The National Curriculum

02/11/2023

Pod In! Link: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/ESP3706257729

After a bonkers week of Aussie sokkah, Joey Lynch is joined by Jason Pine, the voice of New Zealand football on Sky Sport NZ and the host of Weekend Sport on Newstalk ZB, to try to make sense of it all.

Rado Vidosic is out at Melbourne City after just two games, the last of which was a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Adelaide. Why did it happen? What does it mean? And will new interim coach Aurelio Vidmar be any good? There's also the Auckland expansion franchise and talk of Chris Greenacre being tapped as its next coach, is that a good move? And how's that endeavour placed anyway? Australia's World Cup bid certainly isn't placed well, with the 2034 men's World Cup now set for Saudi Arabia after a bespoke bidding process by FIFA.

Then there's the games. Adelaide United are looking the goods, as is Melbourne Victory -- but City, Sydney and the Mariners aren't. Of those three, who are most likely to right the ship? Are the Wanderers the team to beat? And is Wellington... well... are they good or not?

Then, the great man, Ben Smith of the West Australian, jumps into the show to provide his on-the-ground view of the Matildas' Olympic qualifying campaign. Is Tony G good now?

Thanks and Success.

24/10/2023

Pod in!

Link: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/ESP3706257729?selected=ESP1064326873

The A-Leagues are in full swing, Danny Townsend is off to Saudi Arabia, someone might (finally) buy the Jets, Silver Lake might want their money back, and there are new NSD rumours! Bit happening.

Joey Lynch is joined by ESPN contributor and all-around superstar Stephanie Brantz and Fagiano Okayama midfielder and one-haff of the Football Friends with Ben and Stef podcast Stefan Mauk to look at yet another big week in Aussie Sokkah.

With the A-Liga back, what's the vibe and how can the leagues kick on? With Townsend off to the Middle East, what's his legacy and what does it say about the nature of the leagues as an entity? Are the Jets finally on the verge of ownership? Are the reports surrounding Silver Lake's involvement in the A-Leagues a reason to be concerned? And what about that leak of supposed NSD details -- what does that tell us?

And as usual, there's a very in-depth look at all 12 games across the A-League Men (39:20) and A-League Women (01:14:45) competitions. Victory makes a Big Blue statement, Adelaide is giving the keys to the kids, Noah Botic is demanding to step up, Sydney's women are still in transition, Western United's women are back on their late comebacks, 14-year-olds (14!!!) are playing in the Dub, and much more!

Thanks and success

19/10/2023

19/10/2023

19/10/2023

Pod In!

🔗 https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/ESP3706257729

The Grand Final deal is dead! Long live the Unite Round!

Joey Lynch is joined by AAP and the Far Post Podcast's Anna Harrington and rising star Lani Johnson to look at a huge ten days in Aussie sokkah.

The A-Liga's scrapping the grand final deal is front and centre but there's also Auckland expansion, Perth's new owners, the Sokkahroos in action against England and New Zealand and the return of !

And how about the record-setting return of the A-Liga Feminina and the Matildas announcing their squad for Olympic qualifying?

Thanks and Success.

09/10/2023

New pod. It’s in.

On the eve of the A-Liga’s return, , AAP’s George Clarke, The West Australians Ben Smith, and ESPN’s Steph Brantz look at all the big news, discuss the Australia Cup final, the Socceroos coming window and the Dub for 2023-24.

🍎 https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-national-curriculum/id1596650904?i=1000630733448
🟢 https://open.spotify.com/episode/7hR3ZjH5n5xGVzaCw9kZfy

21/02/2023

Pod in!

🔗 https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/ESP3706257729

Riding a six-game winning streak, the vibes are good around the Matildas. Surely nothing to complain about, right? Don't worry; Joey Lynch, Nick Stoll, Josh Parish and special guest Taryn Heddo found some stuff to gripe about.

Then after subbing out Taryn for Nick D'Urbano, the pod breaks down the latest iteration of the Melb Derby (are the Vuck back?), Warren Moon's ouster from Brisbane Roar, the A-Liga Belt, the barmy 4-4 draw between Adelaide and Western Sydney Wanderers, and answer your questions.

All that and more, including the pod's attempts to salvage some respectability after Josh was ethered by an A-Liga star on Twitter. Poi Bo!

16/01/2023

Pod In!

🎧: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/ESP3706257729

Is the A-Liga Blokes a three-horse race? Did Victory get off easy with its sanctions? Did supporters extract enough concessions from the APL to stop their grand final protests? Is the top of the tomato terrible?

In a bumper episode, the people's host is back in the main chair as Stoll, Joey, Josh, and TNC's man in Perth Ben Smith cast their eyes across the latest round of A-Liga Men's action, the sanctions handed down to Melbourne Victory over the violent pitch invasion during the Christmas Derby, discuss if there was a second-sh*tter on Macedonia Park's grassy knoll, and much more.

And with Joey stopping off for a burger before he drove home from Western United's 1-1 draw with the Newcastle Jets in Ballarat, TNC does its first-ever live food review!

Thanks and Success.

09/01/2023

It's a huge TNC episode, so huge that Nick Stoll immediately regretted it.

📻: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/ESP3706257729?selected=ESP8818755067

Across a bumper review special; Joey, Teo, Stoll, and D'Urbano break down the form of every A-Liga Men's after ten games of the season. Who is meeting expectations and who isn't? Why is that the case? What are we rating them out of ten? What do they need to do to improve?

There's also a discussion on the latest surrounding the APL's grand final decision and the protests by active supporter groups (04:24), if the league is fun enough (23:51), and a bit on the A-Liga Belt and TNC's fantasy leagues.

Team Review Timestamps: Melbourne Victory (26:55) | Adelaide United (56:54) | Brisbane Roar (01:05:27) | Western United (01:15:25) | Sydney FC (01:34:00) | Central Coast Mariners (01:50:17) | Western Sydney Wanderers (02:00:20) | Perth Glory (02:06:22 | Wellington Phoenix (02:13:53) | Macarthur FC (02:16:57) | Newcastle Jets (02:29:17) | Melbourne City (02:40:30)

Thanks and Success. 2023 is going to be a big one.

TNC & ESPN Australia on Social Media:

► Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TNCFootball

► Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ

► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ESPNAusNZ

► Join the TNC A-Leagues Men's Fantasy League: https://play.keepup.com.au/a-league-men/fantasy/?action=join-group&code=102854

► ESPN Australia and New Zealand's Football Home: https://www.espn.com.au/football/

And remember, Joey Lynch is the worst person in the world.

15/12/2022

New pod is in!

🔗 https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/ESP3706257729

The APL's decision to sell the next three A-Liga Hombres and A-Liga Feminina Grand Finals to the New South Wales state government is increasingly threatening to tear the league apart. Fans are at breaking point, boycotts and walkouts are coming, and the league shows no signs of backing down. How did it come to this? Is it a surprise? Is it salvageable?

Nick Stoll, Josh Parish, and Joey Lynch are here to try and make sense of it all.

Then, does Graham Arnold deserve another contract to coach the Socceroos? Is Football Australia following the right processes in making this decision?

And what about England crashing out of the World Cup!?!?!? Let's all point and laff at Joey!

There are also the A-Liga Belts, fantasy updates, and a whole lot more!

Thanks and Success.

31/10/2022

Pod in!

A month of the A-Liga Hombre's season is in the books, the World Cup is drawing ever closer, transfer rumours are heating up, and the Socceroos are making worldwide headlines. A perfect time for a TNC pod with Joey, Josh, Stoll, D'Urbano, and the triumphant return of Yung Boi (who in the TNC tradition, arrives late).

First, the boys look at the game of the round: Central Coast's rollicking come-from-behind, 4-2 win over Western United (04:25). Has Jason Cummings punched his ticket to Qatar? Has Garang Kuol? What's going wrong with the still winless defending champions?

There's all the controversy that came out of Sydney's 3-2 win over Macarthur (24:17), what to make of the Sky Blue's bona fides this season and if this game matters (do Sydney want it to matter?). Phoenix roared back to force a 2-2 draw with Melbourne City (49:58) and the latest edition of A-Leagues All Access with Patrick Kisnorbo. Adelaide recorded a 2-1 win over Perth Glory (01:11:18), is Craig Goodwin a lock for the World Cup?

In Redcliffe, Melbourne Victory again failed to net as they drew 0-0 with Brisbane Roar (1:23:28). It's now been 277 minutes - or roughly one TNC episode - since the Vuck found the net. Is it time to panic? What's going wrong? And is Bruno Fornaroli the answer to what ails the misfiring heavyweights? Most importantly, though, does Bruno Fornaroli have the best arse in A-League history?

But as one heavyweight sputters, another is on the upswing in Sydney's west, after Western Sydney Wanderers went equal top of the league with a 2-0 win over Newcastle (1:44:10). Is Calem Nieuwenhof an actual bigger Sydney to WSW coup than Milos Ninkovic? Can the Wanderers ride their stout defence to a title? And are the Jets no longer box office?

Then, on a more serious note, the boys discuss the Socceroos becoming the first team that has qualified for the World Cup to collectively raise their voices surrounding human rights in Qatar and advocate for change (1:55:50).

Then to finish, there's a new TNC Segment: Who holds the TNC Title Belt?!?! (02:08:15) TO BE THE MAN, YOU GOTTA BEAT THE MAN.

🟢 https://open.spotify.com/episode/7kA2TlW1dbhbtkzXRSZmUo?si=QwoXmBSMSpSCDm-ebf-RzA
🍏 https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-national-curriculum/id1596650904?i=1000584430829

24/10/2022

Pod In!

One regular week of A-Liga. That's all I ask for. Will never happen.

Joey, Stoll, and D’Urbano are back to break down every single game of week three of the A-Liga Men’s season - as well as the biggest and confounding news happening off it.

First, Western United and Macarthur FC’s 1-1 draw and what to do about the former’s sparse crowds (hint, it’s not just on Western) (05:41), the Box Office Jets doing two-from-two after a win over Phillip Rollo’s Wellington Phoenix (32:11), Western Sydney Wanderers and Brisbane Roar’s draw, the A-Leagues’ All Access series and the closure of Roar’s academy (39:20), and Melbourne Victory’s 15-minute implosion against Melbourne City, City’s premiership bona fides and idiots breaking chairs (59:51).

There’s a breakdown of Sydney and Adelaide’s 2-2 draw as well as the furore surrounding Hiroshi Ibusuki’s red card (01:19:05) and attempt to figure out exactly what the hell is going on at Perth Glory after Bruno Fornaroli’s Instagram denial of an injury-enforced absence overshadowed their 2-1 win over Central Coast (01:35:44).

Teo then jumps aboard to help break down the Women’s World Cup draw. Are the USWNT now presumptive favourites to three-peat after a favourable draw (1:44:47)? Should the Matildas expect to top a group with Canada, Ireland, and Nigeria in it? Do they have to top the group to hold out any hope of a deep run – given that England likely awaits the second-placed finisher in the Round of 16?

Then, nonsense breaks out. Of course.

🟢 https://open.spotify.com/episode/1w58HnkVacPaNcZflz8Ltf?si=IJKLG4KrQoubskBR96OZGw
🍏 https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-national-curriculum/id1596650904?i=1000583622809

10/10/2022

New pod is in!

The A-League Men is back! Of all the football leagues, in all the towns, in all the world, the A-Liga Blokes walks into mine…

Joey, Stoll, and D'Urbano break down every game of the opening week of the Australian men's top flight, starting with Melbourne City's 2-1 over Western United (8:33). That's followed by Brisbane Roar and Macarthur FC's 0-0 draw (25:54), Central Coast and Newcastle's washout (38:37), and Melbourne Victory's come-from-behind win over Sydney (43:28) as well as the unsavoury bottle-throwing incident (57:08).

Having commentated all three games, Josh then jumps on to discuss the Joeys' successful qualification for the AFC U17 Cup (1:01:00), before the crew turn their attention to Wellington and Adelaide's 1-1 draw in New Zealand (1:16:37) and Western Sydney Wanderers attritional 1-0 win over Perth Glory (1:23:00).

Taryn Heddo then jumps aboard to analyse the Matildas' 4-1 win over South Africa and look ahead to their fixture against Denmark (1:32:13) and then departs as the crew turns their thoughts to the washup from the Australia Cup final (1:48:11), the first week in TNC fantasy (1:57:20), and general nonsense.

🟢: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6EWVhmwvBs63vYfwDK0ZkL?si=wuETjNGBSgSfPBXjWjrPsg
🍏: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-national-curriculum/id1596650904?i=1000582072712

25/09/2022

Here we go. It's the fantasy A-Liga Men's league.

Go head to head with the TNC crew. Test your luck and pick your most functional team... or just spam goals, assists, and PnP.

Hit up the link below to join.

Wow, What a League.

https://play.keepup.com.au/a-league-men/fantasy/?action=join-group&code=102854

25/09/2022

Poddy in!

Back-to-back wins for the Socceroos against New Zealand -- 1-0 in Brisbane and 2-0 in Auckland -- but what did we learn from it all? Are the Socceroos going to win the World Cup? Is Jackson Irvine going to have Kylian Mbappé quaking in his boots? Are Garang Kuol and Jason Cummings now locks for Qatar? Joey Lynch, Teo Pellizerri, Nick D'Urbano, and Josh Parish are here to break it all down.

Then, the boys take a step back, waaaaaay back, to look at the Socceroos' Team of the Century. Were there any snubs? Was anyone lucky to get in?

Then, Sokkah's wildest fantasies are set to come true thanks to the return of A-Liga Fantasy Football -- NFT free! Is it a good thing? Who are the bargains in the league? And who do the TNC crew have in their squads? All will be revealed.

Then, Joey's only gone and dropped another national second division story, this one an on-the-record chat with Football Australia James Johnson surrounding timelines for introducing the league. Joey breaks that down, pontificates on metaphysics and the nature of reality and then answers some of your questions on the proposed competition.

And as always, much, much more.

TNC & ESPN Australia on Social Media:

► Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TNCFootball

► Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ

► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ESPNAusNZ

🟢 https://open.spotify.com/episode/4rVwl1VN7eseeDEPvQkv8u?si=cICfHM42SAGy_XUFv8xM_A
🍏 https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-national-curriculum/id1596650904?i=1000580586597

19/09/2022

Pod is in!

The Socceroos squad is out. The Cumdog is in. Garangski is in. Delbridge is in. Alex Grant isn't. Jake Brimmer isn't. Arzani isn't. Stoll and Joey break it all down, analyse the who and the why of those picked by Graham Arnold and look ahead to the two-game New Zealand series. Then there's a conversation about the Socceroos World Cup kits that begins with the boys talking about how they don't see themselves as big kit guys... and ends with them googling Uruguay's 1930 World Cup strip.

Before all that, there's a chat about the Australia Cup final between Sydney United and Macarthur. Are the Bulls actually going to be fun to watch this year? Is Daniel Arzani a legit Johnny Warren Medal contender?

That's followed by a breakdown of the A-League Women's fixture and the pros and cons of the new strategy the APL is pursuing this year. Then there's the A-Liga Men's. Three weeks away, are people excited? Are the APL doing all they could? How much can the APL do? Does the distinction really matter in the eyes of the public?

Plus, Joey drops an NSD exclusive.

🍏 https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-national-curriculum/id1596650904?i=1000579867630
🟢 https://open.spotify.com/episode/0AMLAY1RGNhmw67OFm7tQC?si=e1UrbM7eR52z6Kjsbs93lA

15/08/2022

14/08/2022

New pod is in!

It's a bumper edition of TNC, with Joey, D'Urbano, Teo, and Josh joined by Taryn Heddo to discuss a big week in Australian football.

🍎: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-national-curriculum/id1596650904?i=1000576051184
🟢: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0L5TmMA9zmr3HP1Nx96z8O?si=MlQjqIVYT0G1QzOSeN8Etw

The Young Matildas got a win over Costa Rica at the U20 Women's World Cup but then got handily defeated by Brazil. What did we learn? Why are all the players from NPLW NSW? Do we have the cattle? (yes). Sam Kerr is nominated for the Ballon d'Or for the fourth time, can she overcome the anti-English football politics of the award to win it? (maybe).

Then, Taryn jumps off as the boys run their eyes over all of the Australia Cup results, break down the closing weeks of the NPL seasons around the country, and discuss the latest rumours around the National Second Division. Are teams walking away from Football Australia and talks collapsing? (No, not really).

There's also a bit of Manly United discussion, talk about Sydney FC's recruitment, overseas Socceroos and tips for the week ahead.

It's a bumper show -- free from those that write for the Sydney papers!

07/08/2022

Australian football has a new disruptor in the form of Football Australia's new Chief Football Officer Ernie Merrick. But what does that even mean? What does a disruptor do? Is Merrick a good option for that? Is disrupt even going to be what he's asked to do?

Joey Lynch, Nick D'Urbano, and Nick Stoll -- who has returned from his loan spell in Europe -- break it all down.

Plus, there's chat about the Australia Cup, the performance of Australia's junior international sides at their respective AFF Championships, the new signings coming to the A-Liga and, of course given that Stoll is back, your questions.

And workers of the world, unite! A hero has returned from Worst Korea and has re-signed with the Reds!

🟢 https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ahIuVAPckQ0CXCl3HhzL9?si=CzS-s6ygQIKxTVvYmIOGig
🍎 https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-national-curriculum/id1596650904?i=1000575299909

18/07/2022

Josh, Joey and Nick are joined by the returning Teo Pellizzeri to review Manchester United 4-1 Melbourne Victory, and what Australian football can gain from such occasions.

Plus, we preview the Australia Cup Round of 32, talk marquees after Macarthur missed out on Fabregas, review a handful of A-League transfers including Troisi to Western United, talk Women's Euros, and more!

https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/ESP3706257729

Josh, Joey, Nick and the returning Teo Pellizzeri talk Man United, Australia Cup, marquees, A-Liga transfers and more!

19/06/2022

The national curriculum crew Joey Lynch, Nick D'Urbano and Nick Stoll are joined by Pokuah Frimpong to talk the reaction the Socceroos qualifying, U23s coming fourth at the Asian Cup, Matildas upcoming matches against Spain and Portugal and look at some of the media's coverage of football.

12/06/2022

Today 2:00pm AEST on YouTube and Twitter and Facebook:

- Socceroos vs Peru is nigh!
- How will the Roos line up?
- How will Peru approach this game?
- Aussie DNA
- A-Liga Transfers
- Matildas' Squad imminent
- Your questions

Get your questions in.
| | |

✔ Subscribe to ESPN Australia on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3cZUSYd​
✔ Subscribe to ESPN on YouTube: http://es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoYOUTUBE​

ESPN Australia on Social Media:
► Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ​
► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ESPNAusNZ​

08/06/2022

Today 2:00pm AEST on YouTube and Twitter and Facebook:

- United Arab Emirates 1-2 Socceroos
- Ajdin Hrustic and Jackson Irvine the heroes
- What went right?
- What went wrong?
- What sort of impact did Sainsbury and Taggart's injuries have?
- Would a CumDog come in handy right now?
- Are we going to win the World Cup?
- Your questions

Get your questions in.
| | |

✔ Subscribe to ESPN Australia on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3cZUSYd​
✔ Subscribe to ESPN on YouTube: http://es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoYOUTUBE​

ESPN Australia on Social Media:
► Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ​
► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ESPNAusNZ​

05/06/2022

Tonight at 7:30pm AEST on YouTube and Twitter and Facebook:

- TNC’s End of A-Liga Season Awards
- Socceroos and Olyroos
- Nikogoooone
- NSD Takes Another Step
- NPL Talk
- Your Questions
- Much More

Get your questions in.
| | |

✔ Subscribe to ESPN Australia on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3cZUSYd​
✔ Subscribe to ESPN on YouTube: http://es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoYOUTUBE​

ESPN Australia on Social Media:
► Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ​
► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ESPNAusNZ​

29/05/2022

Sunday night at 7:30pm AEST on YouTube and Twitter and Facebook:
- A massive wrap up of the A-Liga Grand Final
- Where the league stands
- All-Stars v Barca
- Socceroos squad
- Sokkah Twitter toxicity

Get your questions in.
| | |

22/05/2022

Joey Lynch, Ante Jukic, Nick D'Urbano, Nick Stoll and Josh Parish chat about... football stuff

16/05/2022

It's election season on TNC and Nick D'Urbano has won the popular vote - but will his internet hold out long enough for him to host the pod?

Joey Lynch, Josh Parish, Ante Jukic and Lachie 'Yung Boi' Flannigan are also in attendance to discuss elimination finals, commercial breaks, Dwight Yorke getting the Macarthur gig, and the APL's marquee list.

Strap in - it's a big one.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6UQncstbJBkPi2vCELwcRD?si=DMbZxrkAQk-LQrkhraAx6Q

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/human-error-15-may-2022/id1596650904?i=1000561496822

15/05/2022

The National Curriculum is back to bring you the best analysis of the week that was in Australian football. We had a list of 35 marquees for tonight that we hoped to join us but ended up with Lachie Flanigan.

02/05/2022

Josh Parish, Joey Lynch, Nick D'Urbano and Ante Jukic discuss Ante Milicic's impending A-League detox on the Dalmatian Coast, and where it's all gone wrong for Macarthur.

There's Garang Kuol's second late winner in two weeks, Sturridge's less than Glorious return, Adelaide wrapping up a finals berth in less than inspiring fashion, reflections on the Bakrie Group's ownership of Brisbane Roar, VAR being slower than Nick's internet, and whether the APL should be crowing about match minutes for young players.

And not to get too deep for everyone, the boys end with a conversation surrounding negativity against positivity, the glass being half full vs half empty, when to take the win against when to dive a little deeper, and other matters of feelings and emotions.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/44EI9rVJH4GwoQngA0O9Sf?si=04qUS6bLQ7abas3MR76o0Q

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-lovely-island-named-hvar-1-may-2022/id1596650904?i=1000559307385

01/05/2022

Packed full of podcast-trained players, The National Curriculum is back to bring you the best analysis of the week that was in Australian football.