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 [email protected], 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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected] 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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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, [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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: [email protected]