EAMON DUNPHY HAS expressed concern over Martin O’Neill’s ‘conservative’ playing style ahead of Ireland’s Euro 2016 opener against Sweden on Monday.
The outspoken pundit says he’s optimistic the Boys in Green can progress from Group E because of the team spirit within the current squad but isn’t convinced by the tactics adopted by the manager.
“I’d be optimistic we’d get to the quarter-finals depending on the draw for the last 16,” he told RTÉ 2fm’s Game On.
“I’d have reservations on the management team. If you look at Shane Long, who everyone now agrees is a certain starter, he didn’t start many games. He didn’t start against Germany or Scotland.
“I think most people think Wes Hoolahan should start but he didn’t start any of the big games.”
“I don’t know if the manager knows his best team. I have no reservation about the players, they are a great bunch of pros.
“I think there’s an X-factor and a team spirit that we’ll have and many other nations won’t have.
“I’d be optimistic but it depends how they are managed and I can’t predict that.
“We were hopeless in the Aviva against Scotland because of team selection and because of the kind of game he wants to play. It’s very conservative, long ball stuff. He signed Emile Heskey twice!”
O’Neill, along with Roy Keane and the rest of the coaching staff, signed new contracts with the FAI yesterday to stay on for the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Dunphy went onto criticise the current Ireland assistant manager, particularly after Keane publicly knocked some of the players following the 2-1 defeat to Belarus.
The 70-year-old questioned what Keane’s role is with the squad, pointing to the failure of James McCarthy to reproduce his fine form in an Everton jersey on the international stage.
“We’ve got two midfielders in [James] McCarthy and [Glenn] Whelan and Roy was one of the greatest midfielders ever,” Dunphy continued.
“Not just physical, but thinking about the game. Knowing about the tempo and how to play the position.
“In the two and half years he’s been with Martin O’Neill, I haven’t seen any change in those two players who are both very stationery, don’t get on the ball, don’t take up the right positions to receive the ball and don’t press the ball when they need to.
“That’s what Roy should be working on in the training ground and I just don’t see it.”
“I’m not impressed by Roy Keane as a manager or as an assistant manager at all. He was a great player but I’m not impressed by him.”
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