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2. Here’s To You, Mr Robinson

Oxford’s psychoanalyst challenges manager Karl Robison on his addiction to football ahead of their trip to Shrewsbury as tempers flare on the touchline.

We meet Oxford manager Karl Robinson and some of the people behind the scenes that make the club tick: club groundsman Toby Ruoss, who is an MK Dons fan (Karl’s former club), and psychoanalyst Gary Bloom.

Gary challenges Karl on whether he is obsessed with or addicted to football, leaving the manager to contemplate whether some addictions can be healthy.

With a Covid outbreak threatening to dismantle the squad, the promotion chasers travel to a Shrewsbury side who held leaders Rotherham to a point in episode one. The game is decided on a late Cameron Brannigan penalty, before a touchline flare-up at full time.

Afterwards, Karl shares intimate moments with his mum Carol, who stood behind her son and kicked every ball during the action – before also calling his dad. The conversations lead to him revealing the vulnerability he feels in his profession, underlining that – if you strip away the bravado and ego of a football manager within that small box in the dugout – there is a human being.

Available now

47 minutes

Last on

Mon 3 Oct 2022 00:00

Broadcast

  • Mon 3 Oct 2022 00:00

Podcast