Another missile aimed at Martin
Two days out from one of Ireland’s most crucial football games in years, and the attacks on Martin O’Neill by Eamon Dunphy show no signs of letting up.
Earlier this week Dunphy felt that the former Celtic boss should get the sack for his comments about Wes Hoolahan.
Tonight he returned to that theme with some interesting comparisons to the difference in approach between O’Neill and his Scotland counterpart Gordon Strachan on 2FM’s Game On.
Dunphy feels that O Neill’s biggest problem is not knowing his best XI a year and a half into the job,
“I think he’s 19 months into the job and we don’t know what team will be picked, and I don’t think the manager knows his best team. That’s a very bad sign after 19 months.”
“You should have a prize for anyone who can name the team. This is 19 months into the job.”
“It’s a bad sign for the players as well you see because what (Gordon)Strachan has instilled in his squad is confidence, and belief that they can go to Poland and Germany and come here and get results.”
“It wasn’t a classic game of football when we played them in Celtic Park but they were well on top and we didn’t threaten them at all.”
Dunphy also feels that the biggest problem with O’Neill’s management is his approach to the squad.
Dunphy used the example of one Scottish player to highlight how he feels the visitors to the Aviva on Saturday are brimming with confidence thanks to their manager,
“Shaun Maloney who scored that night was given a free by Wigan and is in the MLS now and looked like Messi that night. He’s playing in America, and that night he looked a top-class player and scored a fantastic goal.”
“That’s what the top coaches do. They make their players feel great.”
“Meanwhile Martin O’Neill is agonizing in public over whether Wes Hoolahan can play away from home, and maybe we can play him at home.”
“That’s the difference and I think that will manifest itself as the difference at the weekend.”
Dunphy also hit out at what he felt was an intolerable situation of O’Neill telling his players the starting XI an hour before the game.
The TV pundit feels such behaviour has had a corrosive effect on the squad as a whole,
“It’s completely intolerable to tell somebody that they are playing one hour before the match.”
“Can you predict the formation on Saturday, can you predict that Shane Long, Aiden McGeady or James McClean will be playing.”
“I think if you don’t know those things and if he getting a reported one million euro a year, the players should know those things.
“After 19 months it should be clearly established who is where in the pecking order because that gives players confidence.”
“Look at Wes Hoolahan’s position as we go out on Saturday against Scotland, who are a side in-form and up for it.”
“Wes has been publicly criticised by the coach. There has been an intimation that he can’t really do it.
“Just think of it-he’s the guy that has to play if Ireland are going to win. He’s got to be the playmaker and be around the field and that’s hard enough with the added pressure of the manager publicly expressing doubt about your ability to do it.”
We doubt the criticism will bother O’Neill or Roy Keane too much but the only way to answer the critics is to get a result.
Over to you Martin.
H/t to 2FM
