“Anyone can go on the radio and TV and hammer people, it’s the easiest thing in the world to do, but back it up with facts.”
As if you needed any more proof that the international break is boring, along comes a punditry beef between two outspoken football pundits to get people talking. In one corner, there’s Eamon Dunphy, the veteran Irish football pundit, and author of several books. In the other corner, we have Robbie Savage, the former Strictly Come Dancing contestant, who may have read several books.
Savage took issue with Dunphy’s analysis of the Republic of Ireland’s 1-0 loss to Serbia on Tuesday night, accusing him of talking “nonsense” following the game.
In Ireland… great result for Wales! Just listening to this guy on TV talking nonsense about @FAIreland performance… who is he?!! pic.twitter.com/QB2aKS5bXy
— Robbie Savage (@RobbieSavage8) September 5, 2017
Savage’s tweet caused a stir on social media, and he was asked to elaborate on his comments the following day in Dublin, at a media event for eir Sport.
The former Leicester City midfielder continued to take aim at Dunphy. The former Millwall and Ireland midfielder, who worked with Roy Keane on the player’s first autobiography, is known for his forthright views, but Savage was calling bullshit.
“No disrespect to Eamon Dunphy, he is a man of opinions and he must be doing something right because he has been in the TV industry for a long time,” Savage said.
“But I thought he was talking nonsense when I saw him on TV. If you are talking nonsense, you need to back it up with facts, which I didn’t see or hear.”
This doesn't make great reading if you support football clubs from north London https://t.co/l86bcBAtFt
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) August 5, 2017
Before going any further, it’s worth looking at that sentence again – Robbie Savage has emphasised the importance of backing up opinion with fact.
If you have ever been subjected to Savage’s “analysis” of a football match, you’ll know that a coherent argument, supported by evidence and reason, is in very short supply. The former Wales midfielder has arguably never said anything enlightening in his entire time as a football pundit, he is the antithesis of Gary Neville or Jamie Carragher, who coherently explain their views.
Yet, Savage is employed by at least three different media outlets. They know his brand of nonsense generates interest. Savage’s opinions may be undercooked and poorly articulated, but he’s loud and a “character”, so that’s all that matters.
Who's getting relegated and who's top of the table? https://t.co/pApNFC34QF
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) May 29, 2017
Savage continued his bizarre criticism of another football pundit, seemingly oblivious to his own shortcomings.
According to Savage, Dunphy’s insistence on the importance of playing Hoolahan, a creative player in a team devoid of creativity, is “bizarre” and his presence would have made no difference to Ireland’s performance in the 1-1 draw with Georgia. Savage is basing this opinion on the fact Hoolahan doesn’t play regularly for Norwich City, not on the player’s performances for Ireland.
“Eamon Dunphy suggests a guy who can’t get into the Norwich side every week is good enough to win an international game on his own… that’s just nonsense. Wes Hoolahan is nice with the ball, but the emphasis on a 35-year-old from that particular pundit was just bizarre. I am not having a go at Hoolahan because it’s not his fault, but if Eamon Dunphy talks about him all the time and thinks he can pick out the perfect pass, surely he would be starting for Norwich every week. Anyone can go on the radio and TV and hammer people, it’s the easiest thing in the world to do, but back it up with facts. I talk nonsense at times, but what I saw on Irish TV last night…wow.”
For what it’s worth, Dunphy never suggested Hoolahan could win a game on his own, just that he makes the rest of the team better because he is neat in possession and creative. However, Savage clearly doesn’t understand nuance.
