World Cup 2010: RTE’s ‘Golden Generation’ Analysts Crash Out Of World Cup Ratings War
Posted on | July 7, 2010
Giles and Souness squabble over who was the hardest as a
player.
Football pundit Ronnie Whelan has admitted RTE’s panel need to have a “good look at themselves in the mirror” following their disappointing performance analysing this year’s World Cup.
RTE were knocked off the top of the ratings after losing out to the BBC in the coverage of Holland’s semi-final clash with Uruguay.
Since the tournament began last month, the much-trumpeted Golden Generation, featuring analysts John Giles, Eamon Dunphy and Liam Brady, have come under much criticism from both fans and the press for their percieved luckluster performances.
“We weren’t up to scratch during Ireland’s recent friendlies against Algeria and Paraguay,” admits Whelan. “Preparation was non-existent but we were confident our form would return before the start of the World Cup proper.”
However the top level analysis we have seen from this team in the past failed to materialize and punditry on the group stage matches was rife with lapses of concentration and indecision, leading to increased petty squabbling amongst the panel at crucial moments.
A new low was reached when a hungover Dunphy vomited over the desk halfway through a poorly conceived rant about the merits of Paraguay and Japan in their second round meeting.
Critics claim that a level of complacency had been creeping into the RTE punditry for some months now, and that the overpaid and overindulged superstar panelists had let pre-tournament hype go to their heads.
“Yes, there is a lot of ego and hubris. Morale is the lowest I’ve ever experienced at RTE. But we set ourselves such high standards. We wanted to win the World Cup ratings war and we failed,” said Whelan.
“What can I say? We feel we have let ourselves down, the broadcaster and the viewers too. I don’t want to point fingers. I’m just disappointed and want to apologise to the football fans who tuned in expecting better.”
The manner of RTE’s World Cup performances have raised questions as to why many of the panelists have failed to replicate their form when analysing Premier League games.
Critics suggest that Giles is coming to the end of his career and can no longer keep up with the pace of modern analysis, whereas others have asked whether Dunphy’s partying lifestyle is affecting his ability to scrutinise the game at the highest level.
Has Dunphy’s sex, drugs and rant n’ rave lifestyle
dimmed his powers of searing insight?
Kenny Cunningham is among the former RTE pundits who have questiond the fitness of the current panel:
“I definitely think coming off the back of a long, hard season commenting on the English Premier League has taken its toll,” says Cunningham.
“The lads weren’t their usual sharp, incisive selves. At times it was like a bunch of blokes talking shit to each other in the pub, constantly on the verge of a punch-up.”
Perhaps the most telling insight on why RTE failed to live up to expectations came from one of their rivals, Garth Crooks of the BBC:
“Undoubtedly RTE have some of the most talented broadcasters in the business, but as we know punditry is about more than just entertainment. You have can’t ignore the basics like research and love of the game.
“There is only so many ‘eloquent cynics’ you can have on your panel. At the end of the day people want actual facts about the footballers they are watching,” reflected Crooks.
“You need people who are willing to do their homework, who don’t just breeze in from the bar and whinge about how the modern game is corrupt and souless.”
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