LOI Central

It's the 7 year itch! We scratch the surface of the upcoming season in episode 1 - 'The Return of the Pod' . After Johnny's winter in the lingerie section of Brown Thomas and Dan's Qatari World Cup adventure, not much has changed on Planet Pod. Johnny still has high hopes for Galway, Dan still reckons this is the biggest season ever, and 90's goth-pop and R&B makes the inevitable return. But to help the dynamic duo get back down to the reality of what's coming up we've asked Mark Rossiter and John Martin to help with an analysis of the comings and goings over the last few months to help predict how this season of all seasons will pan out. We swipe right on transfer tinder and the saga of Dundalk's multiple logins, we ask "Can Derry take Rovers?", we look at the return of 'older' managers to challenge Johnny's favourite law firm, and there's the Mono Stand, cash wages, a bumper bumper mailbag and an almost-epic Collar & Cuff competition.

As usual by the end of the hour in studio there still isn't a concrete answer and nothing is indeed delivered. We'd bring you the truth but we reckon you couldn't handle it so you'll have to make do with the rest.

It's a Future Ticketing, Collar & Cuff sponsored, rascal of an opening night and other than Galway winning the First Division you'll have to make up your own mind.

Right before Dan goes to Qatar and Johnny loses another laptop we've gathered for the last dance. Regular sideman, Pat Fenlon is joined in studio by the man who once saved his job! Yes, none other than Eoin Doyle, who missed the Mendoza Line by half a goal this season but will be fresher next season after dragging his heart around St Anne's Park in the off season trying to remember who Stevie Nicks is. Alan Reynolds is f*cking live from Derry where low key celebrations and pre season planning is well under way following the minor distraction of a game last weekend. The victorious assistant joins us to discuss Lansdowne demons, big life decisions and his inability to get through a sentence without cursing. As 40 year old Johnny prepares for his one man crusade against Galway Utd next season, Dan has an insight on how to wear flares, the mailbag has the LOI Central drinking game (had to happen), and the lads in studio cast their thoughts forward to next season. All of this is subject to the continued and rather frivolous use of a marketing budget by Future Ticketing, Collar & Cuff, Porterhouse Brew and Malone Financial Services. They think it's all over.....

It's the second to second last episode of the pod and cup final fever is intertwined with Johnny's playoff sickness in a colourful episode. Our roving Galway reporter took a break from venting his frustration to make the unfamiliar trip to the Aviva Stadium where he interviews Ruaidhri Higgins without impersonating him and finally gets up close and personal with his old mate Damien Duff, who is in reflective mood and content to let sleeping giants lie. We also hear from Luke Byrne and Brandon Kavanagh for a player perspective on Sunday's showpiece, while Dan expands on the new minimum wage, Shels investment and the other big stories of the week in a packed mailbag. In this exciting time for fans of big events, we also talk Dylan (McGlade), (Joe) Kendrick Lamar tickets, and muse over what the Finn Harps show will be like without Ollie Horgan. All this because Future Ticketing, Porterhouse Brewery and Collar and Cuff have stuck with us through thick and thicker. It's not dark yet....but it's getting there!

This episode takes us from Dundalk to Dubai. You might think this brings us to discussion of carefree spending in a controversial environment and we do that before getting to the Dubai part. Yes, Andy Boyle chats with Dan about the exhilaration of qualifying for Europe after living through a rollercoaster of emotion at Dundalk as he reaches the end of a contract handed out in the calm before the storm of the Peak6 era. Will he stay or will he go? Our other guest, Sean O'Shea, was willing to pack up his stable existence in Dubai last month and relocate to Dalymount but his ambition to take over Bohemians didn't come to pass. We hear from Sean about why working in Ireland was an attraction and what Shamrock Rovers can expect in Sweden after his time there. On top of that, we've got John Caulfield, dangerous Galway optimism, windy Johnny, quiz controversy and giveaway shirts and beer as the winter draws in. Get warm and join us.

This week's show takes us from Two Stars to the Lone Star State, from Tallaght to Texas, with the confirmation of three leagues in a row for Shamrock Rovers the natural starting point. With his ears burning from repeated mentions, Pico Lopes dialled in to reflect on his central role in the Rovers rise to their 20th title, the surreal nature of winning it while sitting on the couch and a crazy year which will live long in his memory. We didn't get to ask where appearing on this pod ranked in comparison to AFCON in Cameroon, buying a house, getting engaged and turning 30. After your mailbag thoughts on playoffs, Brayoffs and Johnny's anti-Supermacs agenda, we go Stateside to check in with former Sligo Rovers midfielder Richie Ryan about a storied football life that was reignited by a slap in the face at just the right time. We also get to the bottom of the age old Vegas or Sligo debate? Tune in for the definitive answer

Title race? Anyone? Anyone? Well this week we are joined by two lads who know a thing or two about them. Mark Rossiter and Colin Hawkins join us for a healthy dose of nostalgia and bad knees. There are four sided stadiums, badly planned birthdays, Jose Duffrinho, and self confessed shouty man from Donegal, Aidan McNelis, telling us how Finn Harps are hoping to upgrade their stadium. As usual we've to thank Future Ticketing, Collar and Cuff, and Porterhouse Brewery for the non stop roller coaster ride that won't be going on all day!

As the Bohs search for a new manager continues, we bring two together on this week's show with Colin Healy in Cork and Gary Cronin in studio talking First Division matters, playoff games, future plans and the difficult business of knowing when it's time to say goodbye. We also get a bit of FAI Cup insight, evidence that Paul Doolin once admitted he got something wrong and much more besides. On top of that, there's carbon footprints all over the studio, soundalike competition winners, the big Rovers in Europe debate, and Dan's breakdown of breaking Bohs news. The one thing we do know is that Future Ticketing, Porterhouse Brew, and Collar & Cuff keep on keeping us on. Enjoy the ride folks, it's fun while it lasts!

While Dan is in Molde with Shamrock Rovers, which is basically a colder Craggy Island where Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be wearing an "I Shot JR" t shirt, Johnny hooks up with footballer/publican John Mountney who discusses Stevie, dodgy knees, and JW’s quest for a free pint. We also have Brian Maher on size being irrelevant, the pain of Israel and the joy of being the most obvious keeper in Derry since that nice lad in Derry Girls. There's the finest cakes in all of humanity for the niche Richard E Grant fans, the early finishes at Oktoberfest and all of the shenanigans are courtesy of Collar and Cuff, Future Ticketing, Malone Financial Services and Porterhouse Brew. You want it here and you want it now...

In a turn of events more unexpected than Armenia's comeback at the Aviva, Keith Long came to join us this week for a discussion on Bohs and much more besides. We discussed the all-consuming nature of management, the highs and lows of his Dalymount era and discuss his difficult departure, the emotions of 2022 and the lingering what ifs after eight years in charge. Keith also grapples with our mailbag questions and suggests he might even make this more than a one-time appearance. Before that, we have Johnnys 40th birthday scheduling conundrum, alternative uses for hoovers, Rovers' mini slump, and blazer watch. As usual you can blame Future Ticketing, Collar & Cuff, Porterhouse Brew, and Malone Financial Services for putting you though all of this silliness!

The boys are back in town....but only at the right time. Luke Byrne and Sean Boyd join us in studio after Shelbourne's defeat of Bohemians on Sunday to reflect on the big win, Boyd's rebirth, Damien Duff's video making skills and the pre-season training rules that brought the old pals closer together. We also hear from Tommy Barrett about Treaty United's unlikely cup run, and a jibe about the Galway flavour in the dressing room that leaves Johnny even more hot and bothered than when he wore his Collar and Cuff blazer to Greece. The lads debate Shamrock Rovers' European concessions, a pub debate that could just as easily take place in a jacuzzi. We find out that Sean and Luke know where we can get one as quick change Johnny sports a Christian prayer group, jacuzzi-ready look. Future Ticketing, Collar and Cuff and The Porterhouse Brew are at least partly responsible for this 87 minutes of your life that you'll never get back!