Eamon Dunphy talked plenty about the modern game on 2FM's Game On, specifically those managers who are no longer tuned into the modern game. The guys who are operating off a late 1990s frequency.
Louis Van Gaal, he feels, is not a creature made for the modern game. Successful at the turn of the century, he can't cope with the demands of the modern player.
Dunphy hesitated before offering up the name of another manager who is afflicted with the same condition. But he did anyway.
I think what it might be with him (Louis Van Gaal) he's a bit like... well I won't say a name (laugh) there's some guys who were very successful 15 or 20 years ago and they're no longer up to speed with the modern game. He might be one of them. The modern game is different.
Martin O'Neill was the name I was thinking of. I think Martin O'Neill had a stellar career in club management with Leicester, Celtic and Aston Villa. He was absolutely brilliant. But in terms of the modern game, I don't think Martin's at the races. Now, I know that won't please anybody but that's what I think. They're 4-4-2 men. They like a certain way. The fluidity of the modern game is different. The modern player is different, because they're earning so much. There's lots of things in the modern game that I don't think Van Gaal gets.
Dunphy elaborated on why he feels ONeill is behind the times, Euro qualification notwithstanding.
Playing young Murphy up front on his own. He gave him two games, the Germany game, the Scotland game. He's a good player at Championship level but it was a kind of old fashioned thing to do. Reminded me of Emile Heskey and all those other players that he used to like. He bought Emile Heskey twice. Now, in the modern game, you saw Mouriinho the other night, he didn't play any centre forward. Barcelona don't have what you'd call a recognised centre forward. You don't need big guys up front. That's lightyears away. Stone Age stuff.
On both Sean O'Rourke and Game On, Dunphy disputed O'Neill's contention that Group E is the Gr0up of Death. Sweden are 'bang average', Italy are 'old', and the Belgians consistently 'punch below their weight' in the major tournaments.
