It’s easy to be hard on the pundits. None of us is equipped to predict the future. But it’s when they indulge in lazy analysis by elevating one or two incidents to the status of a trend that you get annoyed with them.
I had the chance last night to listen to both the RTÉ and BBC panels expound on Bernard Brogan. For me, there’s nothing to talk about. Brogan is a top player who has all the skills and can produce the unexpected, deliver under pressure and get match-winning scores. He was last year and he still is. He’s missed a few chances this year and taken a few wrong options. Who hasn’t? Because he's player of the year they got noticed as they wouldn't have before.
However, RTE’s panel have come to a unanimous conclusion that his game is in crisis and not only that, but they’ve agreed that they know the reason. Apparently he’s taking too much upon himself and doesn’t lay off the ball and bring others into play.
On the other hand, Martin McHugh volunteered that Brogan has improved his game this year. The secret? He’s learned not to go for everything himself but lay off the ball and bring others into play!
One of them must be wrong, at least. To me both are wrong and neither conclusion is valid, based on the evidence of a few games so far this year. In fact the question is not valid. In fact, there’s not even a question.
