Brian Kerr knows exactly what it's like to lead the Ireland national team. Part and parcel of that is the scrutiny from pundits such as Eamon Dunphy, John Giles and Liam Brady.
Interim manager Noel King had a spat with the RTE panel over the weekend which carried into Tuesday night when he admitted that he "lost the plot" with Tony O'Donoghue.
Former Ireland manager Kerr spoke to Ger and Joe on Off The Ball last night about the influence pundits had on his management of the team and whether their influence diffuses beyond the confines of our TV screens.
"I think it's a pity that so much notice is taken of it. I used to look back at the tapes of every game but I never looked back at the tapes of any analysis because I felt I was always much more informed than any panel in relation to the players, their well-being and their ability to adapt to the opposition and the system we wanted to play. I rarely, rarely see [analysis] and I rarely take notice of it," said Kerr.
"But people do [take notice of it] and curiously the FAI do. I often see mention of what some of them said by main guys at the FAI which I think is a bit odd."
Republic of Ireland interim manger Noel King with RTE's Tony O'Donoghue alongside FAI Director of Communications Peter Sherrard ©INPHO/James Crombie
But how much influence do the big-name pundits have on the Irish national team?
"Well, it appears to [have an influence]," said Kerr. "We had a situation where Liam Brady was working with Trapattoni directly and I don't know if it was his part in the panel or the fact that he was just an exceptional player that gave him the authority. Of course his friendship with Trapattoni brought him into that. But he was working for the FAI, John Giles has been involved with the FAI directly over the last couple of years in his ambassadorial role and fundraising for clubs. In some ways they become part of the FAI. I'd imagine, Eamon Dunphy at times has had nice discussions with John Delaney. Are they impartial or are they close to it? I don't know but I think they are certainly listened to, know doubt about that."
Kerr also looked at the performance of Noel King's Ireland over the past 10 days as well as his relationship with the media in that time.
You can listen to the full interview by downloading the full Football Show podcast on iTunes which also includes more Ireland analysis with Dan McDonnell, Mexico's great escape in the World Cup qualifiers and the sudden hype around England.
©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
