Summary
Overview
This episode covers League of Ireland action with Bohemians' victory over Shamrock Rovers amid political controversy around flares and government criticism. The main focus is Premier League football, particularly Arsenal's tactical approach and set-piece dominance in their win over Chelsea, VAR controversies, and concerns about Ireland's World Cup preparation regarding altitude in Mexico. The hosts debate whether modern Premier League football has become less entertaining due to excessive tactical control and VAR disruption.
League of Ireland Controversy and Political Tensions
The League of Ireland finds itself under scrutiny after flares were thrown during a Drogheda-Dundalk match, prompting harsh criticism from Minister for Sport Patrick O'Donovan who used strong language like 'gougers' and 'yobs.' The controversy overshadowed what was actually a successful weekend for the league, with Bohemians beating Shamrock Rovers 3-2 in a raucous atmosphere at Dalymount Park. Meanwhile, former minister Alan Shatter has demanded FAI action over a banner directed at him during the match, relating to his pro-Israel stance conflicting with Bohemians' support for Palestine.
- Minister Patrick O'Donovan used harsh language calling League of Ireland fans 'gougers' and 'yobs' after flares incident at Drogheda-Dundalk match
- Bohemians defeated Shamrock Rovers 3-2 at Dalymount Park, now top of the league with best away form
- Drogheda fans banned from attending next four away games as punishment, potentially hurting host clubs' revenue
- Alan Shatter demanding FAI action over banner about him at Bohemians match, relating to Israel-Palestine tensions
" I went in to get a little bit of tube for the twin fixes trimmer in a motor practice. Everyone should go to the motor factors on a Friday afternoon when it's sunny. And there's Jerry Tuff. Very interesting day. "
Ireland's Altitude Problem for World Cup
Manager Heimar Hallgrímsson has identified altitude as a potential major issue if Ireland qualifies for the World Cup, noting that Ireland's worst performances in recent years occurred in Yerevan, Armenia at 1,100 meters elevation. If Ireland reaches the World Cup, they would face matches in Guadalajara (1,570m) and potentially Mexico City (2,240m), which could be as challenging as the infamous heat and humidity in Orlando 1994. Hallgrímsson is already planning to test players' red blood cell levels to identify who handles altitude better.
- Yerevan, Armenia sits at 1,100 meters above sea level, higher than Ireland's tallest mountain Carrauntoohil
- Ireland had disgraceful performances in both trips to Yerevan under different managers
- World Cup venues in Mexico: Guadalajara at 1,570m and Mexico City at 2,240m elevation
- Some players handle altitude better than others based on red blood cell levels
- Base camp in Fort Worth, Texas will be at sea level, making acclimatization logistically impossible
" It takes two weeks to acclimatise, but that is logistically impossible, because we have been assigned a base camp at sea level. "
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