There’s no doubt that for many Irish soccer fans, watching the pundits on RTE is sometimes more entertaining than the game itself. Admittedly, this might be stretching things for Ireland matches but for Premiership and Champions League, the infamous panel discussions and rows can provide as much fuel for bar-room debate as anything in the 90 minutes. The Après Match sketches are only partly responsible for this. Bill, Eamo and Giles are RTE’s footballing ‘holy trinity’ along with the almost divine Liam Brady B.T and P.T. (before and post Trap). However, as Ireland prepare to compete in a major international tournament for the first time in a decade, the question of how long the former three broadcasters who brought us through Italia ‘90 can continue is surely coming into view for those within RTE sport.
Richie Sadlier
With his playing career ended prematurely by injury, Richie is a youthful pundit who has quickly carved out a decent living combining his Sunday Independent column with his television work where he is a regular on MNS as well as the Premiership. His relaxed nature on screen certainly sets him apart as he gives a sense that ultimately, he doesn’t really care what colleagues or viewers think of his opinions. You could also argue his involvement with domestic soccer may count against him with a majority of fans who follow English game without paying much heed to the Airtricity League, but maybe I’m the one being controversial here…
Trevor Steven
Steven had a bright start to his RTE career and seemed to appear alongside Dunphy and Giles rather than covering times when they were absent. Yet, this hasn’t continued and it seems he has been moved to either the commentary box or the second string panels as time has gone on.
Ray Houghton
Regardless of his punditry, Ray will always be something of a national hero for his career in the green jersey. This would seem a good starting point but the thing about Giles and Brady is that they are not so much heroes as Irish football royalty based on their individual talents, rather than achievements playing for Ireland, while Dunphy has just managed to be Dunphy for years. Houghton is comfortable on television but still shows no sign of capturing the imagination à la the older generation.
Kenny Cunningham
A pundit who really seems to seek controversy. Cunningham certainly seems the most aggressive and forceful of the list. However, it is not always clear that soccer fans appreciate it or really go for him. While the catchphrases of Dunphy, Bill, Giles and Brady have been included on Après Match sketches, there is a sense of fans laughing with them while Cunningham’s ‘possibly so’ seems to highlight the problem of RTE’s younger generation of pundits put alongside the big debates where the ‘boys’ stake claims and defend them to the death.
Maybe the problem RTE faces is that it cannot continue its winning
formula. Dunphy is probably a one-off figure much like George Hook in rugby,
while Giles and Brady are held in such esteem that they are universally
respected regardless of whether we always agree with them or not, and even if
they appear silly on air, they are still John Giles, one of the best
midfielders in the game in the 70s or Liam Brady who graced Serie A with
Juventus and won the Scudetto. The only players who could subsequently wish to
earn that respect are Paul McGrath and Roy Keane. Personal problems have
precluded McGrath from becoming an analyst while Keane’s personality, Saipan
and his behaviour since hanging up his boots have probably robbed him of
assuming the air of a Giles or Brady.
Is television different now? The reason RTE is loved is because it’s so much more raw and different from BBC, ITV or Sky but maybe that is how all sports television coverage is going. Can we ever expect the unpredictable entertainment of RTE’s soccer coverage in the future with a new generation of people? What are your views on RTE replacing the great men? And if RTE failed to achieve this, would the majority of Irish viewers switch to British stations?
By Martin O'Donoghue
