The Lab (Tottenham Hotspur Podcast)
The Lab (Tottenham Hotspur Podcast)
The Fighting Cock
Brought to you by the lads at The Fighting Cock, The Lab is a Football podcast that encourages in depth conversation on subject matter that ranges from tactics, to transfer deals, how injuries are treated, to an agent's role, to content creators, to coaches, and much more. Essentially The Lab is a podcast that talks about everything around the pitch, not just just what happens on it.
S4E05 | Tottenham’s Retractable Pitch: Genius or a Problem?
What are the numbers behind Tottenham Hotspur’s extraordinary stadium, and could the technology that makes it such a commercial success have an unexpected downside? We are joined by Patrick from By the Numbers' instagram account to dig into the business, science and technology behind modern football. We look at Spurs’ incredible retractable pitch, how it disappears beneath the South Stand in around 30 minutes, and how the stadium has helped transform Tottenham’s commercial potential. But there’s another side to the numbers. With Spurs suffering a succession of serious injuries, could the unusual construction of the pitch be playing a part, or is the evidence simply not there? And just how much does an injured Premier League player actually cost a football club? Football, by the numbers.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 10
40 min
S4E03 | Pre Season, Players In Coming & The Pull Of De Zerbi
We discuss Roberto De Zerbi's growing influence over the squad, why Lucas Williams-Barnett looks ready for first-team football, the players who have enhanced their reputations, and whether results really matter at this stage. We also debate Archie Gray's leadership, Mathys Tel's impressive summer, Djed Spence's future, transfer ambitions, and why there's a genuine feeling that Spurs are building something different. Finally, we ask the big question: what counts as a successful first full season under De Zerbi? Top five, Champions League qualification, or simply seeing a recognisable Tottenham identity return? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 31
52 min
S4E02 | The Beautiful Rivalry: The People, Pubs and Pavements of Spurs vs Arsenal
We’re joined by Adam Catterall, broadcaster, storyteller and host of Fight Disciples, to discuss his new football documentary series, The Beautiful Divide. The opening film explores the rivalry between Tottenham and Arsenal, not simply through results and famous matches, but through the supporters, pubs, families and streets that give the North London derby its identity. Adam explains why he wanted to look beyond the commercial version of modern football and find the emotion, tribalism and genuine human stories that still exist beneath it. We discuss the characters he met around Tottenham, the importance of places such as the Bill Nicholson pub, a tense encounter while filming in Finsbury Park, and the unforgettable claim that while Arsenal may have dominated on the pitch, Spurs have “dominated the pavements”. We also ask whether the two clubs, for all the hatred between them, ultimately need one another. It’s a conversation about rivalry, belonging, working-class football culture and why Spurs against Arsenal remains one of the most authentic divides in the game. As Adam puts it, making the film reminded him what football felt like before VAR, commercialisation and everything else began getting in the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 29
38 min
S4E01 | How Tottenham Became A Super Club
Are Tottenham finally operating like one of Europe's biggest clubs? Anatole Pang joins The Lab to unpack the dramatic change in Spurs' transfer strategy, why the club suddenly has the financial power to compete for elite players, and whether Daniel Levy's departure was the catalyst or simply the final piece of a much bigger plan. We discuss Simon Jordan's comments, the Lewis family's role, De Zerbi's influence on recruitment, why Spurs may be making up for a decade of underinvestment, and how PSR, Squad Cost Ratio and the stadium all fit into the bigger picture. If you've wondered why Tottenham can suddenly spend £100m on players while other clubs are tightening their belts, this episode explains why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 18
58 min
S3E58 | Fernandes, Tonali & De Zerbi's Tactical Masterplan
Kish from Lilywhite Lab joins us for a deep tactical dive into Tottenham's remarkable summer rebuild. One of the sharpest tactical analysts in the Spurs community, Kish breaks down exactly why Roberto De Zerbi wanted players like Mateo Fernandes, Sandro Tonali, Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi, and how they fit into the football he's trying to build. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 2
48 min
S3E57 | Has Tottenham Finally Left the Levy Era Behind?
Dan Kilpatrick of The Athletic joins us to discuss why Tottenham suddenly feels like a very different football club. We look at the structural changes behind the scenes since Daniel Levy stepped away, Roberto De Zerbi's growing influence on recruitment, and whether Spurs are finally operating like one of Europe's biggest clubs. We also dive into the club's ambitious pursuit of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, the arrivals of Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi, concerns over the futures of Luka Vuskovic and Lucas Bergvall, and what Tottenham's spending says about the club's new ambitions. We also explore how transfer reporting really works at The Athletic, the standards required before publishing a story, and why separating genuine information from online rumours has become harder than ever. A fascinating conversation about Tottenham's fu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 30
44 min
S3E56 | The Spurs Finance Q&A - Why Cash Is King
On this episode of The Lab, Flav is joined by football finance enthusiast Ben White to answer your questions on Tottenham Hotspur’s finances. We dig into the new Squad Cost Ratio rules, what happens as PSR fades out, whether Spurs really can spend 115% of revenue, and why that so-called “loophole” is not quite what it seems. There’s also discussion on the Lewis family’s cash injections, Daniel Levy’s legacy, player sales, amortisation, free transfers, wage structure, cash flow, and whether Tottenham are finally in a position to properly attack the transfer market. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 26
1 hr 5 min
S3E55 | Why Spurs Can Finally Spend Like a Top Club...Potentially
We dig into the reported sale of Daniel Levy’s stake in ENIC, what it means for Tottenham’s ownership structure, and whether new investors could have any real influence over the club. We also break down the Lewis family’s investment, how Squad Cost Ratio rules actually work, why cash flow matters as much as transfer budgets, and just how aggressive Spurs can be in the market this summer. Plus, we discuss Romero, Vuskovic, player trading, and whether the club is finally backing its words with action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 16
1 hr 7 min
S3E54 | Excitement, Skepticism and Spurs' Summer Rebuild
Thumbnail art was shot by the incredible Frederiike Jensen. We’re joined by Harry Brooks to make sense of Tottenham’s increasingly busy summer. With Andy Robertson through the door and moves for Senesi, Van Hecke and Savinho gathering pace, we ask whether Spurs are finally behaving like a club with a clear plan. We discuss the impact of the Lewis family’s ownership, De Zerbi’s influence on recruitment, the need for leadership and experience in the dressing room, and what the future holds for Romero, Van de Ven, Vuskovic, Danso and the rest of Spurs’ crowded defensive group. We also dive into Savinho, Adam Wharton, Hayden Hackney and the profile of midfielder Tottenham still seem to be missing, before asking the big question: are Spurs finally building a squad capable of matching their ambitions? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 9
1 hr
S3E54 | Inside The Fall Of Daniel Levy
This week we’re joined by senior news reporter for The Athletic, Matt Slater, to unpack one of the most dramatic periods in Tottenham Hotspur’s history. We discuss Daniel Levy’s departure, the power structures that shaped Spurs for decades, the role of the Lewis family, takeover speculation, the Gibb River review, and whether Tottenham are genuinely for sale. We also explore the realities of modern football ownership, why American investors may be the club’s most likely future owners, and what Spurs fans should make of examples such as them lot, Bournemouth and Chelsea. A fascinating look behind the curtain at how football clubs are really run. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 3
42 min
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