
RTÉ Soccer Podcast: Evan Ferguson at Roma, effective England and LOI's Euro ties
TIMESTAMPS
00:40 Rachel Graham reviews England's Euro 2025 final triumph over Spain and picks her player of the tournament
08:40 Rachel looks ahead to Athlone Town's Women's Champions League against Cardiff City and the reigning SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division champions' draw against Treaty United last week.
14:10 Rachel talks about being on the losing side with Shelbourne in Saturday's Avenir Sports All-Island Cup semi-final against Bohemians, who will face Wexford in the final.
22:00 Rachel discusses Collie O'Neill's decision to resigns as Shamrock Rovers boss and the appointment of Republic of Ireland legend Stephanie Zambra as interim head coach.
26:15 Rachel on the transfers of Republic of Ireland internationals Jamie Finn and Jessie Stapleton to Sunderland and Nottingham Forest (on loan) respectively,
29:45 Richie and Graham, who played with Evan Ferguson's father, talk about Evan Ferguson's now-completed move to AS Roma, as well as Ireland youth international Kevin Zefi's development as he eyes a move away from the Italian capital giants.
44:25 Graham and Richie on Shelbourne's Champions League tie with Qarabag after a 3-0 loss in the first leg, and St Patrick's Athletic and Shamrock Rovers looking to build on first leg wins in the Conference League.
01:03.50 Richie and Graham review Friday's SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division results, as Sligo Rovers staged a comeback win over Cork City, Waterford won at Galway United and Derry City and Bohemians shared the spoils; plus Richie on Sean Keogh's impending move from Dundalk to Brighton and Graham's reaction to the draw for the Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup third round which features a host of derbies and the meeting of last year's finalists.
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RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Scott McTominay among nominees for Ballon d'Or award
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Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
RTÉ not showing Shelbourne's Europa League second leg against Rijeka
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The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Why Newcastle have become the new Tottenham after getting rejected by stars despite having richest owners in football
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A club which won its first domestic silverware in 70 years, qualified for the Champions League and boasts a vast, fanatical support, should have been enjoying a transformative summer. The euphoria of clinching the Carabao Cup, then heading back into the European elite, was supposed to serve as a launchpad for the Geordie Arabia revolution. Instead, tumbleweed is blowing across Tyneside as Newcastle risk losing the transfer window due to a combination of neglect, misfortune and the ongoing restrictions of PSR regulations. Alexander Isak is trying to engineer a move to Liverpool, while Benjamin Sesko prefers lowly, Europe-free Manchester United over St James' Park. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL BEN AND GONE Newcastle send scouts to watch £87m Greece star, 26, after Sesko snub The Slovenian striker is expected to join Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, Bryan Mbeumo, Liam Delap, Dean Huijsen and James Trafford among a long list of players to have snubbed the Toon this summer. 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Advertisement But PSR has made it impossible for the Saudis to follow the lead of those previous filthy-rich 'disruptors' Roman Abramovich at Chelsea and Sheikh Mansour at Manchester City. Alexander Isak arrives at Newcastle training for treatment amid Liverpool transfer interest Newcastle are unable to blow rivals out of the water on transfer fees and wages. Any assault on world domination must be a waiting game. And time is not on Isak's side, as a 25-year-old reaching the peak of his powers. While an excellent coach who has overperformed throughout most of his career, Eddie Howe is not a dynamic hardman well-suited to dealing with a situation like Isak's stand-off. Advertisement And with Sesko preferring a move to Old Trafford, Newcastle's frustrations in trying to sign a striker - as a potential replacement for Isak, or to boost their existing squad - are being continually frustrated. As Alan Shearer says, 'it is not a good look' and the summer has been a 'nightmare'. 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This comes after the departures of Amanda Staveley and her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi last summer, which wiped away the public face of Newcastle's Saudi ownership and added to the impression of a rudderless ship. There are fears among the club's support that their Saudi paymasters are indifferent to the club. The sporting interests of the Saudi Public Investment Fund are wide and varied - including ventures into golf, boxing and tennis as well as its stakes in four Saudi Pro-League clubs. Advertisement With Saudi Arabia set to host the World Cup in 2034, there are many other sporting priorities on which to focus - without PSR hindrances. The Premier League attempted to block Newcastle's Saudi takeover in the first place and its clubs are determined to hold them back. It would be ever so cute to imagine that those rivals are motivated by a distaste for the severe human-rights abuses of the Saudi regime. In truth, it is all about self-interest. Newcastle's training facilities remain well short of elite level and plans to expand St James' Park or build a new stadium remain under wraps. Advertisement There is no sense of urgency or focus about the club and this is acknowledged by many shakers and movers in the transfer market. Yet for Isak, and for any world-class target, there will always be an urgency to win trophies and earn sackloads of money in a short career. 7 Bryan Mbeumo didn't fancy a move to the North East Credit: Getty 7 Joao Pedro chose Chelsea over Newcastle Credit: Getty