Eamon Dunphy doesn’t seem to be the most popular of football pundits among Irish viewers.
The RTE football analyst was a professional for Millwall, Reading and Shamrock Rovers, played 23 times for the Republic of Ireland and has been a journalist for almost 40 years.
His diary Only a Game, is one of the best books about football you’re ever likely to read, and he was a ghost-writer for Roy Keane on his first autobiography. Dunphy’s been good value over the years in the RTE studio, shooting from the hip and never afraid to voice an opinion, or row back on one he made earlier.
So, while most seem to dismiss the 71-year-old, and call for him to be retired from the RTE panel, this writer still finds him amusing. Dunphy’s spiel is a break from the proper football men and boring, recently retired players (we all know who they are) that populate British football punditry.
However, you can’t make a claim like this and not expect to be taken to task over it.
Just before Barcelona and Manchester City came out for the second-half of their Champions League tie at the Nou Camp, with the home side leading 1-0 thanks a goal from Lionel Messi, Dunphy made a bold claim about best player in the world and the Catalan club.
“I think the Barcelona project is in decline,” Dunphy said.
“I don’t think they are the team they were. (Andreas) Iniesta is 32, (Sergio) Busquets is having a really poor time. And I think Messi is beginning to show signs of decline.”
Barcelona went on to win 4-0 and Messi scored a hat-trick.
Messi completes the 37th hat-trick of his Barcelona career.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) October 19, 2016
He also won a penalty for Neymar, which the Brazilian missed, and made a mockery of Dunphy’s claim. The pundit also predicted Messi would get a hat-trick, and admitted his error as soon as the full-time analysis began, but Twitter was unforgiving.
Eamon Dunphy:
"Messi is beginning to show signs of decline"#BARMCI pic.twitter.com/oo7K2A0gNP
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 19, 2016
Dunphy saying messi is in decline 😂😂 #madman #rte
— Michael Hennessy (@mheno2020) October 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/AllOuttaAle/status/788829750190039040
"Messi is a player in decline…" Dunphy has the blues this evening.
— Fionn Davenport (@fionndavenport) October 19, 2016
"Messi is showing signs of decline" that statement alone sums up Eamon Dunphy 🙄
— Eric Hickey (@TheEricHickey) October 19, 2016
Dunphy just described Messi as 'a player showing signs of decline' and Guardiola as 'stupid'. I'd say they're crestfallen.
— Tadhg (@TadhgHickey) October 19, 2016
Eamonn dunphy just said messi and Barca were in decline 🙃🔫
— Rachel Kearney (@XxRachelKx) October 19, 2016
What's Dunphy gunna say at FT??
— Andy Lee (@AndyLeeBoxing) October 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/DavidONeillRDS/status/788840965339488257
Messi is absolutely on the decline there Eamon yeah #dunphy☠☠☠
— Jürgeneedabiggerboat (@Razor_LFC) October 19, 2016
Dunphy was 100%……Messi definitely in decline 🙄
— Enda Bonner (@BonnerEnda) October 19, 2016
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