers who can't save, strikers who can't score. The team make a few suggestions, and you can make yours to @setpiecemenu or setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The food: a choice between a white chocolate and lemon tart and a tiramisu cake, which have both happily fallen off the back of the Waitrose truck, and within Andy's grasp.
The Set Piece Menu Premier League Predictions League is back! Enter your team and predictions of how the Premier League final table will look at www.tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu
This is the latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: The England World Cup debrief. Football didn't come home, but why, how, and should it even have been a thing in the first place? Hugh and Steve get all sanctimonious, while Chinch admits he didn't even notice it happening from his Woodford bubble...
The food: Biscotti from, as the label says, Eataly.
Next week we open entries to the Set Piece Menu Premier League Predictions League - yes it's back!
Get in touch via twitter on @setpiecemenu Or email setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: an 'I can't believe THAT happened' post-World Cup special. Yes our predictions during the tournament were terrible, but despite that lack of foresight, we can deliver plenty of hindsight on a World Cup that had plenty of surprises (including actually being quite good).
The food: chicken and gammon pie, bought from one of those fancy farm shops in the countryside.
Please get in touch via twitter: @setpiecemenu Or email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The Set Piece Menu Premier League Predictions League is coming back on the 1st August!
This is the final part of a Summer Special Series from Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: The People Who Helped To Shape Modern Football (Part Four) - Silvio Berlusconi. Rory proposes the TV magnate turned football club owner turned politician as one of game's (albeit self-serving) visionaries.
The food: a two, maybe three, course lunch at local vegetarian establishment Greens, that Chinch pays for because he has a very understanding accountant.
Thanks for downloading our summer specials! If you have anything to add get in touch @setpiecemenu or setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The latest edition of the Summer Special Series from Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: The People Who Helped To Shape Modern Football (Part Three) - Arsene Wenger. The former Arsenal boss transformed a team, a country, and a way that both prepared for and played their football.
The food: the team are now perusing the menu for their lunchtime treat, courtesy of Chinch, while trying to convince Steve that he is indeed allowed to eat vegetarian food.
Next week brings the final part of our summer series!
This is the latest episode of a Summer Special Series from Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: The People Who Helped To Shape Modern Football (Part Two) - Walter Crickmer. Steve tells the story of the man, who as Manchester United club secretary, helped Matt Busby to begin the journey of English teams in Europe.
The food: we are a step closer to our lunch-on-Chinch. Two more episodes and we'll be gourmet dining, veggie-style.
This is the second part of four on the people who helped shape modern football, and we'll be back with part three next week!
This is a Summer Special Series from Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: The People Who Helped To Shape Modern Football (Part One) - Jimmy Hill. The team discusses how as a player, manager, chairman, presenter and pundit, Jimmy Hill changed the game almost like no other.
The food: a promise from Chinch to take us all out for lunch, as a reward for completion of our summer spectacular.
This is the first part of four on the people who helped shape modern football, so stand by for part two next week!
Enjoy the latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: World Cup Special (Part Two) - is the World Cup still the pinnacle of the game, and are the football and tactics we see as developed as at club level?
The food: Rory's "peppers and onions" have miraculously become Huevos Rancheros, the first repeat meal in 80 episodes of Set Piece Menu (apart from minibites), which Rory claims is because brunch is a limiting meal concept.
Send us a tweet! @setpiecemenu Send us an email! setpiecemenu@gmail.com And please write us a review at iTunes!
Next week we'll be back with the first part of a summer special series about the people who have shaped modern football. Something to distract you while your team faces inevitable defeat and ignominy at the World Cup...
This is the latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: World Cup Special (Part One) - is the World Cup a blessed relief from all the tribalism and twitter trolling of club football?
The food: peppers and onions, as described by Rory, which until Hugh was able to purchase peppers en route, was going to be just onions.
Get in touch with the team via twitter @setpiecemenu Or email setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Please rate and review us on iTunes, we really like knowing that you care...!
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: The Set Piece Menu Awards - tying a light-hearted, slightly truncated bow around the end of the club football season. Light-hearted because the categories won't be ones you've seen anywhere else (and Ashley Young is nominated for two of them); and slightly truncated owing to time constraints and a sudden departure from Rory...
The food: fajitas. So many fajitas. Provided by Steve, who allows lubrication on this particular dish due to his respect of cultural traditions.
Also - what did Eileen Drewery do to Andy's achilles? And did her powers have anything to do with the fact the radiator was on in her hotel room? All is revealed in this week's soccer story...
Get in touch @setpiecemenu or setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Support Staff. Are great players enough to make your team successful, or are they only able to reach their potential with a good, and ever increasing backroom team? Medical staff, ground staff, nutritionists are all discussed, as are taxidermists for some reason.
The food: left over birthday cake, fresh lemon meringue pie, and millionaire shortbread (a slice of which has an unfortunate, watery end...)
Get in touch @setpiecemenu Or setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Soccer hot takes and takeaways! What have we learnt from this season in the Premier League?
The food: a typically impressive three-course affair courtesy of Nicky Hinchcliffe. Antipasti, prawn and chorizo linguine, banoffee pie. Wowsers.
Also on the pod - we reveal the winner of our Set Piece Menu Premier League Predictions League! Where did you finish? Head to www.tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu
Want to become a SPM buffalo? Get in touch via twitter @setpiecemenu Or email setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Who or what will make next season's title races in Europe interesting? Have we entered a period of utter predictability, and is the Champions League our best hope for jeopardy and uncertainty?
The food: Rory Smith's Chicken, Brie and Rocket quesadillas, with a red pepper sauce. Every bit as good as it sounds. And custard doughnuts.
Keep the emails and tweet coming, we include as many as we can, and you could become the next SPM Buffalo! setpiecemenu@gmail.com or @setpiecemenu. There's a new way of listening too - we're now available via the TuneIn app
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Sorry seems to be the easiest word. Why are so many players, managers and now organisations apologising? Do they mean it, and do fans demand it more now than ever before?
The food: A giant party ring biscuit. Genuinely. Courtesy of a cake shop in Uppermill, the Bramhall of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham area.
Thanks for all your emails and tweets! You can send them to @setpiecemenu or setpiecemenu@gmail.com and maybe you can become an SPM Buffalo (listen for explanation...)
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: When is the best time to get a manager's job? With Arsenal needing a new boss, the team wonders if the circumstances mean it's the most attractive position a manager could ask for; and also if the pool of elite clubs, and elite coaches, is getting ever smaller.
The food: chocolate swirls (baked not grilled), muffins (lemon, blueberry, chocolate flavours), and a bacon and cherry tomato sandwich. All courtesy of Andy's step-daughter Carly, and not at all courtesy of Andy.
Thanks for all your tweets, emails and iTunes reviews! Get in touch: @setpiecemenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Welcome to another episode of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: What's The Point? So many fans support a team that'll never win anything, reach Europe, or maybe even play good football; some will follow a club that might get promoted, but then get relegated straight away. So what's the point, and why do we still love our team?
The food: a New York-themed brunch from Steve, even though he returned from the city (that's famously off the beaten track) nearly three weeks ago.
Get in touch @setpiecemenu And email us setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: How should we rate managerial success? Not everyone has a 'way', but does that mean we underestimate the achievements of those who favour pragmatism over philosophy? Case study: Zinedine Zidane.
The food: chocolate fairy cakes, which leads to an argument, because Hugh refuses to eat one.
Plus - a soccer story about royalty, and we all have a go at pronouncing Kevin de Bruyne following some expert guidance.
Get in touch via twitter @setpiecemenu Or email setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: With Ronaldo and Messi in their thirties, is there a new generation of superstars waiting in the wings, or will the team ethic become more important than the talent?
The food: Cake, four ways. A post-lent indulgence, with a pressing sell-by date.
Thanks for all your tweets and emails; keep them coming, along with as many 5-star reviews you can muster on iTunes!
@setpiecemenu and setpiecemenu@gmail.com is how you get in touch.
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Nerves. How nervous do players get? Is it healthy? And what does that mean for life after football? Andy Hinchcliffe gives us a fascinating insight into what it's like to have your playing career dominated by fear.
The food: an anti-Steve lunch, featuring everything he wouldn't eat - quiche, salad and coleslaw - while he's away in NYC.
Thanks for all your comments following our VAR episode, and do keep them coming on all our subjects!
@setpiecemenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com
This week's Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: VAR. But more the how than the why. If we accept the new technology is here to stay, how can it be applied more successfully? And is its introduction proof that football cares more about its TV audience than its match-going fans? (This episode is brought to you in association with a referee putting his finger to his ear for an infuriatingly long amount of time, with no explanation whatsoever.)
The food: Rory's mushrooms on toast, appreciated by all except Steve, who doesn't like mushrooms, so has a meat substitute.
Plus a soccer story from Chinch that ALL Everton fans should listen to...
Get in touch via twitter @setpiecemenu or email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Your homework assignments - five star reviews on iTunes and comments too please! And Chinch obits: he loves them, honestly.
A special bonus edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: some number crunching after your gracious involvement in our discussion about pressing reset on English football. If we were to construct a 20 team top flight that best represented the history, achievement, current status and, importantly, geographical spread of football in England, how might it look? Includes disagreements, facts (& fiction) and a little massaging of the data.
The food: A plate full of danish pastries & pots containing caffeine.
Thank you ever so much for entering the spirit of debate, this is very nearly democracy in action.
Twitter: @setpiecemenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Do keep the reviews on iTunes etc coming!
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Have politics and football become irreversibly intertwined? The game has rules preventing the two from mixing, but it seems there's no keeping them apart.
The food: gingerbread biscuits (made by Rory), and orange cake (made by Hugh, although the others don't believe it).
Get in touch via twitter @setpiecemenu and email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
STAND BY for an extra pod about the 20 team SPMPL later in the week too!
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Chinch on... corners. A masterclass from our former England international about the set piece that made him (kinda) famous.
The food: pasta and meatballs. Not at all a masterclass from our former England international as they are microwave meals from M&S and he got his mother in law to cook them.
Get in touch: @setpiecemenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Keep your suggestions for our 20-team SPMPL coming in... they are creating quite the stir!
Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: What happened to some of the traditional 'big clubs'? Why are previously successful and illustrious names in football languishing outside the elite?
The food: is actually a drink. To reduce washing up, Hugh blends our meal - a Granola, Yogurt, Banana, Berry and Pomegranate Smoothie that was surprisingly satisfying.
Thanks for your input on this week's podcast. Please continue to get in touch via twitter @setpiecemenu and email setpiecemenu@gmail.com. Your ratings and reviews are also very much appreciated.
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: What's the best goal? Simple question, no simple answers (because there's a podcast to fill...)Do you like a team goal, a long range belter, an overhead kick or dainty chip?
The food: paninis, including a tuna one, which offends most of the group.
Plus a soccer story that reveals why Chinch didn't join Spurs, and more of your unsung heroes.
Thanks for all your tweets and emails! Get in touch with what you think is the 'best goal': @setpiecemenu or setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football - Which is better for a domestic league: one dominant club, or a cartel of up to six? Do you prefer knowing who's going to win the title or who's going to make up the European places?
The food: lent-defying chocolates, courtesy of Hugh's uncle's trip to the House of Lords.
Plus, if Set Piece Menu was a football club, which club would we be? Get in touch with your suggestions via twitter @setpiecemenu, or on email setpiecemenu@gmail.com
This is the latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: the Honesty Episode - how much cheating should be allowed, and who's fault is it there's any in the first place?
The food: American-style pancakes, provided (eventually) by Rory, after he realises quantity is much more important than quality.
Get in touch with the team on twitter @setpiecemenu or email setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The latest episode of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Unsung Heroes. Whose efforts do the team suggest should be trumpeted, while they go under the radar elsewhere?
The food: poached everything, a delightful healthy lunch presented by Steven Wyeth.
Follow us on twitter @setpiecemenu to see how you changed our 'Don't You Forget About Me XI' - thanks for all your suggestions! Get in touch on email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
And if you haven't yet we'd be super grateful if you could rate us on iTunes!!!
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk about football over food.
The football: The Set Piece Menu 'Don't You Forget About Me' XI (aka the bickering episode). We pick a team from those players forgotten, ignored or cast out from the Premier League's top six, and wonder if they might be good enough to get into the top six.
The food: commemorative Donald Trump-endorsed* chocolates, bought with great thought, and little cost, from duty free at Kansas City airport.
Get in touch with your 'Don't You Forget About Me' teams! @setpiecemenu on twitter, and setpiecemenu@gmail.com
*probably.
This is the latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Does 'parking the bus' ever work, and is the tactic actually as nihilistic as many think?
The food: roast chicken salad, revealed (to major acclaim) during the pod, eaten just after.
Plus - what point does Steve make that Rory calls the best in the history of Set Piece Menu?
Thanks for all your correspondence, we'd love to hear from you on twitter: @setpiecemenu Or email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends discuss football over food.
The football: This week, overwhelmed by your response to the issues raised in our series on The Media, we thought it only right to properly address as many contributions as possible in The Media: a follow-up edition.
The food: basically anything we had left over from the festivities. Pate, crackers, chutney, Christmas cake, the fudge Rory got instead of the books he asked for...
Thanks for all the feedback, this one is very much down to you. Please keep them coming, we're @setpiecemenu on twitter and email setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Happy New Year from Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. This week part three of our seasonal series on The Media.
The football: the changing football media landscape. What impact has social and club media made and is the truth now harder to come by?
The food: a sensational cheesecake made in Chinch's home, but thankfully not homemade by Chinch...
Please keep the feedback coming via @setpiecemenu on twitter and our email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com and don't forget to review and rate via iTunes or your usual podcast provider.
Merry Christmas from Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. We continue the seasonal cheer with part two of our series on the media.
The football: how the media uses football, and how football uses the media.
The food: 'dirty' breakfast barms, which form part two of the Mrs N. Hinchcliffe triptych.
Thanks to all those who have got in touch about part one of our media special. We'd love you all to join the conversation: @setpiecemenu on twitter setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Part three to come next week! Happy New Year everyone!
It's a Seasonal Spectacular from Set Piece Menu, the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: The Media, Part One - is the media biased?
The food: the beginning of a breakfast triptych, served by Nicky. First course - granola, in cocktail glasses.
Parts two and three of our media series will be with you over Christmas and the New Year!
Thanks for all your tweets and emails - keep them coming at setpiecemenu@gmail.com or @setpiecemenu
Happy Christmas everyone!
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Are older British coaches stopping younger British coaches progressing in the game? It's a complaint you hear from the more 'experienced' homegrown managers: "Why don't more British coaches get Premier League jobs?" The team discusses whether the thing often standing in a young coach's way... is them.
The food: gourmet sandwiches, provided by a local bakery, and conforming to all of the various salad-based prejudices of the group.
Thanks for all your emails and tweets, do keep them coming! @setpiecemenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com
This week we celebrate the first birthday of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food. It's a (not particularly) special anniversary(ish) edition!
The football: Is there always a bigger club? The team discusses the football hierarchy, how it changes, and whether it can be challenged.
The food: birthday cake!
Get in touch via twitter: @setpiecemenu and email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Thanks for all your support over the last year, keep telling everyone!
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Why do so many fans seem so miserable? The team wonders if it's sometimes easier to complain, and if wanting to be right can mean a supporter prefers his club to fail.
The food: chorizo and pepper omelette from Steve, and glamorous liqueur chocolates from South Africa (well, Joburg airport duty free) from the returning Hugh.
We also reflect on what gives you joy in football, so keep the correspondence coming in: @setpiecemenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Thanks for all your support, next week we celebrate our one year anniversary!!!
The latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: What about football gives you joy? Yes, for one week only, no negativity (ok, there's some negativity) as we try to concentrate on those little aspects of the game that fill us with happiness.
The food: Steve finds his local supermarket well stocked with pastries for breakfast, but strangely short of healthy accompaniments.
Please continue to rate, review and tell your friends. We're @setpiecemenu on twitter, or email is setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The latest edition of the podcast where four friends talk football over food - Set Piece Menu.
The football: Youth - Part Three. The conclusion of our discussion on the development of young players. What's next for a footballer after breaking into the first team, and how is early promise sustained to ensure a long and decorated career?
The food: we're forced to raid Hugh's kitchen for snacks whilst he continues to gently simmer a chicken one-pot lunch.
As always, reviews, ratings and spreading of the word is very much appreciated.
Points of contact: @setpiecemenu on twitter and setpiecemenu@gmail.com is our email
The latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Youth - Part Two. How does a young footballer make the step from academy to first-team, and what responsibility does a club have to ensure that potential is fulfilled?
The food: Hugh continues to over-promise but under-deliver on a chicken one-pot lunch. Stomachs are rumbling.
Please continue to rate, review and spread the Set Piece Menu gospel.
You can get in touch via @setpiecemenu or setpiecemenu@gmail.com
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The team is reunited for a deep dive multi-parter into one of the game's biggest issues!
The football: Youth - Part One. How does a young player (and their parents) navigate those first few, often crucial, steps on the road to becoming a professional; and do academies both help and hinder their development?
The food: A chicken one-pot, which is developed and lovingly watched over almost as much as a young footballing prospect's career.
Thanks for all your downloads and ratings. Please keep them coming! And tell all your friends. ALL OF THEM.
Get in touch: @setpiecemenu or setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Another chance to catch up on Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: part two of our paternity-induced clips show takes you through some of the best bits of our Chinch-based technical pods, and revisits the Script.
The food: a sumptuous BLT, or for Steve, a slightly less sumptuous BL, as T is one of the things he doesn't really eat.
Thanks for all your correspondence, and do keep it coming! @setpiecemenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The full team are back next week!
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food, although owing to a couple of happy occasions in the Smith and Hinchcliffe households, and the subsequent granting of paternity and grand-paternity leave, we are down to two.
Therefore, the football: a tour through some of the earlier Set Piece Menu best bits to save some of our newer listeners a little time, while we happily take the metrics hit.
The food: overnight oats, as Hugh tries to wean Steve off cereal, with a side of medicinal hot drinks.
Thanks for all your correspondence, you can get in touch via: Twitter - @setpiecemenu Email - setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: does actual intelligence help a player, or is football intelligence enough?
The food: a platter of delightful Mediterranean mezze, provided by Rory, who admits to making a culinary effort for the first time in a while...
Get in touch via twitter @setpiecemenu Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
We'd love you to review us on iTunes and download the episodes you haven't listened to yet, even if the updated Podcast app on iOS is completely baffling...
This is the latest episode of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Is it getting easier to play away from home? Warning: includes true facts.
The food: a Hinchcliffe special breakfast, not in any way contributed to by the only person on the podcast named Hinchcliffe.
Get in touch via twitter: @setpiecemenu Or email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Don't forget to catch up with all our other episodes, including the bonus show in which we reveal the listeners' Best of the Rest Select XI, and ask Chinch to illustrate them on what turns out to be a depressingly underwhelming tactics board.
Thanks for all your downloads and comments!
A special bonus edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: we've crunched the numbers on your suggestions and reveal the Best of the Rest XI. Is the team, made up of players from the clubs outside the top 7 biggest spenders, capable of challenging at the top of the Premier League? Chinch produces his tactics board as a visual aid; Hugh, Steven and Rory are deeply unimpressed....
Twitter: @setpiecemenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Do keep the reviews on iTunes etc coming!
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: The polarising of the Premier League (and others, but they don't alliterate). Is the gap between the 'haves' and 'have nots' getting wider, and might it be because of a dearth of top class strikers?
The food: a bag of caramels, both chocolatey and chewy, that, although tempting, we promise to leave until after we're finished...
Twitter: @setpiecemenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Thanks for all your iTunes reviews, and do keep them coming!
The latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where a presenter, pundit, commentator and writer talk football over food.
The football: Segregation - does it work, or does separating fans cause more problems than it solves?
The food & drink: Danish & Colombian.
Please rate us on iTunes and follow us on twitter @setpiecemenu
The latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: What’s the most important position? Spoiler alert - it’s not left back, much to Andy’s disappointment.
The food: superfood muffins. An oxymoron if ever we heard one.
Please rate us on iTunes and follow us on twitter @setpiecemenu!
This week's Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Does a manager's age matter? Can an older coach be a better coach regardless of their experience, or can a fresh face now garner as much respect?
The food: cup cakes and flapjacks, bought by Andy (Nicky), eaten loudly by Steve.
Get in touch via twitter @setpiecemenu and email setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Subscribe via iTunes and Soundcloud and download the previous 39 episodes for instant, non-weekly fun!
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Manchester City's new Tunnel Club. Why? For whom? And what does it say about the current culture of fan engagement?
The food: frittata and cous cous. Very healthy, unless you a) have four helpings (Rory), b) wolf it down almost aggressively (Steve), or c) have a Partridge-sized plateful (Andy).
Thanks to everyone who has rated and reviewed on iTunes - keep them coming! And a reminder the deadline for the Premier League table Predictions is the 1st September at 6pm - www.tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu
Twitter: @setpiecemenu Email: setpiecemenu@gmail.com
It's the latest Set Piece Menu! This is the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Is the future of the game somewhere other than Europe? Can the money of China, or the glamour of the USA, compete with Europe's history?
The food: Pizzas. But not just any pizzas. These are M&S pizzas.
Get in touch via twitter: @setpiecemenu or at setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Enter our Premier League Table Predictions Contest at www.tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu - the deadline to register your guess of the final Premier League placings is September 1st!
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: When will it all end? A £200 million footballer, £5billion TV rights, investment from sovereign funds in the middle east and Chinese consortia, will the football cash bubble ever burst?
The food: we raid Rory's sweet cupboard (again). He has had no time to prepare a proper meal owing to his many high-profile media appearances.
Get in touch via @setpiecemenu and setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Enter our Premier League Final Table Prediction Contest League (workshopping the title) at www.tinyurl.com/setpiecemenu - the deadline to register your guess of the final Premier League placings is September 1st!
Welcome in the new Premier League season with Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends (together again!) talk football over food.
The football: Will the billions make it better? With all the money being spent by Premier League clubs, will the competition, or its quality, improve?
The food: a Danish brunch by Steve, with, according to Rory, the best toast, like, ever.
Play our new Premier League Table Predictor Game! Follow @setpiecemenu on twitter and click on the link to join in!
Get in touch: @setpiecemenu or setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Download our summer specials on English football, transfers, and loyalty now on iTunes (plus the other 27 episodes too!)
This is the latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
It's time for the final summer special edition! The football - Loyalty: Part Two. Do we expect too much of it from footballers?
The food - Build a Breakfast Workshop (still trademarked, and now officially endorsed by a hungry three year old).
The final summer special from Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Loyalty - Part One. Does it still exist? The team discusses the modern reality facing fans of players who may not hold their club in the same esteem.
The food: Build a Breakfast Workshop (healthy, and trademarked).
Other summer multi-part specials on English football and transfers available via iTunes - thanks for your continued support!
Contact: @setpiecemenu setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Transfers - Part Two. In a world of such mind-blowing figures, is there such a thing as value in football? And how did we get to a point where agents are making £40m on a deal?
The food: the controversy has made way for grudge-bearing, as the stomachs remain empty. Ahem. Steve.
Thanks for making Transfers - Part One our fastest downloaded episode ever! You can catch up if you haven't already on all the episodes on iTunes and elsewhere. Get in touch via @setpiecemenu and setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The summer continues on Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Transfers - part one. We break down how a transfer is reported; what and who should you believe?
The food: Controversial, as crossed wires means we are left only with chocolatey snacks.
Don't forget to download our four part special on English football, and all the other episodes too! And get in touch @setpiecemenu or setpiecemenu@gmail.com
The fourth, and final, part of the Set Piece Menu Summer Special in which we've asked "What is English football?"
This week: Do other nationalities ponder their footballing identity in the same way?
The food: Steve provides a tart, of the Raspberry and Almond variety, which he most definitely baked himself, honestly...
Parts one through three are still available if you still have some catching up to do. Plus, get in touch via @setpiecemenu and setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Time for part three of Set Piece Menu's Summer Special asking "What is English football"?
This week: How does English football reclaim its identity, and is that even desirable?
The food: More pizza, plus the part two leftovers that Andy Hinchcliffe found a little too spicy for his palate.
Parts One & Two, plus the rest of the back catalogue, are still available. You can get in touch via @setpiecemenu and setpiecemenu@gmail.com
It's Part Two of Set Piece Menu's Summer Special asking the question "What is English Football?"
The football: How has English Football changed, and if it has, has it changed for the better or worse?
The food: The pizzas, having been chosen and not-at-all universally accepted, are now being cooked anyway.
Check out Part One on Episode 28, and get in touch! @setpiecemenu - setpiecemenu@gmail.com
Welcome to the first of a series of four Set Piece Menu Summer Specials asking: "What Is English Football?"
The football - Part One: What do we mean by English Football, and when did it exist?
The food: The selection of, and disregarding of as too spicy by Chinch, a number of Tesco's Finest Pizzas.
This is Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Does money make you less of a success? If you have a war chest of billions, should any achievements be marked with an asterisk?
The food: doughnuts, albeit briefly. Warning: this podcast contains the slightest hint of a disagreement between the group. Just thought we should let you know.
The latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Why do teams often appear to lack a Plan B? So asks a listener. It's the jumping off point for a discussion about the subtleties of tactical variation, and whether players or coaches are to blame if they don't work.
The food: Not just brunch, but an M&S inspired brunch. Sensationally prepared by Nicky Hinchcliffe. And fruit juice featuring the word 'doughnut'....
The latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: it's the last refuge of players trying to deflect criticism, and managers trying to avoid hard questions. But do you really need to have played the game - at the highest level, no less - to understand it? It can't be that complicated, after all, because Andy understands it, and he is famously dim.
The food: some delicious chocolate bites, infused with caramel and/or orange that Rory bought from a major high street retailer, but presented as though he had made them himself, by arranging them artistically on a plate.
Episode 24 of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Is it ok to support a second team?
The food: None. Ask Rory to explain.
The latest episode of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: three at the back - how and why does it work?
The food: enough pretzels and fresh fruit to appear almost bohemian.
Get in touch via @setpiecemenu and setpiecemenu@gmail.com!
Episode 22 of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: the experience sweet spot... How a player's body often doesn't hold up long enough to take advantage of what their mind has learned.
The food: bacon and poached egg muffins, expertly crafted by Steve, while the rest of the team perform parenting duties.
Time for Episode 21 of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Real, Barça and Bayern - is this the end of an era for the big three?
The food: pastries (both savoury and sweet), and a sinister amount of red grapes.
The latest episode of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where, this week, three friends talk football over food, as Rory is on a high-profile European gallivant.
The football: Which ideas should football steal from other sports?
The food: a typically impressive and healthy breakfast (including avocado), provided once again by the impressive and healthy Mrs Hinchcliffe.
The latest episode of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: is it fun anymore, for fans or players?
The food: a continental breakfast, featuring saucisson sec, and Rory failing to eat a strawberry.
The latest episode of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Stockpiling young players - are some clubs preventing their progress by not offering a realistic path to the first team?
The food: an elephant in the room (not literally), after Hugh's dismissive comments about the rest of the team's previous culinary efforts...
Episode 17 of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: How long is too long for a manager?
The food: Rory's springtime spread of crudités, and French biscuits, both summarily disrespected by Hugh, as always.
Welcome to the latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: does a spell as an international manager make you a better club boss?
The food: cheesecake. Oh, the cheesecake.
It's another Set Piece Menu! Enjoy Episode 15 at your leisure as once again four friends talk football over food.
The football: Is there a script, and if there is, who's writing it?
The food: afternoon tea, with an argument over the pronunciation of 'scone'.
This is the latest Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: referees - what are they doing?
The food: michelin star quality lamb stew and dumplings, courtesy of Nicky Hinchcliffe. Andy didn't even buy the ingredients.
Introducing the latest episode of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: player power.
The food: breakfast in a bap, with limited double entendres.
Please follow us @setpiecemenu and leave us a review on iTunes!
Welcome to the latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the football podcast where four friends share their love of the game over food.
The football: Football's lost art of defending.
The food: cinnamon swirls, pain au chocolat, a selection of berries and (after a late night & early morning) coffee, lots of coffee.
Sit back and enjoy Episode 11 of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Do Premier League clubs care as much about the Champions League as they used to?
The food: a blueberry and apricot crumble cake, which Steve takes a while to get through.
Welcome to the latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk about football over food.
The football: what needs to be fixed in football... IMMEDIATELY.
The food: coffee buns and stroopwafels, with the latter leading to an astonishing alternative fact about Hugh's grandmother.
We'd like you to enjoy the latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: Is the Premier League big six impenetrable?
The food: Huevos Rancheros - a Mexican brunch, prepared by Rory and his very loud extractor fan.
This is the latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: fittingly - set pieces. Are they as good as they used to be, and do they matter as much?
The food: jambalaya, a bit on the spicy side for Chinch.
Follow @setpiecemenu and please subscribe and share!
It's time for the latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk about football over food.
The football: are there really that many world-class players?
The food: Steve's chicken and mozzarella paninis - homemade and mightily handsome.
Introducing episode six of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk football over food.
The football: 2016 was the year of post-truth politics, but football set the trend a long time ago.
The food: chicken cacciatore, slow-cooked by Rory, pronounced beautifully by Hugh.
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This is the latest edition of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends (well, three and a half this week) talk about football over food.
The football: is an FA Cup run a poisoned chalice?
The food: high-class hot pot and crumble, courtesy of the incredibly talented and very generous Mrs Nicky Hinchcliffe.
Season's Greetings from the Set Piece Menu team, who may be new, but still deserve a Christmas Special. This is the podcast where four friends talk about football over food.
The football: Why is football at Christmas so important to us, and does it actually ruin everything?
The food: Turkey and stuffing sandwiches, but not particularly good ones.
Thanks for all your support! Please share, subscribe and leave comments if you can!
Introducing Episode 3 of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk about football over food. The football: Hugh, Rory, Steve and Andy ask whether there's ever anything new in the game, or are we guilty of simply giving different names to old ideas? The food: tapas, but not the fancy kind. Thanks for your support, please subscribe and share!
This is Episode 2 of Set Piece Menu - the podcast where four friends talk about football over food. The football: Loris Karius and the Nevilles. Not a 1960s popular beat combo, but a spat that makes the SPM team ponder - who has the right to criticise footballers? The food: bagels with or without smoked salmon, provided by Steve. Thanks for downloading, please subscribe and share!
The first episode of Set Piece Menu. The football: Rory, Andy, Steve and Hugh discuss whether the Premier League really is the best league in the world... and does it matter anyway? The food: muffins and shortbread, with frothy coffee.