I have always believed the players to be the most important people in the game of football. To many of you, this may appear a rather unecessary statement to make as it is obvious that without players there could never be a game of football.
However, there are many involved in professional football who would perceive themselves to be as important as the players and more than the odd few who would consider their position in the game to possess an even deeper relevence.
I was reminded of this sentiment when working on the MNS Show last Monday evening.
I have been involved in the show for over a year now and I must admit that while I find it enjoyable and well run, it was only recently that I realised how different the show is to most other television productions based on sport.
The majority of television shows based on professional football tend to rely heavily on detailed analysis and generally exhibit a quite serious outlook on the games covered.
MNS is a serious programme I accept and one that portrays the quality contained in the League of Ireland in a particularly professional manner, but it does not take itself too seriously. Well, not in my opinion anyway.
I have worked in radio and television in both England and Ireland and I have encountered all types of people and egos, and found programmes quite naturally assume a style honed from the particular skills and personalities of those connected with the programme in front of and behind the camera or microphone, and especially so those in front of a camera.
The camera possesses the undeniable ability to inveigle some to project symptoms of thinly veiled narcissism.
The MNS Show is unlike some other football shows in that it rarely delves into any deep analysis and consequently those involved are not encouraged to take themselves and their opinions too seriously, although regular viewers may agree to disagree with me on this one.
The snag in many sports programmes is that profound analysis is undoubtedly capable of encouraging an individual to present quite a sombre outlook, which is another, kinder, way of suggesting that some analysts become infatuated with their own opinions and believe them to be the only ones of consequence.
This further seduces the more self-absorbed types into assembling an air of superiority that would appear to infer that the game itself depends greatly on these opinions and the person that professes them.
I have enjoyed MNS for several reasons but the most productive aspect for me personally is that we are allowed, even encouraged, to have what appears to be a rather casual discussion between the four people who sit on the couch every Monday.
While there is obviously a pre-programme discussion to allow those concerned to construct a shape and format to the preceedings, there is almost always an opportunity for the programme to develop in a most natural and free-flowing way. This is where the essential attraction comes for me.
Having said that, there are of course times when the flow does needs channeling and guidance and it is always interesting to hear the banter between the production team behind the scenes and the presenter Con Murphy, and then there are also the moments when a topic takes on a different light from the one intended. In a way, last Monday’s programme was representative of this.
The game of professional football places those working in it under enough pressure without me, or anybody else for that matter, using the medium of television to try to appear smart or to even hold a grudge or grivance by placing a heightened sense of pressure on an individual, a team or a club.
One of our discussions in last Monday’s programme came on the back of Cork City manager Paul Doolin suggesting that the City players last season had perhaps failed to do justice to their impressive abilities.
Now, Paul is entitled to offer his opinion essentially because, like all managers, he has to back that opinion up, and he is in the most perfect position to demonstrate this year just how much weight that opinion has by preparing and motivating his players to go much closer to winning the league title than they did last season.
I have to admit to seeing a certain sense in the thoughts of Paul Doolin in this respect. It is fine to win a Setanta Sports Cup, but his unspoken assertion that the two main competitions for a club of the stature of Cork City are the league and the FAI Cup is inarguable.
I suggested on Monday that City have to win the League of Ireland title this season and perhaps this was slightly unfair because Bohemians and Derry City are a little ahead in team development.
I was however, attempting to underline the simple fact of life that when a manager and his players work for any of the top clubs in the country the expectations from supporters, and the media, are extremely high, but high and all as they may be, they should pale by comparison to the anticipatory sense or desire for success held by the manager and his players. The time scale when one works for a top club in any country is simply immaterial.
I admire people who hold strong opinions, once there is a degree of responsibility attached. The Playerscope and the Managerscope sections are an important part of MNS as it allows the key people to express their views. I am understanding of the fact that the authorities prefer diplomacy to reign over controversy, but I would also like managers and players to be encouraged, to dispence with the 'Draw was a fair result' style of comment and speak from the heart as well as the head.
